Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Director of Community Services, Social Planning

SUBJECT:

Ray-Cam Community Association - Childcare Capital Grant

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

POLICY

The Civic Childcare Strategy approved in October 1990 included the implementation of a Daycare Portable Purchase Program. On May 3, 1991, Council approved the allocation of $325,000 for 1991 as part of the Capital Plan to allow the placement of three daycare portable in three under-serviced neighbourhoods. On October 24, 1991, the Downtown Eastside (DTES) was designated by Council as one of the three priority neighbourhoods for a City-owned childcare portable project.

PURPOSE

This report recommends allocation of a childcare capital grant to Ray-Cam Community Centre towards the cost of a childcare project. The source of funds is the unallocated Daycare Portable Purchase money totalling $159,510 held over from the 1991 - 1993 Capital Plan.

BACKGROUND

The Daycare Portable Purchase Program was approved by Council as part of the Civic Childcare Strategy in October 1990. It was intended that 9 portable projects would be created. During the period 1991 - 1995, $890,490 of City capital funds, matched with provincial and community monies were used to build, six City-owned childcare portables and one permanent childcare facility on City or School Board land - Strathcona, Thunderbird, Grandview, Playhouse, Duke Street, Bobolink Park and Mount Pleasant. This resulted in over 250 new licensed childcare spaces in high need neighbourhoods serving over 450 children and families every year. Two projects, one in the Downtown Eastside and the other slated for the Riley Park area remain outstanding.

On October 24, 1991, Council approved the Downtown Eastside as one of three priority neighbourhoods for receipt of a City-owned childcare portable under the 1991 Daycare Portables program. Over the past seven years, a number of portable proposals were initiated in the DTES but none of them reached completion because of the barriers encountered, e.g. appropriate sites for a portable could not be found, neighbourhood support for one potential site could not be maintained, the balance of the capital funding required could not be raised. However through the sheer determination of a DTES parent's group called "Children Need Care Now" and the ongoing support of the Ray-Cam Community Centre Association, an alternate solution has now been found and the community's dream for a flexible, childcare and family resource space is very close to becoming a reality.

DISCUSSION

After exploring without success, several different public sites for locating a childcare portable and even considering the option of purchasing and converting a private property, it was determined that a second floor addition to the Ray-Cam Community Centre made more sense from both a long term capital investment and a "day to day" operating perspective. The Ray-Cam Association Board therefore embarked upon an ambitious fundraising campaign to raise approximately $900,000 for capital and equipment costs to build a 3,800 square foot second storey addition to house a combined childminding/ preschool/family resource centre. The Board and staff successfully lobbied BC Housing and CMHC for a contribution of $500,000. Park Board also agreed to contribute $162,000. The Ray-Cam Board, through community donations have also raised an additional $120,000 and are currently approaching community foundations. Ray-Cam is now requesting the $80,000 originally set aside by the City for a DTES childcare portable back in 1991. The unallocated 1991-1993 Capital Plan money set aside for the Daycare Portable Purchase Program, has continued to be carried forward by Finance because Council had specifically designated the childcare funds for certain high need neighbourhoods.

It is the assessment of the Childcare Co-ordinator that the proposed addition to the Ray-Cam Community Centre, is a good solution to meet the ongoing needs of families in the Downtown Eastside for flexible childcare and early childhood education services and parenting support and information. The proposal meets the original objective of the daycare portable purchase program and does not require a further investment in land. The proposal has strong support within the community and the Ray Cam Community Association has successfully raised the balance of the project funds as required. It is therefore recommended that Council approve an $80,000 childcare capital grant to the Ray-Cam Community Association for this project. The source of funds is the unallocated Childcare Portable funds totalling $159,510 held over from the 1991 - 1993 Capital Plan. This leaves a balance of $79,510 for the last of the designated childcare portable projects in the Riley Park/Little Mountain neighbourhood which continues to be in the development stage.

CONCLUSION

It has been determined that the need for a flexible childcare/family resource centre space in the Downtown Eastside can best be met by adding a second storey to the Ray-Cam Community Centre rather than continuing to pursue the idea of locating a City-owned portable on public property in that neighbourhood. It is therefore recommended that Council approve a capital grant of $80,000 to the Ray-Cam Community Association.

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ag990706.htm

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