GENERAL COMMITEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Andy Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Barb Cribbett, Treasurer

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Fuwing Wong, Manager of Financial Planning

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-May-30

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

2005 Celebrate Markham Grants

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

THAT THE report dated May 30, 2005 entitled "2005 Celebrate Markham Grants" be received;

 

AND THAT the Grants Sub-Committee’s proposed allocation of Celebrate Markham grants as shown on Appendix A be approved;

 

AND THAT the Celebrate Markham grant for the Milliken Mills Children’s Festival be reduced from $10,000 to $7,500, the same amount as all other major festivals, in the 2006 Operating Budget.

 

PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the allocation of the 2005 Celebrate Markham Grants.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

On February 8th, 2005, Council approved the 2005 Budget which included Celebrate Markham grants in the amount of $207,500.  At the time the budget was approved, $58,500 of Celebrate Markham funds were unallocated.

 

The Grants Sub-Committee was asked to allocate the funds and report back to Council.  At the May 13th, 2005 Grants Sub-Committee Meeting, the allocation of Celebrate Markham grants was finalized and is summarized in Appendix A.

 

DISCUSSION:

 

The Town of Markham’s 2005 Operating Budget includes $207,500 for Celebrate Markham grants.  The grants provide groups/organizations funding to hold festival/events that enhance and promote the Town and assists in building the community by celebrating the artistic and cultural uniqueness of Markham.

 

As shown in the “2005 Original Budget” column of Appendix A, $58,500 of Celebrate Markham funding remained unallocated when the budget was approved.  The Grants Sub-Committee reviewed all grant requests received as of May 13th, 2005 and recommended the following:

·        Increase the grants to regular Celebrate Markham major festivals at the Town to $7,500.  Unionville, Markham, and Thornhill festivals were all increased from $5,000 to $7,500.  Milliken Mills Children’s Festival had an original Budget allocation of $10,000.  This allocation will not change for 2005 but the Grants Sub-Committee recommends reducing the grant to $7,500 for the Milliken Mills Children’s Festival in 2006.

 

·        Provide Taste of Asia and Markham Jazz festival grants of $7,500 each. 

 

o       The Taste of Asia had requested $12,500 and services in-kind.  The Grants Sub-Committee recommends $7,500 and for staff to follow-up on the services in-kind requested.  In 2004 the Taste of Asia Festival was granted $12,500 including services in-kind with the understanding that 2004 was the final year the Town would provide that level of support for the festival.

 

o       The Markham Jazz Festival requested $10,000 and for the Town to obtain insurance on behalf of the festival.  The Grants Sub-Committee recommends $7,500 and for staff to investigate the insurance.  In 2004, the Markham Jazz Festival was provided a one-time grant of $5,000.

 

·        Allocate $5,000 to the Markham Rotary Ribfest based on Council approval of this grant amount on May 10th, 2005.  In 2004, the Markham Rotary Ribfest was granted $1,000.

 

·        Allocation of $5,000 for staff to create portable signs to be used at the various festivals/events to recognize the Town of  Markham’s financial contribution under Celebrate Markham grants.

 

The final funding allocation, described above, is summarized on Appendix A under the column, “2005 Grants Sub-Committee Recommended Allocation”.

 

The Grants Sub-Committee also received grant requests to increase the Doors Open Markham grant from $5,000 to $10,000 and to support the Markham Arts Council via a $15,000 grant.  The Sub-Committee recommends that:

  • the Doors Open Markham grant remain at the $5,000 as included in the original budget (see Appendix A); and that

 

  • the funding decision for the Markham Arts Council be deferred until more information is obtained about the Markham Arts Council’s 2004 accomplishments and 2005 work program.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Of the $58,500 of unallocated Celebrate Markham funds included in the original 2005 Budget, $32,500 has been allocated (as described in the DISCUSSION section and outlined in Appendix A).  The balance of unallocated Celebrate Markham funds, in the amount of $26,000 ($58,500 - $32,500) is available for future Celebrate Markham grant requests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

Appendix A – Celebrate Markham – 2005 Budget

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barb Cribbett,

Treasurer

 

Andy Taylor,

Commissioner of Corporate Services