Turnbull suggests closer look at $100K grant for CCDA

By Collin Gallant on April 19, 2018.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant

A city councillor says it’s time City Hall reconsider an annual grant it gives to support the City Centre Development Agency’s efforts to bolster activity in the downtown core.

Another who sits on the board says he’s happy to outline a new direction the group is taking.

Coun. Phil Turnbull told council’s meeting Monday that while it’s up to downtown ratepayers to control the organization and, therefore a business levy collected to fund it, a city grant of $100,000 should be up for discussion.

“We all support the downtown, but it’s time for council to look at how it’s operating and whether we’re getting the best bang for our buck,” said Turnbull.

He added there’s no similar support for other commercial corridors in the city, and the city offers $200,000 in grants each year to help downtown owners improve their properties

“All should be treated equally,” he said.

Coun. Kris Samraj, who represents council on the CCDA board, replied that positive things are happening.

He wouldn’t oppose examining the grant that goes toward some maintenance and general cleanup of the streets, as well as the flower baskets that adorn street lights each summer.

“They’ve just gone through a strategic planning process that we feel pretty good about,” said Samraj. “The whole goal is to provide value.”

The discussion arose as council passed a measure to collect the annual levy from business operators in the core, which since the mid-1980s has been considered a business revitalization zone.

That status exists as part of provincial regulations, and over the years detractors have petitioned council to enact change at the CCDA, or even dissolve it.

That can only happen via a referendum of the ratepayers in a process outlined by the province.

This year the levy will rise slightly to collect a standard amount of $123,420, which has not changed for several years.

That is the largest portion of the group’s revenue. This year a total of 196 accounts will be charged at least a minimum payment of about $151 to fund the levy request. That’s two fewer members than last year, leading to a slight increase in the rate.

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