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

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Commissioner Shryock stated that the consensus of the Commission is that the concept looks great and that between now and the next meeting they should explore the other parking and drive options and also determine the cost of tearing out an existing drive to replace it. Parks Supervisor Riverblood advised that they could spend some time doing that but reminded the Commission that condemnation is no joke and that they should not spend too much time talking about that until they know that they' would need to do that. Case #2: Consider Charitable Gambling Fund Contribution to Youth First Community of Promise - Ramsey Neighborhood Center Asst. City Administrator Nelson explained that in 2005, the City initiated the process of purchasing properties located in the Highway 10 Corridor in cooperation with the 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. She advised that the City is currently letting Youth First use one of those buildings for their after school and summer program for the youth of the Oak Terrace neighborhood. She advised that Youth First had been in that space for about a year now and service youth from the Oak Terrace neighborhood as well as others in the community. She advised that there is a lot of detail in the funding request regarding Youth First and what they do. She advised that this would be a unique opportunity for the City to provide a program, which serves the youth in that area of the community. She advised that they have also installed a rink in that area and the police and fire departments both stop by and play kickball and other games with the youth. Staff recommends contribution from the Charitable Gambling Fund to the Youth First Community of Promise Ramsey Neighborhood Center in the amount of $29,100 to support after school and summer programming for Ramsey Youth. Commissioner Backous advised that he had seen the building and questioned if there would be room to add' a gymnasium in the back ofthe building for the kids. Asst. City Administrator Nelson advised that the back portion of the building is currently leased out to tenants for storage and that the only real finished portion of the building is in the front. She stated that they would keep that idea in mind, as the leases are renewable. .Heidi Geiss, Program Director for Youth First, advised that they have actually been looking for open gymnasium space and thought that would be a great idea. She advised that during the last summer the programs from the three cities (Anoka, Andover, and Ramsey) all got together and played basketball in different gyms throughout the cities. She advised that Youth First has been in existence for over 15 years. She advised that they also report to the Anoka-Hennepin School District, which makes it easy for her to find out how the kids are doing in school, if they are behind in some areas, and what their homework is for the day. She reported that 78 percent of the kids that they service qualify for free lunch, and 70 percent are colored. She advised that the kids Park and Recreation Commission/May 8, 2008 Page 5 of 13