Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
www.santa-ana.org/parks
Item # 13
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 2, 2026
TOPIC: Senior Meals Program
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Community SeniorServ, Inc. dba Meals on Wheels Orange County for the Senior Meals Program (Specification No. 26-072) (General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Community SeniorServ, Inc. dba Meals on Wheels Orange County for the Senior Meals Program in an amount of $90,300 for base services (Home Delivered Meals and Lunch Cafe Programs) and $9,700 for additional as needed services, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a term beginning July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2027 (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana has collaborated with Meals on Wheels (MOW) Orange County to provide the Home Delivered Meals and Senior Lunch programs to Santa Ana residents.
MOW prepares and delivers three meals daily to the homes of homebound, frail, and socially isolated seniors in the City. A registered dietician plans the meals to assure 100% of the U.S. Nutritional Recommended Daily Allowance - consisting of breakfast, a cold lunch, and a frozen dinner. In addition to meals, clients benefit from daily contact with delivery staff as well as the calls and/or visits from caseworkers who regularly check on their well-being.
The Senior Lunch Program helps alleviate poor nutrition among the elderly population, especially prevalent among those who live alone and/or on a limited income. This nutrition program is normally available at two sites in Santa Ana (Santa Ana Senior Center and Southwest Senior Center) and seeks to enhance the physical and mental well-being of the elderly population by:
• Encouraging a sense of dignity;
• Providing stimulating activities and volunteer opportunities; and
Senior Meals Program
June 2, 2026
• Augmenting participants’ financial resources by providing donation-based meals.
Meals on Wheels Orange County was selected by the County of Orange, effective July 1, 2024, to be the only provider of Older Americans Act Lunch Café (Congregate), Home Delivered Meals, Case Management, Transportation and In-Home Services in the County’s Service Areas 1-4, which includes the City of Santa Ana in Service Area 3.
Thus, Santa Ana is in the catchment area for these services.
The funding the City provides helps maintain high serving levels for the Congregate programs provided at the two senior centers, the Santa Ana Senior Center and the Southwest Senior Center. It also has contributed to the ability to launch certain innovations for the benefit of Santa Ana residents, such as Lunch Café Select. Through this innovation, the Southwest Senior Center has been the first location in Orange County to offer a choice of two different lunch menus to the seniors.
Furthermore, the City’s funding helps maintain a robust level of services for Home Delivered Meals and provide homebound residents with a choice of menus such as Multi-cultural, Hispanic, Asian, Vegetarian, and Lactose-free.
The agreement also provides $9,700 for as-needed meals/services during the term of the contract for special senior programs that may occur. The City of Santa Ana has partnered with MOW for over three decades and would like to continue this collaboration for another year.
Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 2-807(a), authorizes the City to make non-bid purchases of services, supplies, materials, and equipment whenever it shall appear that there is only one reasonably available source. Staff researched available procurement options and product offerings in the market and determined that the Senior Meals Program offered by Community SeniorServ, Inc. dba Meals on Wheels Orange County meets the City’s specifications. Staff recommends awarding an agreement with Community SeniorServ, Inc. dba Meals on Wheels Orange County (Exhibit 1).
The non-profit organization leverages supplemental funding from external sources to support program operations and offset the full cost of services to the City. As a result, the partnership provides a cost-effective approach that maximizes available resources and expands community benefit beyond what could typically be achieved through a traditional procurement process. Through this collaboration, the City is able to enhance and add value to the overall services provided to residents.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
Senior Meals Program
June 2, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding will be budgeted and made available in the following account for the specified year, subject to City Council approval:
Fiscal
Year
Accounting
Unit
Accounting Unit
Description
Account Account
Description
Amount
FY 26-27 01113230 PRCSA-Recreation &
Comm. Svc,
Contractual Services-
Professional
62300 General Fund $100,000
Total $100,000
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement with Community SeniorServ, Inc. dba Meals On Wheels Orange County
Submitted By: Hawk Scott, Executive Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager