Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities
November 16, 2022 · 09:30 am
Summary
- Approved $1,055,010 in cultural grants to 46 organizations covering equity, Indigenous, individual artist, and affordable/small cultural spaces streams.
- Approved $84,000 in Supportive Housing Integration Grants to eight non-profits fostering connections between housing residents and the broader community.
- Approved rental rate increases of 3–4% for Vancouver Civic Theatres venues for the 2023–2024 performing arts season.
- Renewed the Vancouver Civic Theatres Activating Spaces Grant program at up to $200,000 for 2023, supporting not-for-profit arts groups using non-commercial theatre spaces.
- Approved $89,050 in Community Sport Hosting Grants to 16 organizations for fall 2022 events.
- Approved SRA demolition permits for two Downtown Eastside buildings (172 East Cordova and 307 Main Street), clearing the way for an 11-storey, 118-unit social housing development at 315 Main Street, including 40 units at shelter-rate ($375/month).
- Awarded a $2,098,900 construction contract for South Kinross Park in East Fraser Lands to Cedar Crest Lands (BC) Ltd.; also formally designated the land as permanent public park.
- Awarded a five-year security services contract to Paladin Security Group (
$29.95 million) for City facilities and to Securiguard Services ($6.72 million) for Vancouver Public Library.
Motions
2022 Cultural Grants Approval
Carried Details
- Approved $1,055,010 in grants across five streams to 46 cultural organizations.
- Cultural Equity grants ($316,000 to 13 groups) and Cultural Indigenous grants ($280,000 to 9 groups) align with the City's Culture|Shift plan and UNDRIP strategy.
- A $60,000 grant to The Art Starts in Schools Society renews the Creative Spark Vancouver program supporting artists working with youth.
- Affordable Spaces grants ($74,010 to 5 groups) and Small Grants for Cultural Spaces ($325,000 to 18 groups) support access to affordable arts facilities.
- Grants require two-thirds Council majority under the Vancouver Charter; organizations not registered as charities are deemed to be contributing to Vancouver's culture.
2022 Supportive Housing Integration Grants
- Approved $84,000 to eight non-profit organizations to support community integration around supportive housing.
- Grants fund events and projects that build connections between supportive housing residents, operators, and neighbouring communities, and help reduce stigma.
- Two grant tiers were available: up to $5,000 and up to $15,000; 14 applications were received requesting $184,868; eight were recommended for funding.
- Aligned with the Housing Vancouver Strategy, Healthy City Strategy, and the City's Equity Framework.
Vancouver Civic Theatres Rental Rates 2023-2024
- Approved a 4% rental rate increase for commercial licensees and a 3% increase for not-for-profit, Theatre Rental Grant, and VCT Grant licensees at Vancouver Civic Theatres for the September 2023 to August 2024 season.
- Rate increases reflect inflationary cost pressures and are benchmarked against comparable facilities locally and nationally.
- Revenue from higher commercial rates at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Orpheum helps subsidize the smaller community venues (the Annex and Vancouver Playhouse).
- A facility fee increase of $0.25 per ticket was also approved, with net proceeds directed to the capital maintenance reserve.
- Estimated net increase in rental revenue of approximately $184,210 for the season.
Vancouver Civic Theatres Activating Spaces Grant 2023
- Renewed the Activating Spaces Grant program (formerly the VCT Grant) for 2023 at up to $200,000, to be included in the annual Vancouver Civic Theatres operating budget.
- The program provides in-kind rental subsidies and partial labour cost support to not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations using non-commercial VCT spaces (the Annex and Vancouver Playhouse).
- Goals include animating civic performing arts spaces, supporting artistic development, building community partnerships, and expanding audiences.
- Program has operated since 2000; this motion extends it into 2023 following previous Council approvals for 2020–2022.
Vancouver Community Sport Hosting Grants Fall 2022
- Approved 16 Community Sport Event Grants totalling $89,050 to local not-for-profit organizations for fall 2022 sporting events.
- Grants support events with economic, social, health, and community development benefits for Vancouver.
- Program is recovering after two years of COVID-19 restrictions limiting community events; grants help offset additional costs related to the pandemic.
- A separate Community Sport Champions Recognition Grant stream is recognizing Indigenous sport champions from Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and the Urban Native Youth Association in 2022.
SRA Demolition Permits 172 East Cordova and 307 Main Street
172 East Cordova, 307 Main Street- Approved two SRA Demolition Permits allowing the removal of 9 designated rooms at 307 Main Street (the Vets Rooms, built 1908) and 11 rooms at 172 East Cordova (the Kyé7e, built 1913).
- Both properties are owned by Happy Harvest Incorporated; the existing buildings will be replaced by an 11-storey mixed-use development at 315 Main Street with 118 social housing units.
- 40 of the units will be rented at the shelter component of income assistance (currently $375/month); other units will be rented at BC Housing Income Limits or near-market rates.
- The building will also include a community theatre space, office space, educational space, retail, and over 10,000 sq. ft. of residential amenity space.
- Development Permit Board conditionally approved the project on September 19, 2022, pending SRA permit approval and execution of a Housing Agreement securing tenure and affordability.
Contract Award South Kinross Park Construction
South Kinross Park, East Fraser Lands- Awarded a construction contract for South Kinross Park (0.90 acres) in the East Fraser Lands community in southeast Vancouver to Cedar Crest Lands (BC) Ltd. for $2,098,900 plus GST.
- Cedar Crest submitted the lowest of five compliant bids; construction is expected to begin in early 2023 and complete within one year.
- South Kinross is part of a planned 25-acre park network for East Fraser Lands, a community that will eventually house up to 15,000 residents; nearby North and Middle Kinross parks opened in 2021.
- Council also formally designated the subject lands as permanent public park under the Vancouver Charter, placing them under exclusive Park Board jurisdiction.
- Funded from the 2019–2022 Capital Plan.
Contract Award Security Services
- Awarded a five-year security services contract to Paladin Security Group Limited for City facilities (estimated value ~$29.95 million plus taxes), covering licensed security guard services and security systems support for City Protective Services.
- Awarded a separate five-year contract to Securiguard Services Limited for licensed security guard services at Vancouver Public Library (estimated value ~$6.72 million plus taxes).
- Both contracts include City options for two additional two-year extensions.
- 13 proposals were received in response to the November 2021 RFP; evaluation teams from City Protective Services, Vancouver Public Library, and Vancouver Civic Theatres assessed them for value and capability.
- Separate contracts for Vancouver Civic Theatres event security and locksmith services were awarded below the $2 million Council-approval threshold and are not part of this motion.
Agenda documents (13)
AGENDA ITEMS
1. 2022 Cultural Grants (Equity, Indigenous, Artists, Spaces)
2. 2022 Supportive Housing Integration Grants
3. Vancouver Civic Theatres Rental Rates 2023-2024
4. Vancouver Civic Theatres Activating Spaces Grant 2023
5. Vancouver Community Sport Hosting Grant – Fall 2022 Intake
6. Single Room Accommodation (SRA) Demolition Permit for 172 East Cordova and 307 Main Street
7. Contract Award for the South Kinross Park Construction
8. Contract Award for Security Services
REFERRED ITEMS
9. Adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism (Member’s Motion B.2)
10. Urgent Measures to Uplift Vancouver’s Chinatown (Member’s Motion B.3)
11. Enabling the Requisitioning and Hiring of 100 New Police Officers and 100 Mental Health Nurses (Member’s Motion B.5)
12. Transport Pricing – “Stopping the Road Tax” (Member’ Motion B.6)
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
1. Standing Committee of Council on Policy and Strategic Priorities Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Christine Boyle🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adriane Carr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 |