COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake's Community Recreation, Art, Culture and Heritage Investment Grant Policy was discussed throughout the April 25 council meeting, first with a few amendments being put before council, followed by a lengthy discussion around several recent requests that have come forward and the overall budget of the program.
Recommended amendments included adding neighbouring Indigenous communities into the policy so groups from outside the City's boundaries can apply for support. It was noted that the committee that oversees the requests was receiving a number of requests from neighbouring Indigenous communities and had no authority to consider those grants.
The second amendment was to allow for-profit organizations to make applications to the committee under "other funding and goodwill," heard council.
But some councillors questioned the amendments.
"When we're granting these funds, we're doing them from the residents' of Cold Lake taxpayer funds... so I don't understand why we would be looking at outside municipalities that don't provide income to our tax base, which we're paying out these funds from. Can you help me understand that?" questioned Coun. Vicky Lefebvre. She noted that the City already took some heat for supporting the creation of an arts theatre in Bonnyville, for example.
"When we're starting to look at for-profit things, and when we're starting to look at communities outside our own... then I think we should take a hard look at it," said Lefebvre. She also said she felt the policy amendments were being done "last minute" with a list of requests coming before council later in the agenda.
Mayor Craig Copeland noted the events being organized generally have economic benefits to the community and enhance the quality of life to the citizens of Cold Lake. "So, that's the justification to going outside the boundaries of Cold Lake," said the mayor.
Coun. Bill Parker noted that he had a hard time supporting the "for-profit" organizations through the grant funding, speaking specifically to the idea that someone would be putting income into their pocket as a result of the City supporting their event. He noted there would have to be some clarification as to who is profiting from an event if it's supported by the City.
"If it's for-profit, that means somebody is deriving an income from this. I really have a really tough time spending taxpayer dollars to put it back into somebody's pocket without at least having a very well documented proposal, budget, where the money is going, who's going to be getting it, what's going to be the benefit to the community," said Parker.
Coun. Chris Vining also spoke to the issue. "The community grant program, as outlined... is to put it forward to those non-profit groups." He noted that if there are large for-profit groups coming forward wanting to put on events, then perhaps the option is to remove those requests from the community grant program entirely, and requests go directly to council.
He added that he does not have anything against extending the grant to groups beyond the municipality's boundaries, but the amendment regarding for-profit groups making requests was something that should go to council, and not the grant committee.
Lefebvre said she agreed with Vining's comments.
"I think we need to do a deep dive into this completely," said Lefebvre, adding, the original intention was to support smaller events, such as a figure skating event, now it's larger events coming forward. "It shouldn't be left to a committee."
She further added, "By the time we hit the end of the year we're going to be up to a quarter of a million dollars in goodwill and stuff like that. It's creeping up."
A motion to approve the amendments that would allow for neighbouring Indigenous communities to apply for community grant funds, was made and carried.
Lefebvre said she believes there should be a policy when dealing with for-profit organizations and council needs to take a look at the total amount that is being approved for the community grants. A motion to bring forward a policy dealing with for-profit groups applying for funds was made by Lefebvre. The motion was also carried.
Later in the meeting, council was presented with the list of Community Grant Advisory Committee spring quarter recommendations.
Council removed four of the requests from the list due to the groups being "for-profit."
As council looked over the other requests, a variety of topics were brought up, such as how events that deal with entertainment specifically are looked at, since those events do typically bring people into the community.
Copeland also recommended more funding be put toward a couple groups, such as Cold Lake Minor Soccer hosting provincials. "This is a huge event," he noted, and said he felt it should be dealt with similarly to when hockey provincials are held in the City. Copeland also spoke in favour of a few other groups, such as Rusty's Warriors, and the Cold Lake Fighter Jets Football Club.
Speaking to the increase in requests being seen, Coun. Ryan Bailey said, "This is a post-COVID time now... Cold Lake is essentially the place to be, it seems in the Lakeland, in the northeast." Bailey is part of the committee that heard the list of requests. "The tough thing for the committee was, we're really only supposed to give out 25 per cent of the $80,000."
Council made a motion to accept the list of applicants, with a few increases in funding noted on some of the items. The motion was carried.
Budget
In the 2023 operating budget, council budgeted $195,000 for council goodwill. A $130,000 increase to the budget was recommended by administration. The item can be brought forward again if more funds are required, according to administration. A motion to increase the budget was approved.
Since 2021, City administration has seen an influx of grant applications with each quarter. "While the number of applications has typically peaked in the spring and summer intake, the 2023 spring intake is the highest the committee has seen since the program’s inception," reads information from the municipality.
It is expected that council will spend $225,000 in 2023, compared to it's budget of $100,000.
