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Home My WebLink AboutA002 - Letter dated July 7, 1992 - interest in purchasing public safety building Youth and Shelter Services.. Inc. Business Office, 232 1/2 Main Street, P.O. Box 1628, Ames, Iowa 50010 (515) 233-3141 24-Hour Crisis Line (515) 233-2330 July 7, 1992 1I F41— Mayor Larry Curtis City of Ames City Hall Ames, IA 50010 Dear Mayor Curtis: Youth and Shelter Services, Inc., has identified the need for a consolidation of several YSS facilities into a youth service center. Criteria with respect to location and building have been established and for several years YSS has searched for a desirable location/building. Over the past several years, YSS staff and Board have identified locations or buildings thought to be suitable for a consolidation only to have them sold to other parties. These include the "Old Grand-Daddy's" site and the "Old McFarland" building. YSS representatives have now identified the city's "Public Safety Building" on the corner of 5th and Kellogg as a suitable building to meet our needs. It meets all the criteria established for relocation, consolidation, and adaptability for housing youth services in the community (see attached criteria). Construction and architect personnel have assessed the building and found it to be of sound construction and adaptable for use as a youth service center. The remodeled space would provide adequate offices, program areas, group and individual counseling space, and administrative service areas. Currently the proposed merged areas are housed in rented facilities as follows: • 232 1/2 Main Street (Prevention/Education, Outreach, Foster Care, Volunteer, Intensive Supervision, Business Office) • 328 Main Street (Pathways, Young Moms and Dads, Nurturing) • 712 5th Street, Family House (counseling, psychologists,client records) • Chemical Dependency Services Director, inadequate office space • Family Counselor in Chemical Dependency, space inadequate for groups • Aftercare Counselor, space inadequate for groups • Trainin- and staff meetings held outside agency, space inadequate Rosedale Shelter • Youth Recovery House • Seven-12 House • Family House • The Upstairs Hamilton County Youth Service Center • Boone County Youth & Family Counseling Center Nevada Youth Service Bureau • Marshall County Runaway Youth & Family Service Center CIRCLE • Iowa Homeless Youth Center • Pathways United Way Substance Abuse School Intervention Projects "Because You Need the Best Help You Can Get" The public interest would be served well to have a complete "one-stop shop" for youth and family services. Consolidation would provide for more efficiency and effectiveness in YSS daily operations. Additionally, moving to a remodeled facility such as the old Public Safety Building will provide handicapped accessibility to otherwise nonaccessible sites. This move would serve to put YSS in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehab Act, OSHA Standards, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Information gained at recently conducted focus groups and key informant interviews shows that the community is largely supportive of YSS establishing a consolidated youth service center and, in particular, using the old Public Safety Building. Youth and Shelter Services has demonstrated its capability for caring and being sensitive to the historic preservation efforts in Ames and, in particular, Old Town. Acquisition of the old Public Safety Building by Y§S would insure the community of its original intended use - to be of service to the community. YSS would consider incorporating historical aspects of the building in its renovation plans. Since the building has never been on the tax rolls, the tax-exempt status would be unaffected if acquired by YSS. It is our understanding, according to information received from John Klaus via Brian O'Connell, that according to Section 364.7, Code of Iowa, the sale or disposition of city-owned real estate does not require any solicitation of proposals or bids. However, should the City decide to seek bids, YSS has requested that when the City of Ames seeks proposals on the aforesaid property, city staff contact YSS in order to prepare necessary papers. We, at YSS, would welcome the opportunity to visit with you, the Council and staff about acquiring the old Public Safety Building for use by YSS as a youth service center. Sincerely, Gene E. Loverink Chair,Board of Directors Encl cc: George Belitsos YSS Board of Directors City Council 1/� Steve Schainker Brian O'Connell United Way Board of Supervisors GL/DT/3.13/me CENTRALIZED YOUTH SERVICE CENTER- AMES CRITERIA FOR LOCATION/BUILDING Location 1. Close proximity to Youth Recovery House,Seven-12 House,and Rosedale Shelter. 2. In area bounded by tracks, 13th Street,Duff and Grand. 3. Access to parking for up to 50 persons. 4. Access to public transportation. 5. Close proximity to community resources (City Hall, United Way, library,shopping,etc.). 6. Quality of Neighborhood - issues of zoning,style,condition of buildings,and sensory conditions (sight,sound, smell). Buildiniz 1. Suitable for proposed use-proper image. 2. Minimum of 14,000 to 15,000 square feet to house: • Prevention/Education • Pathways and program area • Foster Care • Outreach • Chemical Dependency Family Coordinator • Outclient Counselors • Child psychologists • Group rooms(small and large) — counseling — family group C.D. groups — nurturing — training room • Fiscal/Bookkeeping • Business Office - administrators - secretaries • Staff lounge • Repairs and Maintenance • Storage: adm.and client files 3. If excess square footage,a portion of building could be rented to a human service agency. 4. Accessible and ease of access. 5. Capability of being unified by area. Good arrangement. 6. Easily accessible to large groups of clients and counselors(25 -40 persons). 7. Structurally sound. Security,confidentiality,and safety issues satisfied. 8. Adaptable to accommodate flexible programming and scheduling. 9. If remodeling old building, must be cost effective and economically feasible when compared to building new facility. Potential for renovation. 10. A favorable,friendly environment in which to work. An effective physical setting. 11. Compliance with zoning,building,and safety ordinances. DT/jw/6/09/92 Youth and Shelter Services, Inc. Business Office, 2321/2 Main Street, P.O. Box 1628, Ames, Iowa 50010 (515) 233-3141 24-Hour Crisis Line (515) 233-2330 June 11, 1992 r %Xliv ! T Nancy Dionigi, City Clerk Ames City Hall Cirr -; 515 Clark Avenue a>y of AA-- Ames, Iowa 50010 Dear Ms. Dionigi: After contacting Brian O'Connell of Planning and Housing, he suggested that a letter be written to you indicating the possible interest of YSS in purchasing for a nominal fee, or having the City of Ames transfer to YSS, the property located at 5th & Kellogg and formerly used as the old City Hall or Public Safety Building. YSS recognizes that the City of Ames must go through a solicitation process for disposal of this property. When the City does enter a competitive bidding process and seeks proposals on aforesaid property,please send Youth & Shelter Services (in care of Dorothy Tschopp), the necessary documents to participate in the bidding process. Sincerely, 7� J-A- �114�1 Dorothy L. chopp, ACSW, LSW Plans and Program Coordinator DT:gmw cc: George Belitsos Rosedale Shelter • Youth Recovery House a Seven-12 House • Family House a The Upstairs Hamilton County Youth Service Center a Boone County Youth & Family Counseling Center �. Nevada Youth Service Bureau • Marshall County Runaway Youth & Family Service Center CIRCLE • Iowa Homeless Youth Center • Pathways united way Substance Abuse School Intervention Projects "Because You Need the Best Help You Can Get"