TAMRMS#: B06
7.3
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Snowflake Festival & Downtown Business Association Funding
Presented by: Shawn McCauley, Manager, Business Retention & Expansion
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
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That notwithstanding PM-24-06, $10,000 not be provided to the Business Improvement Area in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to support the Snowflake Festival.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To amend previously approved motion PM-24-06 to reflect changes to the operation of the Snowflake Festival since the motion’s approval on November 27, 2023.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On November 27, 2023, Council approved PM-24-06:
That the City matches the downtown Business Improvement Area operating budget up to $50,000 at 100% for 2024, 75% in 2025, and 50% in 2026. Plus, an additional $10,000 for the same three years to support the Snowflake Festival and the funds come from the tax base.
At the time, it was believed that the St. Albert Downtown Business Association, the organization representing the St. Albert Downtown Business Improvement Area, could take on operation of the Snowflake Festival from the Friends of the Snowflake from 2024 to 2026.
Since then, Administration has received communication that the Kinsmen Club of St. Albert intends to operate Snowflake Festival. The Kinsmen Club of St. Albert is a longstanding registered non-profit society and has a strong track record of operating events in the community, including St. Albert Rainmaker. Administration has made the Kinsmen aware that they are eligible to apply for a Community Events Grant for the Snowflake Festival. The Community Events Grant offers both a spring and fall intake, which is reviewed and approved by the Community Services Advisory Committee.
On January 23, 2024, Council directed the CAO, through CM-24-001, to amend the Community Events Grant Program Guidelines to permit the approval of multiple grant requests annually from a single organization. This amendment would allow the Kinsmen Club of St. Albert to apply for a Community Events Grant for both the St. Albert Rainmaker Parade and the Snowflake Festival, and Administration has notified the Kinsmen about this amendment to the grant program.
As such, the St. Albert Downtown Business Association will no longer require the additional $10,000 for the Snowflake Festival, originally committed within motion PM-24-06 on November 27, 2023.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Council Priority: 2. Vibrant Downtown
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
B.4.3 Stakeholder Relations
Consultation, coordination, and collaboration with external business and economic development organizations
B.5.1 Civic Granting
Provision of funding to eligible applicants in the areas of special events, sport and culture development, environmental initiatives, operational funding and capital renovations and development.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
C-CC-23 Civic Granting
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The St. Albert Downtown Business Association is supportive of this amendment and the Kinsmen Club of St. Albert’s operation of the Snowflake Festival. Administration has been in contact with the Kinsmen Club with regard to the Community Events Grants application guidelines and processes.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
If the recommended motion passes, the Downtown Business Association / Business Improvement Area will no longer be eligible to receive $10,000 in financial support from the City to operate the Snowflake Festival in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
1. Do nothing. This would leave PM-24-06 unchanged and could lead to a situation where funds for the Snowflake Festival could be paid out to more than one party.
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Report Date: April 2, 2024
Author(s): Shawn McCauley, Manager
Department: Economic Development
Department Director: Michael Erickson
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher