Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bonney Lake searches for temporary senior-center space during kitchen and HVAC remodel
Summary
Councilors were told the senior center will close for remodeling (new air conditioning, electrical and kitchen work). City staff are seeking short-term, economical locations (Prairie Ridge Rec Hall, churches, the GoodRoots property with food-truck options, school district sites, Public Services Building) but had no firm plan or timeline.
Council members and city staff discussed options Feb. 10 for temporarily relocating senior-center activities while the center undergoes remodeling to update the kitchen, electrical and air conditioning.
Council Member Fullerton said the seniors will be displaced during construction and stressed the importance of maintaining consistent programming and social engagement. Staff described outreach to churches, the former market/GoodRoots property (which lacks a commercial kitchen but could host food trucks), Prairie Ridge Rec Hall, Tehaleh contacts and the school district. Bonney Lake High Schools commercial kitchen was suggested as a possibility to pursue directly.
Staff said the Public Services Building has commercial appliances but limited parking and that they are exploring a mix of short-term solutions (three months in one place then transition elsewhere) rather than moving seniors daily. They also noted that many schools no longer operate on-site commercial kitchens, as meals are prepared centrally and bussed, which complicates using schools as temporary sites.
"Our senior center staff really understand what they need and what they're looking for. We're actively looking for a different location, but it is a little difficult in our area to find a space that's unoccupied and has a commercial kitchen," a staff member said.
No formal vote or final agreement was reached; staff said they will continue outreach and bring options back to council. Councilors asked staff to prioritize consistent scheduling and accessibility, and to report firm options at the next meetings.
Why this matters: seniors rely on the center for social engagement and meal service; loss of the center without a consistent temporary location would disrupt services.
Next steps: staff to continue outreach to churches, school contacts (including high-school kitchen staff), community groups and private property owners and to return with concrete short-term options and timelines.
