SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 3
CS&B COMMITTEE AGENDA
NOVEMBER 7, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 8, 1996
TO: Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM: Director of Finance, in consultation with
the Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT: Vancouver Maritime Museum - 1996 Supplementary Grant
RECOMMENDATION
THAT a grant of $7,200 be approved to the Vancouver Maritime
Museum Society to partially fund the operating cost of the St.
Roch from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997; source of funds to be
the 1996 'Other Grants budget.
GENERAL MANAGER S COMMENT
The General Manager of Corporate Services submits the foregoing
for CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Approval of grants requires eight affirmative votes of Council.
BACKGROUND
In 1965, the City entered into an agreement with the Government of
Canada, through the Department of Northern Affairs, wherein the
Federal Government undertook to restore the St. Roch in exchange for
the City agreeing to build and maintain a shelter for the St. Roch
open to the public for 50 years. The agree-ment was replaced in 1990
with a lease and license agreement which includes a termination clause
by either parties with six months notice.
In 1995, the Department of Canada Heritage, through Parks Canada,
notified the City that they would not extend the operating agreement
beyond January 1996, and offered the City a two-year transitional
funding of $75,000 per annum. The Vancouver Maritime Museum Society
agreed to assume the operation of the St. Roch on a reduced scale for
up to two
years which would allow the Society to explore alternate sources of
funds from private sector fund raising and/or sponsorships for the
on-going operation of the St. Roch. The City also approved a one-time
operating grant of $10,000 to assist in the transition and a 1995
Supplementary Capital Budget allocation of $70,000 to fund the
necessary renovation at the St. Roch shelter.
DISCUSSION
The Vancouver Maritime Museum Society has operated the St. Roch
historical site for one year. The Society has estimated that the
staff cost to operate the facility during the first year, which
includes funds to cover the additional costs from the 1994 - 1996 CUPE
15 collective agreement, is $82,000. To cover for the second year of
operation from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997, an additional funding of
$7,200 is required to supplement the $75,000 grant from the Federal
Government. The Society has submitted a grant request of $7,200 to
City to fund the additional need. The source of funds for the grant,
if approved, is the 1996 'Other Grants budget.
When the transfer of the operation of the St. Roch from Parks Canada
to Vancouver Maritime Museum Society was approved in 1995, Council
also directed staff to review and report back within one year on a
proposal from the Vancouver Maritime Museum Society regarding
alternate future funding sources. With other pressing commitments,
City staff have not been able to direct the necessary resources to
assist the Society to address this issue. The Society has expressed
concern on its ability to continue the support the St. Roch operation
beyond June 30, 1997, and approval of the supplementary grant will
enable staff to work with the Society to review the available options.
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