HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-07-116 - Funding Request - Waterloo Regional Children's MuseumILREPORT
Report To: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair, and Members of
the Finance and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: September 24, 2007
Submitted By: Pauline Houston, General Manager of Financial Services
& City Treasurer
Prepared By: Pauline Houston (2646)
MIN
Date of Report: September 18, 2007
Zieport Ao.: FIN-07-1 1 •
Subject: Funding Request re: Waterloo Regional Children's Museuni
RECOMMENDATION:
Council direction requested.
BACKGROUND:
On July 30, 2007 Staff received a written request (Appendix A) from the Mr. David Marskell,
Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Museum:
"That the City of Kitchener becomes a "Pacesetter" for The Children's Museum's annual
fundraising campaign by forgiving all outstanding paper debts owed to the City by the Museum
and extend a one time grant of $50,000.00 to support the development of major new programs
and exhibits currently being planned ".
To date, the City has made capital contributions to the construction project of $1.5 million. In
addition, starting in 2003, the City has provided annual in kind operating support to cover
parking costs and ongoing maintenance costs for the City-owned building. In 2007 this
amounted to $ 99,257 ($20,717 for parking and $78,540 for maintenance).
The City has been approached by the Children's Museum three times this year seeking and
subsequently receiving Council's approval of the following arrangements:
1) Sublet arrangement with Mad Science Group for the occupation of a part of the lower
basement and use of one of the community classrooms.
Approved by Council February 5, 2007
2) Sublet arrangement for food services to be located in the former toy store space.
(Council reminded about debt still owed by Children Museum in that report.)
3) Partnership arrangement with the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Arts regarding the
Faculty of Arts Canadian Centre for Arts and Technology (CCAT) for the purpose of
locating classrooms, labs and studios in the Children's Museum facility as well as to
share other resources including equipment and personnel.
Approved by Council June 25, 2007
(Note: There is a provision in the Lease between the Children's Museum and the City of
Kitchener which permits the Children's Museum to use the premises located at 10-22
King Street W., only as a Children Museum and any ancillary use thereto and for no
other purpose whatsoever, with the right of approval being granted to the City of
Kitchener.)
1014
The funding request to be considered today is two-fold:
1. A one time grant of $50,000.00 to support the development of major new programs and
exhibits currently being planned, and
2. Forgiveness of an outstanding debt related to the project construction costs:
Elevator $905000.0
Construction $705252.5
Interest $100,005.8
Total $2605258.41
Earlier this year, staff reviewed the financial statements for the museum for 2005 and 2006,
which demonstrate very limited or no current ability to re-pay the debt owing to the City. David
Marskell, Executive Director of the museum will be in attendance at the Finance and Corporate
Services Committee meeting to present the request and to answer any questions Committee
members may have.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No budget funds have been allocated in 2007 for this type of request. The net impact of any
financial assistance provided will be charged to the 2007 operating surplus.
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L 161N UTH Z I Njatuelm
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Pauline Houston, CA
General Manager of Financial
Services & City Treasurer
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Appendix A
USU
i s ire thad
July 30, 2007.
Recommendation:
That the City of Kitchener becomes a "Pacesetter" for The Children's Museum's annual fundraising
campaign by forgiving all outstanding paper debts owed to the City by the Museum and extend a
one time grant of $50,000.00 to support the development of major new programs and exhibits
currently being planned.
Background:
Just over three and a half years ago, to much fanfare, the Museum opened in the heart of downtown
Kitchener. The anticipation grew and the community was excited about a new leading edge art,
science and technology facility for young people. In addition, the Museum could bring people back
downtown and add some needed vibrancy.
As with any new business The Children's Museum experienced growing pains and did not
immediately meet expectations. It did however have a world -class facility and a sound vision.
Beginning last autumn a creative and entrepreneurial approach began guiding the Museum and in a
very short period of time significant and positive changes have occurred.
• An upgrade to existing exhibits as well as thematically created new exhibits for every level of the
Museum including:
1. First Level. The Grand Atrium promotes protection of the environment with its new
living wall and fish tanks and is a place of Community Celebration.
2. Second Level. An Urban Streetscape for our youth to interact in and express themselves
artistically in their own space opens this fall.
3. Third Level. Opening in August MISSION: OUTER SPACE..... A COM DEV
ADVENTURE is designed to education children about space and space flight. (This will
tour to Mississauga during March break to promote The Children's Museum thus tourism to Kitchener:
It will make zvay for a four month exhibit called Discovering Chimpanzees: The Remarkable world of
Jane Goodall. This world class exhibit has the potential to draw visitors from outside our region and me
have already confirmed txo media partners. The Globe and Mail nationally and The Record regionaly.)
4. Fourth Level. In collaboration with UW - A New Media Experience - a multimedia
digital learning centre will bring students downtown and bring innovative and interaction
to Museum guests.
• A Teacher in Residence has been hired and twenty -five curriculum based school programs will
be offered in September. Bookings have begun from as far away as Guelph.
• A new and positive relationship with the media and an increase in the quality and quantity of
media coverage including the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and CBC.
Appendix A
• Renewed optimism in the Staff and Board and positive community momentum.
• Reversal of negative financial trends and the first year over year increase in attendance.
• Growth in new and renewed Memberships.
• Significant increase in community collaborations and partnerships.
• To reduce costs a new outsourcing collaboration with CITS to acquire CFO services.
Discussion:
During construction of the Museum disputes arose between the City and the management of the day
at the Museum. This resulted in no formal contract being signed and the two parties currently
operate via a letter of understanding. In addition, interest on the disputed outstanding amount grows
each month. I understand this debt relates to capital costs to the elevator and building which are
ultimately owned by the city.
Quite simple, the Museum will not be able to pay off this debt for years to come without putting
itself in jeopardy. The debt is on the books of both operations and while a footnote to the City it is a
large ball and chain around the neck of the Museum as it enters its fifth year of operation.
Part of the original vision for the Museum was to have a major Communications Exhibit in the
Fourth Level RIM Gallery. The Museum staff have now realized that goal for the entire floor but
not without significant expense.
The collaboration with the University of Waterloo will achieve many positive things for both the
Museum and City:
• A state of the art facility for use by the Museum's visitor, university students and the business
community.
• The ability to attract out of town visitors as well as people from the suburbs to visit downtown
Kitchener which bring economic benefits.
• It achieves the original vision for the Museum.
• It is consistent with the City's vision for a cultural and technology cluster.
• It is a catalyst for collaboration with other cultural events and attractions.
A recent promotion the Museum held in association with an exhibit called Chagall for Children,
where a Kitchener family won a trip to Paris, showed that a full 31 % of visitors visited from outside
of Waterloo Region and 18% from the "L" postal code (Mississauga and Brampton). This shows
that a solid product offering and smart marketing will motivate visitors from our suburbs and from
surrounding areas which directly supports economic development initiatives.
The community should be proud of the achievements in four short years and realize the Museum is
at a tipping point. There have been significant changes and positive results in a short period of time
and the original investment of time, energy and money in the Museum is beginning to pay dividends.
The Museum is a not for profit facility and must reach out each year to secure funds. Last fiscal we
successfully attained more than $800,000.00 through grants, donations, sponsorships and pledges
from the original campaign. Those pledges have now expired.
Appendix A
As the Museum began a new year July 1 St it has a lofty target of $ 1,000,000.00 to achieve without any
pledges to enjoy. As a business we must and will also increase our earned revenue.
These funds will help secure world -class exhibits such as Jane Goodall's Discovering Chimpanzees
currently at the Boston Museum of Science and Arctic Adventure: A Celebration of Canada's North
which has been secured from Science North for next June.
With the addition of the video conferencing capabilities coming to the Fourth Level we can share
these Kitchener based exhibits with children and students across Canada around the world.
The City of Kitchener has much to gain from a successful Children's Museum and with that in mind
it is respectfully requested that continued leadership be shown as a "Pacesetter" for the annual
fundraising campaign by forgiving the debt and by extending a one time grant at this crucial time.
To be clear, I am not asking to be bailed out but rather for support of our emerging business.
Most sincerely,
David Marskell
Executive Director
The Children's Museum