Laserfiche WebLink
I <br /> CONSIDER YOUTH FIRST PROGRAM AT FORMER NAU SITE <br /> By: Heidi A.Nelson,Asst. City Administrator <br /> Background: <br /> Over the past year, Youth First has been providing programming to the youth that live in Oak Terrace <br /> Estates on Highway 10. Over the summer months, the youth were provided opportunities to attend <br /> various programs at the NWYMCA, Ramsey's Safety Camp, as well as programming that was <br /> provided within the Oak Terrace neighborhood. As fall approached, Youth First began to offer an <br /> after-school homework program in the afternoons in the storm shelter on site. As the cooler <br /> temperatures arrived,the need to find an alternate site for the after-school program became apparent, <br /> due to the lack of heat in the storm shelter. Several options were explored, including a mobile home <br /> within the neighborhood and the old Hamilton house located to the west of the neighborhood. Both <br /> options were wrought with difficulty due to the condition of the structures. <br /> In recent months,the City has been in the process of purchasing properties via funds available through <br /> the state within the Highway 10 Corridor for the eventual reconstruction of Highway 10. One of the <br /> properties recently purchased is the former NAU site. During the work session of December 4`h, <br /> Council considered the request to allow Youth First to utilize the south east office space at the former <br /> NAU site to continue its programming for the Oak Terrace neighborhood as well as other youth in the <br /> Ramsey area. There were several issues discussed with Council that will require support from <br /> community organizations; Youth First is working to pull resources together to address those issues. <br /> The following is a brief summary of the issues addressed during the Council work session of <br /> December 4: <br /> • Utilities. Are estimated to be $250 a month, conservatively. The Ramsey Rotary has <br /> made a commitment of$1500 to Youth First to assist with the payment of utility costs <br /> at the site. <br /> • Snow plowing. A solution is needed to provide a path from Oak Terrace to the east end <br /> of the NAU site. Options could include asking the city to plow this path or to ask a <br /> neighboring business if they would add this to their plowing routine. <br /> • Lighting the path. It was suggested that the path between NAU and Oak Terrace be lit. <br /> Heidi Geiss of Youth First will be contacting Connexus Energy to request assistance <br /> with this. <br /> • Insurance for the site. Currently the City insures the property; any leasor of the space <br /> would need to provide liability insurance for its operation and contents. Youth First <br /> does carry liability insurance for its programs and would extend their coverage to this <br /> site for the operation of the after-school program. <br /> • Demise office Space. There is a potential need to demise the space into two separate <br /> office spaces. The cost to perform this work is estimated at$7,00049,000. Youth First <br /> and city staff are continuing to work on options for this need. <br /> • Foregoing lease revenue and taxes to the City. Staff recognizes that with this <br /> arrangement, the City would be foregoing any lease revenue and property taxes that <br /> might have been collected from the lease of the space. The lease revenue, minus the <br /> administrative expenses, would be returned to the Met Council RALF program. Staff <br /> met with the EDA on November 30 and the EDA expressed support for the use of the <br /> space for this purpose. During the work session of December 4, Council concurred with <br />