Leaders of the Oconomowoc Area Senior Center told council on Dec. 16 that membership has grown rapidly in recent years and that existing facilities are undersized and have accessibility and safety constraints.

Ginny Hicks, president of the senior center, said the organization now records roughly 1,021 members with about 64% active participation, approximately 16,000 annual visits and 150 monthly programs. Hicks said volunteers (about 165) and two part‑time paid staff support those activities and that the center operates seven days a week.

Facility limitations: Karen Spiegelberg, who chairs the facilities subcommittee, described the current dedicated activity footprint as approximately 1,200 square feet with only one bathroom, an undersized kitchen and access challenges due to a ramp that is not suitable for some members with recent hip or knee surgery. The senior center has used shared common rooms upstairs, but those areas are controlled by the building owner and are not reliably available.

Why it matters: Presenters linked senior center operations to public health and social‑service outcomes, calling the center a community hub that combats isolation and supports independent living. Board members requested council engagement in strategic planning and asked city officials to consider options for an expanded or new facility to meet current and projected needs.

Next steps: The senior center asked council members to visit the facility and to engage in further planning conversations; no funding or formal commitment was requested or approved at this meeting.