A discussion during the council's Jan. 18 work session comes on the heels of the newly built Keller Senior Activities Center. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 29, according to the event’s Facebook page.
Cody Maberry, Keller director of community services, along with other Keller Senior Activities Center staff members, led the discussion with City Council. The question is whether the new center—which currently has no membership costs—should charge an annual fee of $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents.
The Keller Senior Activities Center staff based its numbers on comparisons to other cities’ senior centers. For example, Colleyville charges residents nothing and nonresidents $10 annually for a membership. Flower Mound charges residents $10 and nonresidents $20 annually. And Hurst charges residents $20 and nonresidents $80 annually, according to a work session document.
Keller City Manager Mark Hafner pointed out that the new center is over 21,000 square feet compared with the current center’s 4,200 square feet. He said the center is considering implementing a fee in order to keep up with the costs of the new facility.
“The utility costs are gonna be higher,” Hafner said. “There's no doubt about it.”
However, the annual fees would be on top of some of the costs the center already charges for some of its programs and trips. Multiple council members had concerns about ensuring all seniors eligible for a membership—those 55 and older—are able to access one. But staff pointed out that that is what the Keller Community Senior Fund Inc. helps prevent. The nonprofit serves the seniors of the Keller Senior Activities Center.
“I think based on staff's recommendation, it makes a lot of sense because we're on the lower end, but it's still a new facility,” Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said. “So, personally, I'm OK with moving forward.”
The current Keller Senior Activities Center is located at 660 Johnson Road. The new facility will open at 640 Johnson Road, Building 2—in the same lot as the current senior center and Keller Public Library. The city decided to construct the new senior center after about 68% of Keller voters approved the construction of it in November 2018.
