A Redmond non-profit group that provides outreach to young people will terminate their agreement with the City of Kirkland to operate the Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) this summer.

Friends of Youth made the announcement in a public letter to City Manager David Ramsay earlier this month from President and CEO Joan Campbell. She cited the economy as the main reason, aside from the fact that development programs do not fit with their core counseling and residential services. The agreement will be terminated on June 30.

“Friends of youth is enormously proud of the KTUB program and will do whatever it can to transition smoothly to another provider in order to retain the model,” Campbell said in the letter to Ramsay. “We believe that KTUB has inspired leadership and has grown better and stronger every year. If the staff is retained, I am confident that the KTUB will continue to thrive.”

KTUB’s Director Seth Dostart was not able to comment on the matter.

The organization provides a broad range of services to youth and young adults ages 6 -24 and their families in King and Snohomish counties. They have built several foster homes in the area and provide counseling in Issaquah, Snoqualmie and Duvall.

KTUB, located in Peter Kirk Park at 348 Kirkland Ave., has a youth-run cafe and store, two stages for live music, a darkroom for photography, a recording studio, technology lab and an art studio. They also offer various programs, job training, internship and community service opportunities.

Fridays are KTUB’s “Teen Feed” night, where young people can enjoy a free dinner at 6 p.m. On Saturdays, it is open to musical events.

Membership is free of charge.

According to Campbell, the decision to terminate the agreement was made last year and Friends of Youth decided to hang on to the building’s ownership for a year so the city could find another provider. Two years ago, they made the decision to transfer out of providing youth development programs.

Ramsay brought up the contents of the letter at the city council meeting on Jan 19.

“They’ve done a fine job,” Ramsay said. “So now we’re faced with a tough issue of how do we keep teen center operating. Is it done by another agency, is it done by the city (or) is it done by a combination?”

Ramsay said he would like to provide a report to the council on how to proceed on Feb. 2. According to Parks Director Jennifer Schroeder, the city gives them part of their funding in addition to the organization’s own development fund raising.

Campbell said that after June 30, Friends of Youth wants provide the staff and collaboration of programs, but not function as the key operator. She said Schroeder, Kirkland Deputy Administrator Carrie Hite and Mayor Joan McBride do not want the building to be used for something completely unrelated to KTUB’s mission.

“We want to sustain KTUB forever, it’s one of a kind,” Campbell said. “The message (the kids) need to get is that this is a wonderful program … it’s not going to abandon kids.”