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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Svcs - 2001-09-24COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2001CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date, chaired by Councillor G. Lorentz, commencing at 2:07 p.m., with the following members present: Councillors M. Galloway, J. Smola, B. Vrbanovic, C. Weylie and J. Ziegler. Mayor C. Zehr was in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present:Ms. S. Adams, Ms. M. Cummins, Ms. R. Willms, Ms. L. Zitzelberger, Ms. P. Houston, Ms. D. Gilchrist and Messrs. F. Pizzuto, D. Daly, K. Baulk and S. Saleh. 1. CSD-01-167-GRANT REQUEST -CHRISTKINDL MARKET Councillor G. Lorentz advised that consideration of Community Services Department report CSD- 01-167 is deferred to a future Community Services Committee meeting. 2. CSD-01-165-GRANT REQUEST -THE BOARD OF SERBIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL 'ST. SARA' KITCHENER-WATERLOO The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-01-165, dated September 18, 2001, recommending a grant of $1,500. for the Board of the Serbian Language School 'St. Sara' Kitchener-Waterloo, to support a cultural event to take place November 8, 2001. The grant is being recommended subject to the Board obtaining other financing for this event. Ms. U. Ivanovic appeared before the Committee in support of the grant application. She advised that this is the first time that the Board has undertaken an event of this nature, which promotes multiculturalism. She also advised that the school has 350 students. Several members of the Committee noted that this event is not open to the general public and questioned why staff are recommending a grant for a closed event. Mr. F. Pizzuto explained that general grants apply to any event which will enhance the community, and the event does not have to be open to the public to comply with the grant criteria. Councillor J. Ziegler noted that in the past this Committee has not funded schools, stating his opinion that this request is similar to those for whom funding has previously been denied. Mr. Pizzuto responded that staff are recommending support for a cultural event and not the school. In response to questions, Ms. Ivanovic advised that the school is funded by the Board of Education. With respect to this event, Ms. Ivanovic advised that there are 15,000 Serbian people living in the community and this event will allow for contacts to be made between the Serbian community and a larger community. The invited guests are mainly from Kitchener with a few from Waterloo and 2 or 3 from Cambridge. Mayor C. Zehr entered the meeting at this time. Councillor J. Ziegler put forward a motion to deny the requested grant, which was supported by Councillor B. Vrbanovic. Councillor G. Lorentz spoke against the motion stating that each community within Kitchener who holds a cultural event of this nature has needed some assistance to get started. He stated that the Serbian community is taking a bold step and Council should offer them some assistance. In response to Councillor J. Smola, Mr. Pizzuto stated that staff have considered the 'closed' nature of this event in the broadest sense, noting that they have invited people from the larger community, not just the Serbian community. It was suggested by Councillor Vrbanovic that consideration of the grant request be deferred to the October 15th meeting for further information on the exact nature of this event. Ms. Ivanovic addressed the Committee advising that when they started planning this event they had not considered applying to the City of Kitchener for a grant. Since that time the event has 2. CSD-01-165-GRANT REQUEST -THE BOARD OF SERBIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL 'ST. SARA' COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2001- 64 -CITY OF KITCHENER KITCHENER-WATERLOO (CONT'D) grown from the purpose of acquainting the city's residents with the Serbian community to one of thanking the larger community for helping the Serbian people to adjust to their new country. The event will also showcase the talents of the children who are the future leaders of the community. Councillors Ziegler and Vrbanovic withdrew their previous motions. Councillor Ziegler stated that based on the information provided by Ms. Ivanovic, he recommends a grant of $750.00 without condition. On motion by Councillor J. Ziegler - it was resolved: "That a one-time grant of $750.00 be approved for the Board of the Serbian Language School ‘St. Sara’, Kitchener- Waterloo, to assist with the expenses related to hosting a Serbian cultural event, to be held November 8, 2001." 3. CSD-01-157-COUNCIL POLICY AMENDMENT -% OF CONSTRUCTION VALUE FOR PUBLIC ART The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-01-157, dated September 11, 2001, recommending an amendment to Council's policy of March 2000 with respect to allocating 1% of the value of construction/renovation of civic buildings and projects for public art. The staff report also recommends implementation of guidelines for the policy. Councillor M. Galloway put forward the recommendation contained in the staff report. Upon examination of Appendix 'A' attached to the staff report, the Committee questioned whether libraries should be included in the list of civic buildings and projects to which this policy applies. They also questioned the prior lack of implementation of this policy. Mr. F. Pizzuto responded that there has been an inconsistent application of this policy to date, which is the reason for the implementation guidelines. He agreed that libraries should be included in the list of civic buildings/projects to which this policy applies. He then requested that, at the budget stage for these projects, 1% of the construction value be included in the project budget for public art. Councillor J. Ziegler stated that the design for many civic buildings is public art and questioned the need for additional public art for these projects. Councillor B. Vrbanovic agreed that in some cases the design of a building can be considered art, but also noted that some recent public buildings have no public art. Ms. P. Houston stated that now that the policy is to apply to renovations, the term 'renovations' be defined. Mr. Pizzuto advised that the policy approved by Council in March 2000 included renovations, and the only change being recommended at this time is the minimum project value of $100,000. Councillor Vrbanovic put forward an amendment, accepted by Councillor Galloway as a friendly amendment, that the implementation strategy be changed to apply to new construction of and additions to civic buildings and civic projects with a project budget of $100,000. or more. Councillor Galloway also accepted as a friendly amendment the inclusion of libraries as a civic building/project to which this policy applies. On motion by Councillor M. Galloway - it was resolved: "That Council’s policy of March 2000 with respect to ‘% for Art’ be amended so as to apply to those civic buildings or other civic projects intended for general public use, where the project budget is $100,000. or more; and, 3. CSD-01-157-COUNCIL POLICY AMENDMENT -% OF CONSTRUCTION VALUE FOR PUBLIC ART (CONT'D) COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2001- 65 -CITY OF KITCHENER That the Policy Implementation Guidelines attached as Appendix 'A' to Community Services Department report CSD-01-157 be approved, as amended, to apply this policy to new construction of and additions to civic buildings and civic projects having a project budget of at least $100,000.; and further, That libraries be added to the list of civic buildings and projects to which this policy applies." 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. Dianne Gilchrist Committee Administrator