Sponsor: Property Management & Public Health
Title
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Lease Agreement with City of New Brighton for Women, Infants, and Children Clinic Space
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the lease agreement with the city of New Brighton, 803 Old Highway 8 Northwest, New Brighton, MN 55112, for 860 square feet of space at the New Brighton Community Center, 400 10th Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN 55112, for the period of May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2030, in accordance with the rates in the lease agreement.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the lease agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County Public Health currently delivers Women, Infant 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 635 square foot interior room, which lacks natural light and privacy, is ill-suited for providing quality WIC services for Ramsey County residents. As a result, clients often face extended wait times and staff struggle to maintain productivity in the cramped and uninspiring environment. By relocating the WIC clinic to an alternative space available within the New Brighton Community Center (Room 214), Public Health can 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 five-year lease term for the Room 214 space replaces the existing lease for Room 202, which expires April 30, 2025. WIC will acquire early access to Room 214 as of February 1, 2025, for a one-time fee of $2,416, to allow time to improve the new suite to Ramsey County 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
The lease agreement will be funded from Public Health operating budget and is estimated to be $102,599 for the five-year term, with an additional one-time payment of $2,416 for early access to Room 214 prior to commencement of the lease term.
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, for the period of May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2025 (Resolution 2010-106).
Attachments
1. Lease Agreement