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a) One type of recent request is from individuals who want to rent the lower level for <br />holiday dinners for their families. The space has been requested for Thanksgiving and <br />Christmas of this year. <br /> <br />b) Another type of request is from individuals who want to rent the lower level for quasi- <br />business purposes. Sales parties such as Tupperware are an example. Other individuals <br />have requested the space for informational meetings that acquaint the public with <br />professional services they may want to purchase in the future. Free "legal clinics" are an <br />example° <br /> <br />Churches or Religious Organizations <br /> <br />The current policy specifies that church groups cannot use the lower level south (the <br />Seniors' Area). The space is currently being leased, however, to such a group. <br /> <br />Alternatives Ways to Evaluate Requests to Use Facilities: <br /> <br />1. Establish a Review Board. In some communities, requests beyond those from <br />traditional community service groups are referred to a board for evaluation. The board <br />could be as simple as one elected official and one staff member. It could have advisory <br />power so that applicants could appeal to the City Council in the case of denial. <br /> <br /> The disadvantage of a review board is that it requires more lead time for applications <br />to be submitted. <br /> <br /> The advantage of a review board is that it eliminates trying to capture all possible <br />types of requests in a written policy. <br /> <br />2. Amend current policy to deny use on certain holiday. The Anoka County Parks <br />Department Building Use Policies states in Paragraph 2 that park buildings will not be <br />available for public use on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. <br /> <br />City staff outside of police officers and emergency snow plowing crews are not on duty <br />to assist with problems that develop in rented facilities on major holidays. The overtime <br />costs associated with having a staff member respond in the case of plumbing or other <br />problems far exceeds the current rental charge. <br /> <br />3. Amend the current policy limiting use and hours of availabili _ty. The rules for use of <br />the Anoka County Government Center state that space is available to non-governmental <br />groups only during normal County business hours. Fund raising activities in Government <br />Center space are limited to non-profit organizations engaged in fundraising for charitable <br />purposes. Applications are reviewed and approved or denied by the Director of Property <br />Management. <br /> <br /> <br />