Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
Comité de l'agriculture et des affaires
rurales
and Council / et au
Conseil
22 April 2010 / le 22 avril 2010
Submitted by/Soumis par : Steve
Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/
Directeur municipal
adjoint, City Operations/Opérations municipales
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : John Manconi , General Manager
Public Works/Travaux publics
(613) 580-2424 x 21110,
John.Manconi@ottawa.ca
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Ref N°: ACS2010-COS-PWS-0005 |
SUBJECT:
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Ottawa Farmers’ Market Pilot
project extension – lansdowne park |
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|
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OBJET :
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prolongation du PROJET PILOTE DE MARCHÉ DE PRODUCTEURS
FERMIERS D’OTTAWA - PARC LANSDOWNE |
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Agriculture and Rural
Affairs Committee recommend Council:
1. Approve
the extension of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Pilot Project at Lansdowne Park for
2010, with an option to extend into 2011 at the discretion of the City
Manager; and,
2. Approve that
the net direct cost of $111,500 anticipated to be incurred by the Lansdowne
Park 2010 Operating Budget from the extension of the pilot for the Ottawa
Farmers’ Market be funded from the One-time and Unforeseen account.
RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité de l’agriculture et des
affaires rurales recommande au Conseil :
1. d’approuver la prolongation du
projet pilote sur le Marché des producteurs agricoles d'Ottawa du parc Lansdowne
pour 2010, avec une possibilité pour l’année 2011, à la discrétion du
directeur municipal; et,
2. d’approuver
que le financement des coûts nets directs de 111 500 $, devant être
engagés par le Budget de fonctionnement 2010 du parc Lansdowne dans le cadre de
la prolongation du projet pilote sur le Marché des producteurs agricoles
d’Ottawa, provienne du compte des événements ponctuels imprévus.
BACKGROUND
On 26 March 2008, City Council approved the extension of the pilot project for the Ottawa Farmers' Market, an initiative arising from the 2005 Rural Summit, which recognized the significant economic and cultural contributions made by Ottawa's rural communities and cited in the City's Strategic Plan.
This specific initiative was intended "for the purpose of marketing premium quality Ottawa region farm produce produced only by the vendor and to improve production of, and stimulate public interest in and increase consumption of these products."
DISCUSSION
The Ottawa Farmers' Market premiered at Lansdowne Park in July 2006 with nineteen (19) vendors and has demonstrated significant growth through to the conclusion of its 2009 season. As demonstrated in the table below, it is evident that the Ottawa Farmers' Market has been well received by both the local neighbourhood and the community at large.
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VENDORS |
DATES |
ATTENDANCE |
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(start-finish) |
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(estimated) |
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2006 |
19-59 |
15 |
55,000 |
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|
|
|
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2007 |
65-88 |
26 |
110,000 |
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|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
93-118 |
51 |
210,000 |
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|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
120-150 |
66 |
290,000 |
Through discussion of the staff recommendations at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) meeting of February 21, 2008, it was determined that a new financial arrangement was required whereby the City subsidy to the market operation would be gradually reduced.
In a memo dated March 25, 2008 from the Manager of Venture Properties to members of ARAC, and as summarized in the table below, staff reported that beginning in 2009 the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Association (OFMA) would make direct rental payments representing twenty percent (20%) of the rental value for the space occupied at Lansdowne Park and this payment would increase by five percent (5%) annually. Accordingly, in 2010 the rental payment would represent twenty-five percent (25%) of the rental value and for the option year of 2011 this would increase to thirty percent (30%).
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RENT |
EXPENSES |
PARKING
REFUNDS |
TOTAL
COST |
GRANT |
OFMA
SHARE |
(% OF
RENT) |
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|
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2006 |
$38,415* |
$4,661** |
$8,510 |
$51,586 |
$51,586 |
N/A |
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|
|
(*includes
Coliseum Bldg.) |
(**excludes
labour) |
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|
|
|
|
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2007 |
$31,238 |
$30,412 |
$23,410 |
$85,060 |
$85,060 |
N/A |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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2008 |
$59,110 |
$23,757 |
$29,672 |
$112,539 |
$112,539 |
N/A |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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2009 |
$68,985 |
$22,766 |
$36,746 |
$128,497 |
$114,700 |
$13,797 |
20% |
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|
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2010 (projected) |
$70,000 |
$24,000 |
$35,000 |
$129,000 |
$111,500 |
$17,500 |
25% |
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2011 (conditional) |
$70,000 |
$24,000 |
$35,000 |
$129,000 |
$108,000 |
$21,000 |
30% |
The recommendation seeks to advance the pilot project through 2010 while facilitating a further extension into 2011 under delegated authority to the City Manager if there is a viable accommodation strategy for the market operation.
The recommendation for an option year in 2011 reflects the unknown disposition of the Lansdowne Partnership Plan, which will be presented to Council in June 2010. At this time, it is difficult to predict what the site conditions might be and if activities like the Ottawa Farmers’ Market can be accommodated during development.
RURAL IMPLICATIONS
The recommendations contained within this report provide the opportunity for local horticulturalists and agriculturalists to sell goods directly to the public and therefore, will assist with the viability of the local industries.
CONSULTATION
This report is in response to a request from the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Association for a two-year extension to the pilot project at Lansdowne Park. The Ottawa Farmer’s Market Association reviewed the draft report at its March 2010 Board meeting.
At its meeting of November 16, 2009, City Council gave conditional approval to move forward with the Lansdowne Partnership Plan, with specific direction to include the Ottawa Farmers’ Market in the design of the “front lawn” of the redeveloped site.
No further consultation has taken place regarding the extension of the pilot project.
COMMENTS BY THE WARD
COUNCILLOR(S)
The Ward Councillor has reviewed this report and is supportive of the
recommendations contained within it.
LEGAL RISK MANAGEMET
IMPLICATIONS
There are no legal/risk management implications with implementing the report recommendations.
CITY STRATEGIC PLAN
The recommendations contained within this report support section 5.5 of Ottawa’s Growth Management Strategy, Ottawa 20/20, which states that the City of Ottawa will “provide an innovative City where prosperity is shared among all…[by]…supporting and strengthening key economic activities.”
TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no technical implications in going forward with the recommendations contained in this report.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The 2010 Operating Budget for the Lansdowne Park cannot absorb the cost of the extension of the Ottawa Farmers’ Market in 2010 and as a result a funding shortfall of $111,500 would occur. It is recommended that this shortfall be funded from the City's One-time and Unforeseen account. The current balance of the One-time and Unforeseen account, after taking into account pending items, is $1.1 million.
DISPOSITION
Subject to Council approval, Public Works will execute the License Agreement with the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Association for the 2010 season, and will execute a separate License Agreement for the 2011 season upon direction from the City Manager.