Subcommittee of Council - Arts and Culture and Festival Groups

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Online Video Conference
Members
  • Councillor Stephen Dasko, Ward 1
  • Councillor Chris Fonseca, Ward 3
  • Councillor John Kovac, Ward 4
  • Councillor Natalie Hart, Ward 5
  • Councillor Joe Horneck, Ward 6
  • Councillor Dipika Damerla , Ward 7
  • Councillor Matt Mahoney, Ward 8
  • Councillor Martin Reid, Ward 9
  • Councillor Sue McFadden, Ward 10
  • Councillor Brad Butt, Ward 11
  • Mayor Carolyn Parrish, (ex-officio)
Staff Present
  • Eglantina Gondia
  • Angie Melo
  • Allyson D'Ovidio

Staff Present

Jodi Robillos, Commissioner of Community Services  
Kristina Zietsma, Director, Recreation & Culture
Matthew Maclaren, Manager, Sport & Community Development
Kelly Reichheld, Manager, Culture & Events
Nicole Carey, Manager, Event Development
Jennifer Cowie Bonne, Manager, Community & Neighbourhood Development
Melissa Agius, Manager, Venue & Event Services
Gregory Peddie, Supervisor, Outdoor Events
Sean Robertson-Palmer, Community Development Coordinator
Diana Rusnov, Director, Legislative Services and City Clerk 
Sacha Smith, Manager/Deputy Clerk, Secretariat and Access & Privacy
Stephanie Smith, Supervisor, Legislative Services
Eglantina Bacaj-Gondia, Legislative Coordinator

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

Councillor B. Butt, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:32 AM.

2.
INDIGENOUS LAND STATEMENT

 

Councillor B. Butt, Chair, recited the Indigenous Land Statement.

3.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

That the September 19, 2024 Subcommittee of Council - Arts, Culture, Festival Groups Agenda be approved, as presented.

Approved (Councillor J. Horneck)

4.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Nil

 

5.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

5.1
Subcommittee of Council - Arts, Culture, Festival Groups Minutes - September 5. 2024

This item has attachments. 
1.2024_09_05_Subcommittee of Council_Arts Culture Festival Groups_Draft_Minutes.pdf

That the September 5, 2024 Subcommittee of Council - Arts, Culture, Festival Groups Minutes be approved, as presented.

Approved (Councillor M. Reid)

6.
PRESENTATIONS - Nil

 

7.
DEPUTATIONS

 

7.1
Item 10.1 Nicole Carey, Manager Event Development and Sean Robertson-Palmer, Community Development Coordinator

 

Nicole Carey, Manager of Event Development, and Sean Robertson-Palmer, Community Development Coordinator, presented feedback received from Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Festival Groups and spoke to: 


-    addressing financial security concerns
-    operational funding dependency
-    the grant application process 
-    the need for more event spaces


Members of the Subcommittee engaged in discussion and made the following comments: 

-    positive feedback on Celebration Square’s amenities 
-    review of event intake process
-    policy revisions for cultural event scheduling 
-    review of downtown spaces for smaller events 
-    evaluation of simplified application process and coaching for new groups
-    plans for increased staffing resources and formalized support 

8.
PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD - 15 Minute Limit - Nil

 

9.
CONSENT AGENDA - Nil 

 

10.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED

 

10.1
Summary of Feedback and Staff Response to Culture Subcommittee of Council – Arts, Culture, Festival Groups

This item has attachments. 
1.Summary of Feedback and Staff Response to Culture Subcommittee of Council – Arts, Culture, Festival Groups - 0460-2024.pdf

Members of Council engaged in discussion and spoke to amendments to the recommendation that would include to use a portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax to help support the cost of a new and increased funding model for grant funding.


Jodi Robillos, Commissioner, Community Services and Kristina Zietsma, Director, Recreation and Culture, responded to questions from Members of Council and noted that staff would bring a report back to the Budget Committee regarding financial information on the Municipal Accommodation Tax reserve funds; that staff would communicate to the affected groups on the application process for 2025; and that staff would report back on a funding increase formula for groups. 

Councillor D. Damerla left the meeting at 11:28AM 

  • RECOMMENDATIONSCACFG-0029-2024
    Moved ByCouncillor C. Fonseca
    1. That the Corporate Report entitled “Summary of Feedback and Staff Response to Culture Subcommittee of Council – Arts, Culture, Festivals Groups” dated September 13, 2024, from the Commissioner of Community Services be approved.
    2. That staff include recommendations in this report relating to grant funding in the 2025 Budget.
    3. That staff develop an action plan to implement process improvements and address logistical supports requested by the arts, cultural and festival groups.
    4. That staff meet annually with groups to continue to gain feedback and process improvements and report back to Council on proposed changes in advance of the Grant application process.
    5. That an additional $1.5 million dollars be allocated from the city portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax each year to help support the cost of the new and increased grant funding, and that if more funding is required, staff report back to Council with that request.
    6. That, effective 2026, staff be directed to enter into service contracts/agreements with groups such as Mississauga Arts Council, Heritage Mississauga, Visual Arts Mississauga, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and Creative Hub, and that each group be eligible for annual funding of up to $500,000 to fund programs, services, and related expenses.
    7. That arts and culture groups that receive City of Mississauga funding be eligible for grants of up to 65% of their annual budgets.
    8. That festivals that apply for City of Mississauga funding be eligible for grants of up to 65% of their eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $200,000.
    9. That, effective immediately, festivals meeting an established criteria be allocated two years’ worth of dates for their festivals at Celebration Square in order to plan, prepare, and book entertainment and make other logistical arrangements and that where possible, the same timeframe (i.e. first weekend of June) be allocated in each year.
    10. That festivals that wish two or more consecutive dates at Celebration Square be allocated those dates, where possible.
    11. That organizers can apply for more than one festival per season at a city space including the Celebration Square.
    12. That staff do a full review of the festival space at Port Credit Memorial Park and report back on any changes or improvements required, including staff resources, as identified by various user groups.
    13. That multiple groups are to be able to have an event at Celebration Square on the same weekend, where possible.
    Approved

11.
OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

 

12.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Nil

 

Councillor B. Butt noted that the Subcommittee of Council - Arts and Culture and Festival Groups would be dissolved.

13.
ADJOURNMENT

 

11:32 AM (Mayor C. Parrish)

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