Council on Aging urges city council to investigate need for additional senior housing

The Council on Aging voted on Dec. 12 to recommend that the city council investigate the need for additional senior housing. The commission approved the recommendation by roll call, with all members present voting in favor.

Commission members said the recommendation is intended to prompt a formal review by the city that could lead to a feasibility study, identification of possible sites and a clearer estimate of costs and capacity needs. Commission members emphasized the need to assemble supporting information — such as waiting-list counts, census data and community outreach results — before a formal feasibility study would be requested from the city council.

Members discussed two parallel tracks: the commission will continue its own research and work sessions to compile a needs statement and background materials, and it has asked the city council to open its own investigation so council staff can consider a city-funded feasibility study if council chooses to do so. The commission noted that a feasibility study typically requires more specific inputs — a general facility concept, possible sites and projected service capacity — to produce useful results.

Commissioners said council awareness already exists but that a formal recommendation and a single consolidated document would ensure the topic appears on the city council agenda with a clear request. The commission also discussed next steps for internal work: holding a January work session, refining a needs survey for seniors, and compiling a preliminary list of potential locations and program design questions to present to the city.

The commission cited its current waiting list as evidence of demand. At the meeting staff reported the waiting list remained at 118 active applications. Commission members also said three apartments had opened recently; that did not materially reduce the overall wait list.

The motion read at the meeting was summarized as: recommending that the city council investigate the need for additional senior housing. The commission recorded the vote in a roll call with all members voting yes; mover and seconder were not specified in the minutes.

The commission said it will prepare a written memo and supporting packet for the city council so council members have the background information needed to decide whether to authorize or fund a formal feasibility study. The commission also planned to revisit the topic at a January meeting and to schedule a work session before some members depart for planned absences in February.