11-09-1994 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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10/28/94 10:13 NW YOUTH & FAtIILY SERVICES + 484 4538 N0.316 P09 Canteen" area of the Youth Activity Center, computer stations, and homework learning stations. The cost to complete renovations and to purchase the items listed above is expected to be approximately $100,000. The status of the planning process is as follows: NYFS is in the process of developing and convening a committee made up of city council tepresentatives, school district personnel, and community residents to develop programming plans for the Center. In particular, NYFS is seeking citizen input from neighbors living in the area surrounding the facility. It is expected that NYFS and its partners will be ready to implement the project in June of 1995. On-going program operating costs will be paid by NYFS' operating budget, contracts for services, fees for service, community fundraising events, and proceeds from the youth -run business (Teen Canteen). Approximately 1,500 individual middle school youth are expected to use the facility in the first year. This project meets the statutory goal of this grant category. NYFS is asking for startup costs of a shared service. Each of the seven municipalities will participate in the promotion and usage of the Youth Activity Center. NYFS is an eligible applicant for this grant category because the organization was established by two or more local governments under a joint powers agreement. C. BENEFIT The project is worth doing for several important reasons: 1. Meeting an identified commpnity vet The need to supply middle - school youth ages 10-15 with a safe, secure space to come to after- school, on weekends, or evenings, will continue to escalate. It is anticipated that within the next five years, the middle school population will dramatically increase (based on current and projected school enrollment figures). 2. Reduced Costa: Individually, the seven or more municipalities and two school districts are not financially able to address this need. If each community were to try to develop its own Youth Activity Center, the costs would be staggering. For most of the municipalities, space for a Youth Activity Center and dollars to operate the Center are not available. If each of the school districts were to develop a Youth Activity Center for its school population, school districts would need to take dollars from their already underfunded budgets for facility and program expansion. Jointly, through a joint powers agreement, and with the leadership of a non - profit human service organization, each city and school district will be able to address its needs without significantly increasing its city /school operating budgets. The proposed Youth Activity Center would be a shared activity of the seven cities and in partnership with the two school districts. 3. Provide more services and increase access to services. For clients of NYFS and the residents of the seven or more communities, this project will address an identified community need and, at the same time, increase community awareness and accessibility to other NYFS services. The Center will also enhance opportunities for youth ages 10-15 to grow personally and emotionally - Page 36