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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-YB-1997-06-09 f - Ithaca Youth Bureau Board of Advisors June 9, 1997 Minutes Attendance: David Delchamps, Joan Spielholz, Deb Traunstein, William Murphy, Sally Grubb, JoAnn Kingsley-Wells Stall: Sam Cohen, Alice Green, Marilyn Hall Excused: Cathy Currier, Katie Osborn I. The meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m., and a motion was made, seconded and carried unanimously to approve the May 12th minutes. II. Special Item— Youth Network Teen Center Proposal Youth Network Recreation Specialist Patrick Walkinshaw and teen members David Murphy, Rebecca Costello, Eli Devittoe were introduced. Youth Network presented this evening to ask Board members for: 1)general support acknowledging that teens do need a space for a Teen Center where young people can come together in a safe, comfortable place to meet others and have a time to network their varied interests; and 2) support for the work being done by Patrick Walkinshaw in developing the programs for teens. Youth Network members were asked what a Teen Center would mean to them: - a lot of activity for young teens. Many youth do not have money and want a place to get together to network ideas and hang out. Activities thus far have included socializing, eating, playing games, playing music, vegetarian cooking classes, plant walks. The project planning group have sponsored open-mike nights at LaForza, Benefit Bandfest and Rock-the-Arts Fest, trips to Camillus and Cortland teen centers, an overnight retreat. - Having a teen center covers a lot of mental benefits. It's good to have a place to go to relax and unwind with friends. There have been approximately 100 youths who have dropped in over time at the temporary space . Patrick's role has been to help brainstorm ideas, facilitate planning and implementation of various activities. This is a great first step for organizing young people and bringing different groups together. The Unitarian Church basement space has been the temporary gathering place available for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. This space is small and as the Youth Network members expand, youth are feeling the need to have a place of their own. Youths have no place to go downtown(except library, Dewitt Park, Center Ithaca) and cannot hang out on the commons without being considered as loitering. Some business leaders are concerned about large presence of groups of young people and the youth themselves do not feel wanted. One proposed spot mentioned this evening for a center is the former Garrity Communication's building on Aurora Street. Another item of interest—Jeff Furman has made a proposal to M&T Bank to donate the Ithaca Theatre to Julie Conley Holcomb City Clerk .....................:.:............... .....................................:........ ...:....:....................... ............................... ..........h....:.::•:::.:�.......::.�::::::::::::1:..::::.::::::::.:::::::::::.:............................... ....:•.:�..:::::..:.:•.:.•.:.v.::X•:.}:i�:::.�::::i:::::::':.':.'::ii::ii::i::i::ii::ii::i:{v::::Si::i:ii:::y:?:in:i::iv??l::::.�.:•. ..::•:w._:::::;;r...-v-..}};i}':.:.:::v;•.:....:........................... .. .�.vY.�;}.� :.:�.r:' h -.�}: :. 1k)is?�?g•}}}}}:it•}:4:8:4i:4ii:i<:.iX�;::-::i:4ii}ii:.::.iii}i>}}:^ii'.}�::::._::::::}:} Special Item: Youth Bureau Budget Review Because of time constraints related to the early budget submission and the demands of summer program and because of the difficulty scheduling the Finance Committee Review meetings at a time people were available, we will have a full budget review and vote at our full meeting on August 4n' (6:30—9 p.m.) moved from the previously estat shed date of July 28th! become a youth run teen center. Renovations are needed to bring the theater up to code. This spot might not be first choice but it is a three minute walk from the Commons and very near the new office building being built for Social Services. Discussion was held on the estimated one year budget for a teen center operation in downtown Ithaca(described on page 8 in the Teen Community Center Project Prospectus). Currently Patrick's salary for 25hrs./week is covered under part-time seasonal Recreation Department monies of the Youth Bureau. The Recreation Partnership Board, key decision maker on the use of this money, is reluctant to use funds to work for the creation of a teen center, rather than for immediate teen programs. One goal is to have the teen center a self-sustaining independent nonprofit organization run by the young people with assistance from the Youth Bureau in providing some staffing. Business ideas generated to make money thus far include a youth run coffee shop where food could be sold at a discount, a candy/variety store, a music production company. All these offer employment opportunities. Board members encouraged sales of food to youth and charging small fees for various workshops offered and special events. The Teen Center has made $1,500-$2,000 between three events(arts, band and open-mike events). The Youth Network members are in a prospectus stage and are now looking for general feeling if people are in favor or this concept. Board members are impressed with quality of the prepared prospectus. Additional youth continue to join and are coming forward with their new ideas. Teens will define what they want, continue doing fundraising to earn money to keep this going. Special events could include: New Year's Eve spaghetti dinner, Halloween Haunted house, drug prevention monies. ACTION: Motion made, seconded and carried for this Board to endorse the concept of a self sufficient teen center in the downtown Ithaca area. RESOLUTION: WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges that teens have expressed a strong need for a space to call their own, and WHEREAS, the Teen Center Project is in the community building phase, and WHEREAS, it hasn't yet reached financial self- sufficiency, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ithaca Youth Bureau Board supports the work of Recreation Specialist, Patrick Walkinshaw, in developing teen programs, including work on the Teen Center. Passed unanimously, June 9th, 1997 III. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Director's Report Skateboard Park: No final proposal regarding Youth Bureau grounds for Skateboard Park has yet been submitted and it is becoming apparent that a park will not be available for this season. Greenhouse: Cynthia Dietz of Green Works presented to the Board and members agreed in March '97 to pursue the idea of a greenhouse on Youth Bureau grounds. New concerns include the Skateboard Park needing more space -'. and the increased noise factor. After discussion it was agreed that this project should be on hold until Skateboard is in and anchored. ACTION: Motion was moved, seconded, and carried to tell Green Works a decision on whether to pursue the greenhouse project must be delayed until the Skateboard Park dimensions are finalized. - Sand Volleyball : The new proposal is to build one court which would be open for community use on the lawn above the heating system well fields at the Youth Bureau. Cost of project is $5,364 with DPW possibly helping do the work. Insurance questions have been raised. When we know the timetable for skateboard park, it would then be a good time to ask for future recommendations. - City Planning Process: Executive Committee will set a time to discuss upcoming issues and bring their recommendations back to the full Board for final proposal. - Transition Task Force recommendations are in the hands of the Tompkins County Youth Bureau Board. Tompkins County Youth Bureau Board recommendations will be sent to the Tompkins County Board of Representatives Human Services and Human Resources Committee. Hopefully there will be funding for One to One, Youth Employment Service and Outing, with partial funding for Mechanical All Stars for one year. - Cass Rink Task Force: The final draft will be out in the next two weeks. Ithaca Times issue coming out soon strongly encourages Cass remain a public entity. Meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. Youth Participation in Youth Network Programs Staff Member: Patrick Walkinshaw Supervisor: Alice Green, Recreation Department Description of Programs Youth Network: The umbrella group that discusses progamming needs and works to implement ideas. We've had twenty meetings (2 hours long) between 5/16/96 and 9/30/96 and several work sessions. Average attendance was about 6 teens. Activities include preparing a youth vision document, publishing a zine, having overnights, and attending community forums and workshops. The Teen Center Project spawned from this group and is now it's primary focus. The Teen Mural Project: A group of teens who have been painting a mural to be hung in the Youth Bureau building. Started 12/11/97 and is nearing completion with an opening in June. We have been meeting Saturdays, 11-3pm, and have had around 20 sessions with the average attendance around 5 or 6. There are 9 core artists with others participating sporadically and an adult volunteer. The Teen Community Center Project Planning Group: We meet Sunday evenings for two hours to plan activities for our temporary space and discuss fundraising and planning for a permanent location. We have met around 30 times between 11/3/96 and 5/26/97. Attendance ranges from 5 to 15 young people and 2-3 adult volunteers. Activities/events have included: Open-mike nights at LaForza, a Benefit Bandfest, the Rock-the-Arts Fest, a trip to the Camillus and Cortland teen center, a candy- making enterprise, and an overnight Retreat. 306 Attendance: These are the teens that have stopped by our temporary drop-in space at the Unitarian Church. Hours are 3:30-7:30pm Wednesdays and Fridays and we've been meeting since November (around 58 sessions). Participants drop-in for 5 minutes to 4 hours, and some have only stopped in once and others come almost every day. I estimate approximately 720 contact/visits, with an average stay of an hour. Activities include hanging out/socializing, eating, playing cards/games, playing music, and other pre-planned activities such as a trip to the pool hall, a vegetarian cooking class, and an edible plant walk. Mountain Bike Club: This is a club through the High School that began meeting this winter. We have had about 5 planning meetings (45 min long) and 2 rides (2 hours long). Ol D co co S S 2;• N O A N C C g2 1' 2 O` C D i O .L.. « J J > L s PROGRAM p� o o o w CM-qr- r > z 5 0 D /F M Yovl4 Akik,or .21 o 2 / / 0 /3 ( 0 0 0 / 0 2 /'f' /S ltfvr- ( ccT 17 / 0 0 1 0 `- 1- 1 0 / / 0 5 9 8 ?eefr. A44,5 22, Z 0 3 I 0 9 1- 0 0 / 2 0 0 /2. /0 _ 30C A-{le o�-.ce 106 S 1 5 2 0 22. /8 / 0 5 2 1 `-+ ¢3 CY M/... akc c%/ I 6 1 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 7 3 /3.