HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-07-115 - General Provision Grant Request - Kitchener Horticultural Society
)
R
Community Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
December 3, 2007
Ann Pappert, General Manager, Community Services
Renate Willms, Supervisor of Administration (x2395)
All
November 27,2007
CSD-07-115
GENERAL PROVISION GRANT REQUEST - KITCHENER
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
RECOMMENDATION:
That a one time general provision grant in the amount of $9,095.15 be approved to the
Kitchener Horticultural Society to cover an extraordinary increase of expense in water
bills that resulted from a broken water valve in the summer of 2007.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 18, 2007 Community Services Committee meeting, staff submitted Report No. CSD-
07-060, providing information on the proposed transitional implementation approach for 2008
annual operating and minor sports grants processes and recommending 2008 annual grant
allocations. On June 25, 2007, Council approved the implementation plan outlined in the staff
report, which included the following process.
Successful 2007 annual operating groups are to submit a detailed cover letter to staff by
September 21, 2007 with 2008 budgets and financial statements, advising of any significant
changes they anticipate in 2008, the definition and criteria for 'significant' to be as previously
approved by Council.
Further, with a pause implemented for 2008 annual grants, there is no formal appeal process in
place. However, applicants were advised that "emergency" requests identified by 2007 annual
operating grant recipients will be brought forward to Council through the general provision grant
process. The definition of "emergency" approved by Council is as follows:
"An emergency is an extraordinary circumstance defined as a major, unplanned
change that seriously impacts the facility, operations and/or governance of an
organization or group and for which the organization or group has no capacity to
circumvent it.
Report No. CSD-07 -115
Page 2
Examples:
· Financial loss of income resulting in potential bankruptcy or closure
· Extraordinary increase of expense
· Resignation of the Board or staff team
· Strike action
· Fire"
REPORT:
Staff has received an "emergency" general provIsion grant request from the Kitchener
Horticultural Society (KHS) in the amount of $9,095.15 to cover an extraordinary increase of
expense in water bills in the summer 2007 caused by a broken water valve.
The water valve break was an unexpected circumstance that caused a great over expenditure in
water consumption for the KHS. As soon as it was identified, City staff arranged for repair of the
break and put a program in place to continually monitor the cistern to ensure that this event
does not reoccur. However, by the time the situation was rectified, the water charges were
excessive.
The annual operating grant provided to the Kitchener Horticultural Society to maintain and
operate Rockway Gardens includes payment for utility bills. Staff agree that this request meets
the definition of "emergency" as noted above - extraordinary increase of expense - and
recommend that the grant request be approved.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
If approved, the grant amount will be funded through the 2007 general provision grant account.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The applicant has received a copy of this report. This report has also been reviewed by
Financial Services and Operations staff.
Renate Willms
Supervisor of Administration