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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Svcs - 1998-07-06 SCSC\1998-07-06-SPE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES J U LY 6~ 1998 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date in special session, under the chairmanship of Councillor G. Lorentz, commencing at 4:10 p.m., with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr, Councillor T. Galloway, Councillor John Smola, Councillor C. Weylie, Councillor M. Yantzi, Councillor J. Ziegler. Councillor J. Haalboom, Councillor Jake Smola, Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison and Councillor B. Vrbanovic were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present: Ms. P. Houston, Messrs. R. Arnot, M. Price, J. Gazzola, J. Shivas, T. McCabe and Ms. D. Gilchrist. 1. DELEGATION - KITCHENER-WATERLOO AREA VISITOR & CONVENTION BUREAU Ms. P. Brown was in attendance on behalf of the Kitchener-Waterloo Area Visitor & Convention Bureau responding to the resolution of this Committee from its meeting of June 22, 1998. Ms. Brown advised of the steps being taken to create a new entity, such as hiring a facilitator. She also spoke of their marketing initiatives and partnerships between the governments and private sector and their advertising dollars. Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison and Councillor Jake Smola entered the meeting at this time. Ms. Brown then referred to a survey conducted by the Visitor & Convention Bureau and the statistics on the number of enquiries for city facilities and destination enquiries for the City of Kitchener. She advised the Committee that every dollar spent on destination advertising brings $20.00 in tax revenues for the municipality. Councillor C. Weylie put forward a motion to amend the Committee's recommendation #3 on their report to Council, dated July 6, 1998, to remove the second and third clauses of that recommendation which was voted on and carried. Councillor J. Haalboom entered the meeting at this time. Councillor Weylie had also provided the members of the Committee with a new recommendation with respect to terminating the funding to this organization at the end of 1998. On motion by Councillor C. Weylie - it was resolved: "That the municipalities of Kitchener and Waterloo jointly notify the Kitchener-Waterloo and Area Visitor & Convention Bureau of our intention to terminate the funding of this organization as of December 31, 1998." DELEGATION - KITCHENER-WATERLOO OPERA Messrs. M. Trask and J. Chopin-Fortin were in attendance on behalf of the Kitchener-Waterloo Opera to thank the Committee for their grant. They distributed information about the Opera to the members of the Committee. Mr. Trask then explained the partnership with Opera Hamilton in the Opera Ontario. DELEGATION - KITCHENER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Mr. B. MacNeil was in attendance on behalf of the Kitchener Horticultural Society to appeal the grant recommended by the Community Services Committee for 1998. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. Mr. MacNeil spoke of the various activities of the Horticultural Society in addition to Rockway Gardens. With respect to Rockway Gardens, Mr. MacNeil advised that it is managed by the Horticultural Society with funds from the City of Kitchener, donations and volunteer effort. He advised that in 1997 they experienced expenditures of $106,000.00 and a grant in the amount of $96,000.00. They received a G.S.T. rebate in the amount of $4,500.00 and the Horticultural Society put $5,000.00 of their own funds into the Rockway Gardens. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES J U LY 6, 1998 - 67 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. DELEGATION - KITCHENER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (CONT'D) Mr. MacNeil advised that, after the last meeting with this Committee, they tried to see if their insurance, water and equipment maintenance costs could be reduced. He advised that in 1998, they need a grant in the amount of $107,000.00 from the City of Kitchener unless these costs can be reduced. A grant in the amount recommended by this Committee would put the Gardens in a $15,000.00 deficit for 1998. Mr. MacNeil stated that he believed the Gardens contribute to the look of the city. He requested that the Committee consider raising their 1998 grant to $107,000.00. Councillor M. Yantzi questioned the cost of insurance, water and equipment maintenance. Mr. MacNeil advised that the cost of those 3 items is $11,000.00 and they may be able to be covered under the blanket of the City. This matter is still being discussed. Mayor C. Zehr questioned the state of the fountains. Mr. MacNeil advised that the 2 main fountains are working at this time but the Schneider fountains are not working. They are trying to determine the cost of repairing the fountains and then they will fundraise. Mr. A. Reed addressed the Committee stating that they have contacted a fountain renovator from Toronto who will inspect the fountains and provide a cost to repair. Once they have the costs, they will approach the Schneider family to finance the repairs to the Schneider fountains. Regarding the Jansen fountains, Mr. Reid advised that they want to move and maintain one. They are having an inspection made and obtaining a report on the costs. The main fountain is operable. A discussion took place with respect to the grant request. Councillor T. Galloway questioned whether the salary for their full-time employee was entirely attributed to the Gardens and Mr. MacNeil advised that it is. Councillor Galloway questioned the work this employee does on other of the Society's projects and was advised that that work is done on a volunteer basis. Councillor Galloway then questioned the possibility of doing away with the greenhouse operation and going commercial. Mr. MacNeil advised that they had reviewed that possibility over the last 2 years and it is still cheaper to go with the greenhouse and propagate their own plants. Councillor J. Haalboom stated that she had previously asked about wedding photography. Mr. MacNeil stated that he had preliminary discussions with Mr. T. Clancy but to date nothing has been done. Councillor T. Galloway questioned what it means to the Society to run the Gardens. Mr. MacNeil responded that they get nothing from it. Further, no other horticultural society runs a garden of this size. He stated that the only value is seeing a beautiful entrance to the city. A brief discussion then took place with respect to the $11,000.00 for insurance, water and equipment maintenance. Councillor C. Weylie questioned the possibility of the City taking over the fountains. Mr. J. Gazzola stated that it wouldn't be any cheaper for the City to take them over. Mr. MacNeil stated that he had spoken to Mr. T. Clancy who indicated that he thought it would be more expensive for the City because of the volunteer time from the Society. In summary, Mr. MacNeil stated that Rockway Gardens is a City owned property which is run by volunteers. The Society runs the Gardens as cheaply as they can and they need $107,000.00 to run the Gardens in 1998. Councillor G. Lorentz thanked the delegation for their presentation. He then questioned how the Committee wished to deal with the matter. Councillor M. Yantzi noted that if this was an existing department budget, Council would likely fund it. He questioned whether any one had reviewed this budget to determine whether it was right. He felt that the City should pay the cost of running the Gardens. He stated that he felt the City had to provide the additional funds, as long as the costs are reasonably applied. 3. DELEGATION - KITCHENER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (CONT'D) Councillor T. Galloway stated that this volunteer organization is doing the best they can. If the City was running the Gardens it would be funded and the fountains would be working. He felt that the City should provide the additional funds or start making the operational as well as financial decisions. He suggested a working group be struck to come up with options, over the next 2 months. This group should review whether the City should take over the fountains and whether Parks and Recreation should do more. It is important to get the Gardens back on a stable footing. He suggested that the working group be composed of staff, members of the Horticultural Society and Councillor M. Yantzi. Mayor C. Zehr questioned whether anyone else besides the Horticultural Society had been involved with the budget review and was advised that the only staff involvement had been in the master plan. Mayor Zehr stated that the City had faltered in not being better partners and asked that this be dealt with at the same time. Councillor G. Lorentz requested that the working group be struck and report back to this Committee in 2 months with a comprehensive game plan. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that, in the meantime, he did not agree with increasing the grant as requested. He suggested an additional $7,500.00 until the working group reports. Mr. J. Gazzola advised that he had a problem with this suggestion. He stated that the City gets a lot of work out of this organization and this group keeps getting cut. He emphasized that this is a volunteer organization running one of the City's parks. On motion by Councillor M. Yantzi - it was resolved: "That Council approve a 1998 operating grant for the Kitchener Horticultural Society in the amount of $91,000.00; and, That Council approve an additional one-time grant to the Kitchener Horticultural Society in 1998 of a maximum of $15,000.00; and further, That a working group, composed of Councillor M. Yantzi, members of staff and members of the Kitchener Horticultural Society, be formed to review the operations and structure at Rockway Gardens and report back to the Community Services Committee in September 1998." DELEGATION - K-W MULTICULTURAL CENTRE Ms. M. Revera was in attendance to represent the K-W Multicultural Centre. She thanked the Committee for the changes to the way they fund the Multicultural Festival. She advised that she was also in attendance to talk about the work that the Multicultural Centre does all year long. In this regard, she distributed some printed information. Ms. Revera advised that this year they had applied for extra funding for the Centre itself. She stated that it is important to create partnerships. She requested having a Councillor work with them all the time instead of only for the festival. Councillors K. Taylor-Harrison and M. Yantzi agreed to work with the Centre. She questioned what it really means for the City of Kitchener to have a partnership with the Multicultural Centre. When questioned by the Committee, Ms. Revera advised that there are 7 full-time employees, 3 part-time employees and 10 volunteers working in the office at the Multicultural Centre. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.. Dianne H. Gilchrist Committee Secretary