To not set a precedent for other non-profit groups, city council has declined to waive landfill and permit fees for the food bank during renovations of its new location.
Council voted 5-2 on a recommendation during the March 8 executive committee meeting to receive and file the non-profit’s request, shutting down the support the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank wanted.
Councillors Jamey Logan and Kim Robinson were opposed.
Background
The food bank purchased 270 Fairford Street West as its new location and wanted council to waive the one-time landfill fees — estimated at $690 — for debris removal and permit fees — estimated at $2,114 — for the renovations. Construction debris removal is expected to be 10 tonnes.
The project is expected to cost $610,000, including $320,000 for the property and $290,000 for the renovations and addition of a 1,200-square-foot office.
The community donated more than $120,000 last summer during a fundraising campaign, while another $69,400 was received in grants.
The organization has been at 305 Fairford Street West since 1984 and assists 1,000 people per month. It requires additional storage since the volume of food donations has increased.
Asking for support
In a letter to council, development manager Jason Moore explained that waiving the fees would ensure the non-profit group remained within its limited project budget.
“At first glance, the property seemed like it might be too much of an undertaking and would take us past our budget, as it would need a major gut job on a portion of the building and an addition to provide us with needed space,” he wrote. “But after going through the property with our project manager, Doug Mayes, it seems like we might be able to make this work and stay within budget.”
Moore noted that Mayes convinced all project parties to offer a discounted rate or donate a portion of their services to keep project costs down.
“The response has been positive … ,” he added. “Everyone is doing what (he or she) can to make this project happen so that our local food bank can better serve Moose Jaw’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Moore also appeared virtually during the meeting and presented the food bank’s case for waiving the fees.
No mandate for food security
Council considered a similar request from the Salvation Army in 2018 about its ongoing landfill operating expenses, a council report said. Council declined that request because all non-profit groups should pay for direct services, “food security measures are not within the City of Moose Jaw mandate,” and support for these “very valuable” community services should be left to individuals or the provincial government.
Council discussion
While the food bank does perform good work, other non-profit groups have also approached council looking for similar support, said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. To approve the food bank’s request would set a precedent that others would follow.
The challenge with Salvation Army request was that council was concerned that residents would use the Sally Anne site to dump garbage to avoid paying landfill fees, he added. That is one reason council denied that request.
“This is not a large sum of money (council is being asked to waive), but it opens up a big sum of money if we do approve these sorts of things,” said Coun. Heather Eby.
There are many non-profits that do excellent work and that sometimes need to use the landfill or pay permit fees, she continued. Riverside Mission will likely need to do that for its upcoming project, while Joe’s Place Youth Centre has done big projects in the past and had to pay fees.
Eby added that declining the request was the right thing to do.
The difference in requests between the food bank and Salvation Army is that the latter’s request would be ongoing, while the former’s request is a one-time deal, pointed out Coun. Doug Blanc.
“It’s a bad scenario to be put in to vote against a community group that does marvellous work,” he added.
The next executive committee meeting is Monday, March 22.
