As presented by Councillor McIntosh:
WHEREAS Kivi Park is a premier destination for sport, nature and adventure, set on over 480 acres of Precambrian Shield overlooking Long Lake, which offers several park amenities including approximately 18 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski and 22 kilometers of snowshoeing trails used in the off season for hiking, mountain biking, etc., which exists in large part thanks to the generosity of the Clifford and Lily Fielding Charitable Foundation;
AND WHEREAS Kivi Park has become home to numerous charitable and other community events, and has been identified as Ontario’s first training centre for Para-Nordic athletes;
AND WHEREAS Kivi Park has hosted multiple provincial and national competitions, such as the 2019 Ontario Para-Nordic Trials, 2019 OFSAA Cross-Country Running Championship, the 2019 XTERRA Conquer the Crater 2020, the 2019 Canadian Individual Swim-Run Championships, 2019 Fielding Memorial Cross Country Challenge, drawing participants from around the Province, the Country and the world;
AND WHEREAS Kivi Park has successfully operated and maintained the facility thanks to the support of volunteers and corporate sponsors;
AND WHEREAS the Clifford and Lily Fielding Foundation representatives identified that a more sustainable operating model was required, which has led to the introduction of user fees;
AND WHEREAS along with the introduction of user fees, Kivi Park created the Affordability Fund to ensure that those who do not have the means to pay for their Kivi Pass can apply to the Fund, and which also offers free passes through established partnerships with the YMCA, Children’s Aid Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Ontario, Better Beginnings Better Futures, Cadets, Para-Athletes, and school boards for school run day trips or athletic training, at a total estimated value of approximately $90,000 per year, which, with other partnerships being developed, could continue to grow;
AND WHEREAS the annual 2021 Operating costs for Kivi Park are estimated to be $250,000 with membership fees of approximately $100,000 and the balance of costs to be covered by events, sponsorships and fundraising.
AND WHEREAS the 2020 budget provided annual support for Kivi Park to reflect funding from the Economic Development Event Support budget in the amount of $13,862 for 2020, and requested that Kivi Park be considered for funding from the City of Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) funding for future years;
AND WHEREAS the criteria for the MAT tax funding does not qualify Kivi for this type of financial support;
AND WHEREAS the total taxes billed for 2020 for the properties on which Kivi Park is situated total $14,302.65;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to present a business case to Council for its consideration during the 2021 budget deliberations exempting the lands attached to the following roll numbers from property taxes beginning in 2021:
090 002 11500
090 001 01400
090 001 00500
090 001 01000
090 001 02800
090 002 11600
090 001 02900