ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 13, 1997
Dept. File No.
CC File: 2065
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT: Capital Grant for Frog Hollow Neighbourhood
House Expansion
RECOMMENDATION
THAT City Council approve a Capital Grant of $214,000 (Two Hundred
and Fourteen Thousand dollars) to help fund the expansion of the
City-owned Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House facility - interim
source of funds is Revenue Surplus, in advance of approval of the
1998 capital budget. This grant is CONDITIONAL on the remainder of
the funding ($475,000 total cost) being secured.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the foregoing for
CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Approval of a grant requires eight affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to recommend approval of a Capital Grant
as the City's contribution towards a 2000 sq. ft. addition to Frog
Hollow Neighbourhood House for a Family Place and seniors programs room.
BACKGROUND
Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House operates out of a City-owned facility at
2131 Renfrew Street. Frog Hollow provides a wide range of social
services to local residents - last year, over 1,000 individuals, from
infants to the very senior, took part in its activities. Most
participants speak a language other than English as their first language
and approximately 10% are of First Nations heritage. Approximately
two-thirds of program participants are from low income families. The
demand for services continues to grow, but there is nowhere left to put
them.
The 1997-1999 Capital Plan contains an allocation of $2.5 million for
City-owned social service and cultural facilities. At the time that the
1997 Capital budget was being prepared, City staff were not anticipating
any need for money to be set aside this year. Several projects, in
varying degrees of readiness, were identified (including Frog Hollow),
but other sources of funding required to complete the projects did not
appear to be available at that time.
However, in mid April, the Federal and Provincial Governments announced
that Phase II of the Infrastructure Works Program had been agreed to.
Included in this agreement was an allotment of 10% of the total funds
for community projects. Details on this aspect of the program became
available in late April.
On May 29, 1997, City Council endorsed a number of City-initiated
projects for funding under the Infrastructure Works Program and
instructed that applications be submitted for them. Council also
endorsed two projects that had been initiated by community
organizations. There may have been (and probably were) other
community-initiated projects being applied for at the time, but City
staff were not aware of them.
The Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Project
For several years, Frog Hollow has been planning for an expansion of
their facility. They do not have the room to introduce more programs;
consequently, even though there has been a demonstrated need for certain
programs, and operating funding has been available, these programs and
services have not been offered.
When the Phase II - Infrastructure Works Program was introduced, Frog
Hollow felt this may be a unique opportunity to get the additional
space. On their own, they put together a project proposal and submitted
it as quickly as they could to the Infrastructure Works office.
Frog Hollow is proposing a 2000 sq. ft. addition to their current
building. Contained in this space would be an area for seniors
programs, another for "family place" type programs, and some offices.
As this addition would be on the second floor, an elevator is included.
The total estimated cost of this project is $475,000. If approved, the
Infrastructure Program would provide $158,333 (1/3 of the total). Frog
Hollow has committed to raise $102,667, leaving a shortfall of $214,000.
DISCUSSION
$2.5 million was included in the 1997 - 1999 Capital Plan for City-owned
cultural and social service facilities. Approximately
$1 million has been tentatively ear-marked for Little Mountain
Neighbourhood House, but the remainder was not attached to specific
projects because the ability for these community-based projects to be
completed depends on the changing needs in the neighbourhoods, the
readiness and ability of the community groups to initiate and follow
through on a project and the availability of funding. All three factors
have come together for Frog Hollow at this time.
No funding was included in the 1997 Capital Budget for this type of
project. However, the Infrastructure Program office advises that they
need a commitment from other potential funders before they can give
serious consideration to the proposal. Also, all projects must be
completed by March 31, 1998 to be eligible for Infrastructure money;
therefore, projects of the scope of Frog Hollow s must begin within the
next month or two.
Funding for this project can be included in next year's Capital Budget,
with the allocation coming from the Capital Plan money specified for
those purposes. However, to meet the funding deadline noted above,
interim financing will have to be arranged. The Director of Finance
advices that Revenue Surplus could be used to provide this.
CONCLUSION
A unique opportunity has arisen for Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House to
expand its facility, and thus its programs, to the direct benefit of the
neighbourhood residents. With an investment of $214,000, the City may
realize improvements to its asset (the building) worth more than double
that amount.
The grant, if approved, should be conditional on the Infrastructure
Works funding and sufficient money being raised in the community to make
this project a reality. Without the full funding, the City component
alone would not be sufficient to bring about significant change.
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