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

1:45:36to share this Community Investment Update with you

1:45:40to ensure the city's grant programs continue to support

1:45:43community needs across a range of priorities and sectors.

1:45:48The Community Benefit Agreement program was reviewed last year

1:45:51and this update is a follow up to that

1:45:53as we turn our focus to the grant programs.

1:45:56I'm here today joined by Dallas Baker,

1:45:59who is our Community Investment Specialist

1:46:02and will be presenting the proposed changes to you today.

1:46:05And we'll start with Gals.

1:46:10Thanks Alex.

1:46:12So to start the Community Investment Strategy,

1:46:16or sorry, do I control the slides?

1:46:18Or the, sorry, forgive, it's my first call.

1:46:22Thank you.

1:46:24Sorry about that.

1:46:26The Community Investment Strategy or CIS

1:46:28is the city's framework for how we invest in and partner

1:46:31with the nonprofit sector to address community needs.

1:46:34It provides a clear and consistent approach

1:46:37to direct funding and resources,

1:46:38primarily through grant programs,

1:46:40such as the Community Grant,

1:46:42that align with the city priorities,

1:46:44while also strengthening accountability,

1:46:46transparency and relationships with community

1:46:49and the local nonprofit sector.

1:46:56The CIS was last updated in 2019.

1:47:00Community Investment Determined it was time for an update

1:47:02when considering changes in community needs,

1:47:05increased demand on city funding programs,

1:47:08evolving city priorities,

1:47:10and pressures on the local nonprofit sector

1:47:12to meet rising demands.

1:47:13By updating now, the CIS is well-prepared

1:47:16and evidence-driven to support

1:47:18the next strategic planning cycle and council.

1:47:25The strategy update was led by an external consultancy

1:47:29who engaged both the current recipients

1:47:32and unsuccessful applicants, along with city staff,

1:47:35to better understand key strengths and challenges

1:47:38with grant programs within the current strategy.

1:47:41Overall, some key themes emerged.

1:47:43Since 2024, there has been a 26% increase

1:47:47in residents accessing services funded through the program.

1:47:51Organizations are facing rising costs

1:47:54and reported a roughly 25% decline

1:47:57in additional funding leveraged,

1:47:59alongside pressures related to staffing,

1:48:01space and overall capacity.

1:48:04Equity-deserving groups continue to face barriers

1:48:06in accessing funding and services,

1:48:09highlighting the need for more inclusive,

1:48:10easy to access and culturally appropriate processes.

1:48:14Both staff and applicants identified confusion

1:48:17around current CIS priorities

1:48:19and how they connect to broader city goals,

1:48:21making it difficult to align applications

1:48:23and demonstrate impact.

1:48:25There was strong feedback on the importance

1:48:27of low barrier flexible funding

1:48:29with simpler application and reporting processes

1:48:32that can better respond to emerging needs.

1:48:34Recipients consistently highlighted the value

1:48:37of staff support and helping organizations

1:48:39navigate challenge and opportunities.

1:48:42Multi-year funding remains a key stabilizing factor,

1:48:45supporting longer term planning and service delivery

1:48:48as demand increases and other funding sources

1:48:51become more limited.

1:48:52Some programs such as microgrants were identified

1:48:55as a strong tool for engaging grassroots

1:48:57and community led initiatives with their low barrier design

1:49:01and enabling broader and more timely access to funding.

1:49:05Based on the review findings,

1:49:06we have developed some proposed updates to our priorities.

1:49:10Grant programs and how we do this work

1:49:12and I'll pass it back to Alex to walk you through those.

1:49:14Thank you.

1:49:21Great, thank you Dallas.

1:49:26The new priorities shift CIS

1:49:28from being solely centered around the community plan

1:49:32toward a more integrated intersectional framework

1:49:35that is aligned with multiple city strategic documents

1:49:38that include the community plan,

1:49:40the equity anti-racism action plan

1:49:43and upcoming community safety wellbeing plan.

1:49:46In the report, the language utilized in the priorities

1:49:49shift CIS away from being focused on outputs

1:49:53to more outcomes focused

1:49:55on improving the lives of Guelph residents.

1:49:57Priorities are viewed as intersectional.

1:50:00Many organizations may find they align

1:50:02with more than one priority.

1:50:04Overall, the CIS priorities shift the city

1:50:07to a more focused outcomes driven approach,

1:50:10one that is better aligned with community needs,

1:50:12advances equity and provides clear direction

1:50:15on how investments are to be made and measured.

1:50:21Under the proposed CIS,

1:50:22there are changes to the current program structure

1:50:24that are recommended.

1:50:26And the proposed grant programs are designed

1:50:29to respond to what we heard throughout the review,

1:50:31particularly the need for greater flexibility,

1:50:34access to programs, stability across nonprofit sector.

1:50:39At the core is the community priorities grant,

1:50:42which provides multi-year, more sustainable funding,

1:50:46aligned to the new CIS priorities

1:50:48and would effectively replace

1:50:49the current community grant program.

1:50:53The in-kind resource program would shift

1:50:54to become a distinct offering,

1:50:57expanding access beyond just community grant applicants.

1:51:01This reflects a shift towards recognizing

1:51:03not all organizational needs are funding based

1:51:05and access to resources and equipment

1:51:08can also play an important role in supporting the sector.

1:51:13We're also proposing to formalize

1:51:14and expand new flexible targeted funding streams.

1:51:17Funding for these new programs will come back to you

1:51:21through the budget process.

1:51:23The micro grant program has been successfully piloted

1:51:27and put forward as a permanent funding stream,

1:51:30ensuring continued access to low barrier funding

1:51:32for residents, collectives, nonprofit organizations

1:51:35to support community-led, highly localized initiatives.

1:51:40The organizational change grant would provide

1:51:42targeted short-term project funding

1:51:44to help organizations adapt to shifting needs or pressures,

1:51:48including strengthening operations, governance

1:51:50or service delivery to prepare for the future.

1:51:54The city fee grant will reduce financial barriers

1:51:57by covering costs associated with accessing

1:52:00city-owned spaces and services

1:52:02and improving access to community organizations and groups.

1:52:07Together, this approach creates

1:52:08a more balanced response to the funding model,

1:52:10one that improves access, support, sustainability

1:52:13and better aligns with diverse needs

1:52:15of the nonprofit sector.

1:52:19Aside from proposed changes

1:52:21to the community investment grant programs,

1:52:23the recommended updated strategy

1:52:24also considers operational and process changes.

1:52:28A key shift is towards greater stability

1:52:32through stronger emphasis on multi-year funding,

1:52:36aligned to clear priorities,

1:52:38which support longer term planning and impact.

1:52:41We're also proposing an increase

1:52:43in the funding request cap from currently $15,000

1:52:46to $20,000, while prioritizing funding

1:52:50smaller organizations with budgets under a million.

1:52:54There's also focus on reducing barriers,

1:52:56especially for grassroots equity-deserving groups,

1:52:59by simplifying processes and offering more flexible ways

1:53:02to apply and to report.

1:53:05We're exploring also how to directly fund grassroots groups,

1:53:09opening up more opportunities for them through the process.

1:53:14We are strengthening clarity and consistency

1:53:16through clearer criteria, improved feedback

1:53:18and more transparent decision-making,

1:53:21which will support both applicants and city oversight.

1:53:26The new strategy also shifts to an outcome measurement

1:53:28framework, and in doing so, community and staff alike

1:53:31would better understand the return on investment

1:53:33from such grant initiatives and direct impact

1:53:36that has resulted in the community.

1:53:40Finally, these changes place a stronger emphasis

1:53:43on relationship management and coordination.

1:53:46A particular emphasis is on better cross-departmental

1:53:49collaboration when it comes to managing

1:53:51nonprofit relationships with the city.

1:53:57So thank you again for your time today,

1:53:59and going through the proposed changes,

1:54:02we're happy to respond to any questions you may have

1:54:04at this time.

1:54:06Thank you so much for the presentation.

1:54:08We have questions from members of council,

1:54:11Councillor Allt and Councillor Clauss.

1:54:13Thank you very much, Chair Caron.

1:54:15I will be happy to move the report.

1:54:20Through you to Mr. Goss, you made reference

1:54:23to sustainability clear priorities

1:54:25in funding request grants.

1:54:29Can you outline what we mean by sustainability

1:54:32and clear priorities?

1:54:34Grant writing is obviously a challenge for many, many groups,

1:54:38and I'd like to get some sense of what we mean.

1:54:43You started before you answered.

1:54:46You moved the motion.

1:54:46I moved the motion.

1:54:47I seconded by Councillor Merr-Guthrey.

1:54:50Apologies.

1:54:51Yep, no worries.

1:54:52Did you get the gist of the question?

1:54:54I believe so.

1:54:55So thinking about the priorities.

1:54:58Yeah, sustainability and clear priorities.

1:55:00What do we mean by that?

1:55:01Yeah, so what we, through the chair to Councillor,

1:55:05so what we heard through the review process

1:55:07was challenges in the nonprofit sector

1:55:10around stability and sustainability,

1:55:13in terms of being able to continue their operations

1:55:16and meet increasing demands with limited funding.

1:55:20So part of what is included in the review

1:55:22is looking at multi-year funding

1:55:24and a few other measures that can help with that sustainability

1:55:27and stability for those organizations.

1:55:30And thank you, because I think that's incredibly important

1:55:32to many, many groups.

1:55:33Two other questions.

1:55:34A stronger relationship and coordination

1:55:37between the city and the nonprofit sector.

1:55:39I completely support that,

1:55:41but I'm also looking for specifics.

1:55:43Are there any specifics to which we can point

1:55:46to identify what it is that we mean by that?

1:55:49Yeah, through the chair to the council,

1:55:51that's a great question.

1:55:55When we work with nonprofit organizations,

1:55:57we find that often there are multiple points of contact

1:56:00across the city through multiple departments.

1:56:03And what we're looking at here is finding a way

1:56:06to collaborate and to align some of those relationships

1:56:10so that we're able to connect and be consistent

1:56:13in how we work with those organizations.

1:56:15Just a slight follow-up to that.

1:56:17Have we in the recent past discovered that

1:56:22after we have had a relationship with some

1:56:25of these nonprofits, we're not exactly on the same page

1:56:29or we're completely off base.

1:56:30I realize it's a delicate question,

1:56:33but I'm not asking for names.

1:56:36Yeah, I think the nature of relationships

1:56:38can evolve over time.

1:56:40I think some of that coordination and collaboration

1:56:43across departments can help with that clarity

1:56:46for those organizations.

1:56:47Finally, we made reference to the return on the investment.

1:56:51So I have three parts to it.

1:56:52Are we talking money, people, community, all three, and how?

1:56:58Yeah, so we are looking at return on investment

1:57:02in a couple different ways.

1:57:04And we'll obviously expand on it as once before

1:57:07we'll get approval here and start to operationalize it.

1:57:10We will look at the amount of funding that city funds

1:57:14are able to leverage from underfunding sources.

1:57:16So there is a financial return on investment there.

1:57:20But also really looking at the impact on the community

1:57:22and the impact that this work is having

1:57:24on the new priorities that are put forward.

1:57:27And by looking at those outcomes that people are measuring

1:57:32that hopefully we'll be able to show a better return

1:57:35for the investment for people and for the community.

1:57:38And thank you very much.

1:57:39Quite happy to move this

1:57:41and to support outcomes based granting.

1:57:45Thanks very much.

1:57:46We have a question from Councillor Klosson

1:57:48and then Councillor Keaton.

1:57:51Yes, thank you through you, Chair Caron.

1:57:53Also, I'm happy to support the recommendations from staff.

1:57:57I, so much value is delivered to our community

1:58:00through these grants.

1:58:03Just looking at the list recently came out

1:58:05of all of the recipients

1:58:07and those organizations deliver so much good

1:58:11to our community.

1:58:11So thank you for your work on this.

1:58:14I did have a question.

1:58:16I think it was alluded to a little bit

1:58:18but I'd maybe like to just circle,

1:58:20I don't wanna say circle back,

1:58:21but go back to the outcome measurement framework.

1:58:24And I was going to ask if you could just speak

1:58:26to that a little bit more

1:58:28and what some of those expectations

1:58:30will be for the organizations.

1:58:34Through the chair to the Councillor,

1:58:35thanks for that question.

1:58:37Yeah, I think we're really looking at a distinction

1:58:39between outputs to outcomes.

1:58:42So often how we ask people to report right now

1:58:46is they report on outputs.

1:58:48So we ran these five programs

1:58:51and a thousand people participated.

1:58:54And that sounds great.

1:58:55And I think what we're looking to do here

1:58:57is shift to outcomes.

1:58:58So a thousand people participated in five programs

1:59:01and now what changed as a result of that?

1:59:05How did that impact those 1,000 people?

1:59:08So we can dig a little bit deeper into just the surface level.

1:59:12Wow, that looks great too.

1:59:13What does that actually mean for people

1:59:15that were involved in that work?

1:59:19Thank you.

1:59:20And through you chair,

1:59:21Karan, if I can ask one more.

1:59:25I had a question with regard to the targeted short-term rollout

1:59:27of the future budget.

1:59:30So in 2028 is when the budgetary change comes in.

1:59:37And I'm just curious about how that's going to roll out

1:59:39to the future council.

1:59:42Through the chair to the Councillor Klassen.

1:59:45We anticipate having more conversations

1:59:47about community investment

1:59:48as part of the strategic plan refresh

1:59:51and then sort of through councils prioritization

1:59:53of that work amongst others

1:59:55as part of the strategic plan refresh.

1:59:57We hope to embed it as part of the multi-year budget

2:00:00that will come back to you.

2:00:01So lots of opportunity.

2:00:03And of course should council wish to,

2:00:04closer to the budget update period,

2:00:06have a more detailed discussion

2:00:07about what's proposed here.

2:00:08We're happy to do that.

2:00:11Thank you for that response.

2:00:12And may I make a quick comment?

2:00:16I already said it,

2:00:17but I do think that the community grant program

2:00:20has delivered so much to our community.

2:00:22And I am excited about the changes that will be coming,

2:00:26especially through the outcome measurement framework.

2:00:29I'd like to see that when they're available.

2:00:32And I would also like to say,

2:00:34I would love to see further investment

2:00:36with the future council

2:00:39as they do strap planning for community investment.

2:00:41Our nonprofits in our community

2:00:43and our grassroots organizations

2:00:45contribute so much to the landscape of our community

2:00:49and caring for the people and the environment

2:00:52that we live in.

2:00:53So thank you for your work on this.

2:00:56And I'll look forward to hearing about it in the future.

2:01:02Well said, Councillor Keaton.

2:01:06Thank you, through you, Madam Chair.

2:01:08I only have comments,

2:01:09but similar to Councillor Cussin,

2:01:11I'm just really, really proud of all this work.

2:01:13I'm especially happy with the micro grants

2:01:17that allows groups that don't have the ability

2:01:20to be nonprofits, to actually go out and do their work

2:01:23and small community groups, mutual aid groups

2:01:26to go out and feed people, have block parties.

2:01:31And a lot of the grants that we're enabling

2:01:36actually allow a lot of affordability.

2:01:39And I know that we've had arts festivals

2:01:41that have been able to make their whole festival free.

2:01:44So everybody can join in because of these grants.

2:01:47So I think that this is tremendous work

2:01:50and it has such a huge trickle down effect.

2:01:52So thank you very much to all the staff

2:01:55that have been working on this.

2:01:57Thank you.

2:02:00Councillor Boussatel.

2:02:02Yes, thank you to the staff.

2:02:04I too will be supporting the recommendations.

2:02:06I actually have a question about,

2:02:08it's on page three in reference to the consultants report,

2:02:13looking kind of the environmental scan

2:02:15and the feedback from recipients.

2:02:17It's a third budget and I've raised this in the past

2:02:19in a different setting around not-for-profit kind of space.

2:02:24And what I'm hearing is there's two things.

2:02:26I've got boardroom that could be rented out

2:02:29to help us with revenue and availability.

2:02:32And so my question is, are there plans and discussions?

2:02:36I mentioned City of Toronto,

2:02:37Toronto Social Planning Council did this report

2:02:43a number of years ago of a scan of what is happening

2:02:47to these groups, are they all leaving City of Toronto?

2:02:50Here, perhaps to put on your work plan

2:02:53or with the consultants to figure out

2:02:55where are these groups going?

2:02:56For example, are they still downtown?

2:02:58Are they being pushed out of downtown and so on?

2:03:00And at the same time working with the City of Guelph,

2:03:03Economic James Goodrum around, we have factories.

2:03:08And I'm in ward four, we have factories,

2:03:10big huge spaces that are empty.

2:03:13So just some conversation around space

2:03:16as a charitable not-for-profit issue,

2:03:19not suggesting we take it on

2:03:20because Toronto is its own province

2:03:22and they have their own property management development thing.

2:03:26But if this is an issue, because it's part of our neighborhoods

2:03:29and part of our service delivery,

2:03:32just surprised that it was referenced there

2:03:34and suggesting that in future

2:03:36that this be carried forward with Social Planning,

2:03:41United Way, some of the other agencies around,

2:03:43what exactly is the need as we grow as a city?

2:03:46I did have one comment, if I may, through you, Madam Chair,

2:03:50big on outcomes versus outputs.

2:03:53And I just finished doing all of us,

2:03:57Ministry of Sport after school kind of providers,

2:04:00and we looked at, it's not about the number of children and youth,

2:04:04but it's about the impact to them

2:04:06and how many are feeling healthy, are eating healthy,

2:04:09are engaged in other kinds, and that is the value for me in this.

2:04:13Thank you for your work.

2:04:16Thanks for those comments.

2:04:18Marika, through you next.

2:04:20Thank you, Chair, and through you.

2:04:22Just a quick question.

2:04:24I was wondering if there's any effort

2:04:27to be amplifying the stories

2:04:30that are coming out throughout the year about the impacts.

2:04:34We tend to, so we have this moment,

2:04:37we have a budget moment, or we have an annual report,

2:04:41but there's lots of good happening throughout the whole year

2:04:44because of these grants.

2:04:46Where are we trying to either partner with

2:04:49or encourage these groups to tell the story of the impact

2:04:55more in the moment so that we are not only

2:05:00leveraging the decisions that we've made here,

2:05:02but we're also amplifying the good work

2:05:03that a lot of these organizations are doing in the moment.

2:05:08Yeah, through the Chair to the Mayor.

2:05:11That's a great question.

2:05:12I think coming to more of an outcomes focus

2:05:15will naturally help with some of the storytelling aspects

2:05:19that are coming through,

2:05:20but that is a piece that we'll be looking at as well

2:05:24is how do we do a better job with that storytelling?

2:05:27And that could be something we look at building

2:05:29into even the application process of sense of timing,

2:05:34how can we help amplify some of those,

2:05:37that work that's going on.

2:05:40Great, thank you.

2:05:41And that last part is where I was gonna go next,

2:05:43which is I hear about some of the money

2:05:46going to these groups and they're doing events.

2:05:51Is there any way that the city could partner

2:05:53to help amplify?

2:05:54Because we technically are like almost like a sponsor, right?

2:05:57So is there a way that we could help amplify

2:05:59through our own channels these events that are happening

2:06:02to help again, these groups maybe get the people

2:06:06or other resources for the things

2:06:08that they're putting on in the community?

2:06:11Yeah, so through the Chair to the Mayor,

2:06:13that's a great suggestion.

2:06:14Definitely something we can look into.

2:06:18And then my only comment just at the end,

2:06:20Chair, thank you, is I just wanted to say thank you so much

2:06:23for putting in the report the in kind resources portion.

2:06:28I know it's minor, but I think it was my first term

2:06:32that we brought forward the idea of in kind resources.

2:06:36Like sometimes people don't need the money at the moment,

2:06:40but they need some desks or they need some chairs

2:06:44or they need something of a tech or something like that.

2:06:49And from an asset management perspective

2:06:53and surplus assets that we have in our own facilities,

2:06:58where all of a sudden a nonprofit or charitable group

2:07:01can have access to those things.

2:07:03I mean, that goes a long way just as much as money

2:07:06for an event or money for other programming happens.

2:07:09Sometimes they just really need a little bit

2:07:11on the equipment side.

2:07:13And so just to see it highlighted here,

2:07:16I was very appreciative of that.

2:07:18And I wanted to take the moment just to amplify that as well

2:07:22because I often am talking to a lot of charitable groups

2:07:25and I can see that they are in need of some

2:07:29of those very things and to have it now known publicly

2:07:32in this report that that is an option

2:07:34for people to grasp is really great.

2:07:37So amongst everything else,

2:07:39I just wanted to highlight that part.

2:07:40So thank you for doing that.

2:07:43Thanks, Mayor Guthrie.

2:07:44Councillor Gibson.

2:07:46Thank you.

2:07:47Through you, Chair Caron.

2:07:48I was just wondering if we could have the presentation

2:07:50come back up.

2:07:51I think it was slide seven.

2:07:52You just, you mentioned something about

2:07:57access to city owned facilities.

2:08:01And I just wanted to unpack that a little bit

2:08:05if the presentation could come back up.

2:08:14Maybe it was seven or maybe it was six.

2:08:17I can't remember.

2:08:18You did mention getting in kind resources.

2:08:21That's where it was,

2:08:23the free access to city owned facilities.

2:08:26And I just wanted to talk about

2:08:31the genuine competitive nature of our city facilities

2:08:35and how much demand there is already for them.

2:08:38And I wanted to ask your thoughts on how to

2:08:43integrate these groups with the paying customers

2:08:47that we have now in what is a finite resource

2:08:50city facilities.

2:08:57I think we just had a conversation

2:08:59about a month and a half ago about

2:09:01surplus Sleiman center time for ICE.

2:09:03And we heard the voices from the community

2:09:07talk about how much demand there is for that ICE time.

2:09:10I just wanted to broaden that conversation a little bit.

2:09:15Yeah, so through the chair to the councillor,

2:09:18thanks for the question.

2:09:20I think it looks like you're referring to the

2:09:22city fee grant program that is being proposed.

2:09:26It is one that was, we were able to pilot

2:09:30and it looks at providing some additional resources

2:09:33to organizations that spend a substantial amount of money

2:09:38on accessing city spaces primarily,

2:09:41but other city fees potentially as well.

2:09:44So that's the program that we're looking at.

2:09:47And it would, we're looking at potentially increasing

2:09:50that size of that pot as well to support those organizations.

2:09:55Thank you.

2:09:56So maybe I'm just looking for a little bit more practical

2:10:00example of how that might take place.

2:10:04Is it gallery time?

2:10:07Is it river run center time?

2:10:09Is it performing arts?

2:10:11Is it sports, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, ice rinks?

2:10:16What, where are the fee and loo or fee for rental?

2:10:21Where is that coming from?

2:10:24Not the money.

2:10:25I understand where the money's coming from,

2:10:27but where are the facilities for those things coming from?

2:10:31And are we potentially displacing paying customers

2:10:35for this pilot project or for this project?

2:10:39Through the chair to councillor Gibson,

2:10:42certainly it's all of those things as you've described them.

2:10:45And we work closely with the culture and recreation team

2:10:49on the first iteration of the pilot of this project.

2:10:54And again, if it's funded for us to reintroduce this program,

2:11:01these users don't displace paying customers.

2:11:05They are part of the system.

2:11:06They go through the intake process

2:11:08and the culture and recreation team really manages that

2:11:11separate from the community investment team.

2:11:13The community investment team is really just the funding

2:11:15source to facilitate the access to that space.

2:11:19For groups who may not otherwise be able to access it.

2:11:22Okay, so if just to be clear, thank you for that clarification.

2:11:26So this would be the city paying the fee,

2:11:31paying the rental fee for the organization

2:11:33at the facility, correct?

2:11:35So the facility would still be collecting the revenue

2:11:38from the rentals, but it would be the city

2:11:42supplying the funds to rent the facility.

2:11:46If I could, that might be public services.

2:11:48Colleen's already prepared.

2:11:49Yes, through chair Kron.

2:11:51Yes, so, Councillor Gibson, you've articulated it correctly.

2:11:53So it isn't that we are waiving the fees

2:11:56is that the fees are being covered through this program.

2:11:58And so they are in essence still paying customers

2:12:00and the revenue that comes into our recreation

2:12:03and culture team remains whole.

2:12:05Okay, so the conflict between paying customers,

2:12:08non paying customers, it doesn't exist.

2:12:10It's really the paying customers and grant recipients.

2:12:12That's what I'm hearing.

2:12:15Through the chair, yes.

2:12:15And it's, we don't just reserve it

2:12:17for sort of surplus time.

2:12:19We work with the organizations to try to make sure

2:12:21that they're able to access our facilities,

2:12:23but in this circumstance, it's through this funding mechanism.

2:12:26Thank you.

2:12:28Any other comments or questions on this?

2:12:30Oh, Councillor.

2:12:32Sure, I've been called worse.

2:12:33It's all of it through you, chair.

2:12:35It's a company.

2:12:36I'm sorry, I have one quick question.

2:12:38I like the multi-year factor that you're embedding in this.

2:12:42So I just have, is this the right place to ask this?

2:12:45I don't know, here we go.

2:12:46There are organizations that we know

2:12:49have an event every year.

2:12:51So let's think about Rotary Ribfest, right?

2:12:55Like we know it happens pretty much every year.

2:12:58So there are costs for them to rent Riverside Park

2:13:07and have those things done every year.

2:13:11Do they fit under here, under this multi-year

2:13:14sort of program, or is there a separate type of program

2:13:18that we should be thinking about

2:13:20for these historical, all-the-time community groups

2:13:26that are always doing these types of events

2:13:29that we just always kind of help cover that off?

2:13:32Because especially I think about Rotary and Ribfest,

2:13:35like we know all the money that's raised there

2:13:38comes right back into our community anyways, right?

2:13:41So I'm just wondering how you're addressing that type of,

2:13:50how are you addressing that?

2:13:54Yeah, through the chair to the mayor.

2:13:56So the multi-year program, that is the intention,

2:14:01is to support some of this work that does happen

2:14:04fairly consistently, that there's good work happening,

2:14:07there's good confidence that it will produce results

2:14:11year after year.

2:14:13And yeah, just a quick reminder too,

2:14:15that those decisions right now are made

2:14:17through a working group of residents with expertise

2:14:20across a number of different areas.

2:14:23So they're the ones that will be looking at this to say,

2:14:25yeah, that's a good multi-year application

2:14:28for up to that three years of funding.

2:14:30Okay, so is there, just as a follow-up,

2:14:33has there been any thought for this working group

2:14:35to be given the parameters to think through a lens

2:14:39like a rotary rib fest, which could be a five year

2:14:43or seven or eight or nine or 10,

2:14:45it happens every year, or the multicultural festival,

2:14:49it happens every year.

2:14:50You know, like, so what is there,

2:14:53does the working group have the delegated authority

2:14:55to go above and beyond the three-year span,

2:14:58or are they tied to that?

2:15:03So through the chair to the mayor,

2:15:06right now the plan would be to tie them to three years

2:15:09to allow for, make sure that there's some good consistency

2:15:12in reporting and that if anything's changed

2:15:15after that three-year period,

2:15:16that's a good time to revisit that conversation.

2:15:18Okay, that's great, thank you.

2:15:20I just wanna make sure that they're captured

2:15:22and maybe on the next round of review,

2:15:25it can, for these types of events

2:15:27and programming that happens,

2:15:28it can be considered to maybe be changed,

2:15:30but three years is great.

2:15:32I mean, I think that's gonna be a big win

2:15:34for those types of groups, so thank you.

2:15:36And for real, I'm done, thank you.

2:15:38All right, thanks, Merck Guthrie.

2:15:40Any other comments or questions?

2:15:42Councillor Billings.

2:15:44Through you, Madam Chair.

2:15:47Clause one is to approve.

2:15:49Clause two, so I don't wanna talk about

2:15:52inflationary adjustments, but that implementation

2:15:55of future grant programs,

2:15:56states are subject to being added

2:15:58through the future budget updates,

2:16:00given how staff has answered some of the questions.

2:16:04So that leads me to believe that it'll just be

2:16:07for the future funding streams,

2:16:09it'll just be embedded in the budget updates.

2:16:12It won't be a separate motion required by council

2:16:15to add it to the budget,

2:16:18because it is an increase to the budget.

2:16:22Am I correct?

2:16:24Through the chair to Councillor Billings,

2:16:27anything in the multi-year budget forecast

2:16:30will be a council prioritization decision

2:16:32through the strategic plan and multi-year budgeting.

2:16:34Currently, we increase at the rate of inflation.

2:16:37We may bring you recommendations beyond that,

2:16:39depending on the need in any given year,

2:16:41but certainly we would follow the budget update process.

2:16:44These enhancements will not be automatic.

2:16:48They will not, like I understand,

2:16:49that's why I said I don't wanna talk

2:16:51about the inflationary, I understand that.

2:16:53It was the new funding streams,

2:16:55does it require a separate motion,

2:16:58like an expansion package to increase the budget?

2:17:02Just wanted to be clear on that,

2:17:03not the inflationary amount.

2:17:05Through the chair, we're not asking council

2:17:07to make any commitments today

2:17:09about any expansion of the community investment strategy

2:17:11or grant programs.

2:17:13Those will come back to you through the budget process.

2:17:15So there's nothing here today that's a commitment

2:17:18beyond our existing community grant program

2:17:21that has multi-year commitments,

2:17:23but any of the new investments to be perfectly clear

2:17:25will come back through an appropriate budget

2:17:28conversation in the future.

2:17:29Yes, and require council a separate motion

2:17:33to add it to the budget, correct?

2:17:35I need you to say that.

2:17:37Through the chair, correct.

2:17:39Okay, thank you, thank you for your help.

2:17:41That's it, Madam Chair.

2:17:43Okay, I don't see any other questions or comments.

2:17:46Just to wrap up, I echo my colleagues' statements

2:17:50about the value in the community of this work,

2:17:52and thank you to staff for bringing this forward.

2:17:55Truly takes a village, and we are both the villagers

2:17:58and the village enablers,

2:18:00so congratulations to everyone behind this report.

2:18:03So I'll call the vote to anyone against the recommendations,

2:18:07and I don't see any, which makes it unanimous.

2:18:10Thank you.

2:18:11Moving on to item number two,

2:18:13we have the procurement bylaw update,