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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 21, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~(~_ <br />SUBJECT: Proposed Fee Structure and Operation Hours for the Fitness Studio <br />at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center <br />DEPARTMENT: Department on Aging PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Comparison Chart of Proposed Jerry Passmore, (919) 245-2009 <br />Seymour Center Fitness Fee Structure Janice Tyler, (919) 968-2071 <br />with SportsPlex Donna Coffey, (919) 245-2151 <br />2. Fitness Studio Info Flyer Ken Chavious, (919) 245-2453 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of a fee structure and operation hours for the Seymour <br />Center Fitness-Equipment Studio. <br />BACKGROUND: Since the Department on Aging Wellness Program began in 1997, there has <br />always been a fee for service among the group exercise classes to cover the costs of paid <br />certified fitness instructors. The Department on Aging has provided scholarships with limited <br />United Way dollars to bridge the gap in service provision for those who cannot afford to pay the <br />requested fees in order that all older persons have access to senior center services. <br />Since the early planning stages of the new Seymour Center, it has been the request by citizens <br />to include a fitness area that included exercise machines that increase endurance, help maintain <br />balance and build strength for a healthy lifestyle. Ina 2003 citizen input survey on the design of <br />the new senior centers, citizens ranked a fitness studio second to Information and Referral in a <br />list of requested services. In order to provide this service to older adults in a safe manner, there <br />needs to be orientation and monitoring as well as continued maintenance on these types of <br />machines. <br />In January of this year, staff made it a requirement in order to use the new exercise machines at <br />the Seymour Center that all interested participants would be required to complete an initial <br />physical function screen at the senior center. This test has been offered at both the Chapel Hill <br />Senior Center and Central Orange Senior Center on a regular basis and at Northside on an as <br />requested basis since 2003 by local physical therapist. The test results provide a functional <br />baseline for participants to indicate what fitness equipment or exercise classes would be most <br />beneficial to them. Since March of this year, 144 participants have been screened and over half <br />(85) have been screened since the opening of the Seymour Center in late May. The number of <br />