Recommendations outlined in the Community Investment Strategy Update report dated June 2…

2:19:39Good evening mayor and members of council

2:19:41My name is melanie flake and I am the chair of the eden mills writers festival

2:19:46Today i'm speaking on behalf of the guelph arts advocacy alliance

2:19:50A coalition of guelph arts and cultural organizations working together to advocate for meaningful and sustained municipal investment in guelph's arts and culture sector

2:20:00We've seen firsthand how arts and culture can strengthen communities support local economies deep in civic engagement

2:20:08Create a sense of belonging

2:20:10And contribute to the quality of life that matters. Sorry that makes guelph a remarkable place to live

2:20:16The evidence is clear the arts and culture sector is an economic driver

2:20:20It supports jobs attracts audiences and visitors

2:20:24Animates our downtown and neighborhoods and generates direct and indirect economic activity in cities across

2:20:31Ontario and canada

2:20:33excuse me

2:20:35We believe the contribution made by our sector should be recognized and better supported for the full value it brings to the city

2:20:42Arts and culture organizations also play a significant workforce development role

2:20:47offering hands-on training skill development

2:20:50mentorship volunteer opportunities and professional experience that equip residents with transferable skills in leadership communications

2:20:58technology project management and entrepreneurship

2:21:02These opportunities help retain talent support creative and cultural industries and contribute to the long-term economic prosperity of guelph

2:21:11We believe that city council staff understand the importance of arts and culture and how it supports the well-being and quality of life of guelphites

2:21:19This is reflected in the city's proposed changes to the community investment strategy

2:21:24Including the priorities identified through that process and the expansion of funding programs

2:21:30We particularly appreciate the shift towards broader access for arts and culture organizations

2:21:36As well as the recognition that different kinds of community organizations may require different kinds of support

2:21:42These proposed priorities align with much of the work the guelph arts advocacy alliance has been advancing including

2:21:50More flexible and responsive approach to supporting the sector

2:21:55We appreciate the work that has gone into developing this strategy as well as the city's willingness to engage with us throughout the process

2:22:03Building on this progress. We believe this is the moment to move from recognition to stronger more concrete action

2:22:10For several years. We have consistently advocated for the community fund to be divided into two distinct streams

2:22:17One for social service organizations and one for arts and culture organizations

2:22:22Both sectors do vital work. Both deserve support

2:22:26The two stream model with increased funding would better reflect each sector's distinct role and the scale of need across our community

2:22:34We also strongly believe that municipal funding for community based organizations

2:22:38Including arts and culture organizations should be sustainably increased with current funding levels

2:22:45At least doubled to better reflects the scale of need the cost of delivering this work and the vital contributions these organizations make to our community

2:22:55This fall we will be engaging with council and mayoral candidates and inviting them to endorse a set of four municipal arts and culture commitments

2:23:04These commitments outline practical achievable actions

2:23:07The city can take to strengthen wealth's already vibrant and resilient arts community

2:23:13And to help ensure the sector can continue to serve residents support artists and contribute to the city's economic and social well-being

2:23:21We thank you for your attention to these priorities and we look forward to continuing to work with you towards a city where

2:23:28Arts and culture thrive

2:23:30Thank you for all you do for our city

2:23:32Respectively submitted on behalf of the gulf arts advocacy alliance

2:23:39Thank you. Are there any questions get council to boost till and then mayor Guthrie

2:23:46Thank you for your patience. You've been here a very long time

2:23:50Through the chair, I just wanted can you tell me I'm familiar with you know gulf arts council on tarot prologue for the arts all those kinds of

2:23:58Organizations. I am admitting I am not familiar with the gulf arts advocacy alliance. Can you just very briefly bring me up to date?

2:24:07um the

2:24:08organization has been working together for

2:24:12Several years. I have just become chair of the uh eat and mills reddish festival in december

2:24:17So I haven't been a part of it. So I can't speak to uh any of their long-term work other than I can name

2:24:24And it was included in the submission name many of the organizations. So this is a voluntary group

2:24:30Who meets periodically to discuss, you know, uh shared issues

2:24:37Thank you mayor Guthrie

2:24:40Thank you. My question was exactly the same as

2:24:43Councillor Busuttil as I've never heard of this uh this group. So interesting to hear it now. Thank you very much

2:24:49Thanks. Are there any other questions?

2:24:52council classa

2:24:57Thank you to the delegate and I wanted to firstly I'd like to say thank you for bringing attention

2:25:03to council's attention, um the report that you referred to

2:25:06um, I think it's from the chamber of the canadian chamber of commerce

2:25:10that talks about how um

2:25:13The arts can arts and culture contribute 65 billion dollars a year to the canadian economy and I

2:25:19met with uh the chamber

2:25:21My when I was at fcm and I really appreciate the work that went into that report because I think that we we underestimate how how economically important our arts and culture

2:25:33Community is to the economy. So there's that and then I do have a question with regard to the request about splitting

2:25:41The the grants so it's my question is have you worked with staff? Have you have you provided that direct feedback to them as as um

2:25:49You know in them, you know the few years that you've been meeting

2:25:53Uh, it's my understanding that uh, there is a staff member and um, we had a meeting uh last week, uh that

2:26:01provides feedback and

2:26:03give some insight to uh, what what's being worked on um, and uh,

2:26:10So they were aware in that meeting that that this was something that uh,

2:26:15The group has been wanting

2:26:17We just feel that it's um

2:26:20When there's when we're asking for funds for you know, for instance my festival and then there's also maybe the food bank also

2:26:27looking for funds in the same with the same pot. It just

2:26:31Doesn't doesn't feel good

2:26:37appreciate that that that uh

2:26:40That response. Um, I will talk to staff about that afterwards

2:26:49Are there any other questions or comments? Thank you very much

2:26:52Thank you for the work you do

2:26:54Okay, so um, I'm going to look for a mover to put the motion on the floor

2:27:01counselor crossin seconded by clown sir

2:27:04karan

2:27:06um

2:27:07and

2:27:08it's to approve the

2:27:11recommendations in the community investment strategy

2:27:14And that the implementation of future grant program streams and other inflationary adjustments are subject to being added through future budget updates

2:27:23So, uh, is there anyone? Oh council class and you have something to say

2:27:29Yes, I would just like to ask that question quickly to staff if if not

2:27:33I don't necessarily need to move a motion

2:27:35But I would just like to hear from staff with regard to the splitting of the funds and if that's something that has been considered

2:27:41I know that it isn't I think because that's not what we're approving today

2:27:44So I was just wondering if staff could provide a comment on that and then maybe consider it

2:27:49um

2:27:50For for the future for each of the years. Hey everybody. Thanks for the question. Um, so through the chair to the counselor

2:28:08Um, yeah, it it was something that was considered by staff. So, um with the community investment strategy update

2:28:16Um, it was really focused around the three priorities and within a single pool of funding

2:28:23Um, so this was considered by staff and ultimately we did not recommend the approach for a variety of different reasons

2:28:29Um, one being the size of the pool of funding and the number of sectors seeking an increase in funding

2:28:37Um, as well, we determined that the multiple funding pools separated by sector could become too restrictive

2:28:43Um and divided and would move away from the priorities

2:28:48Um as the focus for the funding

2:28:51Um, and for the outcomes that we're hoping to achieve with the program

2:28:58Thank you

2:28:59Out of curiosity through you chair

2:29:02What would the size of the pool be better for a split?

2:29:10Through the chair to the counselor we haven't explored exact

2:29:14Number of what the total pool would need to look like

2:29:18We were yeah, we were looking at within within existing pools and what we could do with uh with those funds with those programs

2:29:31Are there any other questions comments?

2:29:34Okay, is uh, uh, counselor boosted hill

2:29:37Yes, thank you and uh through the chair just uh clarification that the micro grant program still includes the split

2:29:46Uh between the arts focus development and community development kind of

2:29:51Uh through the chair to the counselor. Yes, that's correct. So the micro grant program would still split between the arts and um,

2:29:58And non-arts applications

2:30:01Okay

2:30:03Anyone else?

2:30:05Okay, then the motion has been moved and seconded and so I will go to the question. Are there anyone opposed?

2:30:13Seeing none that carries

2:30:16Okay, we've been pretty

2:30:19Pretty unanimous tonight

2:30:22Impressive so the last item is the mccollin's bridge municipal class environmental assessment and we have three

2:30:30Delegations so I will start with

2:30:33Uh, Mr. Scarrett. Hello, can everybody see me hear me?

2:30:43Yes, I can

2:30:45Terrific, thank you. Hello chair downer and counselors. Mr. Mayor. My name is Brian scarrett. I'm delegating on behalf of urban park 12

2:30:53supporting the staff recommendation to rehabilitate and strengthen mccollin's bridge

2:30:58There have been many conversations about mccollin's bridge since the committee of the whole meeting where you voted in favor of the preferred alternative

2:31:06Most of them have focused on the cost of repair and restoration versus the cost of replacement