View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

THE MUNICIPALITY OF LAMBTON SHORES
D.C.S. Report No. 52-2012 Friday, June 29, 2012
TO:
FROM:
RE:
Mayor Weber and Members of Council
Brent Kittmer, Director of Community Services
Grand Bend Youth Centre – Proposed Options
RECOMMENDATION:
For Council review and direction.
REPORT
Background
On November 21, 2011, the Grand Bend Optimist Club made a presentation to Council
requesting the assistance of municipal staff with the coordination of the programs
offered at the Youth Centre. This request was made because they would be losing their
current program coordinator in January of 2012. The departure would leave the
organization under staffed once again – a program that the club has experienced
frequently because it is not a full time position. The Optimists were hoping that with the
support of municipal staff, they would no longer experience these staff shortages which
disrupt the programming for the youth of Grand Bend.
After the presentation was made, the local newspaper printed an article about the Youth
Centre’s predicament. The YCMA of Southwestern Ontario read this article and
contacted Lambton Shores to inquire about the Centre to determine if they could offer
their expertise to rectify the situation.
Several meetings took place between the Municipality, the Optimist Club of Grand Bend
and the YMCA to discuss the possibility of a partnership that could rectify the staffing
issues at the Youth Centre in Grand Bend, and a draft Memorandum of Understanding
was developed.
The proposed partnership would see the YMCA coordinate and run any programming
that would take place at the Centre, with the Optimists providing the majority of the
financial support. The Municipality has been asked to waive any rental fees associated
with the Centre, provide minimal financial support to cover administrative costs and
maintain the building. The annual cost to Lambton Shores is approximately $4500.
The proposed partnership would allow for such programs as a Youth Leadership
Development program for youth ages 14 to 17 years of age. The outcome of such a
program would be potential staff for the Centre, and in the long term, future leaders in
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