City of Kingston

Arts, Recreation & Community Policies Committee

Minutes

2025-01
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Council Chamber
Members Present:
  • Councillor Glenn, Chair
  • Councillor Chaves
  • Councillor Amos
  • Councillor Ridge
  • Councillor Stephen
Regrets
  • Councillor Boehme
Staff Present:
  • Danika Lochhead, Director, Arts & Culture Services
  • Taylor Norris, Public Art Coordinator
  • Christine O'Connor, Committee Clerk
  • Iain Sullivan, Committee Clerk

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. 

  • Moved by:Councillor Amos
    Seconded by:Councillor Chaves

    That the agenda be approved.

    Carried
  • Moved by:Councillor Chaves
    Seconded by:Councillor Ridge

    That the minutes of Arts, Recreation and Community Policies Committee Meeting 03-2024, held Thursday, August 8, 2024, be approved. 

    Carried

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Ms. Lochhead introduced the report. 

Councillor Amos referenced a report that had been presented to the Environment, Infrastructure and Transportation Policies Committee earlier in the week regarding anti-graffiti measures. He stated that anti-graffiti coatings on brick can cause damage to the bricks and asked that staff investigate the usage of such materials. He pointed to the amount of money set aside for the project and asked if the funds were for the entire length of the pilot or were intended as per-year totals. Ms. Lochhead noted that the anti-graffiti service would be one offered with caveats that deal with issues regarding heritage and the surface the mural is on. She highlighted that anti-graffiti measures can make the mural difficult to remove. She explained that the funds would be used throughout the pilot project with an estimated $55,000 per year budget. She confirmed that the funds would be coming from the capital budget. 

Councillor Amos sought clarification on the timelines for smaller murals, noting that the two-year period seemed short. Ms. Lochhead noted that there would be flexibility regarding maintenance timelines in the pilot project. She stated that larger murals would likely be maintained longer than shorter ones. She stressed that staff did not want to tie down owners of smaller murals with maintenance costs long-term. 

The Chair provided an opportunity for members of the public to speak. There were no members of the public present. 

  • Moved by:Councillor Ridge
    Seconded by:Councillor Stephen

    That the Arts, Recreation and Community Policies Committee recommend to Council: 

    That staff report back on the status of the Murals on Private Property pilot project after year one of implementation in Q1 2026, and when the pilot project is completed in Q4 2027.  

    Carried

Ms. Lochhead introduced the report. 

Councillor Ridge asked for staff to expand upon 2025 being labelled a transition year. Ms. Lochhead stated that the review was broken down into many different components and that staff would be bringing a new framework for approval after the 2025 budget. She explained that staff wished to provide continuity funding to the organizations that currently receive a grant from the City yearly and ensure that a transition plan was in place for them out of the yearly system. She noted that the individual artists that received grants will have to December 2025 to finish their works. She further stated that staff will not be accepting applications for funding until September 2025. She acknowledged the challenge ahead in ensuring that funding remains for groups as the transition to the new system begins. 

Councillor Chaves thanked staff for the report. He pointed to his past experience serving on the Grant Committee and asked for an explanation of the grant equity that was presented in the report. Ms. Lochhead explained that grant equity was the centrepiece of the review and would ensure greater clarity on eligibility. She stated that staff have looked at the average size of grants with consideration with the City's budget. She highlighted changes to the operating grants stream and the creation of a specific festival grant stream. She noted that the grant ranges would also be changed. 

Councillor Amos asked if there was flexibility in allocating funding between streams in case one stream was under-utilized in a specific year. He stated that it was frustrating to see funds not be released due to issues related to rigidity in structure. Ms. Lochhead confirmed that the current system allows for this flexibility and that it would be continued in the new system. 

The Chair provided an opportunity for members of the public to speak. There were no members of the public present. 

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The next meeting of the Arts, Recreation and Community Policies Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. 

  • Moved by:Councillor Chaves
    Seconded by:Councillor Stephen

    That the meeting of the Arts, Recreation and Community Policies Committee adjourn at 6:34 p.m. 

    Carried