Advocate seeks city help to form Fulshear senior center; requests city support for 501(c)(3) setup

A local organizer seeking to establish a senior center in Fulshear asked the City Council on Jan. 28 for help forming a nonprofit and for long‑term municipal support to keep the center sustainable.

Joseph (Vibha?) Mazzoni (recorded as “Mister Mazzoni” in the transcript), who presented the center’s operations and resource plan, said the group has positioned the project as a “City of Fulshear Senior Center” rather than an independent nonprofit but that nonprofit status is required to raise funds and accept grants and donations. He asked the council to help cover the roughly $979 cost to set up a 501(c)(3) through an online legal service so the group can begin soliciting donations and apply for grants.

Mazzoni described early volunteer engagement and program planning. He said a temporary building next to JP Court No. 1 (the former Bob Lutz library) had been offered at no charge by a local supporter and that an initial meet‑and‑greet drew roughly 17 prospective volunteers. He told council seniors have expressed strong interest and that the plan anticipates offering lunch, activities, volunteer programs and at least one paid staffer, with the goal that the center’s paid staff eventually be city employees.

Council members and staff discussed legal and budget constraints. City staff cautioned that the city may not be able to directly give funds for nonprofit formation and recommended Mazzoni contact members of the community who could fund the 501(c)(3) setup. Council members suggested connecting the group with the city’s economic development director and exploring whether the Economic Development Corporation could assist. Mayor McCoy and other council members said the city could help coordinate and provide referrals and that some council members would work offline to identify potential donors and expedite nonprofit formation.

Council did not vote on funding. Several council members expressed support for the project and suggested the group work with city staff and legal counsel to clarify whether senior center staff could be city employees or whether the group should operate as an independent nonprofit with city oversight. Council members also encouraged exploring available space and potential long‑term land acquisition for a permanent facility.

Mazzoni requested the city include the senior center as a department in the next budget cycle for long‑term stability; council asked staff to review legal and budget constraints and to follow up with Mazzoni. The city did not commit funds at the Jan. 28 meeting.