City of Lawrence                                        

Retiree Attraction Task Force

November 2, 2011 Meeting Notes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

City Commissioner Hugh Carter; County Commissioner Jim Flory; Hank Booth; Rosemary Chapin; Kathy Clausing-Willis; Susan Esau; Doug Gaumer; John Glassman; Jerry Harper; Rebecca Holmes; Pattie Johnston; Judy Wright

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Cynthia Wagner; Caitlin Stene

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

GUESTS:

Lee Gerhard

 

The second meeting of the Lawrence/Douglas County Retiree Attraction Task Force was held at noon, November 2, 2011 at the offices of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

 

City Commissioner and Co-Chair of the Task Force Hugh Carter opened the meeting with a discussion on inviting Dennis Domer to the next Task Force meeting on December 7, 2011. Domer will be able to provide background on Baby Boomer retirement needs and information about his work at the University of Kansas around this area of need. Task Force member Jerry Harper commented that Domer will be able to provide the Housing subcommittee with valuable insight into current and future housing needs of retirees. Task Force member Rosemary Chapin agreed with Harper and added that Domer current work at KU will compliment work of the Task Force and that it is important to keep each group aware of each others work.

 

Carter lead a conversation regarding Subcommittee meeting minutes in which it was decided that it is up to the discretion of each Subcommittee Chair as to whether to post meeting minutes to the Task Force website. Most subcommittee actions and progress will be documented in monthly Task Force meeting minutes.

 

Carter also discussed the importance of following open meeting laws, especially when emailing subcommittee members. Carter stressed the importance on not having group discussions via reply-all emails. He also reminded the group about including staff member Cynthia Wagner on subcommittee communication.

 

Task Force member and Medical Services, Social Services, Healthy Lifestyles and Volunteer Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Kathy Clousing-Willis provided the Task Force with an update. The subcommittee was unable to meet last month due to scheduling conflicts, but will be meeting this month to start the general inventory of subcommittee related areas.

 

Task Force member and Financial, Legal, Transportation and Employment Opportunities Subcommittee Co-Chairs Jerry Harper and Susan Esua provided the Task Force with an update. The subcommittee was able to meet on October 19 and the group started working on the general inventory of the subcommittee area. Co-Chair Esau stated that the subcommittee has started to contact possible community members to serve on the subcommittee. Subcommittee and Task Force member John Glassman has started to research other communities to gain information about best practices for retiree focused communities. Task Force member Hank Booth suggested that the subcommittee follow the progress of the City’s Complete Street report and its effects it will have on transportation. The subcommittee is still in the process of establishing a meeting date for the month of December.

 

Task Force member and KU, Educational Service and Cultural/Entertainment Activities subcommittee Chair Judy Wright provided the Task Force with an update. Wright stated that the group is in their inventory stage. The subcommittee has a full roster with twelve subcommittee members. Subcommittee member, Jerry Niebaum created an amenity piece which can be used at a later time by the Task Force. The next meeting of the Subcommittee is scheduled for Monday, November 14 at the KU Endowment Center from noon to 1 pm.

 

Task Force member and Housing Subcommittee Chair Hank Booth provided the Task Force with an update.  Booth invited Lee Gerhard, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Senior Council chair, to the meeting to provide an update about the current work of the Senior Council. Gerhard stated that the Senior Council following their initial report has decided to focus their efforts on housing. The Senior Council is looking forward to working with the Task Force Housing subcommittee. Subcommittee and Task Force member Jerry Harper is in the process of contacting the City’s planning department to gain an accurate housing stock and knowledge on future housing plans. Subcommittee and Task Force member Kathy Clausing-Willis stated that once inventory is completed the subcommittee will be looking at the gaps of what is currently provided and what will be needed. The subcommittee will be meeting this month, time and date is still being established.

 

Carter commented that as subcommittee inventories are being completed, the Task Force will need to shift to focus on marketing by perhaps creating another subcommittee to address this need. Chapin brought up the idea of brain storming a more attractive name for the Task Force for branding to the public, entire current Task Force name is long and not catchy.

 

Carter discussed the possibility of the City building a new recreation center and the importance of keeping seniors in mind when developing the building and services. Esau added the idea of creating a one-stop-shop for seniors to provide information and services to retirees, much like the new school district Welcome Center.

 

Subcommittees are to continue working on the inventory of their area, with reports back to the entire group at the next meeting.

 

The next meeting for the Task Force was scheduled for Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at noon at the Chamber offices.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.