ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

FROM:

General Manager of Community Services and General Manager of Parks and Recreation

SUBJECT:

South Vancouver Seniors' Centre: Capital Funding Proposal

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

On July 27, 1999, Council approved the acceptance of a Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) for 3200 East 54th Avenue and approved that application of CAC and DCL funds to a variety of projects, as follows:

On July 8, 1999 Council approved the following with respect to City-wide DCL allocations:

SUMMARY & PURPOSE

This report seeks Council's endorsement of the construction of a seniors' centre, and seeks Council approval in principle of $521,950 capital funding using $300,000 Community Amenity Contribution from the Champlain Mall redevelopment and $221,950 in other City capital funding.(Sources include Park Board Capital, City-owned Social Services Capital and/or Supplementary Capital.) A general approval in principle for this project is sought from the Park Board. The report also seeks Council and the Park Board endorsement to enable Killarney Community Centre Society to submit an application to the Provincial Community Partners Program for capital funding of $521,950, which is 50% of the required capital funding. Funding in the Community Partners Program was announced earlier this year, with a Phase I province-wide allocation of $1 million targeted for March 31, 2001 and a further $5 million in Phase II.

The centre would be approximately 3,500 square feet, including a seniors' centre of 3,000 sq. ft., field washrooms and storage. It would be attached to the east side of Killarney Community Centre. A Killarney Community Centre Society capital funding application to the province for $521,950 would be matched by the City, using the $300,000 in CACs generated by the Champlain Mall redevelopment and an additional $221,950 from other City Capital sources. (Total project cost: $1,043,900.)

The South Vancouver Seniors Centre would be operated by the South Vancouver Seniors Network Society and provide office space for that group and for the South Vancouver Seniors Council. Existing funding will cover one full time staff position plus program costs.

The proposed South Vancouver Seniors Centre will be a unique model in that it will serve as a focal point for seniors' social/support services in South-East Vancouver and provide a new home for the South Vancouver Seniors Network Society, and at the same time,complement and expand the ability of Killarney Community Centre to meet the recreation needs of the area's seniors. Seniors' needs were raised in the Champlain Mall redevelopment discussion. While a seniors' centre is a legitimate use for CACs, there was no workable proposal ready at that time.

This report also alerts Council to an anticipated funding shortfall for the child care portion of the Champlain Heights Community Centre renovations. Should other sources not be found, staff recommend that additional DCL funding generated by the Champlain Mall redevelopment be used to complete the child care centre.

BACKGROUND

South Vancouver has been identified as lacking in resources for seniors. Over 10,000 seniors live in South Vancouver. 27% of these seniors live below the Low Income Cut Off and 23% speak languages other than English or French. There are substantial numbers of seniors in the Chinese and South Asian communities. 26% of seniors in South Vancouver live alone. The nearest seniors' centres are Marpole Place and Oakridge Seniors Centre, both located west of Main Street.

Over the past 5-6 years, seniors have consistently expressed the desire for a centre which would provide dedicated drop-in space, office space, information and referral and a variety of support services, and be a place where seniors plan and manage their own programs. The CityPlan visioning process has also identified this need.

In discussions on the Champlain Mall redevelopment, seniors made several presentations to the City on the need for a seniors' centre. In allocating CAC and DCL funds, Council left $300,000 in CAC undesignated and asked staff to further examine the feasibility of a seniors' centre at Champlain Mall.

Over the past 10 months, representatives of the South Vancouver Seniors Network Society, South Vancouver Seniors Council, Killarney Community Centre Society and City and Park Board staff have explored possibilities for the location, design, funding and operation of a new seniors' centre. Initial planning was based on the $300,000 CAC funds, and involved renovations to Killarney and Collingwood Hall to provide office and program space. The recent announcement of the Provincial funding provided a unique opportunity to secure capital funding to achieve a long-term community objective: a seniors' centre in South Vancouver. The additional funding will provide a far more functional proposal, the details of which are discussed in the next section of this report.

Staff and Champlain Heights Community Centre representatives have also been working on detailed plans for that centre's renovations. Council approved funds for the Champlain Heights Community Centre renovations: $700,000 Community Amenity Contribution for additional multi-purpose space and $233,228 in DCL funds for the child care. Council also approved a motion (Recommendation 6) that should there be a shortfall in funds required to complete the child care, Council be consulted as to whether DCL money from Champlain Mall could provide the necessary funds.

DISCUSSION

1. South Vancouver Seniors Centre

The South Vancouver Seniors Centre will be a one-storey building of approximately 3,500 sq. ft., attached to the east side of Killarney Community Centre, adjacent to the gymnasium. The building will include approx. 500 sq. ft. for washrooms for field users and a small amount of storage for the adjacent children's play area programs.

If this proposal can be achieved, it will make a significant improvement in services to seniors in South Vancouver. It will:
· provide a new home for the South Vancouver Seniors Network Society (SVSN), which is currently located in the Fraserview Library (where it is unable to deliver programs because of restrictions on its use of the space)
· provide dedicated seniors' space for a drop-in, information and referral, offices and a variety of support services, as envisioned in discussions in the community over the past several years
· complement Killarney's recreational programs for seniors and provide added social support programs for the 600 seniors already using Killarney as well as for other seniors in the area
· be accessible to and inclusive of seniors from all parts of South Vancouver and seniors from different ethno-cultural communities. (This is achievable because of work done over the past two years by the SVSN, South Vancouver Seniors Council,

Location and Operation

The proposed location for the seniors' centre is on the east side of Killarney, adjacent to the gymnasium. Several other options, both detached and attached were examined. The proposed location (Site plan: Appendix A) was selected for a variety of reasons:

· fits with longer term redevelopment plans for Killarney, including the relocation of

· saves green space by building onto Killarney. The new building is approx. 3,500

· provides a space which will be identifiable in the community as a seniors' space, while still being attached to Killarney. There is a separate outside entrance to the seniors' centre, but the proximity to Killarney will provide easy access for seniors and staff and will be convenient for maintenance, cleaning and security;
· reasonable foot access. While a location closer to 49th would have better bus access, this location has better access to 49th Ave. buses than a location on the west side of Killarney (less grade) and has good access to Kerr St. buses;
· reasonable parking. Seniors would use the existing Killarney parking (this will require a relaxation). One drawback of the location is lack of nearby HandiDart drop-off.

From an operational perspective, attaching the seniors' centre to Killarney has several advantages:
· Facilitates efficient use of the space. The South Vancouver Seniors Network Society would plan and program the space weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An operating arrangement between the SVSN and Killarney Community Centre Society will provide for use/rental of the space in evenings/weekends.
· Existing funding for the South Vancouver Seniors Network Society and South Vancouver Seniors Council will cover one staff position and program costs. The seniors group does not have the ability to cover maintenance and utility costs. The Park Board will be responsible for these costs, most of which are already covered in the Killarney operating budget.
· provides easier emergency response for Killarney staff.

At their February 2001 meeting, the Board of Killarney Community Centre Society approved sponsoring the capital grant application for this project. The Board of the South Vancouver Seniors Network approved the relocation of the Society to this new centre on March 29, 2001.

Development of this project would also include the demolition of the existing Collingwood Hall. Collingwood Hall is a non-conforming building, a portion of which is located on the street allowance. It was slated for relocation or demolition in the 1960's but this work was not carried out.

The Collingwood Hall Association is a long-standing community organization which pre-dates the establishment of Killarney Community Centre. The Collingwood Hall Association has been very supportive of the South Vancouver Seniors Network's efforts to expand seniors' programs and provided SVSN with blanket permission to use the Hall for seniors' programs. A number of special events and meetings have now been held in the Hall. Collingwood Hall Association's needs must also be considered in this proposal. Possibilities which need further discussion include Collingwood Hall Association representation on the advisory committee for the seniors' centre, and provision for access to space during evenings/weekends.

Capital Budget

A project budget developed by Park Board Planning and Operational Division is attached as Appendix B. In summary, the total project cost is $1,043,900. As currently proposed, feasibility depends on receiving 50% capital funding from the Provincial Community Partners Program.

The proposed sources of funding are:
· Community Amenity Contribution from Champlain Mall $ 300,000
· Other City Capital funds $ 221,950
· Provincial Community Partners Program $ 521,950

The CAC contribution from Champlain Mall is due prior to the issuance of the first residential Building Permit. The first residential development permit was approved in September 2000 and BP issuance is expected in July 2001.

City Capital funding options include Park Board Capital, City-owned Social Service Capital and/or Supplementary Capital. If the Provincial funding is approved, staff will report back on recommended sources of the remaining capital.

Operating Budget

An estimated operating budget is attached in Appendix B. An added basic amount of $23,000 will be needed for the Killarney Community Centre budget to cover maintenance, janitorial and utility costs. Approximately $2,000/year is currently in the budget for maintenance to Collingwood Hall, and would be transferred to the new space.

The South Vancouver Seniors Network Society and the South Vancouver Seniors Council currently receive a total of $46,000 in City Community Services Grants. This existing funding will cover one full-time staff position plus some operating costs. The SVSN raises an additional $17,000 from other sources. This produces a modest but workable budget. The expectation would be that, with more programs and activities, the Network will be able to secure increased gaming revenue and be in a better position to apply for other sources of program funding. The Network will continue to need support from Killarney on the maintenance and utility costs.

2. Champlain Heights Community Centre

The reason for discussing Champlain Heights Community Centre renovations at this time is that it is clear there is going to be a budget shortfall for the construction of the daycare. Originally,$700,000 (of a total of $1 Million CACs), and $233,228 in DCLs were allocated for this purpose. Detailed planning for the renovations to the Community Centre revealed two problems with the childcare portion: an underestimate on the square footage required to meet Community Care Facilities Licensing standards, and an underestimate on per square foot costs needed to cover total child care costs (hard, soft and start-up). This shortfall may require us to seek funding from additional DCL money generated by the Champlain Mall redevelopment.

The Champlain Mall redevelopment will generate DCL funds over and above those already earmarked for the child care and for park use by Council on July 27, 1999. The estimated total DCL will be approximately $1,119,112 (447,646 sq. ft. x $2.50). Already earmarked DCL funds total $463,228 (for the child care and park), leaving an unallocated balance of approximately $655,000. Staff believe this is an appropriate source of funds for the shortfall but wanted Council to be aware of this before recommending any allocation of the CACs.
The Park Board has also submitted an application for Infrastructure funding for Champlain Heights Community Centre, but decisions on this are not expected until early fall of this year.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

The removal of Collingwood Hall addresses a safety issue (limited visibility for traffic because of the encroachment of the hall on the street allowance) and there is very little impact on park space (approx. 500 sq. ft.) as a result of this development.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The project helps to address a longstanding deficiency in seniors' support services and program space in South Vancouver.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Capital and operating funding requirements have been outlined in this report.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant work has been done by South Vancouver Seniors Network and other seniors, Killarney Community Centre Society, and City/Park staff to develop a proposal to improve seniors' social support and recreational opportunities in South Vancouver. Regardless of the outcome of the capital grant application to the province, this work provides a basis for the future development of a seniors' centre in South Vancouver.

* * * * *

APPENDIX A, APPENDIX B - 1 & 2 are not available electronically.

APPENDIX B - 3

South Vancouver Seniors Centre
Operating Budget

INCOME:

South Vancouver Seniors Network Society

- fundraising 12,000
South Vancouver Seniors Council 20,000

EXPENSES:

* maintenance and utilities covered in Killarney operating budget.