HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-085 - General Provision Grant Request - Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church1
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Community Services
Report To: Community Services Committee
Date of Meeting: October 20, 2008
Submitted By: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
Prepared By: Renate Willms, Supervisor of Administration (Ext. 2395)
Wards) Involved: N/A
Date of Report: October 15, 2008
Report No.: CSD-08-085
Subject: GENERAL PROVISION GRANT REQUEST -BETHANY
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
RECOMMENDATION:
That a general provision grant request in the amount of $1,800 from the Bethany
Evangelical Missionary Church, to cover the fees to transport three (3} bleacher units for
their annual Christmas Pageant to be held December 5, 6 and 7, 2008, not be approved;
and further,
That the rental fees for the three (3) bleacher units be waived and that the Bethany
Evangelical Missionary Church pay for related staff and contractor costs for the delivery,
set up and take down of the bleachers.
BACKGROUND:
For several years prior to 2004, the City of Kitchener supported the Annual Christmas Pageant
at the Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church by providing a 200-seat bleacher to the church at
no cost, charging only for transportation costs. The City provided support with the hope that this
event would become self-sufficient after several years.
Subsequently, staff advised representatives of the church that, if the group wished to continue
to be considered to receive the bleachers at no charge in 2004 and beyond, they would have to
apply through the grant process.
On September 27, 2004, Community Services Committee considered a grant request from the
Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church to waive the rental and transportation fees fora 200-
seat bleacher for their annual Christmas Pageant to be held December 3 to 5, 2004.
On October 4, 2004, Council approved the following resolution:
Report No. CSD-08-085 Page 2
"That no action be taken on the staff recommendation contained in Community
Services Department report CSD-04-152, dealing with a grant request by the
Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church; and further,
That staff be directed to continue the practice of providing a 200-seat bleacher at
no cost to the Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church for their annual Christmas
Pageant to be held December 3 to 5, 2004."
REPORT:
The request for bleachers from the Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church for their annual
Christmas pageant has increased over the years from one 200-seat bleacher to three bleachers
(two 250-seat and one 193-seat). In the past, City staff were able to deliver and pick up the
bleachers; however, this work is now contracted out due to the number and size of bleachers.
The cost for delivery, set up and take down is estimated at $1,800, as follows:
Delivery and pick up (contracted out) $ 800
Set up/take down (Operations staff) 1 000
Total
$1,800
Operations staff agreed to continue waiving the rental fees for the bleachers but advised the
organization that the operating budget could no longer cover the increased staff and contractor
costs of delivery, set up and take down, and again directed the group to apply for a general
provision grant.
As a result, the Community Services Department has received a grant request in the amount of
$1,800 from the Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church to cover the cost to transport three
bleacher units to the church site for their annual Christmas Pageant to be held December 5 to 7,
2008.
Staff have reviewed the application and recommend that the grant request not be approved.
Only organizations that provide services under the scope of City services will be considered for
a grant. This event does not fall under the scope of municipal services, but rather is of a
religious nature. The City generally does not provide funding to churches.
Further, staff is concerned at the precedent that funding this church group may set. Many
Kitchener churches hold similar events that attract many people, which are not supported by the
City.
The City owns the bleachers and rents them to organizations to recover some of the capital
purchase costs. Rental fees are as follows:
250-seat bleacher rental - $683 first day, $410 for every subsequent day
193-seat bleacher rental - $621 first day, $372 for every subsequent day
Therefore, the total value of waiving the rental fee is $4,371 (two 250-seat bleachers for 3 days;
one 193-seat bleacher for 3 days).
Report No. CSD-08-085
Page 3
Staff recommend that the City continue to waive the rental cost of the City-owned bleachers but
that the church pay for all costs related to transportation, set up and take down.
The grant request was reviewed by the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee who passed the
following resolution on October 15, 2008:
"The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee does not support the application by Bethany
Church for a grant of $1,800. The applicant's request does not qualify as it contravenes
current grant guidelines."
Further details are provided in the attached memo.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The grant applicant has received a copy of this report.
Renate Willms
Supervisor of Administration
Att.
~ ~
City of Kitchener
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City Hall, 200 King St. West
Commun~tyServrces P.O. Box 1118
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Date: October 15, 2008
To: Renate 1Nillms, Supervisor of Administration
From: Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator
cc: Carrie Kozlowski
Subject: Bethany Church Grant Application
Please be advised that the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee reviewed the Bethany Church
application and, by vote of the majority, supports the following motion:
"The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee does not support the application by Bethany
Church for a grant of $1,800. The applicant's request does not qualify as it contravenes
current grant guidelines."
Members noted that the Bethany Church request represents a second time application. In
addition, Bethany Church, in turn, donates to other charity programs.
C. York
Arts/Culture Co-ordinator
Ext 3381