News Staff
At the March 17 Board meeting, General Manager Christel Antone updated the Board on a 12-month pilot program that will transition the community bus service to GoGo Grandparent, a ride coordination service that works similarly to Uber or Lyft.
Video: 3-17-2026 Board Meeting
Starting in May, residents will be able to use the service by calling a phone number exclusive to Oakmont or by using an app. The GoGo Grandparent pilot is budgeted at $60,000 for the year, compared to the current city bus service, which costs approximately $117,000 annually and continues to increase each year. This represents an estimated annual savings of $57,000.
In addition to cost savings, the program offers increased convenience and flexibility for residents. Service is curb-to-curb, drivers are specially screened for transporting older adults, and family members can help manage rides. Initially, rides will follow the same general destinations currently served by Bus 16 to ensure continuity for residents. Over time, however, there is an opportunity to expand to a broader range of destinations, including additional locations within Oakmont—such as visiting neighbors—as well as other destinations beyond the community.
Each participating resident will receive two fully subsidized rides per month to the same shopping destinations currently served by the bus, with the option to take additional rides at personal expense. The program can be cancelled at any time, giving the Board flexibility to adjust or end the trial based on resident feedback and usage.
Because this is a pilot program, staff will be closely monitoring the service and gathering resident feedback along the way. One of the key advantages of GoGo Grandparent is its flexibility, allowing the program to evolve and be refined over time to better meet the needs of the community. Residents are encouraged to stay tuned for additional details, including the dedicated phone number and app access, which will be shared as we get closer to launch.
The Board approved an expenditure of $110,616 to purchase the chiller at the Berger building. Because the existing chiller has reached the end of its service life, Operations Manager Todd O’Donnell recommended moving forward now due to the approximately four-month lead time for procurement and the likelihood of cost increases over time. Ordering the equipment in advance will help control costs and ensure the chiller is on hand when replacement is scheduled, allowing for a more efficient installation process.
The Board also approved replacing the damaged benches surrounding the Lawn Bowling Green at a cost not to exceed $33,000. The new metal slat benches were chosen to better complement the bronze benches at Berger Plaza and support future site standardization, and carry a lower estimated lifecycle cost compared to the wood slat replacement previously considered.
The OVA launched a new pilot program introducing an AI-powered chatbot on the Oakmont website, oakmontvillage.com, designed to help residents quickly find answers to common questions. The Oakmont Chatbot can assist with forms and policy questions, club information, and general community and facility topics. To use it, simply visit the OVA website and click the orange circle with the white speech bubble in the lower right corner of your screen, then type your question in plain language. As with all pilot programs, resident feedback is essential — OVA encourages everyone to try it out and share their thoughts by contacting the OVA office at askova@oakmontvillage.com.
Finally, the OVA Board encourages all residents to make their voices heard in this year’s election. Three Board seats and two bylaw amendments are on the ballot, both of which will shape the future of our community. Completed ballots must be received by Pro Elections no later than 5 p.m. on April 5. Ballot counting will begin at the Annual Meeting on April 6 at 10 a.m., held at the Berger Center and on Zoom.