King County Council Chair (District 4), Larry Phillips, stopped into the Ballard Senior Center on July 10 as part of his annual Neighborhood Walk.

Phillips takes a day every year to visit parts of his district for a walking tour and to visit with community members. Phillips said he tries to come by the center at least once a year. This particular tour was Phillips last as he is retiring from office at the end of his term.

Attendees were having lunch when Phillips stopped by and spoke with him about pressing issues in their community and at the center.

One issue Phillips addressed was funding for the center. The Ballard Senior Center receives some funds from the city and county for operational needs.
However, the center must raise 75 percent of its operating budget. They serve almost 4,000 seniors and other individuals a year with nutritional meals, health and wellness services, classes, social work, exercise opportunities and other programs

Larry assured the senior that because of the County’s move to a 2-year budget cycle, the center will have funding support through 2016.

“That will be in place to help you (the center) keep the doors open and lights on and keep things active here at the Ballard Senior Center,” said Phillips.

Phillips also discussed other issues like parking and transportation in Ballard. He said that the county has been working closely with the city to bring new transit hours to the area.

“Transit is a big part of getting people around, and we want to make sure it’s available to you. I worked really hard on that issue. I won’t be working on it in the future as an elective, but I will as a citizen to make sure we continue to meet your needs.”

Former Ballard Senior Center Board member, Bernie Sadowski, had lunch with the Ballard News-Tribune. Sadowski served on the board for five years. He has a doctoral degree in gerontology. He said that the most pressing issues facing the center is funding, membership and parking.

To cover costs, the center had to recently bump monthly membership dues to $35 from $30. With the membership, three-course lunches are provided for $3 daily. After the bump, the center lost members. Sadowski said that outside of lunch service the once bustling center can be pretty quiet.

“It can be a ghost town in here at times,” said Sadowski.

Parking is another issue. Since there only around 10 spaces at the site, seniors have trouble parking and have to rely on other modes of travel like public transit or senior ride services.

One senior lives in Broadview and said that she cannot drive to the center. She would like to take the bus but service to the center is only offered during peak hours – too late for lunch and other activities at the center.

The center has been a long supporter or the seniors of Ballard and relies on its members and some public funding to continue operating. To become member visit the center at 5429 32nd Ave NW or visit the website at http://www.ballardseniorcenter.org.