Discussion of ensuring grants go to projects, not wages, splits council

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“This has been the common practice in the past, not to allocate toward staffing, but it wasn’t officially in the policy, so the decision was made to have Council have the discussion whether it should be allowed” Fehr explained.

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“I struggle with this, because I think that, yes you often want to see projects be completed and you want to see dollars for that, but often staff or contractors are required to fulfil projects. So I struggle with the motion of approving this.”

Coun. Akbal Mund expressed concern with the possibility of a group using a grant to hire a new member, and then having to come back again the following years to ask for money to keep that person on staff, and instead argued that funding should go to tangible items like equipment and materials.

Coun. Brian Quiring also stated he has “fundamentally has a problem with us using these grants to fund staff,” saying it should be used for one-off projects and also expressed concern with repeat asks from organizations.

Coun. Teresa Durning suggested putting a stipulation in the policy to only allow a certain percentage of grants to be used for wages, while Fehr suggested the wording could be changed to only allow paying wages in relation to specific projects. Neither of those suggestions garnered any further discussions.

Ultimately, the original policy amendment that passed unanimously as presented, which changed the policy to have grant recipients provide the city with copies of invoices or receipts, and to not permit the funds be used to pay wages.

Also at the meeting, Vernon City Council approved nearly 10 grant applications from the April intake period, while denying a handful of others.

At the recommendation of city staff, council voted in favour of providing grants to:

• Caetani Cultural Centre Society ,$4,530 to assist with heritage assessment and statement of significance expenses
• Family Resource Centre for North Okanagan, $1,800 for the purchase of a table, tent, chairs, retractable banner, staff t-shirts, and materials to hand out
• Kalamalka Starfish Society, $9,000 to buy groceries
• North Okanagan Valley Gleaners, $6,750 to purchase professional quality a commercial grade upholstery cleaner/steamer/vacuum
• School District 22, $4,000 to fund the Voices of Vernon World Cafe, bussing for students, art and project supplies,a nd art and project development
• The Good Box Food Society, $4,800 to support families in the prenatal program for six months
• Turning Points Collaborative Society, $1,715 to fund a case management system
• Vernon Community Band Society, $400 to go towards operation expenses for practices and performances
• Vernon Kokanee Swim Club, $1,635 to cover rental fees for the 2024 Summer Divisionals
• Vernon Paddling Centre Society, $4,500 to support signage at Paddlewheel Park and the paddling compound, and for the rental of a wheelchair accessible porta potty

Council also denied grants applications to Archway Society of Domestic Peace, North Okanagan Pipes and Drums, North Okanagan Valley Orchestra Society, and Okanagan Screen Arts Society, as per the staff recommendations.

At the request of Councillor Teresa Durning, a request for $13,000 from WL Seaton Secondary “Sonics” Football be sent back to the Finance Committee for additional review.

The motions relating to the grants were approved unanimously by council without discussion.