NOTICE of MOTION Rationale: change from Group 1 to Group 2 for CRD Arts

NOTICE of MOTION: change from Group 1 to Group 2 for CRD Arts

1. Immediately apply to change View Royal’s participating area from Group 1 ($123,072 for 2024 or 25.98 per average assessment) to Group 2 (approx. $33,160 or $7.00 per average assessment)
2. Once done, allocate the difference (about $90k/year) to a new reserve account for a Westshore Arts and Culture Centre and programs
3. Encourage all Westshore municipalities to do same (Group 1 participation to CRD, with GREATER contributions in reserve for Westshore Arts Centre)

RATIONALE

For the same reasons that UVic is building a satellite learning centre in the Westshore, the region needs an ARTS centre in the Westshore. This provides much greater and easier access to MORE local and regional art programs avoiding the traffic congestion travelling to/from downtown, as well as the increasing costs and lack of parking in Victoria. This plan also supports local businesses and encourages in the Westshore. It a significant amenity to promote greater tourism into the Western communities. This is another strategy to invite the “above Malahat” island visitors as well.

Back in the 1990s View Royal opted to be part of the core with the Regional Strategy. Since then, our “mutual Westshore support” for recreation, sport, police, fire, library, AND arts is getting ever stronger. It is time to shift our municipal Regional Growth Context from the “Core” to “Westshore”.

If Colwood and Langford were to participate in Group 1, there would still be a net gain of funding with View Royal going to Group 1.

Service: 1.297 Arts Grants and Development Committee: Finance

DEFINITION: To establish a service for the provision of assistance in relation to the arts and culture for the purpose of benefiting the community or an aspect of the community. Bylaw No. 2884, July 3, 2001.

PARTICIPATION: Municipalities of Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, and View Royal (Group 1 participating area) and Highlands, Metchosin, Southern Gulf Islands and Sooke (Group 2 participating area).

When View Royal joined the CRD Arts Commission (2007) we opted into the “core” group with Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt as “Group 1 participating area”. This is a higher cost per residential assessment than Group 1 participating area. These are Highlands, Metchosin, Southern Gulf Islands and Sooke.

Sidney joined in 2009 and opted out in 2018. Colwood and Langford have never joined at all.