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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Svcs - 2002-03-04COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2002CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date, Chaired by Councillor G. Lorentz, commencing at 4:10 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. Vrbanovic, M. Galloway, C. Weylie, J. Smola and J. Ziegler. Officials Present: Ms. P. Houston, Ms. S. Adams, Ms. R. Willms, Ms. J. Billett and Messrs. J. Fielding, R. Pritchard, F. Pizzuto, G. Melanson, K. Baulk, R. Weber, D. Chapman and G. Borovilos. 1. CSD-02-066-STANDARD LETTER OF AGREEMENT -USE OF ROTUNDA GALLERY FOR ART EXHIBITIONS The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-066, dated February 6, 2002 requesting approval of a revised Letter of Agreement respecting use of the Rotunda Gallery for art exhibitions. Mr. G. Melanson advised that an issue respecting insurance protection relative to third party damage to artworks is still under review and in this regard, further revisions to the agreement may come forward at a future date. It was resolved: “That Council rescind its resolution of August 27, 2001 approving the “Rotunda Gallery Letter of Agreement re: Exhibition” attached to Community Services Department report CSD-01-132; and further, That use of the “Rotunda Gallery Letter of Agreement (2002 and beyond) re: Exhibition” be approved as attached to Community Services Department report CSD-02-066 for use with all future Rotunda Gallery exhibitions as approved by the Public Art Committee.” 2. CSD-02-072 -CEMETERY LEGISLATION A.M.O. BOARD RECOMMENDATION The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-072, dated February 27, 2002 outlining concerns respecting regulatory reform to the Cemeteries Act and the Funeral Directors and Establishment Act as proposed by a Bereavement Sector Advisory Committee (BSAC) established by the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services. It was resolved: “WHEREAS the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services have proposed changes to the Cemeteries Act and the Funeral Directors and Establishment Act; and, WHEREAS the proposed changes will not protect the interests of the City of Kitchener in the provision of Cemetery related services; and, WHEREAS there has been no opportunity for municipalities to voice their concerns regarding these proposed changes; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Corporation of the City of Kitchener requests that no changes be undertaken to the Cemeteries Act and Funeral Directors and Establishment Act until such time as all municipal concerns have been addressed; AND FURTHER, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Consumer and Business Services, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and all area MPP’s.” 3. CSD-02-057 -GRANT REQUEST - WATERLOO-WELLINGTON ONTARIO SENIOR GAMES The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-057, dated February 5, 2002 recommending approval of a general provision grant for the District #26 Waterloo-Wellington Ontario Senior Games and provision for a similar grant on an annual basis. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2002- 20 -CITY OF KITCHENER 3. CSD-02-057 -GRANT REQUEST - WATERLOO-WELLINGTON ONTARIO SENIOR GAMES -(CONT’D) Mr. Royal Berg, Chair, Waterloo-Wellington Ontario Senior Games, was in attendance to support the grant request. He noted that this is an annual summer event hosted by 7 area municipalities on a rotating basis, with the 2003 event to take place in Kitchener. He stated that the number of participants is growing each year and to accommodate its needs organizers are requesting hosting municipalities to contribute smaller amounts annually rather than a lump sum in the year of their hosting of the event. Mr. Berg further noted that volunteers from hosting municipalities sit on the organizing committee in the year prior to hosting to gain experience in preparation of the event and in this regard, noted that Ms. Carolyn Cormier, Seniors Program Liaison and Mr. Ed Black, Seniors Volunteer, have volunteered for this purpose. Mr. Berg also displayed a poster prepared for this years event to take place in the Township of Wilmot and noted that all participating municipalities are recognized on the poster. On motion by Councillor C. Weylie - it was resolved: “That a general provision grant in the amount of $750. be approved for the District #26 Waterloo-Wellington Ontario Senior Games to be held in the Township of Wilmot on May 27 to 30 and June 3 to 6, 2002; and further, That the City of Kitchener commit to granting $750. to the District #26 Waterloo-Wellington Ontario Senior Games on an annual basis.” 4. GRANT APPEAL - COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF DECEMBER 10, 2001 - WATERLOO COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE The Committee was in receipt of correspondence from Mr. F. Pizzuto, dated February 25, 2002 and from Mr. John Hall, President, Waterloo Community Arts Centre, dated December 14, 2001 relative to an appeal of Council’s December 10, 2001 decision which resolved to take no action on a grant request in the amount of $1,000. to assist with costs for The Grand View, a juried art exhibition. The Committee was also in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-01-216, dated November 22, 2001 in which background information relative to the organization and this event is provided. Ms. Sher DiCiccio, Executive Director of the Waterloo Community Arts Centre, was in attendance to request support for provision of a one time provisional grant in the amount of $1,000. to assist in funding The Grand View event to be exhibited in Kitchener in the month of March. She commented that it was her understanding a grant was not supported in 2001 as the City’s grant budget had been depleted and advised that the Arts Centre is again seeking financial support for this event as new funding is now available. She advised that this is a touring exhibition to be held in various communities along the Grand River as part of the 2002 celebrations of the Grand River being honoured as a heritage river, and of the 20 artists involved, 8 are Kitchener residents. She further advised that the funding requested is intended to be used to assist with mounting of the exhibition and hosting a reception for Kitchener residents. Ms. DiCiccio responded to various questions relative to other sources of funding, costs associated directly with the Kitchener exhibition and dispursement of revenues in excess of expenditures. It was pointed out during this discussion that the City of Waterloo is providing an operating grant in the amount of $10,000. to the Arts Centre for its programming; an arts catalogue will be produced through sponsorship funding and will be sold at exhibitions to assist in off-setting costs; excess revenues are generally returned to the Arts Centre’s programming budget to support other projects; and, the high profile event is expected to draw participants within a 50 km radius. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2002- 21 -CITY OF KITCHENER 4. GRANT APPEAL - COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF DECEMBER 10, 2001 - WATERLOO COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (CONT’D) “That a one time general provision grant in the amount of $500. be approved for the Waterloo Community Arts Centre to assist with the cost for The Grand View, a juried art exhibition.” 5. CSD-02-065 -GRANT REQUEST - KW CHILDREN’S DRAMA WORKSHOP The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-065, dated February 21, 2002 respecting a grant request from the KW Children’s Drama Workshop to assist with a live theatre production of “Legend of Scarface and Bluewater”. Ms. Leslie Hill, Artistic Director, KW Children’s Drama Workshop, was in attendance to support the grant request. She advised that the organization provides artistic performance programming for children of diverse backgrounds between the ages of 8 to 15 years and the main objective is to teach children how to perform in front of a live audience. She commented that the organization is experiencing difficulty in meeting its financial needs largely due to lack of facilities in which to stage productions at a reasonable rate and noted that this years venue will be held at the Registry Theatre as facilities rented by the public school board are no longer affordable. She stated that the organization hopes to remain self-sustaining; however, due to an anticipated deficit this year is requesting a one time grant to cover the shortfall. In response to questions, Ms. Hill advised that the organization expects to have confirmation of non-profit status in the near future following revisions to its application and confirmed that it is the intent to operate as a charitable non-profit organization. On motion by Councillor M. Galloway - it was resolved: “That a one time general provision grant in the amount of $400. be approved for the KW Children’s Drama Workshop to assist with expenses to hold the production of “Legend of Scarface and Bluewater” on May 11, 2002 subject to verification of non-profit status.” 6. CSD-02-009-GRANT REQUEST - NUMUS INC. The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-009, dated February 22, 2002 respecting an application by NUMUS Inc. for a grant in support of the Cello Cornucopia Concert. Ms. Suzanne Haines and Mr. Jeremy Bell, NUMUS Inc., appeared in support of the grant request. Ms. Haines commented that the concert held on February 1, 2002 at the Registry Theatre was well attended and consisted of an ensemble of cellists and soloists performing a variety of differing types of music. She pointed out that NUMUS has co-produced and collaborated on a number of other projects including the Open Ears Festival. Mr. J. Bell added that it is the organization’s mandate to promote local performers and composers, and pointed out that approximately half of the concert performers were Kitchener artists and included a premiere composition by Roger Bergs. He further noted that the concert had drawn national attention and was a good way in which to present local performers nationally. Mayor C. Zehr commented that the Registry Theatre is able to offer reasonable rates for events such as this because of the City's assistance. Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested, and it was agreed, that the City’s logo and recognition of financial support should be included in promotional material for any event sponsored by the City. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: “That a one time grant in the amount of $1,000. be approved for NUMUS Inc. to support the Cello Cornucopia Concert to be held on February 1, 2002. “ COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2002- 22 -CITY OF KITCHENER 7. CSD-02-067 - GRANT REQUEST - WORLD HORSESHOE PITCHING CHAMPIONSHIP The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-067, dated February 21, 2002 requesting the City’s support for a bid to host the World Horseshoe Pitching Championships, and provision of a sponsorship grant. Mr. Bernie Baetz and Mr. Stan Leis, Khaki Club, were in attendance to request that the City support a bid to host another World Horseshoe Pitching Championship in 2004 or 2005. Mr. Baetz referred to the 1997 World Championships held in Kitchener, pointing out that this was the first time the tournament had been held outside of the United States in 79 years and had the largest number of participants in the history of the tournament. Mr. Leis advised that he had attended every tournament since 1997 and has had great response to Kitchener hosting another World Championship. In response to questions, Mr. K. Baulk advised that a similar profit sharing arrangement to that in 1997 is proposed and there is opportunity to improve upon sponsorship targets which should provide a level of comfort in the estimated budget. In response to further questions, Mr. Baulk advised that a determination in which year to bid will be made in approximately one months time. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - it was resolved: That the City of Kitchener support the bid to host the World Horseshoe Pitching “ Championships in 2004 or 2005; and further, That a $15,000. cash sponsorship grant be allocated to the event should the National Horseshoe Pitching Association award the Championship to the City of Kitchener.” 8. CSD-02-068 - GRANT REQUEST - GREEK-CYPRIOT COMMUNITY OF WATERLOO REGION - A TASTE OF DIONYSIA 2002 The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-068, dated February 22, 2002 respecting a request from the Greek-Cypriot Community for a grant to assist in hosting the Taste of Dionysia 2002 event. On motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: That an in-kind grant to a maximum of $2,000. be approved for the Greek-Cypriot “ Community of Waterloo Region to assist with City related costs to host the Taste of Dionysia 2002 event.” 9. CSD-02-069 - AUTOMATED PROGRAM REGISTRATIONS The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department report CSD-02-069, dated February 27, 2002 respecting implementation of an automated program registration system. The Committee was also circulated this date with a copy of a staff newsletter entitled “Announcing Computerized Program Registration”. Mr. R. Weber was in attendance to provide an overview of the implementation plan for the automated program registration system. He acknowledged Mr. Warren Sutton, Business Systems Analyst and Ms. Christine Solcan, Accounting Analyst, who collaborated with staff of Community Services on this project and introduced Ms. Leta Bulgin, the Class Systems Specialist. Mr. Baulk then detailed the stages of implementation as follows: · establishment of a clientele database which is currently underway; · 1st mass registration at Briethaupt Centre and Victoria Park Pavilion for Summer Camp and Athletic Camp registrations - long line-ups anticipated relative to learning curve of the new system, limited computer availability and no pre-registrations; COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 4, 2002- 23 -CITY OF KITCHENER 9. CSD-02-069 - AUTOMATED PROGRAM REGISTRATIONS (CONT’D) · early August - roll-out of Fall programs and activation of touch tone telephone and Internet registrations; · early October - registrations for Winter 2003 Aquatics Programs. In response to questions, Mr. Weber advised that in establishing a clientele database, Internet addresses are being sought and where provided, information will be sent to keep clients informed. Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested that any forms provide space to indicate if clients wish to receive information via the Internet and that staff also make provision for subsequently removing this option. In response to further questions, Mr. Weber advised that staff have had preliminary discussions to determine what can be done to minimize long line-ups and delays relative to the first round of registrations. Councillor G. Lorentz thanked Mr. Weber for his presentation. 10. CSD-02-064-USE OF WATERLOO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD FACILITIES The Committee was in receipt of Community Services Department information report CSD-02-064, dated February 22, 2002 advising of implementation of user fees for school facilities. Mr. R. Weber advised that similar to the Waterloo Region District School Board, the Catholic School Board has assumed full responsibility for booking their school facilities and has implemented user fees. In this regard, Mr. Weber advised that there will be impact on user groups who may subsequently approach Council for financial assistance to off-set the user fees. Mr. Weber advised that staff are preparing a letter that will be forwarded to user groups to advise of this change. 11. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Janet Billett Committee Administrator