A revised community capital program that provides funding for not-for-profit agencies will go to St. Albert's community services advisory board (CSAB) for review despite some reservations from councillors.
Administration presented a revised policy for the program Monday night to the standing committee on finance (SCOF). Established in 2009, the community capital program provides partial funding for not-for-profit groups that require money for capital expenses.
The policy changes include a maximum grant of $60,000 for playgrounds and an increase from one-third to 40-per-cent funding for projects that match the city's botanical arts brand. Groups with smaller projects that do not meet the primary criteria can apply for a maximum of $5,000 funding from the program for a $15,000 project. There will also be two intake periods — one in September and one in March — and groups will be able to apply every two years instead of three.
But councillors Len Bracko and Malcolm Parker were heavily critical of the changes. Bracko insisted the revised policy made the program less flexible while Parker wanted several of the changes deleted.
"What we want is to have community groups involved go after projects in their communities, their neighbourhoods," said Bracko, saying eligibility for the program should be cut to one year instead of two.
Parker wanted to see the increase for the botanical arts initiative deleted and specific dates for the spring and fall intakes added instead of saying "early March" and "early September."
"I don't see what an additional seven per cent would do," Parker said in reference to the additional funding for projects aligned with the botanical arts.
But the direction administration received from SCOF came after the CSAB had already chimed in on what changes should be made.
"What we have here is different from what the CSAB said, but the committee said, 'No, this is where we want to go,' " said acting city manager Chris Jardine. "So I have some concern that the committee says to the CSAB, here are the changes you made that the committee rejected, and can you look at it?"
The CSAB reviews the budgets of social services agencies applying for Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grant funding, as well as applications to the Alberta Games Legacy and Community Events programs. It can, if requested, advise council on policies related to recreation, culture and social services.
Jardine also pointed out several of the changes, including those Parker and Bracko objected to, were made at the specific request of SCOF.
"We have five items that were amended and three were specifically directed by this committee," Jardine said.
Mayor Nolan Crouse agreed and council passed a motion to refer the document as presented to the CSAB with councillors giving their input to Coun. Roger Lemieux, council's representative on the board.
"This is a process that is not a right process for committee and council," Crouse said. "If we sit here and wordsmith and take straw votes, we are doing a disservice to good governance."
Church groups
Through Crouse's motion, SCOF will also ask the CSAB whether or not it feels religious organizations should be eligible for the grant. The issue came to light during the budget process when St. Albert Christian Ministerial asked council why churches were eligible for some grants but not others, such as the community capital grant.
Jardine explained the exclusion came from wording in the policy stating eligible groups are those "where the primary mandate is to provide sports, recreation, arts, cultural, family or community services."
"I thought it would have something to do with church groups don't pay taxes so why would they be eligible? But that's not what came back," Coun. Cam MacKay said.
