GENERAL COMMITTEE – COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Barbara Roth, Director, Recreation and Culture Services
	PREPARED BY:	Len Manuel, Seniors Coordinator
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Feb-14
	SUBJECT:	Proposed Seniors Clubs Fees Schedule – Letter of Understanding

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled Proposed Seniors Clubs Fees Schedule – Letter of Understanding be received;

And that the proposed five-year fee schedule detailing the contributions to be made by the Older Adults in Action and the Thornhill Seniors Club to the Town of Markham be approved as listed in Appendix A and take effect from 2005 to 2009;

And that the Director, Recreation and Culture Services be authorized to execute a Letter of Understanding between the Older Adults in Action club and Thornhill Seniors Club and the Town of Markham in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the report is to seek Council approval of the proposed Fee Schedule to be paid by the Seniors Clubs to the Town to assist in offsetting the operating expenses. This will allow the Seniors Clubs to establish a five-year schedule in order to notify their memberships and to confirm the revenue to be received in the Seniors Centres’ cost centres.

BACKGROUND:

The Older Adults in Action was established in 1989 and moved into the Markham Seniors Activity Centre at 22 Water Street in 1990. From 1990 to 1996 the Older Adults in Action operated out of the Water Street location but did not contribute to offsetting operating costs. In 1997 the Older Adults in Action agreed to make two annual lump sum payments $5,000 each year for 1997 and 1998. In 1999, the group agreed to increase paying the Town $18.00 per member and $20.00 per member in 2000.

In 2000, a new four-year agreement was approved to have the Older Adults in Action pay $20.00 per member based on the number of members as of December 31 of the previous year and the payment was made before April 30.

In 2003, OAIA requested that the payment per member be based on their membership as of August 31, as their membership term runs from September 1 to August 31. However the payment to the Town is still made prior to April 30.

Thornhill Seniors Club:

The Thornhill Seniors Club was established in March 2003 and moved into the Thornhill Seniors Centre in June 2004. Their membership year begins September 1^st and ends August 31^st. In order to allow the Club to establish a sound financial base and cover the initial costs of club operations, we propose the Town agree to waive financial contributions for the 2003/04 and the 2004/05 years based on the previous practice with the Older Adults in Action and to provide time for the club to become financially established. The Thornhill Seniors Club requested that the payment per member be based on their membership as of December 31^st.

Fee Payment Table

Payment Period	OAIA Assessment Date	OAIA Payment per Member	TSC Assessment Date	TSC Payment per Member
Jan. – Dec. 2005	August 31/04	$20.00	December 31/04	Fee Waived
Jan. – Dec. 2006	August 31/05	$20.00	December 31/05	$20.00
Jan. – Dec. 2007	August 31/06	$23.00	December 31/06	$23.00
Jan. – Dec. 2008	August 31/07	$23.00	December 31/07	$23.00
Jan. – Dec. 2009	August 31/08	$25.00	December 31/08	$25.00

Payments will be made to the Town on or before April 30 of each year within the agreement. The membership list declaring the membership as of December 31 of each year of assessment, with names and addresses, will be provided to the Town of Markham, Recreation and Culture Services Department by January 31 of each year of the agreement. The minimum amount to be paid is based upon a minimum membership of 750 members for the Older Adults in Action and the Thornhill Seniors Club.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The schedule will allow the Town to more accurately make projections over the next five years. The Clubs will also know their financial commitments to the Town.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Finance:

The revenue from the Older Adults in Action is estimated to be $20,000 based upon the 2003/04 membership year. There will be no revenue received from the Thornhill Seniors Clubs. The 2005 operating budgets reflect these estimates.

Legal:

The Legal Department will finalize the wording in the Letters of Understanding.

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A - Older Adult in Action - Letter of Understanding

Thornhill Seniors Club – Letter of Understanding

Barbara M. Roth, R.D.M.R. Director, Recreation and Culture Services

Jim Sales Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

Q:\Recreation\AGREE\AGR038\Seniors Clubs Fees Report.doc