Several options for a location and possibilities for different age-targeted programming will be researched for the potential youth center in St. Cloud, per the City Council’s discussion Thursday.

After voting against a lease agreement for a downtown location in November, St. Cloud council members decided to bring back the idea of building a center for St. Cloud’s youth Thursday. The location for such a center again was debated.

John Moody, owner of the old D&A Glass & Mirror building, said he didn’t have any immediate plans for the building at 1022 10th Street since the St. Cloud council voted against using it as a youth center. At City Manager Tom Hurt’s prompting, Moody said he would rehash with the city the terms of the agreement, which previously included five years of free rent and $250,000 worth of renovations.

Julie Graf, interim parks and recreation director for the city, presented the results of a survey the city asked of St. Cloud students, to find out what they might want in a youth center. A majority said they wanted a big screen TV, a snack bar, pool tables, video games, a juice bar and computer labs.

Comments from the youth included a preference to design the center more for teens and the need for a center, “so St. Cloud wouldn’t be so boring.”

“Don’t talk about it. Just build it. A lot of kids that say ‘no’ still will come,” one comment read.

Councilman Jarom Fertic asked why a hang-out for youth couldn’t be encompassed into the programming already at the St. Cloud Civic Center, especially since much of the youth listed a preference for basketball and volleyball courts.

Graf said there aren’t many gaps in civic center’s schedule. However, the city could free up some time by not renting the center out to outside groups, though that would remove a revenue stream as well.

She also said it was important to youth, especially teenagers, to feel like they had their own space and that they wouldn’t attend a program that was designed for younger children. She emphasized the importance of creating an open social atmosphere that wouldn’t be limited to a couple hours of programming.

Council members also brought up several other options for a location, including the building currently occupied by the Southland Christian School, next to the city’s civic center. Hurt said the school’s lease wouldn’t be up until 2011.

“I don’t have a problem waiting,” Fertic said.

After hearing the results of the city’s survey, council members also questioned whether the center should be more focused on St. Cloud teens. Despite the survey reflecting a greater need for teen programming, likely because mostly teens were asked the questions, Councilman Jay Polachek said he didn’t think the city offered enough programs for younger, middle-school age children.

The council talked about having areas targeted toward different age groups, possibly an area designated for the younger youth at the civic center and a teen center somewhere else.

Council members asked city staff to research all the possible locations for the center, looking at what might have to be given up at the civic center should the youth center be focused there. Staff also will consider a possible expansion at the Christian school, renegotiate with Moody for the building downtown and look at other city-owned buildings that could be vacated for the youth.

Mayor Donna Hart asked the city manager if the research could be done before the council’s retreat March 20.

“Just the fact that 64.6 percent of them said that it’s less likely that they would use alcohol or drugs, is just huge to me,” Hart said, referring to a student response on the survey.

The council also asked for the potential operating budget for the center outlined within the research as well.