The Comox committee of the whole approved Coun. Marcia Turner’s motion Wednesday to approve in principle a request from the Pearl Ellis Gallery and the Comox Archives and Museum Society to relocate upstairs in a vacant part of the building at 1729 Comox Ave.The motion is subject to hours of operation, leasehold renovations and further information regarding building code issues.Gallery and museum proponents hope to turn the top floor space into a cultural centre that both organizations feel would improve accessibility, visibility and visitation rates. The town provides the museum with storage space upstairs and an annual operating grant of $25,000. The gallery pays the town $1 a year for its space downstairs.The top floor contains 2,100 square feet of available space, 500 square feet more than the two spaces downstairs. Until December, the vacant space once occupied by the library was leased at $22,000 a year, which the town would lose if the gallery and museum move upstairs.   Turner feels the downtown core has yet to attain a vibrancy reflective of a large arts community, especially in the wake of the Lorne Hotel fire.  Although she understands a move upstairs will come at a cost, Coun. Patti Fletcher thinks relocating the gallery and museum will “serve us well.”Coun. Ken Grant, who opposed the motion, said the building would not be sellable if the Town gives it away. He notes the building is worth $3 million.• • •The committee voted to get an idea of what a zero-based budget will look like in 2011. A zero-based concept means budgets are created based on each department’s work plans and priorities. Both expenditure and revenue sources are evaluated to ensure the financial plan can achieve those priorities. Long-term requirements are also reviewed to ensure sufficient reserves are maintained and available to sustain the town.In a report detailing budgets for revenue, police, marina, culture and fiscal services from 2011-2015, director of finance Donald Jacquest has budgeted for property taxes to increase at four per cent a year, with business at 3.5 per cent. At this rate, an average single-family homeowner would pay $1,027, compared to $980 in 2009. The policing budget includes the addition of $40,000 a year as of April 1, 2013. The idea is to add one new officer every four years, which Turner and Grant both question considering crime appears to be dropping in Comox, according to police. • • •Paul Horgen of the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society appealed to the committee for a $1,500 contribution to help co-ordinate and promote an effort to achieve National Historic Status for the Courtenay River estuary. The organization plans to approach other local governments and foundations for support.”I think it’s going to benefit the entire Valley,” Horgen said. The society has compiled a preliminary budget of $25,000.Grant, while acknowledging the idea is interesting, said it is not council policy to give grants in aid. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record