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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-07-076 - Cherry Park Neighbourhood Assoc Request for CDP FundingJ I~TC~~R . , . Community Services Report To: Community Services Committee Date of Meeting: August 13, 2007 Submitted By: Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs & Services (x2687) Prepared By: Janet Cote, District Facilitator, Community Programs & Services (x2720) Ward(s) Involved: Ward 2 Date of Report: August 8, 2007 Report No.: CSD-07-076 Subject: CHERRY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR CDIP FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: That the City of Kitchener approves a grant allocation for the Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association, from the Community Development Infrastructure Program, for $11,300 for expenses related to incorporation, 2007/2008 program and administration costs, and costs associated with investigating the feasibility of using the Air Boss centre for community programming space. BACKGROUND: The Community Development Infrastructure Program (CDIP) was established to aid associations and community grass roots groups in their efforts to develop structures and processes that can contribute to their resiliency and stability. CDIP is intended as one time seed funding to support neighbourhood and community projects in their efforts to strengthen community capacity, cohesion and stability. CDIP grants aim to support neighbourhoods and communities in putting an infra-structure in place that can enhance community development goals. The grant policy states that the allocation of CDIP funds is not to exceed a maximum of $15,000.00. REPORT: The Cherry Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) formerly called the King Belmont Neighborhood Association (KBNA) became active in 2004 through Affiliation Policy CSD-04- 169. In the 1990's, the KBNA was very active and offered many programs and services to the community. However, unfortunately the group had difficulty sustaining their programs, primarily due to the costs and availability of program and meeting space in the area. To deal with space needs, they investigated the possibility of a Centre in their community through correspondence with City staff and through the Leisure Facilities Master Plan. However to date no follow up or feasibility study has been completed. The Cherry Park Neighborhood Association is a group of neighbours linked together with the common goal of facilitating and participating in activities and events that build a healthier, safer, and more vibrant community. They reactivated in 2004, meeting and working with City staff on Report No: CSD-07-076 such things as playgrounds and winter rinks, as well as hosting public meetings to address various issues in the community. In the summer of 2006, the Cherry Park community entered into a state of crisis dealing with many safety concerns. The Police, Community Crime Prevention Council, CP&S staff and the Ward Councilor were instrumental in working with the Cherry Park residents to bring the community, in one year, from this state of crisis to a place where the residents began developing and implementing their own programs. This included special events, a community garden, walking groups, neighbourhood watch, a community clean up, and monthly public meetings. Just recently the CPNA was successful in obtaining a summer student, through a grant, to assist the with a needs assessment; to complete a facility inventory of businesses, schools, churches and apartments in the CPNA area; to collect demographic information of the area; and to write a historical article for the first CPNA newsletter. The Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association are requesting a one time CDIP grant of $11,300 to serve as seed money for their community development projects. Other funding and partnerships are being developed as well. The objectives of these projects are to continue to strengthen communication networks in the Cherry Park neighbourhood and develop further cohesion and stability. Also, to promote strong local leadership, volunteerism and partnerships in the social life of the community and to investigate the possibility of using existing community infrastructure to meet community space needs. They would like to meet these objectives through the development of special events/talks, community programs/activities, as well as investigating the possibility of using the AirBoss facility for program space. CPNA would like to offer a "Partnership for Prevention" talk by Dr. Geoff Nelson, Psychology professor at Wilfrid Laurier University who specializes in community psychology. His talk will draw from the experience and knowledge he has acquired from his extensive research in the Highfield Community in Toronto. He will bring with him ideas and tools to help create prevention programs. For now and into the future of the community the CPNA are also planning to offer multiple programs for all ages throughout the day and evening. As such they require facility space to ensure that these programs can operate for the fall of 2007. Short term solutions consider offering programs in the schools, churches, and Asgard Green -which were identified as facilities that currently had space available for fall 2007 in the facility inventory mentioned above. However, this is not dedicated space for community programs and is limiting and restrictive for long term programming needs. As such, further space opportunities have been explored at the Air Boss facility on the corner of Strange and Dominion. City staff and the ward Councilor met on site with the Community Association, Air Boss staff and other partners to investigate the possibility of leasing parts of this site as a longer term solution for dedicated programming space in the community. It is suggested that part of this grant be used to complete an architect's assessment of the facility, which is a requirement of the Building department when changing the use of a facility (in this case from office space to space used as assembly). It requires an architect or a BCIN certified Interior Designer to assess the building and determine whether it is up to code. Based on the assessment, drawings would be submitted of the building detailing any required changes. Although an assessment such as this would typically be included in a larger business case, investigating community space options, staff are recommending the completion of this assessment now because i) the opportunity to lease this facility exists currently, and ii) there continues to be an immediate need for additional and dedicated space to meet programming wishes in the community. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, their may be short term low cost solutions for utilizing space at the AirBoss facility. In all likelihood, this assessment will become a component of a business case looking at space options in the Cherry Park neighbourhood that would come forward at a future date for Council's consideration. Report No: CSD-07-076 CPNA Proposed Budaet -2007 Item Price - Incorporation Fee $1,000.00 Program Costs - Room rentals @ St. Mark's $2,000.00 - Promotion and honorarium $1,000.00 - Annual Clean-up BBQ event $500.00 - Community Garden expansion $500.00 Admin Costs - Office Supplies $500.00 - Community Development promotional tools $800.00 Community Space Review - Architect assessment of AirBoss $5,000.00 - Total $11,300.00 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The CDIP account has a current balance of $34,161 for the budget year 2007. Approval of this request would bring the balance to $22,861. Mark Hildebrand Interim Director of Community Programs and Services KC