This is an excerpt from an email alert sent today to the creative community:
At last week's Council meeting a report was accepted by Council on an Interim Budget - ways to increase revenue and cut expenses that will prevent having to increase taxes to meet the planned expenditures for this year. Included as one of the recommended cuts - considered a low priority project (based on the input from the public that took place in January this year) - is the implementation of the Cultural Plan, which this year includes the Facilities Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy.
At its Regular Meeting on March 24, 2009, Vancouver City Council received a Report Reference on the 2009 Interim Budget Estimates Update and Public Consultation Results. Council’s decisions “in principle” regarding the 2009 Interim Operating Budget were referred to a Special Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on March 31, 2009, in order to hear from speakers.
Subsequently, Council’s confirmation of those decisions will be made at its Regular Meeting on April 7, 2009.
Tonight at the 7:30 pm Standing Committee meeting is the public's only opportunity to speak directly to the issue of these cuts prior to the Council's decision, as above. Anyone who can go and, especially, anyone who is willing to get on the speaker's list and let Council know the economic importance and community impact of moving this project forward (and the negative consequences of stopping or delaying it) would be absolutely key.
The Report itself (page six is where this appears) can be found on the city's website at:
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20090324/documents/rr1.pdf
FROM page 6 of the Interim Budget:
Project Contracts & Carry forwards $2.2M 0.41%
A major portion of projects and contracts for each Department was reviewed to determine
overall priority. Overall, $2.2 million of projects/contracts/carry forwards have been
determined to be of lower priority. The major savings ($1.4M of $2.2M) relate to three
projects - the Ambassador Program, Cultural Tourism, and Cultural Plan Implementation. The remaining projects are under $100K in savings each.
To get on the speaker's list, here is the info: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/speaktocouncil.htm
by email, request must be at least 2 hours ahead of the meeting, in person, ten minutes ahead.
I think we all agree that the Cultural Plan, including the Facilities Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy, is a critical element in a city-wide economic development strategy and will help build local sustainability as well as the environment within which Cultural Tourism and other attractors can flourish. Times are tough and perhaps some reduction must be made, but we must rally and speak loud and clear to save the investment in supporting culture-led regeneration and economic development in Vancouver.
The plan is not simply a social support system for artists and nonprofit arts groups, but an investment in the very core knowledge capital and creative enterprise of a local and global economy, and a creative city. This is not a sideline, but an essential consideration, particularly when we see today a second Cruise Lines pulling out of Vancouver to board their tourists in Seattle. This blow to the economy is not helped by scrapping the development of the Cultural Tourism strategy, no matter how limited.
