Agenda Package - City of Vernon

200e B.22 DOWNTOWN BUILDING FACADE
REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM
Vernon
WHEREAS the Province in the past implemented a successful funding program to assist
downtown building owners to revitalize-the building façade in accordance with downtown
design guidelines, which often provided the necessary incentive for owners to participate in
the revitalization of their community's downtor n;
AND WI{EREAS many downtowns are characterized by historic buildings and features
which can be particulariy costly to maintain or preserve, especially for small business owners,
yet can be important to the success of the downtown area:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial downtown building façade revitalization
grant program be reinstated to assistbuilding owners with façade improvements that conform
to adopted downtown design guidelines.
CONVENTION DECISION: ENDORSED
PROVINCIAL RESPONSE
MINISTRY OE COMMIINITY T R¿IR,{T DEWLOPMENT
As per the Proaince of British Columbia's (Proaince) response in 2007, the Downtown Reaitalization
pylgram proaided funding for projects øt a time when locnl goaernment had fayr financing
tools. In
recõnt years, the Proaince has creøted a number of tools that un be used by all local goa.ernments to
undertake downtown reoitalization programs, and with the creøtion of the Municipal ,Finance
Authority ønd changes to the Community Chørter, locøl goaernments now høae access to short ønd
Iong-term capital financing at competitiae interest rates.
Changes to the Community Charter høae also proaided local goaernments with access to øn anen more
flexíb-le ønd ødaptable reoitalizøtion tax exemption tool. The enhanced reoitølizøtion tool enables
councíls to promote any type of social, economic or enz¡ironmentøl reoitalizntion, such øs the upgrade of
buildings, with faaer restr:ictions. In øddition, the Community Chnrter authorizes local goaernments to
pr ooide tax exemp tions for pr ote cted heritage pr op erties.
Since 2007, ø number of prouincial funding progrø
hnae also been deaeloped. The BC Spirit Squares pr
and enhnncing public outdoor meeting spaces, an
proaide small æmmunities and towns with cos
projects.
RESOLUTIONS COMMTTEE COMMENTS
The Resolutions Committee notes that oaer the years, UBCM membership hns expressed strong support
for the continuance or reinstatement of the Downtozon Reaitalizøtion Program (2007-81-44; 2006-836;
1998-89; 1987-A8).
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