Staff, programs may be cut at Roberts Adult Center

A users' group is organizing to fight the mayor's proposal to reduce the center's funding by one-third next year.

By CHAUNDRA PERKINS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 17, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The city's new budget might cut programs and staff at the Roberts Adult Center.

The center at 1330 50th Ave. N offers activities such as pottery, watercolors, tai chi, tennis, yoga, bridge, pinochle, Scrabble and trips. It is one of three adult recreation centers in St. Petersburg.

The mayor's proposed budget for the 2003 fiscal year, beginning on Oct. 1, includes a $48,000 reduction for the adult center. If the budget is approved, the Roberts Center will lose one-third of its funding.

"We hope to keep (the center) alive and active in some way," said Jay Morgan, the city's Office on Aging manager.

Morgan said the cut will force a substantial downsizing. The city may cut the four-person staff in half and use only one of the two buildings on site. Other possibilities are to move the programs into neighboring facilities like Northeast High School. Nothing is certain at this point.

At pottery class Monday night at the center, participants signed a petition against the possibility of losing their "clay house." That's what they call the annex where "Pottery with Pat" takes place every Monday night from 6:30 p.m to 9 p.m.

Recommendations made at public hearings before the City Council may influence decisions about the center.

The hearings will be held on Aug. 22 and Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers, 175 Fifth St. N.

Marci Jacobs, 65, who participates in other activities at the center, is rallying a group to go to the hearings and circulating a petition.

"It doesn't make sense to close it down," she said. "I'm hoping this will encourage people to talk to their councilmen."

Kay Burniston has been coming to the pottery class for two months.

She tried another pottery class but found the program at the Roberts Center more reasonable and fun. It costs $25 a month, plus $10 for clay.

Gloria Zigler has been into pottery for five years.

She said the Roberts Center has been the most convenient for her because of the location and price.

Marsha Adams said she thought it was nice that St. Petersburg took adults into consideration when coordinating recreational activities.

Now she feels the city is cutting costs at those adults' expense.

"Roberts wasn't singled out," said Lee Metzger, city services administrator. "We had millions of dollars that we were supposed to cut from the budget."

He said the Roberts Center is an older building "that doesn't really function well," and the city already had planned to demolish it and build a new facility for the Roberts Center in 2006.

If the city decides to eliminate the house now and relocate the programs, it will save money and resolve a parking issue.

"I think it's a shame for people that come here," said Pat Pignatello, the class instructor. "They're going to get displaced."

Pignatello also teaches courses at the Azalea adult center on the west side of town, but her students say that is too far to drive.

"I'll probably give it up," said Burniston, if the center closes.

Zigler said she would go to an arts center downtown, but, she added, "It's a lot more money."

Morgan said he hopes the instructors and their students can bear with the city through the transition of getting the new center.

"We're just in this budget mode right now," he said.

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