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City staff update: Vista Del Camino food-bank upgrades, HEAF totals and Via Linda senior-center expansion
Summary
Director Mary Witkowski told the commission the city is consolidating human-services communications, launching a strategic-plan process, piloting a commercial-kitchen partnership with TCAA for fresh meals starting Oct. 1, and reported HEAF utility assistance totals (APS $5,841; SRP about $24,800; Southwest Gas $2,200).
Mary Witkowski, director of human services, gave the commission a staff report on Aug. 28 covering program updates, partnerships and facility projects.
Witkowski said human services will consolidate newsletters and begin a strategic-plan process next week under contract with LeCroy & Milligan, including focus groups for staff and external partners. She announced a pilot with Tempe Community Action Agency to prepare fresh meals in TCAA’s commercial kitchen for Granite Reef Senior Center, running Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
On food-bank operations, Witkowski said Vista Del Camino received a replacement box truck with a larger lift and is exploring refrigeration retrofits to rescue additional food. The Scottsdale Food Bank earned gold certification through Leah’s Pantry’s Nutrition Pantry standards for client experience and program operations. She reported results from back-to-school outreach: 445 families served representing 927 children.
Witkowski gave housing and assistance updates: the city’s case-assignment timeline has improved so clients receive a caseworker within five to 10 business days, and staff are preparing a consolidated annual performance and evaluation report due Sept. 30 that will summarize CDBG programs. She provided HEAF utility-assistance totals already distributed: APS $5,841; SRP approximately $24,800; Southwest Gas $2,200.
On senior services, Witkowski shared a sneak peek of Via Linda senior-center bond expansion, saying the project adds roughly 4,600 square feet to the existing facility and includes a warming kitchen and family bathroom with ADA-compliant adult changing areas. She invited commissioners to continue engagement as staff develop the strategic plan and program pilots.
Commissioners suggested future agenda items including landlord updates and volunteer-coordinator presentations, and the commission scheduled the next meeting for Sept. 11 with elections and a homeless-outreach update.
