Staff Report: UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund Grant Application

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UBCM’s Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF), an application-based program with a deadline of September 12, 2025, is now open.

Based on the Program Guidelines, including Scoring Criteria (as defined in the application), staff recommend submitting a grant application to the fund for the design and construction of the new West Shore Parks and Recreation Arts, Culture and Community Centre on the properties at 1100 Jenkins Avenue/3020 Glen Lake Road.

The purpose of this report is to seek a Council resolution, indicating support for the proposed activities and willingness to provide overall grant management, including being responsible for cost overruns, as required for the grant fund application.

BACKGROUND

Up to $125 million is available for eligible local government infrastructure and capacity-building projects in BC under this intake. Successful applicants may receive up to 100% of net-eligible costs of approved projects to a maximum of $7 million. The deadline to apply is September 12, 2025.

The SPF-Capital Infrastructure stream provides grant funding specifically targeted for the capital costs of local government infrastructure projects that are large in scale, have regional impact, or are innovative and support the national objectives of productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong cities and communities.

Each municipality may submit one application under the Capital Infrastructure Stream.

Cultural infrastructure, including facilities for the creation, production, and presentation of the arts are eligible projects.

PROJECT RATIONALE / ELIGIBILITY AND SCORING

As part of the technical review process, grant applications are screened, reviewed, and scored based on:

• How well the project supports the Canada Community Building Fund National Objectives of productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong cities and communities;
• The timing of the project and its proposed outcomes;
• The capacity of the community to undertake, evaluate, and document the project;
• The degree to which the project considers climate resiliency;
• The degree the project benefits more than one community, or is identified as regional in impact;
• The size or scale of the project in relation to the size of the community;
• The degree to which the project reflects inter-jurisdictional cooperation; and
• The degree to which the project enables, supports, or preserves housing, including affordable housing.

Given the above criteria, staff recommend submitting a grant application for the design and construction of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Arts (WSPRS), Culture and Community Centre at 1100 Jenkins Avenue, 3020 Glen Lake Road.

COMMENTARY

The WSPRS Arts, Culture, and Community Centre project is a strong candidate for this fund. The site is City-owned and currently vacant, with site investigations, preliminary designs, and costing already completed as part of preparations for the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund application.

The timing of the art studio replacement aligns well with the UBCM grant submission schedule. The Request for Proposals for Design-Build Services for the new art studio and childcare facility at 1100 Jenkins Avenue/3020 Glen Lake Road closed on August 1, 2025, and staff are now reviewing submissions with the intent to award a contract shortly.

Design of the new facility is expected to be complete by January 2026, with construction beginning soon after. It is anticipated that the new facility will be operational by spring of 2027.

Staff believe the project meets and exceeds the fund’s screening and scoring criteria. It will generate meaningful economic benefits, serve a regional population with users from across the West Shore and Greater Victoria, and includes strong accessibility, inclusion, and environmental sustainability objectives.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Council has approved up to $5 million in the 2025 capital budget for the new art studio (funded by $1,858,000 from the Growing Communities Fund and $3,142,000 from internal debt).

A successful grant award would enable the City to redirect the $1,858,000 from the Growing Communities Fund toward other high-priority capital projects and would mean the City does not have to borrow up to $3,142,000 for this project.

Funding Breakdown

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

None noted.

STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES

5bi Ensure all Budgets are Fiscally Sustainable

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT Council direct staff to submit a grant application to UBCM’s Strategic Priorities Fund Capital Stream for the Council supported project for the design and construction of a new Arts, Culture and Community Centre at 1100 Jenkins Avenue/3020 Glen Lake Road and that Council commits the City to providing overall grant management, and that the City will be responsible for funding any cost overruns.

OR

Option 2

THAT Council direct staff not to submit an application to the UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund

SUBMITTED BY

Shannon Jamison, RPP, MCIP, Principal, Third Space Planning

CONCURRENCE

Braden Hutchins, Deputy CAO
Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision
Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative and Protective Services
Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer