Coming Up: October 5
Council meets on Monday. On the agenda:
Delegations
Emergency Funding: Wolverines Wheelchair Sports Association
Neighbourhood Associations
Restaurants & Drinking Establishments
Following is more information and my take on agenda items.
As always, any mistakes or opinions belong to me and me alone, not to Council or City staff.
While I express my current views below, I work hard to go into meetings ready to listen and with an open mind. I learn new information and participate in debate. This always informs, and sometimes changes, how I vote on issues.
If you would like to watch the meeting or read any of its supporting material for yourself, you can do so by clicking here. The City will post the highlights of Council’s decisions here.
DELEGATIONS
During all Council meetings, members of the public are welcome to come address Council. More information about how to do that can be found here.
This week, several delegations have told us they will be taking part in our meeting:
International Coliseums Company presenting on multi-purpose arena complexes and surrounding development
A resident asking the City to allow skating on the storm pond in Signature Falls
Business owners asking for Council to end its current prohibition on a single business operating more than one cannabis retail store
WOLVERINES WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ASSOCIATION
As part of its response to COVID-19, Council has set aside $100,000 for local non-profits who need help remaining viable. So far, there has been no money granted from this fund.
The Wolverines Wheelchair Sports Association has applied for emergency funding. Due to lost revenue, it is facing financial hardship. It is recommended that Council give it a one time grant of $15,000.
I am likely to support this recommendation. The Wolverines play an important role in helping residents of all abilities stay mentally and physically healthy. And City Administration has examined their finances: it is confident that this money is both needed and will be put to good use.
COMMUNITY GROUP FUNDING POLICY
It is recommended that Council adopt a new Community Group Funding policy. The big change contained in it: allowing Council to award multi-year core funding.
Community Group Funding is money given to local non-profits. They improve the quality of life of our local residents. Often these groups save the City money by delivering services more cost efficiently than the City can deliver them.
The types of groups that receive funding include:
Libraries (these receive approximately half of the City’s Community Group Funding)
Cultural groups (ex: South Peace Regional Archives, Centre for Creative Arts, the Art Gallery)
Youth and senior organisations (ex: Big Brothers and Sisters, Golden Age Centre)
Economic development initiatives (ex: Community Futures, Regional Tourism Association)
Community outreach and rehabilitative initiatives (ex: Youth Emergency Shelter, Saint Lawrence Centre, Rising Above)
Sport groups (ex: Regional Sport Connector, Nitehawk, Curling Club)
Safety initiatives (ex: STARS, Technical Search and Rescue, Victims Services)
Traditionally, these organisations have been awarded funding on an annual basis. This has consumed a lot of time from Council, City administration, and the groups themselves. The yearly process has cost taxpayers and community groups a lot of money, and distracted from delivering the programs which residents benefit from.
The proposed policy change would allow Council to award Core Funding at the beginning of each Council term. If approved for Core Funding, groups would receive an annual grant for 4 years. They would still need to report to City administration on an annual basis to ensure funding is being used appropriately. But this reporting process would use a lot less resources than the current application process.
I intend to support this policy change.
RESTAURAUNTS & DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS
In our Land Use Bylaw, there is a difference between Restaurants and Drinking Establishments. Restaurants are establishments where minors are allowed, while minors are prohibited from Drinking Establishments.
Under our current Bylaw, an establishment must be a Restaurant or Drinking Establishment. If a business wants to run both, their restaurant needs to be physically separated from their lounge.
To allow greater flexibility, a Bylaw Amendment is recommended. It would allow a business to prohibit minors sometimes, but not always. So it could operate as a Restaurant through the day, and a Drinking Establishment in the evening.
This change makes sense to me, and is common in other municipalities. I’m likely to support it.
That’s what is on our agenda for Monday. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can comment below. Or, you can contact me at dbressey@cityofgp.com or 780-402-4166. I'm happy to talk online or over the phone. I'm also always willing to setup a time to meet for coffee.
We also always have great conversation in the GP Round Table group on Facebook.
After Council meeting, you will be able to find highlights posted by the City here.
Thanks for reading!
-Dylan