ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 15, 1997
Dept. File No.
CC File: 2402
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Director of Community Services, Social Planning
SUBJECT: City-owned Childcare Facilities Capital Grants to
Grandview Terrace Child Care Society and
City Hall Child Care Society
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve a grant of up to $10,000 to the Grandview
Terrace Child Care Society to pay for playground renovations
and capital equipment required to open a new 16 space licensed
preschool program in a City-owned childcare portable. Source
of funding: City-owned Social Services Facilities Childcare
Component; 1997 Capital Budget.
B. THAT Council approve a grant of up to $30,000 to City Hall
Child Care Society to renovate the existing infant/toddler
area in City Hall Child Care Centre Source of funding:
City-owned Social Services Facilities Childcare Component;
1997 Capital Budget.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the foregoing for
CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to recommend two childcare capital grants.
BACKGROUND
The childcare component of the 1997 - 1999 Capital Plan for City-owned
facilities identified two priority areas: the development of new
childcare options in the Grandview Woodlands area and the renovation of
City-owned childcare facilities to address health and safety issues.
$50,000 was included in the 1997 Capital Budget for this type of
projects. Two projects were identified for 1997.
DISCUSSION
1. The City-owned childcare portable located on the grounds of
Grandview School currently houses a "3-5" group daycare (25 spaces)
and a school-aged childcare program (20 spaces). The programs are
operated under the auspice of the Grandview Terrace Child Care
Society in co-operation with the Britannia Community Centre.
Community demand for part-time preschool programs has been growing
significantly over the past few years in the Grandview Woodlands
area. Currently Britannia Preschool has well over 100 children on
their waiting list. In consultation with Community Care Facilities
Licensing and the Childcare Co-ordinator, it was determined that
with creative programming and some minor renovations including the
addition of some storage, shelving, carpeting and playground
re-development, the existing Grandview portable could also be used
for a part-time preschool program four mornings a week. The
Grandview Terrace Child Care Society is requesting $10,000 from the
1997 Childcare Capital budget. An additional request for $5,000
to assist with non-capital costs is included in the companion
Childcare Grants Program Report. In the short term, it is proposed
that the preschool will borrow toys and play equipment from
Britannia Preschool. This will give the Society the time to raise
further funds for new toys and play material.
This is a very cost effective proposal which maximises the use of
the City-owned portable and will increase the financial viability
of all the Grandview Terrace childcare programs. A grant of
$10,000 is recommended.
2. City Hall Child Care Centre is located in a City-owned facility on
the northern side of City Square. It was built prior to the
approval of the Vancouver Child Care Design Guidelines and the
infant/ toddler area is extremely cramped and poorly laid out.
Licensing has raised concerns about facility related health and
program delivery issues on numerous occasions, but until recently
the childcare centre staff and board could not find a design that
resolved the concerns. With the volunteer assistance of a parent
with architectural expertise, a new floor plan was developed which
meets all the licensing and code requirements. The City Hall Child
Care Society has undertaken to raise $ 20,000 towards the project
and secured a $25,000 contribution from the Vancouver Foundation.
They are requesting a $30,000 capital contribution from the City.
Facilities Development and Social Planning staff have reviewed the
plans and agree that the proposed changes will be a major
improvement. A grant of $30,000 is recommended
subject to written confirmation of the other
project funds.
CONCLUSION
Staff are recommending a grant of $10,000 to Grandview Terrace Child
Care Society to develop a new licensed preschool program and a grant of
$30,000 to the City Hall Child Care Society for required renovations of
their infant/toddler program area. These requests meet the criteria for
the City-owned Social Services Facilities Childcare Component and are
within the funding available for 1997.
* * * * *