HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-067 - Agmnts with Kit Woodworking & Craft Club-City of Waterloo-JG Group - 173 Roger St
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Community Services
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Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Finance and Corporate Services Committee
May 15, 2006
Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs and
Services
Jo-Ann Hutchison, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources &
Community Engagement
All
May 9, 2006
CSD-06-067
LEGAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE KITCHENER
WOODWORKING AND CRAFT CLUB, CORPORATION OF
THE CITY OF WATERLOO & REGISTERED OWNER OF
173 ROGER STREET/J.G. GROUP OF COMPANIES
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute a tri-party agreement, satisfactory
to the City Solicitor, between Kitchener Woodworking & Craft Club Inc., the Corporation
of the City of Kitchener and the Corporation of the City of Waterloo, for the purposes of
providing funding for the creation of a woodworking and craft centre located at 173
Roger Street, Waterloo; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement, satisfactory to the City
Solicitor, with the registered owner of 173 Roger Street, Waterloo, for the purposes of
securing leasehold improvements for the benefit of the woodworking and craft centre.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1999, Community Services staff has been liaising with a group of community members
who are interested in exploring the possibility of partnering with the City of Kitchener to establish
a Woodworking and Craft Centre.
In November 1999, Council directed staff to continue to work with this group to conduct a
community survey to assess interest in such a facility, to review possible site locations, and to
develop a more detailed proposal for this project.
The results of the survey and progress reports on the review of possible sites were submitted to
the Community Services Committee in February 2000 and March 2000. The survey results
indicated great interest from the community in such a facility.
Report No. CSD-06-067
Page 2
Originally, it was the goal of the Woodworking and Craft Centre Committee to find and purchase
a stand-alone facility. Despite an extensive search, a suitable stand-alone facility was not found;
thus, the option of leasing space was explored. Updates on the search for space were provided
to Council in reports CSD-02-076 and CSD-04-021.
After reviewing several leasing options, the Woodworking and Craft Centre Committee
concluded that the best option is located at 173 Roger Street in Waterloo. This recommendation
was put forth to Kitchener City Council in June 2005 through Report No. CSD-05-086. As
outlined in that report, one of the advantages of this location was its potential to be a Joint
Woodworking and Craft Centre with the City of Waterloo through a shared services partnership.
REPORT:
Since June 2005, the following developments related to this project have occurred.
In October 2005, due to health and safety concerns, the City of Waterloo closed the building
hobbyists had been using as a woodworking shop for several years in Waterloo Park. Waterloo
City Council approved a one-time 2006 capital budget allocation of $10,000 for leasehold
improvements to the Roger Street site and approved an additional $25,000 in operating through
the Corporate Grants Program was secured for the next 10 years (as per October 24, 2005
R&L05-45).
The City of Waterloo also approved a minor variance in the zoning of this property to allow for
this type of operation on that site.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre is now an incorporated not-for-profit
organization with its own board of directors that consists of residents from both Kitchener and
Waterloo. As an incorporated group, it can now enter into contractual agreements.
Please note that the current legal name of the group is the Kitchener Woodworking and Craft Club, Inc.
Now that Waterloo is an official partner of this project, the board of the woodworking group has
submitted a name change to the Province of Ontario. When processed by the Province, the group's new
name will be Kitchener- Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre, Inc.
With funding secured from both the Cities of Waterloo and Kitchener, legal agreements have
been drafted and will be provided. The approval and signing of these agreements is the next
step in moving this project forward.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
As outlined in a previous report (CSD-05-086), the City of Kitchener granted $20,000 in one-
time capital (index 636036) for lease hold improvements during the 2004 budget process. As
well, $50,000 for annual lease costs was approved during the 2005 annual grant process.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre, Inc. are responsible for all other
ongoing capital and operating costs.
Report No. CSD-06-067
Page 3
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Mayor's Advisory Council for Kitchener Seniors (MACKS) has received regular updates
about the status of this project. The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee has been made
aware of this project and will be updated when the facility is ready to open.
The Board of the Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Club is responsible for devising a
communications plan to inform the public of the opening of the centre. It is hoped the facility will
open sometime in the fall of 2006.
CONCLUSION:
Woodworking and craft centres for hobbyists have proven successful in other municipalities
such as Cambridge, Woodstock and the Township of Wilmot (Baden). In Kitchener-Waterloo, a
woodworking and craft centre will fill a unique niche in community based arts and crafts
programming. Given the expressed interest in our community, it is expected to be highly
successful here as well.
Mark Hildebrand
Interim Director, Community Programs and Services
AP