Agenda - Council Work Session - 12/04/2006

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Youth First - Oak Terrace Program By: Heidi A. Nelson, Asst. City Administrator Background: At the November 21 work session, staff updated Council regarding the Youth First Program at Oak Terrace Estates. As Council will recall, Youth First has been conducting programming with the youth in Oak Terrace Estates throughout the summer and began the after-school program this fall on site. Youth First has been doing this programming in with the support of the Ramsey Lions and the Ramsey Rotary. Currently the program has been suspended due to the lack of heat in the storm shelter on the site and the lack of alternative meeting space for the after-school program. Heidi Geiss from Youth First will be present at the work session for the discussion. Staff proposed the use of the southern office-space portion of the old NAU site at the November 21 work session and Council directed staff to bring the issue back when more of the details were known. Staff met with Marty Fisher, the city's leasing agent for the space, at the site to assess the feasibility of the site and the financial obligations that would need to be met to utilize the space. The following issues were identified, along with possible solutions: . Insurance for the site. Currently the City insures the property, any leasor of the space would need to provide liability insurance for its operation. Youth First does carry liability insurance for its programs and would extend their coverage to this site for the operation of the after-school program. · Utilities. The monthly utility costs are estimated at $250. Currently the building is heated to roughly 50 degrees to ensure that the buildings plumbing does not freeze and its system operate. Options for the payment of utilities could be a financial commitment from either the Rotary or Lions Clubs, or a joint arrangement between the Clubs. · Snow removal and clearing a path to Oak Terrace. In order for the youth to walk to the site, a path would need to be maintained to Oak Terrace. Either the City could add this removal to its snow operations or Youth First could request the assistance of the neighboring business, Pro Power Sports to add this to their snow plow operation. During the work session of 11/21 a concern was raised regarding the comfort level of the families in allowing their children to walk to the site from Oak Terrace. Youth First staff referenced their Anoka program where youth walk from a 6-8 block area to the center where they conduct programming and it has