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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm Svcs - 2010-01-11COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 11.2010 CITY OF KITCHENER The Community Services Committee met this date, commencing at 5:02 p.m. Present: Councillor G. Lorentz, Chair Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Gazzola, J. Smola, B. Vrbanovic, K. Galloway and C. Weylie. Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer P. Houston, General Manager of Community Services D. Chapman, General Manager of Financial Services & City Treasurer J. Willmer, Interim General Manager of Development & Technical Services R. Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development L. MacDonald, City Solicitor M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs K. Kugler, Interim Director of Enterprises J. Witmer, Director of Operations I. Pregel, Manager, Arts and Culture R. Wilms, Supervisor, Administration D. Gilchrist, Committee Administrator 1. CSD-10-005 - 2010 RENEWAL OF AFFILIATED NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATIONS The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-10-005, dated December 15, 2009, recommending those Neighbourhood Associations to be affiliated with the City of Kitchener in 2010. Staff was directed to confirm for the Committee that neighbourhood mobilization associations are also affiliated with the City of Kitchener. On motion by Councillor J. Smola - itwas resolved: "That the list of Neighbourhood Associations attached to Community Services Department report CSD-10-005 be approved for affiliation with the City of Kitchener for 2010." 2. CSD-10-002 -PROSPERITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CREATIVE ENTERPRISE FUNDING The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-10-002, dated January 4, 2010, recommending funding for the "Enabling Organization" of the Prosperity Council and for the Waterloo Regional Arts Council. This report was presented by Ms. I. Pregel. Councillor Galloway questioned whether the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee has heard about the Prosperity Council. Ms. Pregel advised that they have but the Committee has not seen this recommendation. Councillor Galloway put forward a motion to defer consideration of this recommendation until the Community Services Committee meeting of January 25, 2010, so that this staff report and recommendation can be considered by the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee at their meeting to be held next week. Mayor Zehr questioned how such a deferral will affect next week's budget meeting and was advised by Ms. Houston that the deferral will not affect the budget. Mayor Zehr then questioned whether the staff recommendation will allow for the requested $1 per capita funding. Ms. Pregel responded that the City would not be able to achieve $1 per capita in 2010 or 2011 and it will be Council's decision as to how it wishes to spend the $213,000. Mayor Zehr then stated that the amount of funding in each year will have to be part of the discussion that needs to take place with other municipal partners; as we are already at a significantly higher rate than the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo. Before Kitchener goes to a full $1 per capita, we need to have a dialogue on a balance of funding with the other municipalities. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 11.2010 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. CSD-10-002 -PROSPERITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CREATIVE ENTERPRISE FUNDING, CONT'D Councillor Gazzola directed that staff provide the following information when this matter comes back to this Committee on January 25t": where does the shortfall of $2.5M come from; this is a whole new organization, so what is in their budget; what did the City of Kitchener spend on Arts and Culture in 2009 and in previous years. On motion by Councillor K. Galloway - itwas resolved: "That consideration of the following recommendation, contained in Community Services Department report CSD-10-002, be referred to the Community Services Committee meeting of January 25, 2010, to allow this report to be considered by the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, and to allow staff an opportunity to provide the Community Services Committee with the following information: to account for the shortfall of $2.5M, to provide the budget for the Prosperity Council, and to provide information on the amount of money the City of Kitchener spent on Arts and Culture in 2009 and previous years: `That an annual grant in the amount of $54,000 be approved for the creation and ongoing operations of an "Enabling Organization" for the creative sector, to be funded for 2010 as a one time transfer from the capital fund called Arts and Culture Capacity Building Fund and in future years from the Community Grants Pool; and, That the transfer of funds remaining in the Arts and Culture Capacity Building Fund into an Arts and Culture Sustainability Fund be approved as an initial contribution by the City of Kitchener to support the commitment of an additional $1 per capita investment in creative enterprise; and, That consideration of ongoing funding for the Arts and Culture Sustainability Fund beyond 2011 be referred to the 2012 operating budget process; and further, That funding in the annual amount of $8,757.00 be approved for 2010 for Waterloo Regional Arts Council (WRAC) from the Community Grants Pool, six months to be paid initially and subsequent quarters to be paid upon confirmation by staff that the organization continues to operate.' " 3. PRESENTATION -SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE WATERLOO REGION CHILDREN'S MUSEUM Messrs D. Marskell, CEO and D. Strucke, President of the Waterloo Region Children's Museum were in attendance to request an increase in funding for the Museum. The Committee considered documentation from the Children's Museum dated May 27, 2009, which had also been provided to: Waterloo Region, City of Cambridge and City of Waterloo. Mr. Strucke advised that the original model for the Museum is not sustainable. They are looking at a new branding for the Museum that will serve a larger demographic. They also want the Museum to be a place that people outside the region are aware of. Mr. Strucke stated that Museum staff is very good at finding interesting things that people in this community do not normally have an opportunity to see in this area. With respect to their vision for the future, Mr. Strucke advised that the bulk of the Museum's business is school children; however, they can provide learning experiences for all age groups. The Museum can present ideas that challenge people's ideas. Respecting demographic groups, the Museum categorizes them as: tots, being children under the age of 5, children 10 and under, the youth segment and adults. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 11.2010 - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. PRESENTATION -SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE WATERLOO REGION CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CONT'D Mr. Strucke stated that the children's element of the Museum will be a core part of the institution and they need more exhibits for the children's area. He advised that when he had spoken to other institutions, and was advised that it would be very difficult to sustain their institutions if they were only a children's museums. Respecting the youth segment, Mr. Strucke advised that more youth want to come to the Museum when there are exhibits and other events that they find interesting. Adults want to see and hear thing that are thought provoking and brain expanding and these must be 100% temporary activities. Then there are exhibits for all ages such as the Jane Goodall festival. Mr. Strucke advised the proposed branding: The Museum would be the parent brand and then there would be sub brands and programming brands such as: The Children's Museum, Museum After Dark, Presentations & Collections, and Community Celebration Stage. Mr. strucke then advised of infrastructure gas/opportunities including the need for a lecture facility, enhanced food services and an income generating swing space. Regarding their financial plan, Mr. Strucke advised that if this additional funding is obtained, they expect to break even by 2011-2012. Further, if they receive this base level of finding, they can grow their own ability to fund raise. The key thing is they need to make sure they can operate on a sustainable basis and to do so requires $600,000 from the municipalities every year, plus the in-kind building maintenance grant that they already receive from the City of Kitchener. With respect to funding from the Hallman Foundation, Mr. Strucke advised that this money is project specific and not for general operating. In response to questions from Councillor Gazzola, Mr. Strucke advised that the City of Kitchener owns the building that the Museum occupies and it is insured for $5.2M. Councillor Galloway asked if the Museum has applied for any Federal Community Adjustment Fund grants and was advised that they have applied for several grants: one in the amount of $600,000 for the children's exhibit and a larger one for renovations. Councillor Galloway questioned the rebranding of the Museum and Mr. Strucke advised that they do not have a specific name yet; however, it can not contain the work "children's" as some people are not coming to the Museum because it is called "children's". Councillor Vrbanovic questioned whether the Museum has had discussions with the other municipalities about this funding request and Mr. Strucke responded that they have no idea what kind of response they will get from the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo; however, they believe they will receive approximately $300,000 from the Region of Waterloo. Respecting questions about the Prosperity Council, Mr. Strucke advised that it is a potential solution; however, they have media concerns regarding sustainability and they need to ensure that they are an anchor cultural institution. He stated that funding is essential to their survivability. The $600,000 is base funding and does not allow for any mistakes. Mayor Zehr stated that the Museum is a regional facility and he is concerned about its disproportionate reliance on the City of Kitchener. Mayor Zehr questioned whether there are other private sector funding sources that could be relied upon over the next few years until the municipalities can reach the Museum's expectations. Mr. Strucke advised that they have spoken to their private funders; and, although they are hugely supportive of the Museum, they want to provide capital funds and not operating funds. Mayor Zehr stated that all partners need to work collectively to develop a plan to reach the level of funding needed. It may be that the Museum needs private funds for operating in the mean time. In response to Councillor Gazzola, staff advised that the proposed 2010 grant for the Museum is $105,000 in in-kind services. Staff also noted that the $213,000 that could be allocated to the Prosperity Council could, instead, be used for the Museum or other groups. COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 11.2010 - 4 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3. PRESENTATION -SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE WATERLOO REGION CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CONT'D Mayor Zehr stated that he needs to know what to do for Budget Day and he is not prepared to recommend a dollar amount at this time. He put forward a motion to defer a decision on this matter to Budget Day. Councillor Vrbanovic spoke in support of the Mayor's motion for deferral and requested that prior to that time a dialogue be held with the Region and the Cities of Cambridge and Waterloo as to their intensions. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - it was resolved: "That consideration of the request of the Waterloo Region Children's Museum for additional funding be referred to Budget Day, subject to a report from staff on funding options and a dialogue with the Region of Waterloo, City of Cambridge and City of Waterloo as to their intensions respecting additional funding for the Museum." 4. CSD-10-003 - 2010 TIER 1 COMMUNITY GRANT -KITCHENER GRAND RIVER ROTARY CLUB -DOWNTOWN MUDPUPPY CHASE The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-10-003, dated January 5, 2010, recommending, subject to final budget approval, a Tier 1 Community Grant for the Kitchener Grand River Rotary Club in the amount of $2,653 for their Downtown Mudpuppy Chase. On motion by Mayor C. Zehr - itwas resolved: "That, subject to final 2010 budget approval, a 2010 Tier 1 grant in the amount of $2,653 be approved for the Rotary Club of Kitchener Grand River for the Downtown Mudpuppy Chase." 5. CSD-10-001 - MCLENNAN PARK PUBLIC ART The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-10-001, dated December 11, 2009, recommending the public art for McLennan Park. On motion by Councillor K. Galloway - itwas resolved: "That approval be given for the commission and installation of artwork titled "Moments" by Gerry Houghton at McLennan Park; and further, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement, satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with Gerry Houghton regarding the obligations of the public art commission." 6. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Dianne Gilchrist Committee Administrator