Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/08/2008

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'(!p-SE-JI- cR CONSIDER CHARITABLE GAMBLING FUND CONTRIBUTION TO YOUTH FIRST COMMUNITY OF PROMISE-RAMSEY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER By: Heidi A. Nelson, Asst. City Administrator Background: In 2005, the City of Ramsey initiated the process of purchasing properties located in the Highway 10 Corridor in cooperation with Metropolitan Council and MNDot, via Met Council's Revolving Acquisition Loan Fund (RALF). These properties will someday be encumbered by the new alignment of Highway 10 when it is reconstructed to freeway standards. The properties lie generally from just west of the Anoka Technical College to just east of Armstrong Boulevard, north of the current alignment of Highway 10 to the railroad tracks. One of the first properties purchased by the City utilizing RALF funds, was the former NAU building located at 6710 Highway 10 NW. The owner constructed a new office building in Ramsey Town Center and transferred their business operations to the new building. The City pursued leasing the property and currently has two tenants located in the back of the building. In early 2007, the City offered the front office space on the east end of the building to Youth First to provide community programming after school and during the summer. The City does not collect rent on the space leased to Youth First; however, Y outhFirst does pay for the utilities at the site. Youth First had been struggling to find space to offer programming in the Oak Terrace Neighborhood, utilizing the un- heated storm shelter for a period of time located in that neighborhood. The space has worked well for Youth First and the development of a Ramsey Neighborhood Center. In addition, Youth First has moved its offices into the space, reducing their expenses for office space previously leased at another site. The site has also ,been utilized for other community programs provided in the evenings by the Ramsey Police Department and AH Community Education. Initially, programming provided at the site focused on the Oak Terrace Neighborhood just to the east of the site. In the past year, Youth First staff has expanded the programming to youth from all areas of Ramsey, including working with the Anoka Hennepin School District to provide transportation to the site after school as well as marketing the programs to the students at PACT Charter School. The summer programs attracted youth from throughout the community. The Neighborhood Center has had a direct positive impact on the Oak Terrace Neighborhood by helping to create a sense of community and establishing and strengthening a positive relationship with law enforcement. Heidi Geiss, Program Director for Youth First, will be present at the meeting to discuss in detail the outreach they have been doing to the broader Ramsey community and organizations, successes they have had in the Oak Terrace Neighborhood, and the positive impact of providing programming locally for youth. It should be noted that in 2007, the City Council amended the city code with regard to the use of Charitable Gambling Funds to include community programs and services. The Council introduced a further amendment to city code on April 22nd, 2008 that will be up for adoption on May 13th, 2008 that designates that at least 70% of the Charitable Gambling Fund be designated on an annual basis for capital improvements in parks. The code amendment is attached to this case for Park Board information. The current balance of the Charitable Ganibling Fund is $200,509. As a part of the 2008 budget, $21,300 of community progranis (Juvenile Diversion, Alexandra House, Youth First) were funded from the Charitable Gambling Fund. Also in 2007, City Council increased the percentage required to be contributed to the City by charitable gambling operators from three (3) percent to five' (5) percent. Attached to this case is a letter from Youth First requesting funding, Youth First's current budget, and the most recent Youth First Community of Promise newsletter which provides information about what 9