QQQQ 960411 BLUE
     File Reference Number: 2204 TT 960509

                                                      SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1  
                                                      CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
                                                      MAY 9, 1996          


                              ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                                       Date: April 11, 1996


     TO:       Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

     FROM:     Director of Finance

     SUBJECT:  Grant Request -
               1997 Canadian Figure Skating Championships



     RECOMMENDATION

        THAT Council NOT approve the grant request of $76,000 from the
        Canadian Figure Skating Association.


     GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

        The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of
        the foregoing.


     COUNCIL POLICY

     City Council, on April 29, 1986, adopted a policy that it would not
     consider financial support, in the form of hospitality grants or
     otherwise, to conventions being held in Vancouver, sport teams holding
     championships in Vancouver or to other events of this nature, except
     that when senior staff, in their professional capacity, are directly
     involved in the event, and that when the topic is particularly
     relevant to the business of the City.

     Approval of grant requires eight affirmative votes of Council.


     BACKGROUND

     The Canadian Figure Skating Championship is an annual event organised
     by the Local Organising Committees of the Canadian Figure Skating
     Association.  The City of Vancouver has been selected to host the 1997
     Canadian Figure Skating Championships from February 6 to February 19,
     1997, at General Motors Place.

     The Championship is a commercial event, with the net proceeds going to
     support figure skating programs.  The 1997 event in Vancouver is
     expected to generate an economic benefit of $15 million to the
     province.  Tourism Vancouver is involved with the Local Organising
     Committee to provide assistance in the organisation of the event. 
     Various levels of government and the business community have been
     contacted and arrangements are being made for the 1997 event.


     DISCUSSION

     Following the receipt of the request from the Canadian Figure Skating
     Association, B.C. Section, (Appendix A), staff have contacted Mr. Brad
     Boyes, Local Organising Committee Sponsorship Chair, and have received
     further details on the request.  The Committee is looking for the City
     to provide a grant of $51,000 to cover the rental cost of the arenas
     at the Pacific National Exhibition, as well as a grant of $25,000 to
     host a hospitality event, for a total of $76,000.

     The hosting of the Canadian Figure Skating Championship requires three
     arenas.  A contract has been reached to hold the junior and senior
     event at General Motors Place. For the novice event and for practice
     ice, the Local Organising Committee has contacted the Pacific National
     Exhibition for the use of the Coliseum and the Agrodome.  Rental for
     these two facilities is estimated to be $51,000.

     The Local Organising Committee is also looking for the City of
     Vancouver to host a hospitality event at an estimated cost of $25,000. 
     The $25,000 represents the total cost of the event which could be
     reduced if other sponsors can be bought in to share the cost.

     Staff have advised the Local Organising Committee that their grant
     request does not comply with current Council policy, and staff would
     be recommending that the request not be approved on that basis. 
     However, the Local Organising Committee is also putting in a bid to
     host the World Figure Skating Championship in Vancouver in 2002, and
     they believe that the success of the 1997 Canadian Figure Skating
     Championship would greatly influence the success of that bid.  The
     Committee believes that these two events are of significant importance
     to the City of Vancouver and the Chair would like to have an
     opportunity to address Council on the issue.

     The Director of Finance submits this request to Council with the
     recommendation that the request not be approved.  It is also noted
     that the Provincial sales and income taxes allow the Province to
     capture back some of the economic benefits of events like this one. 
     The City s property tax has no such capability, and therefore the City
     will not benefit financially from either the 1997 or 2002 events. 
     However, should Council decide to provide financial support to the
     event, the source of funds for the grant is Contingency Reserve.



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