Agency Loses City Contracts on 2 Programs for the Elderly

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday stripped the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council of its longstanding contracts to administer a citywide ombudsman program and a North Hollywood senior-citizens’ center but restored a third contract the agency had lost a year ago.

The City Council’s action overrode recommendations by a panel of outside advisers and a council committee that the Interfaith Council retain the contracts, paid for by federal funds administered by the City of Los Angeles.

In spite of the presence of about 500 supporters of the Valley social services agency, the City Council dismissed the agency as administrator of the Wachs Multipurpose Senior Center in North Hollywood, awarding that $547,882 contract instead to Jewish Family Service, which submitted a rival proposal.

The center, administered by the Interfaith Council since its inception 11 years ago, provides social services, counseling, legal assistance, day care and meals to hundreds of elderly.

Paula Smith, assistant general manager of the city’s Department of Aging, said the change of contract would not close the Wachs center, situated in the First Presbyterian Church of North Hollywood. She said Jewish Family Service, which already operates a similar center called the Valley Storefront in North Hollywood, will be required by its contract to maintain the Wachs center and all services now available there.

Also Loses $98,832 Contract

The City Council dealt the Valley agency a second defeat by denying it a $98,832 contract to run the city’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which it designed and has run for 13 years. The program counsels elderly residents of nursing and board-and-care homes to help them qualify for government benefits. The council awarded that contract to the Westside Independent Services to the Elderly, which operates a similar program under Los Angeles County.

Softening the blow to the Valley agency, City Council reinstated the Interfaith Council as operator of the North Valley Multipurpose Senior Center in Pacoima, with a $316,057 contract. The city Department of Recreation and Parks replaced the Interfaith Council as administrator of that program last year, and the agency bid to regain the program this year.

The Department of Aging, which evaluated bids for the city’s 15 multipurpose senior centers this spring, rated the Interfaith Council below the Jewish Family Service and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

The Interfaith Council appealed, and a city-appointed appeals panel ruled in the agency’s favor. The panel, composed of experts in elderly care, said in June that the Interfaith Council was doing a good job and that no clear justification had been given for a change.

However, Department of Aging General Manager Dennis Jackson ignored the appeals panel and recommended that City Council reject the agency as the operator of the North Hollywood and Pacoima centers.

Another twist developed when the Council’s Grants, Housing and Community Development Committee reversed Jackson. Two of its members recommended that the Interfaith Council receive the contracts.

In a separate contract dispute, the same committee recommended that the Interfaith Council retain its contract for the ombudsman program.

‘If It Isn’t Broken, Don’t Fix It’

When both disputes came before the City Council on Tuesday, Committee chairman Robert C. Farrell argued that no strong case had been built against the Valley agency. “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” he said.

Lois Hamer, president of the Interfaith Council, argued that it would be disruptive to the elderly clients of the ombudsman program and the Wachs center to abruptly change the provider of services. “It would be unconscionable at this time to interrupt the trust that has been built up,” Hamer said.

The Department of Aging’s Smith told the City Council that the Valley agency’s programs are adequate, but that the other bidders appear better able to expand the program, especially in assisting those too frail to care for themselves.

On a motion by Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, the Council voted 9 to 4 to drop Valley Interfaith, with Farrell, Councilmen John Ferraro, whose district includes the Wachs center, Nate Holden and Gilbert Lindsay dissenting. On a separate 11-2 vote, the council voted to hire Jewish Family Service. Farrell and Ferraro dissented.

On the ombudsman contract, Smith faulted the Interfaith Council for having fewer volunteers than its rival bidder and for failing to maintain an ombudsman center outside the San Fernando Valley. The Council voted 10 to 3 to oust the agency, with Councilmen Richard Alatorre, Farrell and Ferraro dissenting.