Sponsor: Property Management & Public Health
Title
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Women, Infants, and Children New Brighton Clinic Space Improvement Project Budget
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Recommendation
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1. Authorize the County Manager to account for the Women, Infants, and Children New Brighton Clinic Space Improvement project as a budgeted project in Property Management.
2. Authorize the County Manager to transfer up to $152,250 from Public Health operating funds to the Women, Infants, and Children New Brighton Clinic Space Improvement project budget for project activities.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County Public Health currently delivers Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program services at six clinic sites within Ramsey County. The existing WIC clinic in Room 202 at the New Brighton Community Center is currently operating in suboptimal conditions. The current interior room lacks natural light and privacy, and is ill-suited for providing quality WIC services for Ramsey County residents. In 2025, Public Health plans to move the WIC clinic to an alternative space available within the New Brighton Community Center (Room 214). This move will significantly improve the client experience, enhance staff morale, and ensure the delivery of high-quality WIC services. The larger space provides for natural light and an improved layout, which will allow for more efficient operations, increased privacy, and a more welcoming and dignified atmosphere for both clients and staff.
The Room 214 space is in very good condition, but some small-scale improvements are needed to prepare it for WIC clinic use. The improvements project will include items such as, but not limited to, floor finish replacement, construction of a privacy wall for lab services, associated electrical and limited mechanical tasks, and new furniture that aligns with county workplace standards.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The WIC Clinic in the New Brighton Community Center serves clientele that is over 85% people of color. Services are provided in English, Hmong, Karen and Spanish. Ramsey County has the highest poverty rate for people of color in the metro area. Maintaining a WIC clinic in the New Brighton Community Center area is critical for addressing poverty and disparities across race.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As Ramsey County Public Health continues the partnership with those in need of WIC services, it continually seeks their feedback and opinion on how Public Health can make the leased space the most useful for them.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Estimated costs for the WIC New Brighton Space Improvement Project are $152,250, which includes the cost of construction, furniture, and contingency for the project. Public Health will utilize existing 2024 operating funds for the WIC New Brighton Space Improvement project.
Last Previous Action
On March 16, 2010, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a fifteen-year lease agreement with the City of New Brighton for leased space at the New Brighton Community Center (Resolution 2010-106).
Attachments
1. Estimated Project Budget