National City outlines senior-center reopening plan and rising meal service numbers

Tracy Lam, interim director of community services for National City, told the Park and Recreation Committee the city is aiming for a soft opening of the renovated senior center on April 1 if outstanding change orders are resolved and a binding agreement with the contractor is signed.

Lam highlighted program activity across the recreation system, including a virtual-reality event for seniors, a two-week free spring-break program for youth (March 24–April 4, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.), parent-and-child "Messy Play" for toddlers, ongoing yoga and hip-hop classes, and a new youth empowerment volunteer program. She said staff will publish updated hours once the MLK Community Center move and schedule are finalized.

Lam also provided operational figures for senior services: January’s meal program served about 4,300 meals (including roughly 3,000 resident senior meals and 283 non-senior meals) and made more than 1,500 home deliveries to homebound seniors. Volunteer support totaled more than 224 volunteer hours in the reported period. Lam said staff are recruiting a new nutrition manager and held interviews with human resources; an offer has been made and the city awaits the candidate’s response.

Committee members urged Lam to consider expanding service hours (Lam said the city may examine adding roughly 30 minutes to service start times depending on grant rules and budgets) to ease crowding around peak meal times. Lam stressed the city wants to open the facility safely and complete outstanding contract change orders before accepting keys and running the center.

Lam said the recreation program plan will be circulated by email prior to the next meeting so commissioners can provide input before staff finalizes programming decisions.