To:Chair & Members, Community Council

 From:John Fulton, Acting Commissioner

 Meeting

Date:July 22, 1998

 Subject:Funding for Community Playground Upgrade Program

 Purpose

 Respond to the request to have staff prepare an overall policy incorporating the four existing Wards.

 Source of Funds

 None available at this time.

 Recommendations

 It is recommended that:

 (1)Council approve the funding of $10,000 per Ward deposited into the 1999 Parks Development and Improvement budget.

(2)Council approve the equal sharing of these funds between Wards should more than one playground per Ward be requested (see Comments for details).

(3)Council approve the spending of each Ward's remaining allotment on playground upgrades within respective Wards, should no request come forward by the August 1st deadline.

 Council Reference and Background History

 On October 30, 1995, the former Etobicoke Council approved a policy on cost sharing for upgrades to playground equipment between the City and local communities. This policy is as follows:

 (1)A written indication of interest from the community group be submitted to Administration Committee.

(2)City must approve all designs and equipment must meet Canadian Standards Association guidelines.

(3)All equipment to become property of City of Etobicoke. Maintenance and liability to be assumed by the City of Etobicoke.

(4)The City of Etobicoke will pay up to a maximum of 50% of the total cost to a maximum subsidy of $10,000 per park, subject to the availability of funding.

(5)Community funds must be guaranteed prior to equipment being purchased.

(6)The City of Etobicoke will coordinate purchase and installation of all equipment.

 Comments

 The former City of Etobicoke has previously funded this program through a Capital Reserve Account Number 60007. The funds in this account are now depleted after seven very successful community playground upgrades.

 Since this program was developed to encourage and promote community involvement for playground upgrades we feel the $10,000 per Ward per year is appropriate. Should one Ward have two requests, however, and the other Wards none for example, we suggest funding the second request equally among the other Wards to a maximum of $10,000 collectively. The remaining funds would be used specifically on playground upgrades in those Wards as prioritized by staff. We suggest an August 1st cut off date for requests which would allow staff time to process a second request in one Ward and also enable staff to apply the remaining funds in each Ward to upgrade their playgrounds before the end of the year.

An example of how this can work is:

Ward 5 requests upgrade before Aug. 1st.

Ward 2 requests upgrade before Aug. 1st.

Ward 5 receives a second request before Aug. 1st.

Wards 3 & 4 have no requests as of Aug. 1st.

$5,000 from Ward 3 and $5,000 from Ward 4 are used to fund the second request for Ward 5. The remaining $5,000, in each of Ward 3 & 4 would be used specifically for playground upgrades in those Wards prior to year end.

 Conclusion

 This system would allow for the spirit of fundraising and cost sharing to continue yet give Wards who have not come forward an opportunity to benefit from this program as well. Our Parks and Recreation Department has previously partnered with 7 local communities who have been able to significantly increase the quality, quantity and creativity of our children's playspaces through this program. We hope this successful program will continue.

 Contact Name

 Paul G. Ronan

Toronto Etobicoke Region

Phone number: 394-8505 Fax 394-8935

 Respectfully submitted,

   John Fulton

Acting Commissioner