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Executive Committee - June 25, 2007 Decision Document
EX10.7 ACTION Amended Ward: 21, 22 Casa Loma Operations and Governance
(June 8, 2007) Report from the
Deputy City Manager
Committee
Recommendations
The Executive Committee
recommends that:
1. Council adopt a vision for
Casa Loma to ensure that:
a. Casa Loma’s programming,
curatorial focus and interpretation fully reflect its
Edwardian heritage, tell the
story of Toronto in that era, and reflect the
imagination, energy and
innovation present in Toronto in the early 20th century;
b. complementary programming,
heritage walks, signage and marketing create a
heritage precinct that links the
Casa Loma estate to Spadina Museum and the
City Archives, two important
City assets in the neighbourhood; and
c. a refreshed visitor
experience and stimulating heritage tours attract a greater
number of Torontonians to the
Casa Loma estate.
2. the City Manager and the
Chief Corporate Officer, in conjunction with the General
Manager of Economic
Development Culture and Tourism, be authorized to negotiate
and report back on a long term
extension to the Licence Agreement with the Kiwanis
Club for the operation of
Casa Loma that implements the vision for Casa Loma
through:
a. enhanced heritage
programming;
b. new visitor amenities;
c. expanded governance through
the terms of reference, structure and composition
for the Kiwanis Board of
Trustees to ensure balanced representation of
community and City interests;
d. a restructured financial
arrangement that continues Casa Loma as a self-sustaining
operation and maintains
contributions to the exterior restoration project;
e. City approval for all
alterations to the building and sub-licence agreements;
f. a term of
up to 20 years with performance benchmarks and a full review after
three years;
g. annual progress reports to
the Economic Development Committee; and
3. the following motion be
referred to Deputy City Manager, Sue, Corke, for
consideration as outlined in
Recommendation 2. above:
. Moved by Councillor Moscoe:
"That more than 50
percent of the appointees in the Casa Loma Board be City
appointees and additionally
that the Chair of the Board be appointed by the
City;"; and
3. the appropriate officials be
authorized to take the necessary action to give effect
thereto.
Financial
Impact
There are no immediate financial
implications arising from the adoption of this report. Under the current
Licence Agreement between the City and the Kiwanis Club, the City receives a
share of operating revenue.
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Executive Committee - June 25, 2007 Decision Document
The entire amount is placed in
the Casa Loma Reserve Fund to partially fund the exterior restoration project.
In 2006, payments to the City totalled $923,000 and similar payments are
expected until the end of the current Licence Agreement. The 2007 approved EDCT
capital budget for the exterior restoration is $4.110 million gross and $1.810
million net and will not be impacted by this report.
The City does not contribute to
the operating budget of Casa Loma and the 2007 Operating Budget will not be
impacted by this report. In the longer term, it is anticipated that the new
vision and governance structure for Casa Loma will result in an increase in
revenue that will offset the proposed increased investments in programming and
interior restoration while maintaining the contribution to exterior
restoration.
The Deputy City Manager and
Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial
impact information.
Summary
Casa Loma was built by Sir Henry
Pellatt between 1911 and 1914 as his principal residence. After the collapse of
Sir Henry’s business empire in 1924, Casa Loma was acquired by the City in lieu
of back taxes. Since 1937, the estate has been operated by the Kiwanis Club of
Casa Loma as a heritage tourist attraction with the City responsible for the
exterior of the building.
This situation became critical
in 1997 when a Restoration Master Plan revealed that it would cost $20 million
to restore and rebuild the exterior walls of the building. The health and
safety concern was so great that Casa Loma was in danger of being forced to
close.
In 2003, City Council made the
restoration of Casa Loma a corporate priority. By coming to terms with the
capital restoration of the exterior of Casa Loma, the City became keenly aware
of its stewardship responsibility and was troubled by the condition of the
interior of the building. The Casa Loma Advisory Committee and subsequent
consultation have revealed a general consensus on a new vision for Casa Loma
and on the need for revitalization of the interior and public programs.
In response to the report of the
Casa Loma Advisory Committee and vision for Casa Loma, the Kiwanis Club has
prepared a plan that includes enhanced heritage programming, new visitor
amenities and expanded governance. City staff support the directions outlined
in the Kiwanis Club plan for Casa Loma and recommend the negotiation of a long
term extension to the Licence Agreement to realize the vision.
Background
Information
Executive Committee - June 25, 2007 Decision Document
Casa Loma Operations and Governance
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-5069.pdf)
Report of stakeholder consultations in respect of Casa Loma
Advisory Committee report and final
recommendations
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-5071.pdf)
Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma - Casa
Loma Day - Visitor Experience Concept
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-5113.pdf)
Casa Loma Connection (Executive
Summary)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-5114.pdf)