Report to: General Committee                                                        Report Date: April 21, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          2008 Celebrate Markham Grants Allocation by the Grants Sub-Committee

PREPARED BY:               Andrea Tang, Manager of Financial Planning

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report dated April 21, 2008 entitled “2008 Celebrate Markham Grants Allocation by the Grants Sub-Committee” be received;

 

And that the Grants Sub-Committee is recommending the 2008 Allocation of Celebrate Markham Grants as outlined in Appendix 2 be approved;

 

And that the Grants Sub-Committee recommends that any costs relating to the Character Community Initiative be absorbed in the 2008 Operating Budget.

 

And that funding for the Character Community Initiative be considered during the 2009 Budget discussions, if required:

 

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Appendix 1 outlines the Grant Sub-Committee’s recommended changes to Celebrate Markham grants, in narrative form, including the addition of two new grants to the Seniors Clubs and Opera York for 2008.    

 

Appendix 2 outlines the Grant Sub-Committee’s changes to Celebrate Markham grants in numerical form.  The first three columns of Appendix 2 highlight the 2007 actuals, 2007 budget and variance. 

 

The last two columns show the Grants Sub-Committee’s recommended 2008 allocation and the increase or decrease compared to 2007 budget.

 

In total, the 2007 Celebrate Markham budget was $219,250 (detailed allocation of the budget shown in the second column “2007 Approved Budget” of Appendix 2).  The 2008 approved Budget included an increase of $15,000 to the Celebrate Markham Budget to the total of $234,250 ($219,250 + $15,000).

 

As outlined in Appendix 2, the total allocated amount to the Celebrate Markham events in 2008 is $229,000, leaving an unallocated amount of $5,250 for potential future discretionary events that come to Council in 2008 (budget  $234,250 - $229,000). 

 

The unallocated amount of $5,250 will be granted in accordance to the approved Grants and Sponsorships Guidelines (Appendix 3).

 

 

 

PURPOSE:

To recommend approval of the 2008 allocation of Celebrate Markham grants to the General Committee.

 

BACKGROUND:

Celebrate Markham grants are funds provided to community groups/organizations that enhance and promote the Town, and are committed to building the community by celebrating the artistic and cultural uniqueness of Markham.

 

Three Grants Sub-Committee meetings were held on November 14, 2007, January 21, 2008 and March 7, 2008. 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Below outlines the changes in allocations and new events/organizations recommended by the Grants Sub-Committee for inclusion in the 2008 Celebrate Markham budget.

 

Increases

Details of the increases to events/organizations are outlined in Appendix 1.

 

Decreases

The committee recommended that any costs relating to the Character Community Initiative be absorbed in the 2008 Operating Budget, as the 2008 Budget did not include additional funding for this initiative.  The 2007 Celebrate Markham budget allocation for Character Community was $20,000. It was agreed that the CAO, Legal, HR & Strategic Initiatives Commission staff would be advised of this elimination.

 

Other decreases are highlighted in Appendix 1.

 

New Grants added to 2008 Celebrate Markham

The committee recommended two new grants be provided to the Seniors Clubs (pending criteria development) and Opera York of which more details are also outlined in Appendix 1. Staff agreed to contact the City of Vaughan with a request for their criteria.

 

Other Items discussed by the Grants Sub-Committee

  • York Regional Police – The Committee decided this is not a Celebrate Markham event and recommended that this be brought forward for consideration under Council Promotion.  Details of the York Regional Police sponsorship program are outlined in Appendix 4.
  • Lindsay Lights – The Lindsay brothers create a sophisticated annual Christmas light display which is computer controlled and consists of more than 80,000 lights (of which 70,000 lights are LED).  There is a request for a grant from the Town in the amount of $2,650 for financial assistance in the hiring of paid-duty officers to assist in traffic control.  However, this event does not fall within the approved Grants and Sponsorships Guidelines and is therefore being rejected.  Appendix 5 outlines the letter requesting the funding.

 

Annual Audit

In 2007, the Committee recommended that one audit will be performed each year.  For 2008, the committee recommended that an audit be performed on the Senior Citizen’s Light Tour.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE: (external link)

None

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Barb Cribbett                                     Andy Taylor, Commissioner     

                                      Treasurer                                            Corporate Services

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix 1 – Summary of Changes - 2008 Celebrate Markham Grants Budget

Appendix 2 – Celebrate Markham Grants – 2007 Actuals and Proposed 2008 Allocation

Appendix 3 – Grants and Sponsorships Guidelines

Appendix 4 – York Regional Police Sponsorship Program

Appendix 5 – Letter from Martin Lindsay requesting funding for the Lindsay Lights