TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Kari Bell, Senior Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Additional Space Options for Older Adult Programming (No Budget Impact) (Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman).
RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the report regarding additional space options for older adult programming.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with this item.
BACKGROUND:
At the request of Mayor Lesser and Councilmember Tarnay at the August 19, 2025 City Council meeting, staff placed an item to explore additional space options for older adult programming and potential staff costs on the agenda. The full City Council supported this direction at the September 2, 2025 meeting.
Older adult programming at the Joslyn Community Center (JCC) is robust and many of the most popular programs sell out quickly, including the Holiday Luncheon and select bus excursions. During Fiscal Year 2024-2025, 30,635 older adults attended events and free classes at the facility. Program highlights include:
• Dine and Discover
• Lunch Bunch
• Technology Classes
• Discussion Groups
• Clubs
• Weekly Movies
• Support Programs
• Fitness Classes
• Drop-In Games
• Additional Activities
• Free Coffee Daily
• Computer and Printer Access
• Bus Excursions
In addition, Dial-A-Ride transports older adults to a variety of locations throughout Manhattan Beach and designated medical facilities in neighboring communities. Approximately 3,000 of the annual 6,480 rides are to/from the JCC.
In the recent statistically reliable Community Opinion Survey designed to assess residents’ satisfaction, priorities, and concerns as they relate to services, facilities, and policies provided by the City, 86.2 percent of survey respondents said they were very satisfied or satisfied with services and programs provided for seniors.
DISCUSSION:
Staff requested that the Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) consider options for expanding older adult programming at alternate locations at meetings on September 12 and October 14, 2025. SAC is a committee that works with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department to advise on programs, activities, and policies for older adults.
Potential locations considered for expanded older adult programming include the Manhattan Heights Community Center as well as AdventurePlex in partnership with the Beach Cities Health District. Both the Manhattan Heights Community Center and AdventurePlex have some availability for additional programming on weekday mornings depending on the season.
During its discussions, SAC expressed concern regarding the impact of splitting older adult programs across multiple locations within Manhattan Beach. SAC members emphasized the following:
• Maintaining all older adult activities at the JCC is essential for preserving social connection, which they identified as a core benefit of the City’s older adult programs.
• A single, centralized location allows participants to easily engage in multiple programs in one visit, supporting social well-being and convenient access to resources and staff support.
• Relocating classes to off-site facilities could create barriers to participation and disrupt the continuity of programming, particularly for older adults who rely on the familiarity, accessibility, and predictable environment of Joslyn.
After reviewing the potential off-site options presented by staff, SAC voted on October 14, 2025, to recommend keeping all older adult programming at the JCC until the new Manhattan Beach Senior and Scout Community Center is completed.
SAC’s recommendation does not apply to cultural arts and recreation programming enjoyed by older adults in other City locations and facilities, including ceramics classes and open lab; pickleball classes, leagues, and open play; outdoor workouts at the National Fitness Court at Polliwog Park; community special events, and other activities.
Based on SAC’s recommendation and its priority of maintaining continuity, accessibility, and social interaction for older adults by keeping older adult programming at the JCC for now, staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the report regarding additional space options for older adult programming. Prior to the opening of the new Manhattan Beach Senior and Scout Community Center next door to the JCC and after additional consultation with SAC and the community, staff will return with recommendations and potential staff costs for strategically expanding older adult programming beyond the JCC.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) considered options for expanding older adult programming at alternate locations at meetings on September 12 and October 14, 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. 2025 Community Opinion Survey Final Report