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Staff credits volunteers, sponsors for older‑adult programs and expanded Independence Day event
Summary
Staff told commissioners senior dances, meal programs and a community art showcase showed growing participation; the Independence Day celebration at Gabrielino High School added booths, an extended drone/laser show and a $20,000 platinum sponsorship from Athens Services.
Matthew Morales Stevens, Community Services assistant director, updated the commission on older‑adult programming and the city’s Independence Day celebration.
Stevens credited Desiree Gomez, the department’s recreation specialist, with creating and expanding older‑adult programming (senior dances, a community art showcase and a spring luncheon run in partnership with the YWCA). He reported attendance figures—about 50 at many events and roughly 97 at the spring luncheon—and said the volunteer appreciation dinner (the first since at least 2018) honored volunteers who support meal and social programs.
On the Independence Day celebration, Stevens said the city adjusted the start time to reduce participants’ exposure to midday heat and improved crowd distribution with additional booths and walkways. “Athens Services... sponsored us the platinum sponsor for a $20,000 donation,” he said, and staff added a longer 18‑minute drone/laser light show and an upgraded LED screen to the main stage configuration.
Stevens noted capacity planning (staff estimated about 5,000 capacity for the venue), traffic and parking impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and the police department’s operational plans to mitigate exit congestion. Staff also recorded feedback about drone lighting that shone into the crowd and said they will work with the drone vendor to focus lights higher over the audience.
Commissioners raised outreach and access questions (surveying geography of attendees, transportation for seniors, and distribution of the Grapevine Press). Stevens said staff will explore social media pushes, targeted mailers and distribution of printed material at community hubs and grocery stores to reach seniors who do not use online channels.
