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Should City Council Authorize $260 000 for a Business Case Study on a New Performing Arts Centre?

 

Elections matter. And in the 2011 civic elections, our Mayor Peter Milobar highlighted a new performing arts centre in his election platform. He spoke about, at very least, getting a community conversation going on the proposal. I supported and continue to support this effort.

The above photo was from a public consultation held a year ago. A couple of hundred people got together and discussed what a performing arts centre could look like. The Mayor struck a committee to lead the process.

Now, council is being asked to contemplate funding a study to look into a much more detailed business case and building design. I admit to having some sticker shock when I saw the amount attached. I also feel that we should do the best business case and design study we can. It should save us money in the future.

Over to you. What do you think?

Here are the details and rationale from the  supplemental budget package:

 

 

 

 

2014 Kamloops Supplemental Budget Request -Performing Arts Centre Study by Arjun Singh

Should City Council Fund an Additional RCMP Officer Dedicated to Domestic Violence?

 Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/me659/

I should have mentioned in my last post that I am not intending to single out any specific funding request for scrutiny in the 2014 budget decision process. I am looking for input on all the funding requests included in the 2014 supplemental budget list.  

Today, I want to focus on a request from the leadership of the Kamloops RCMP for an additional domestic violence officer. This would mean $148,120 in added cost to the community. Reported domestic violence has spiked in Kamloops 36% in the last four years. Last year, the RCMP asked for a mental health officer and a domestic violence officer. We funded the mental health officer and the RCMP moved an existing officer off of general duty and into a domestic violence role.  

The video clip below shows a clip of me asking Inspector Jennie Latham (who we are unfortunately losing to Ottawa) about moving around internal resouces. I've also included the RCMP business case. 

Again, welcome your thoughts!

 

 

 

 

Business Case for Kamloops RCMP domestic violence officer. by Arjun Singh

Should Public Dollars Help Fund the Thrive Festival Again?

One of the items on the additional items that city council could fund in the 2014 budget is a grant for the Kamloops Thrive Festival. Last year, we gave a $75 000 grant to the first inaugural festival and, talking to a few of my colleagues, we believed this would be a one time grant.

Thrive was a great event in 2013 and I personally attended and paid for tickets to various seminars and concerts. However, the festival did not make money it's first year. There were a lot of first year learning moments.

This year, the festival is requesting a $37 500 grant from council. They feel strongly they can build on the strengths and learnings from year one and need a bit more funding space to grow the festival to financial sustainability.

On the other hand, there are concerns about going past the first year grant - should public funds be expended again when there are a lot of other important items on the supplemental budget (please see below) and what kind of precedent are we setting? Will we start get more requests of this nature? 

I really stuggle wtih this request because I know Thrive has amazing potential and is put on by stellar people. I also feel that we need to look at other funding requests that haven't yet received public funds. I believe Thrive has a great opportunity to market itself for corporate sponsorship. 

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Let's Boogie the Bridge on April 27th!

2500+ amazing Kamloopsians and friends enjoying and getting fitter. Doesn't matter how fast or slow you move or what distance you travel. The Boogie is for everyone! For the past couple of years, largely through Boogie and the Kamloops Run Club, I've rediscovered physical fitness and the joy of running. It's been a gradual and amazing journey.

So, first, here is the Boogie info and registration. Would love it if you would consider coming out with me and a couple thousand others. 

Second, the most amazing Jo Berry, founder of Boogie and someone who has become a great friend, asked me to tell a bit of my story on CFJC's Midday show today. Thanks Susan Edgell for allowing me to come on:

 

The Kamloops Car Share Survey....

There is a dynamic and committed group of folks leading the effort to set up a car share in Kamloops. It is really exciting for me to watch this effort get real legs. The group has created a survey to collect information from possible car share members on car usage, etc. 

You are invited to complete the survey here. You might even win a gift card to a cool downtown coffee house and eatery. 

For Consideration in Kamloops: 2014 New Budget Requests (The Supplementary Budget)

 

Every year, city hall breaks down proposed budget expenditures into two categories: core budget items (which are considered as core to the current operations of the city and are usually considered in one large block) and supplementary budget items (new proposed expenditures which sometimes add services to the city budget and which are considered by council one by one). 

The core budget right now adds about 1.87% of taxes to an average city home. Council, in my experience, never approves all the supplementary budget items but, if we did, I think we would be looking at something like a 5% tax increase. My comfort level right now would be 2% or under. But, I'm open to moving either direction in my thinking.

There are many incredibly worthy items on the supplementary budget. It's going to be a tough process to decide what to approve / not approve. Council can also look to decrease spending on some of the core budget items or dip into the general reserve fund. There also some numbers that are yet to totally solidify, such as the operating surplus for the city in 2013. 

I've uploaded the report with all the supplemental budget items for 2014. Please feel free to download and read - 2014_kamloops_supplemental_budget_items (14.4 megabyte PDF file).