A7 

                              ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                             Date: April 25, 1996
                                             Dept. File No. 


     TO:       Vancouver City Council

     FROM:     Director of Community Services, Social Planning

     SUBJECT:  Capital Grant to Mount Pleasant Family Centre



     RECOMMENDATION

          THAT Council approve a Capital Grant of up to $15,750 to Mount
          Pleasant Family Centre Society to construct an extension to the
          rear of this City-owned building and to replace the lower floor
          window shutters.


     GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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


     COUNCIL POLICY

     Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.


     PURPOSE

     To explain the need for some minor renovations to Mount Pleasant
     Family Centre and to recommend approval of a grant to help finance
     these renovations.


     BACKGROUND

     Mount Pleasant Family Centre (MPFC) was established 20 years ago.  As
     part of the Neighbourhood Improvement Program, a field house on Robson
     Park was renovated to provide a facility for this operation.

     The MPFC is one of the busiest "family place" agencies in the City. 
     It provides support and resources for Mount Pleasant parents and young
     children in maintaining and enhancing healthy, positive family life. 
     The fully integrated multi-cultural aspect of their program is often
     used by Social Planning staff as an example of how the needs of an
     incredibly diverse population can be met, and met well.

     In the past year, there has been an increase of 35% adults and 25%
     children using the centre.  The Vancouver Fire Department, in July
     1995, recommended that the resultant congestion and over-crowding and
     potential fire safety problems would be alleviated by removing the
     children's strollers from the front entrance way.  The MPFC Society
     subsequently developed a proposal, with the assistance of Park Board
     staff, to construct an extension at the rear entrance to the building
     to enhance accessibility and to house the children's strollers during
     program hours (see the attached plan, Appendix A).

     Two burglaries on February 21 and 26 highlighted the need to
     strengthen the security of the building when it is closed.  Police
     Department staff suggested that the most effective solution would be
     the installation of metal roll shutters on the windows on the ground
     floor of the two storey building.


     COSTS AND FUNDING

     Park Board staff have estimated the cost for the addition of the new
     entry vestibule to be $15,850.  The purchase and installation of the
     metal window shutters is estimated to cost $4,900, for a total project
     cost of $20,750.

     The MPFC Society has raised $5,000 which can be used for this purpose,
     leaving a balance of $15,750.  The 1994-96 Capital Plan included
     provision for funding for City-owned social service facilities.  There
     is sufficient money remaining in the account to provide a grant for
     the balance of the cost of the renovations to MPFC.

     The usual practice with City capital grants is to provide one half at
     the start of construction, and the balance, based on actual
     expenditures, paid once the project is finished.  This is the proposed
     method of payment for this grant.


     CONCLUSION

     A large increase in program participants at MPFC has necessitated an
     addition to this City-owned facility to enable strollers to be moved
     out of active program areas.  Also, the security of the building must
     be improved.  A grant of $15,750 to the MPFC will enable this work to
     be done right away.


                                *   *   *   *   *