Parking revenue could help fund child care
The Record (New Westminster)
Feb 10 2010
By: Theresa McManus

New Westminster city council is still backing a proposal to use Sunday revenues from parking meters to fund a child-care grant program.

A staff report states that child-care operators face a number of obstacles that can threaten their sustainability, including uncertain lease arrangements, building deficiencies, equipment or future replacement and high staffing costs. The report stated that the province recently reduced grant amounts for emergency repairs, replacement and relocation.

"The development of a child-care grant program will provide assistance to childcare operators to address issues related to building deficiencies and equipment or furniture replacement," said the report to council.

"It will also enable child-care operators to improve the physical accessibility of their facilities, enable them to better meet the needs of children with extra support needs, and possibly expand their operations, which could lead to an increase in spaces."

According to the staff report, the cities of North Vancouver, Richmond and Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver currently have child-care grants.

They typically provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to operators.

New Westminster's child-care grant program is expected to begin in 2011. Its proposed budget of $40,000 would provide for eight child-care grants of $5,000.

Council has approved a staff recommendation to continue the seven-day parking meters after the three- to four-month trial period ends and allocate the revenues from Sunday parking fees to fund the child-care grant program.

Licensed, non-profit child-care operators meeting certain criteria are able to apply for grants for projects including expansion, renovation and repairs to existing facilities or the purchase of equipment or furnishings for the facility….

Coun. Lorrie Williams said the city has a strong desire to be a municipal leader in child care.

"I am pleased we are putting our money where our mouth is," she said….