rn Ui REPORT FES 40 iS

TO: Mayor and Council DATE: January 22, 1975

FROM: Health Committee

RE: Use of Schinz Property for Activity Program

The Health Ccmmittee has received a letter from the New View Society asking for use

cf the City owned property on Wilson Avenue (Schinz property) to carry out a program. A letter is attached outlining the aims of this Society. In addition to the infor- mation given in that report it could be explained that the Society is presently operating on a L.I.P. Grant of $10,000. which will pay salaries of three staff members until June of this year. Once the Society has obtained premises from which to operate they may become eligible for government assistance. They have also approached service clubs for financial assistance and the U.G.N. has donated $1,000. which is to be used for rent, however, they have indicated that if rent is waived the $1,000. grant could be put towards renovations needed for the house.

The object of the program is to try to get physically handicapped people gainfully employed therefore they intend to produce items that can be sold and provide a return for the participants in the program. Their proposal to operate a nursery on the premises would be appropriate. The nursery or greenhouse operation, however, would be operated with assistance from the New Westminster Sheltered Workshop Program and it is not planned to embark upon this greenhouse program immediately. The Society would have to obtain funds in order to establish such a project. In addition, the investment in a nursery or greenhouse w»peration would require some assurance of a longer term lease for example, the five year lease mentioned in their letter. Their present request, however, is just for a base of operations. The New View Society is presently operating in the Dalkey Building on a temporary basis and a permanent location is required for two reasons.

(1) he Society becomes eligible for Government assistance as noted above.

(2) There are many opportunities for the Seciety to enter into contracts with local manufacturers for packaging products, cleaning operations and various other chores that can be handled by these handicapped people for a return. They require additional space for storage and room to work on a more permanent basis.

With regard to the property itself, there was considerable vandalism of the property prior to the City acquiring it and there has been some additional damage since we took over the property although it has been boarded up. Our Works and Utilities Superin- tendent has roughly estimated the cost of putting the property in habitable condition at about $3,000. This would include running a water Line to the property as it was previously on a well; repairs to the roof, replace broken windows and general painting and fixing up. As indicated above possibly the $1,000. grant from the U.G.N. could be put towards these required renovations to help reduce the cost.

The Health Committee has discussed the matter with a 1apresentative of the New View Society and is prepared to recommend that the property be made available to the organization and that the first year’s rental be set at $1,000.00 which would be put towards renovations required for the house and that subsequent year's rental be set

at a future date following discussion with the Society and depending on the success of the organization. ;