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Senior center supporters tell council frequent rentals, limited parking are cutting services
Summary
At the Nov. 3 Washington City Council meeting, Nancy Ranieri, chair of the Senior Center Support Committee, told the council the senior center’s move to Knights of Columbus Hall left members with only two handicap parking spaces, less storage, frequent weekend rentals and an inoperable ice machine — conditions she said are reducing attendance and,
Nancy Ranieri, chairperson of the Senior Center Support Committee, told the Washington City Council on Nov. 3 that the center’s move six months ago to Knights of Columbus Hall has left seniors with insufficient parking, lost program space and heavy operational burdens from frequent rentals.
"It's been 6 months since we moved locations," Ranieri said, describing a move that she said reduced usable space and prompted cancellations of classes and loss of the center’s library. "We have 18 to 20 people that are regular visitors to the center that have handicap parking placards. So 2 spots is not enough." She said the Knights upgraded some features (lighting, ADA bathroom work, repaved parking) but did not deliver other promised items such as a locking office for the administrator and a large storage unit.
Ranieri told the council the support committee has logged substantial staff and volunteer time to manage rentals and move furniture; she estimated the committee spent about 83 work hours through October securing items and resetting the space after rentals. She said the Knights have continued to rent the facility frequently — "We have had 29 rentals between moving in in May and the October" — and that rentals sometimes require volunteers to pack and repack the facility. Ranieri also said the center is buying ice because the ice machine is not working and the Knights declined to replace it.
Ranieri warned the changes are already affecting attendance and the center’s finances: on bingo days attendance may reach 70–90 people, while some weekdays drop to 15–16. "We estimate our participant numbers are down by 1 third to 1 half since we moved in," she said, and cautioned that diminished attendance could threaten the center’s contract with Aging Ahead, which funds the $5 lunch program when sufficient participants attend.
During follow-up questions councilmembers sought clarifications on square footage and parking. Ranieri said the current facility is "6,500" square feet and that the Elks location had more level parking and at least six handicap spaces. A councilmember responded that they would speak with Knights of Columbus representatives and other stakeholders to try to resolve parking, storage and rental-scheduling issues.
The council did not take formal action during the public comment period. City staff and councilmembers encouraged the senior center support committee to continue communicating details to staff; one councilmember said, "I'll try to speak to those who would know at least about those spots," and staff indicated they would follow up with the Knights and relevant parties.
Next steps: Ranieri requested council assistance to preserve services while the city explores future building options; councilmembers asked staff to look into the concerns and to coordinate with the Knights of Columbus and Aging Ahead. The transcript does not record a specific staff assignment or timeline for a follow-up report.
