ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 7, 2002
Author/Local: S. Harvey/

604-871-6001

RTS No. 02815

CC File No. 1602

CS&B: August 1, 2002

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Directors of Social Planning and the Office of Cultural Affairs in consultation with the Director of Facility Design & Management
SUBJECT:	2002 Capital Budget: City-owned Childcare, Social Service and Cultural Facilities

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve capital funds in the amount of $70,000 to complete the Dorothy Lam Childcare Centre as outlined in this report; source of funds to be the 2002 City-owned Social Services and Cultural Facilities Capital Budget; and

B THAT Council approve capital funds of up to $20,000 to fund capital improvements and repairs to three City-owned cultural/exhibiting facilities as outlined in this report; source of funds to be the 2002 Capital budget.

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

The General Managers of Community and Corporate Services RECOMMEND approval of A and B.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council approved a funding allocation for City-owned social service and cultural facilities within the 2000-2002 Capital Plan and approved an allocation of $500,000 in the 2002 Capital Budget.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval for the allocation of $90,000 for capital improvements to a City-owned childcare facility as well as three cultural facilities.

BACKGROUND

The City owns or leases 66 buildings which are occupied by non-profit social service, childcare and cultural organizations. The City has a significant investment in these assets -in the facilities themselves as well as in the value of the programs and services that the non-profit tenants provide to the community.

The City has ongoing responsibilities for major repairs for these facilities which are generally funded through Facility Design & Development's capital budget. However, non-profit social service, childcare and cultural tenants occasionally seek capital assistance for improvements to City-owned facilities to allow for expanded services and programs and for new facilities. In these cases, funding is allocated through the City-owned Social Service, Childcare and Cultural Facilities' capital budget.

DISCUSSION

Childcare

The Dorothy Lam Children's Centre was constructed in 1998 and was designed to be attached to a future elementary school and underground parkade. On a temporary basis and until the school was ready for funding, the Daycare was to occupy its site with Concord Pacific's Presentation Centre. To facilitate this temporary arrangement, the childcare's required outdoor playground at grade was compressed into area below accepted Licensing standards. As well, the childcare facility's services and systems, such as card access, were roughed in but not completed pending integration with the final school design.

Last year the Presentation Centre relocated and the Vancouver School Board proceeded with the school. In conjunction with the school construction, scheduled to begin this fall, the childcare play area must now be redesigned and expanded to meet licensing requirements and the childcare facility's security system, DDC controls, fire alarm panel, sump, irrigation and lighting will all require alterations and/or re-programming. The cost of additional work (not assumed by either VSB or Concord) is estimated at $70,000.

Cultural/Exhibiting Facilities

The Vancouver Maritime Museum holds the City's collection of maritime art and artifacts in a City-owned building in Kits Point. The building, constructed in 1958, does not meet current museum standards for temperature, humidity and lighting controls. The VMM has begun a series of upgrades to begin to address these collection management issues and has recently received a capital grant from the Vancouver Foundation for environmental controls to the museum's exhibition and collection storage area. The proposed improvements will begin to address issues of preservation and conservation of the City's collection of maritime art and artifacts. Staff therefore recommend a capital allocation of $15,000.

The City owns or leases two artist live/work studios which are awarded at no cost or low cost to qualified low-income artists. The City of Vancouver Artist Residency Award grants occupancy of an artist live/work studio at East 4^th and Scotia for a term of three years. The Rental Studio Award grants occupancy of an artist live/work studio at 8^th and Yukon, also for a term of three years. Both studios come up for renewal September 1^st. Staff recommend $5,000 be allocated for paint and minor repairs between occupancies.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The 2000-2002 Capital Plan included an allocation of $1,500,000 for City-owned Social and Cultural Facilities. One million in capital projects were funded in 2000 and 2001, and a further $500,000 was included in the 2002 Capital Budget. The proposed allocations in this report total $90,000, leaving an unallocated balance of $410,000 from the 2002 City-owned Social Service and Cultural Facility capital budget. Staff will report back in September with the balance of the capital allocations.

CONCLUSION

The City-owned childcare and cultural facilities provide important facility infrastructure for community-based programs and services. Staff recommend capital allocations in the amount of $90,000 for capital improvements to City-owned buildings and lands occupied by childcare and cultural non-profit organizations.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver