Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

The Director of Social Planning in consultation with the Director of Facility Design & Management

SUBJECT:

Pooh Corner Daycare

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

POLICY

Since 1989, Council has required payment of community amenity contributions (CACs) for privately-initiated, site-specific rezonings. In negotiating various rezonings within the Triangle West area, monies have been secured for park and/or social amenity uses to be used within the Triangle West area or for facilities nearby that serve the people of this area.

In the Civic Childcare Strategy, adopted by Council in 1990, childcare was considered eligible for Community Amenity Contributions (CAC) monies.

In April 2002, City Council adopted the strategic plan for child development services "MOVING FORWARD" Childcare, a Cornerstone of Child Development Services. Thisplan sets out a framework for the creation of community hubs which can offer a continuum of child development services utilizing childcare centres as the hub facility.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval for additional funding to complete the renovation of the Pooh Corner Daycare facility.

BACKGROUND

Pooh Corner Daycare is a licensed 22-space childcare facility in the old Park Superintendent's House, a "B" listed heritage building, located at 975 Lagoon Drive, in Stanley Park. The building was built as a private home in 1906 for Cecil and Sophie Merritt, the grand-daughter of Sir Charles Tupper. In 1913, Park Board purchased the house; until 1974 it was the home of the Park Superintendents for Stanley Park.

Pooh Corner Daycare now leases the building from the Parks Board and provides licensed childcare for 12 toddlers and 10 `3-5' year olds. This is the only full time childcare service west of Bute Street in the West end.

In 1996 it was determined that the facility was in need of renovation to bring the building up to current life/safety standards. Council approved a capital grant of $67,850. The Provincial Child Care Branch approved a grant of $70,850 in 1997. The Pooh Corner Daycare Society Board secured a further $24,255 from the Vancouver Foundation.

During the design phase for the renovation, further study uncovered significant additional structural, code, asbestos removal and licensing requirements. In July 2000, Council approved use of $477,151 of Triangle West Community Amenity Contribution monies (CACs) as a source of funding to upgrade the building, and in October 2001, an additional $25,000 was approved towards lead and asbestos removal/containment, for a total project budget of $650,901. As the project now nears completion, additional unforseen costs have arisen.

DISCUSSION

The growing demand for licensed childcare in the downtown has put considerable pressure on existing programs to expand. The Pooh Corner renovation will expand the licensed capacity from 22 to 36 children. As part of this expansion, the Society is examining ways to offer evening and/or weekend care or parent drop-in programs. The new interior space will offer greater flexibility for this type of programming.
Community Care Facilities Licensing inspected the existing playground and required substantial replacement/repair of the playground within the next 18 months. The Society had intended on fundraising for the playground upgrading, however, the demands of the facility renovation and the extent of fundraising for these renovations put extraordinary demands on the staff and the board. The Society will complete grant applications for the Provincial Direct Charitable Access to Gaming Revenue and the Provincial Childcare Facilities and Equipment Grant. The Society, however, must demonstrate support from other sources in order to be successful in this application. Staff are therefore recommending an additional capital allocation of $40,000 towards these playground improvements. Should the Society be successful, a full playground renovation would be completed. If it is not successful in obtaining matched funding, the $40,000 would provide adequate funds to repair the existing playground equipment, renew the sand box and make some modest changes to meet licensing requirements. Staff concur that this work needs to be done, particularly in light of the additional damage to the playground as a result of construction.

Additional costs have arisen, in part due to the heritage structure. Increased construction costs are a result of the replacement of the entire plumbing system, unanticipated structural upgrading and additional excavation due to poor soils, leaving an unfunded amount of $25,000. The final estimate for the completed project is now $715,901 (including the current request of $65,000).

City and Park Board staff are recommending that a further $65,000 of the Triangle West CACs be allocated to the Pooh Corner Daycare renovation/expansion for the playground renewal and additional construction costs. To date, the City has collected over $7.4 million in CACs from new developments in the Triangle West area, of which $1.45M remains uncommitted.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Source of funding for the project is Triangle West Community Amenity Contributions (C.A.C.). The shortfall is $65,000.

CONCLUSION

Staff recommend a final capital allocation of $65,000 to the Pooh Corner Daycare project. Completion of this project will retain and expand needed licensed childcare spaces in an under-served area, preserve a heritage structure, and support the City's goal of sustainable development through reuse and adaptation of an existing building to extend the natural life of the building.

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