For over 20 years there has been a discussion about how best to offer needed services to our senior population. With the impeding retirement of the baby boom generation now in full swing we are seeing the need for these services increasing in the coming years. Everyone agrees that the existing senior center is not adequate to handle the needs of this growing population.

The solution reached by a previous Council to address this deficiency was to convert about 7 acres of passive open space at Central Park to house a brand new Senior Center. This issues has been very divisive to say the least! On the one side you have those who would argue that the people voted and the project should move forward. They believe that by not completing the project that seniors are going undeserved. On the other side you have those who believe in having a senior center, but who object to the location, to the funding mechanism and to the environmental analysis that occurred.

During my time on the Planning Commission I did have the chance to read the Environmental Impact Report and the Conditional Use Permit. I believed then, and I believe now that the location chosen in the park was incorrect. I also believe that the use of the park funds being diverted from Pacific City to pay for the Senior Center was not correct.

I believe that with all of the time and money that has been spent on this fight, that we could have opened several regional senior centers around the city. We could use closed schools sites or other commercial properties. We should focus on putting senior services in areas of high senior concentration, such as near the Huntington Landmark and 5 Points areas.

The even bigger issue now is not whether we can get a building built... but if we can fund the kinds of services planned for the building. With the current fiscal crisis in Huntington Beach and the State of California, it is possible that there will not be enough funding to ever even operate the facility as planned. The proposed 2010/11 budget in fact is cutting Senior Services 5.5% already

On September 11, 2010 I had the opportunity to host a booth at Senior Saturday. I had many wonderful conversations with seniors who were very concerned about not having a new Senior Center yet. I understand their frustration! More than 4 years ago a measure was placed on the ballot to approve the location in Central Park. However, the funding mechanism has been the problem since day one. Until there are homes and businesses at Pacific City, there are no in-lieu fees to pay for the center. Now that the courts have ruled this usage of in-lieu fees are not approriate, it has made the issue even less clear. As a council member I will be committed to looking at every possible solution that can allow us to maintain and possibly expand service to seniors. I will also think outside the box to see if we can find another location for the Senior Center.

What do you think? How do you think the City should be involved in providing services for our aging population? I would love to hear them... This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !