SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 3
CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
JUNE 1, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: May 19, 1995
TO: Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM: Director of Finance
SUBJECT: 1995 Operating Grant Requests - Major Facilities
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT a 1995 operating grant of $445,600 be approved to
the Pacific Space Centre Society; source of funds to
be 1995 'Other' Grants budget.
B. THAT a 1995 grant of $266,900 be approved to the
Vancouver Maritime Museum Society; source of funds to
be 1995 'Other' Grants budget.
C. THAT the Director of Finance be authorized to adjust
the grant levels recommended in A and B above to
account for any negotiated settlement costs in 1995 in
accordance with Council policy.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS
approval of A, B and C.
COUNCIL POLICY
In accordance with the terms of the operating agreements with the
Vancouver Maritime Museum Society and the Pacific Space Science
Society, Council approves annual operating grants to these
organizations. The grants are escalated each year by the
negotiated wage increase in the respective VMREU collective
agreements. Any request for support above the base level is
considered separately.
City Council, on April 19, 1994, when dealing with the 1994
Budget Management Program proposals, approved a 5% reduction to
the 1993 funding base of the Operating Grants to the Museum
Associations.
Approval of grants requires eight affirmative votes.BACKGROUND
In August 1987, Council agreed to the dissolution of the
Vancouver Museums and Planetarium Association into three distinct
organiza-tions: the Vancouver Museum Association, the Vancouver
Maritime Museum Society and B.C. Space Centre Society. This was
done on the understanding that the cost to the City would not
increase as the result of the change.
The operating agreements with the Vancouver Maritime Museum
Society and the Pacific Space Centre Society indicate that the
annual operating grant from the City is to be adjusted each year
by any negotiated wage increase in the respective VMREU
collective agree-ments. Beyond that provision, Council has not
bound itself to a specific formula for calculating the grant, nor
has it accepted any on-going obligation to fund specific costs.
Requests in excess of the approved base level are submitted
separately for Council's consideration.
DISCUSSION
The Vancouver Maritime Museum Society and the Pacific Space
Centre Society have submitted their 1995 operating grant requests
to the City. These organizations have not finished their
contract negotiations with the VMREU. It is therefore
recommended that the 1995 grants be approved based on the 1994
funding levels and that the Director of Finance be authorized to
make further adjustments to the grants, as appropriate, when the
collective agreements are finalised.
The submission and request from the Vancouver Maritime Museum
Society is at their 1994 approved grant level in the amount of
$266,900. Their submission also includes a request that the City
reconsider the decision made in the 1994-1996 Budget Management
Program, and restate the $14,000 reduction made to its 1994
operating grant base. The Society has also noted that it has
lost the $5,000 grant from the Ministry of Education. With
increased attendance and the takeover of the operation of the St.
Roch, any additional funds from the City would greatly assist its
operation. The Director of Finance does not support this request
as the Budget Management Program adjustment was not considered to
be a one-time reduction. Furthermore, this action would require
offsets else-where in the operating budget, or need to be funded
from Contingency Reserve.
The submission and request from the Pacific Space Centre Society
is at their 1994 approved grant level in the amount of $445,600.
A report on the subject of bridge financing the expenditures
connected with their 'Challenger' project, which recently
received Canada - BC Infrastructure funding approval, is being
submitted concurrently for consideration. A revised operating
agreement between the City and the Pacific Space Centre Society
will be submitted to Council for approval around the end of June,
1995.
The Director of Finance recommends that a 1995 operating grant of
$445,600 be approved to the Pacific Space Centre Society, and a
1995 operating grant of $266,900 be approved to the Vancouver
Maritime Museum Society. The source of funds for the two grants
is the 1995 'Other' Grants budget.
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