HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.a. Rosemount Family Resource Center4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session Meeting Date: February 10, 2010
ISSUE
Staff would like to share with the City Council some information on recent planning discussions that have
been taking place regarding the Family Resource Center which is owned by the City and leased to the
Community Action Council (Attachment A — History of Family Resource Center). The topic of
discussion for a few years now has been the need to expand the size of the center to better meet the
demand for services and programming that takes place at the facility. Staff thought it would be beneficial
to discuss a possible expansion plan because of the improvements that will soon be taking place through a
$75,000 CDBG grant the City recently received. Attachment B details the proposed improvements that
will be paid for through the grant. Our goal is for the improvements that are made with the grant funds to
remain useable with any future expansion of the center.
A group of stakeholders including community volunteers, CAC (Community Action Council) staff, Park
and Recreation staff, City Planning staff and staff from the Police Department were all involved in the
discussions about the possible expansion of the center. Included in your packet (Attachment C) is a draft
design of what a future expansion of the facility might look like.
BACKGROUND
The City has been awarded a CDBG -R Grant (Community Development Block Grant, Recovery) from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to pay for improvements to the Family
Resource Center. The grant is for $75,000 and is locally managed by the Dakota County Community
Development Agency. The funds are identified to cover the cost of the plans and specifications, project
documents, all construction materials, and installation and labor for a number of improvement projects at
the Rosemount Family Resource Center.
SUMMARY
Staff would like to receive feedback from the City Council on the idea of expanding the Rosemount
Family Resource Center. Attachment D is information from the Community Action Council regarding
their recent name change to 360 Communities.
AGENDA SECTION:
AGENDA ITEM: Rosemount Family Resource Center
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation
AGENDA NO. 2 A
Director
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - History of the Center
Attachment B - Grant Improvements
APPROVED BY:
Attachment C - Future Expansion Plan
Attachment D — Information from CAC
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion only.
ISSUE
Staff would like to share with the City Council some information on recent planning discussions that have
been taking place regarding the Family Resource Center which is owned by the City and leased to the
Community Action Council (Attachment A — History of Family Resource Center). The topic of
discussion for a few years now has been the need to expand the size of the center to better meet the
demand for services and programming that takes place at the facility. Staff thought it would be beneficial
to discuss a possible expansion plan because of the improvements that will soon be taking place through a
$75,000 CDBG grant the City recently received. Attachment B details the proposed improvements that
will be paid for through the grant. Our goal is for the improvements that are made with the grant funds to
remain useable with any future expansion of the center.
A group of stakeholders including community volunteers, CAC (Community Action Council) staff, Park
and Recreation staff, City Planning staff and staff from the Police Department were all involved in the
discussions about the possible expansion of the center. Included in your packet (Attachment C) is a draft
design of what a future expansion of the facility might look like.
BACKGROUND
The City has been awarded a CDBG -R Grant (Community Development Block Grant, Recovery) from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to pay for improvements to the Family
Resource Center. The grant is for $75,000 and is locally managed by the Dakota County Community
Development Agency. The funds are identified to cover the cost of the plans and specifications, project
documents, all construction materials, and installation and labor for a number of improvement projects at
the Rosemount Family Resource Center.
SUMMARY
Staff would like to receive feedback from the City Council on the idea of expanding the Rosemount
Family Resource Center. Attachment D is information from the Community Action Council regarding
their recent name change to 360 Communities.
History of the Rosemount Family Resource Center
In 1992 at the request of local citizens, a partnership was created and titled the Rosemount Partner
Program (RPP). RPP was made up of five partner organizations including: Community Action Council,
Dakota Alliance for Prevention, Dakota County Extension Service, the City of Rosemount, and the
Rosemount Activities Program. This partnership was formed at the urging of the Rosemont Activities
Program which was a grass root organization comprised of the residents of one of the low- income,
subsidized multi- family housing units located in a particular neighborhood in Rosemount. Through
their influence and efforts, they brought an awareness to the circumstances within their neighborhood.
Therefore, the RPP was a resident inspired and directed effort to halt the deterioration of a community
living environment characterized by poverty, isolation and violence. The Program's prognosis for
success was bolstered by strong resident leadership and a partner group with broad experience in and
commitment to collaborative efforts. During the monthly meetings they held, they discussed the
effects of violence, poverty, and the lack of youth activities on those in need as well as on the entire
community. They also started several programs to deal with those issues.
Each of the service providing partners delivered services to this initiative based upon that partner's
expertise. The Community Action Council provided family support worker programs, services to
women and children experiencing violence, information and referral services, and self - sufficiency
services. The Dakota Alliance for Prevention, a substance abuse awareness and assistance program,
provided educational programs and assists with arranging treatment for those desiring treatment. The
Dakota County Extension Service provided services such as a mobile classroom to facilitate community
education in nutrition, child development, and conflict resolution to neighborhoods, families, and
youth. The City of Rosemount provides technical support and staff to coordinate services offered by
providers. The Rosemount Activities Program provides volunteers for family activities within the
target neighborhood and for community outreach projects in addition to the invaluable knowledge of
what is needed to improve the quality of life for families living in poverty. In addition to the RPP,
there are several other agencies ready to assist the targeted population. Some of these services include
employment counseling, early childhood family education, tutoring, and study groups.
The need for the on -site family resource building was seen by looking at the growth of Rosemount and
the development of the target neighborhood. The City of Rosemount was in transition from a rural,
independent community to an urban, interdependent community. The City has experienced a
population growth of 28 percent in the last three years, with a total population of around 12,000. Eight
moderate and low income rental housing developments are located within a one - quarter square mile
triangle of land and are increasingly occupied by former inner -city residents who have left the urban
center. The availability of affordable housing, not the availability of necessary support services,
determined where these families relocated. Sixty -one percent of these households are single parent
families compared to 19 percent for the total city of Rosemount. Nineteen percent of the children in
the neighborhood are children of color compared with 5.5 percent for the entire city. The 502
residents of the neighborhood are impacted by violence and crime to a much greater degree than the
wider community. The City of Rosemount Police Department recorded 546 calls made to this
neighborhood compared with 5,931 calls for the remainder of the city from August 1993 to July 1994.
While residents of this target neighborhood are adversely impacted by the level of poverty, lack of
recreational facilities, and positive activities to engage youth. School personnel and residents report
conflicts and the results of the unmet needs of the neighborhood are also carried into the school
setting.
The on -site services are provided on an irregular basis through mobile units or through the use of a
resident's unit. Both of these units were inadequate in size to properly provide services. Through RPP
discussions it has been determined to better serve the target neighborhood a permanent, on -site
building was needed. This family resource building would allow for centralized services thereby
creating a more accessible, effect, and cost efficient method of bringing services to the residents who
need them. At best, it will eliminate, and at worst, will reduce the impacts of the barriers faced by
people living in poverty. The building was also to provide space for youth to interact in positive ways.
The grounds around the building will provide the necessary play areas for the many children living in
the target area. Long -term we hope to develop self - sufficiency through education and program
development. They hoped to reduce crime by making the living environment less conducive to gang -
related activities and more conductive to a positive, holistic, culturally diverse community attitude.
They hoped to reduce costs to the community by providing better citizens through education and
prevention of substance abuse and violent activities among families. The overall quality of the life is
expected to increase not only for the target neighborhood, but for the entire city as well.
In 1994, RPP was awarded a Prevention and Intervention grant under the one category of Community
Crime and Drug Prevention Activities and High -Risk Youth Violence Prevention Activities. Through
the two year term of the grant, RPP has developed a momentum and is being recognized within the
community as a proactive organization in providing healthy community initiatives. RPP has gained
practical experience in community organizing and has built a sense of trust and hope. These funds
allowed RPP to contract with Community Action Council to supplement a half -time Neighborhood
Coordinator to full-time to work on the special needs within the target neighborhood. It also allowed
RPP to contract with a community member to work as a part time Youth Services Coordinator.
In the summer of 1997, the City of Rosemount received a Youth Initiative Grant from the Minnesota
Department of Children, Families and Learning in the amount of $214,900. This grant, along with
other grants and donations, allowed the construction of the Family Resource Center to become a
reality.
In December of 1998, CAC and the City of Rosemount agreed to have CAC lease the facility for 10
years. CAC would then provide their services and also share space and encourage other service
providers to use the facility. The CAC lease states that the facility will be used for serving children and
families in the community through services such as crisis intervention, providing food, clothing,
housing assistance, parenting support, academic support through mentorship, child care assistance,
violence prevention outreach and recreation.
The Center officially opened in February of 1999.
The City signed a new 10 year lease with CAC in November of 2008.
Rosemount Family Resource Center Improvements
Item # 1 Classification — Building Envelope
Description: remediate a water intrusion problem at the northwest corner of the building
Benefit: long -term structural stability, mold prevention, improve indoor air quality
Item # 2 Classification — Building Envelope
Description: increase insulation in the attic to R -50
Benefit: reduce operating expenses
Item # 3 Classification — Building Envelope
Description: replace energy inefficient entry door frame and sidelight with thermal break system
Benefit: reduce operating expenses, increase building security
Item # 4 Classification — Interior Millwork
Description: replace existing wood kitchen cabinets and countertops
Benefit: health and hygiene, ADA compliance
Item # 5 Classification — Interior Finishes
Description: replace floor coverings which are beyond their useful life
Benefit: health and hygiene (especially for children), lower maintenance cost
Item # 6 Classification — Interior Finishes
Description: replace damaged drywall and install stainless steel corner guards
Benefit: health and hygiene, lower maintenance costs
Item # 7 Classification — Mechanical Systems
Description: replace problematic HVAC /water heater with high efficiency system using pump
Benefit: energy efficiency, lower operating expenses, reliability, improve indoor air quality
Item # 8 Classification — Mechanical Systems
Description: replace manual toilet flush valves with electronic sensors
Benefit: health and hygiene
Item # 9 Classification — Mechanical Systems
Description: replace manual lavatory faucets with electronic sensors
Benefit: health and hygiene
Item # 10 Classification — Mechanical Systems
Description: replace built in kitchen dishwasher
Benefit: health and hygiene, reliability
Item # 11 Classification — Electrical Systems
Description: replace manual light switches with motion sensors with 4 -hour override
Benefit: energy efficiency, lower operating expense, new code compliance
Item # 12 Classification — Electrical Systems
Description: install electric hand dryers in the toilet rooms
Benefit: energy efficiency, health and safety
vow i
As a valued partner, I wanted to share this exciting news with you. I am very pleased to announce that
Community Action Council is now 360 Communities.
Our name change is in recognition of how our organization has evolved throughout its 40 -year history, and is inspired
by the renewed, expanded service and commitment to our community that will define our future as 360 Communities.
Thank you for your support and commitment to Community Action Council. As we honor the history of
Community Action Council, I invite you to join me in celebrating our new identity as 360 Communities.
Please read the enclosed information to learn more about our evolution and our new name.
With warmest regards,
Mary Ajax
President /Chief Executive Officer
360 Communities
n
360 Communities
Changing lives and strengthening communities to a new degree
Community Action Council was founded 40 years ago by a group of volunteers who saw
great possibilities in combining their efforts to help their community. CAC grew over the
years, with the leaders noticing a remarkable give- and -take in their programs.
In one instance after another, as communities rallied to help individuals become more
independent and self - sufficient, these individuals became more engaged and active in the
health of their communities. And a holistic circle of asking and receiving, giving and getting
came into balance.
• As recipients of emergency food assistance learned how to achieve long -term
self - sufficiency, they joined in helping others follow the same path
• As partnerships with schools helped parents better prepare their children to
succeed, more kids showed academic achievement and improved attendance,
plus their parents increased their involvement in schools
• As new immigrants received support in adjusting to a new homeland, they
became active, engaged members of their new communities
• As victims of violence emerged as survivors, they became advocates for a
healthier peaceful community
Renaming the organization 360 Communities evokes this back - and -forth relationship,
the symbiotic relationship between the individual and the whole. The concept of a circle
embraces existing, proactive programs such as the Lewis House, Armful of Love, Partners
for Success and New Americans — programs that kick -start a positive cycle — and
connects them with the donors, volunteers and communities that participate in the
programs.
As 360 Communities embarks on ambitious new plans to extend our reach and impact even
more people in the region, it does so under an umbrella that is inclusive, full- circle and
self - sustaining.
Communities
Changing lives and strengthening communities to a new degree
Community Action Council was founded 40 years ago by a group of volunteers who saw
great possibilities in combining their efforts to help their community. CAC grew over the
years, with the leaders noticing a remarkable give- and -take in their programs.
In one instance after another, as communities rallied to help individuals become more
independent and self - sufficient, these individuals became more engaged and active in the
health of their communities. And a holistic circle of asking and receiving, giving and getting
came into balance.
• As recipients of emergency food assistance learned how to achieve long -term
self - sufficiency, they joined in helping others follow the same path
• As partnerships with schools helped parents better prepare their children to
succeed, more kids showed academic achievement and improved attendance,
plus their parents increased their involvement in schools
• As new immigrants received support in adjusting to a new homeland, they
became active, engaged members of their new communities
• As victims of violence emerged as survivors, they became advocates for a
healthier peaceful community
Renaming the organization 360 Communities evokes this back - and -forth relationship,
the symbiotic relationship between the individual and the whole. The concept of a circle
embraces existing, proactive programs such as the Lewis House, Armful of Love, Partners
for Success® and New Americans — programs that kick -start a positive cycle — and
connects them with the donors, volunteers and communities that participate in the
programs.
As 360 Communities embarks on ambitious new plans to extend our reach and impact even
more people in the region, it does so under an umbrella that is inclusive, full - circle and
self - sustaining.
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