Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)1998 Operating and Capital Budgets.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:

(a)recommended to the Budget Committee the following with respect to the 1998 Operating Budgets under its purview:

Arts, Culture and Heritage:

 (1)that Tourism Toronto be requested to provide assistance to the Arts, Culture and Heritage Division for its marketing and communications strategies, having regard that Tourism Toronto=s grant was not reduced;

 Grants:

 (2)that any grants programs that have been inadvertently not included in the 1998 budget base be reinstated by the Budget Committee and referred to the Municipal Grants Review Committee for consideration;

 (3)that the amount of $200,000.00 be reinstated to the Homeless Initiatives Grants Program;

 Community and Neighbourhood Services -

Children=s Services/Children=s Action Committee:

 (4)that any savings from further welfare caseload reductions, achieved after the budget is approved, be redirected to provide child care support to families involved in the Ontario Works Program as a first priority; and further that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report on an implementation plan which addresses these and any other unmet social service needs;

 (5)that the communication (G) dated March 11, 1998, from the Children=s Advocate recommending Council approval of the workplan and budget for the Children=s Action Committee be adopted;

 Parks and Recreation:

(6)that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee prior to implementing the second proposed set of increases in ice rates for ACommunity Youth,@ such report to include the impact of the initial increases and the anticipated impact of the proposed future increases on minor hockey and on other ice surface users; and

 Public Health:

 (7)that the recommendations by the Board of Health embodied in communication (L) dated March 25, 1998, from the City Clerk with respect to reports from the Medical Officer of Health on AInvesting in Public and Children=s Health@ and AChild Nutrition Programs@ be endorsed, viz:

 AThe Board of Health at its meeting on March 24, 1998:

 (1)amended Recommendation No. (1) of the report dated March 11, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Investing in our Children=s Health by revising the requested amounts therein so as to read:

 A(1)That the Board of Health forward to the Budget Committee for consideration of allocation of funds to Public Health totalling $2,905,100.00 on an annualized basis, including $2,450,300.00 for 1998 in operational costs and $130,000.00 in capital costs for children=s health services in the City of Toronto (as per Appendix 1)@;

 and adopted the report, as amended, and directed that this report also be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and the Children=s Action Committee for their consideration in the development of a children=s strategy;

 (2)deleted Recommendation No. (2) of the report dated March 11, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Child Nutrition Programs in Toronto and adopted the report; and requested that this report be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, the Budget Committee, the Children=s Action Committee, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic School Board and all Members of Council for information; and

 (3)adopted the report dated March 12, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Investing in Public Health and directed that it be forwarded to the Budget Committee, the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and all Members of Council for information.@;

Children=s Services/Children=s Action Committee:

 (b)referred the reports (D) and (E) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to the Budget Committee for information:

 (D) March 11, 1998, respecting the pressures facing child care programs serving subsidized clients; and

 (E)March 11, 1998, respecting child care demand related to the Ontario Works Program;

 (c)requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee clarifying the cost of adjusting child care per diem rates and provider rates to reflect the cost of inflation; and

 (d)referred communication (F) dated March 9, 1998, from the City Clerk to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services with a request that she report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the implications of the principles outlined by the Children=s Action Committee:

 (A)(March 11, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing a status report on the Community and Neighbourhood Services 1998 Operating and Capital Budgets; attaching a summary of the budgets as submitted, and the changes made during the budget review process to date; and recommending that the report be received for information;

 1998 Operating Budgets:

 (B)(March 24, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for Arts, Culture and Heritage, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of the following budget, subject to the amendments proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer as embodied in Section AC@ or equivalent thereof; and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (C)(March 24, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for Community and Neighbourhood Services, noting that:

(1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of the following budgets, subject to the amendments proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer as embodied in Section AC@, and also subject to the deletion of funds in the amount of $298,000.00 requested in the 1998 Operating Housing Budget for housing demonstration projects and grants:

 (i)Hostels;

(ii)Housing;

(iii)Children=s Services;

(iv)Homes for the Aged;

(v)Community Development and Support;

(vi)Social Services; and

(vii)Social Services and Housing Administration; and

 (2)such budgets will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (D)(March 11, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the requests of the Children=s Action Committee and the Budget Committee to report on the pressures being faced by child care programs serving subsidized clients and the priority areas in need of support; outlining recent changes in the traditional cost-sharing formula for child care, and highlighting the role resulting from user fees collected from subsidized clients in the overall funding of the system; and recommending that the report be received for information;

 (E)(March 12, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of the Budget Committee to provide additional information concerning the current levels of child care service in support of social assistance recipients, and to identify the future child care service demand related to the Ontario Works program; and recommending that the report be received for information;

 (F)(March 9, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Children=s Action Committee on March 6, 1998, recommended that the following principles be considered during the 1998 Operating Budget process:

 (1)that there be expansion of child care subsidies to ensure that the 2,000 vacancies in the licensed child care system are filled;

 (2)that adequate services are provided to children whose parents are participating in the Ontario Works program;

(3)that any savings in Public Health incurred as a result of amalgamation be redirected back into services for children;

 (4)that there be sufficient resources available to ensure equitable access to services for children and youth across the City of Toronto;

 (5)that the budget for the general grants programs be maintained at existing levels, and specifically that the funding of children's and youth programs be maintained at current levels; and

 (6)that opportunities to explore creative, flexible and optimal use of resources to meet the needs of children and youth be facilitated;

 (G)(March 11, 1998) from the Children=s Advocate outlining the workplan and budget for the Children=s Action Committee; advising that the Children=s Action Committee is proposing a budget of $150,000.00 to support its activities; noting that this is included in the request for $500,000.00 under a Corporate expenditure account to cover the budget requirements for all the task forces related to Community and Neighbourhood Services; and recommending that:

 (1)Council approve the workplan and budget for the Children=s Action Committee; and

 (2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto;

 (H)(March 25, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (I)(March 24, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for Parks and Recreation, noting that:

(1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, subject to the amendments proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer as embodied in Section AC@; and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (J)(March 25, 1998) from Councillor Brad Duguid, Scarborough City Centre, respecting the 1998 Operating Budget for Parks and Recreation; and recommending that staff be requested to report back to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee prior to implementing the second proposed set of increases in ice rates for community youth@, such report to outline the impact of the initial increases and the anticipated impact of the proposed future increases on minor hockey and on other ice surface users;

 (K)(March 19, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for Public Health, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, subject to the amendments proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer as embodied in Section AC@, with the exception of the user fee proposed for prenatal and infant parenting classes;

 (2)it does not support the concept of the reinvestment of savings within a Department or envelope and any new programs be submitted through the normal process; and

 (3)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (L)(March 25, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Toronto Board of Health on March 24, 1998, had before it reports (March 11, and 12, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health with respect to investing in public and children=s health and child nutrition programs; and indicating that the Board took the following action with regard to the recommendations contained therein:

 (1)amended Recommendation No. (1) of the report dated March 11, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Investing in our Children=s Health by revising the requested amounts therein so as to read:

A(1)That the Board of Health forward to the Budget Committee for consideration of allocation of funds to Public Health totalling $2,905,100.00 on an annualized basis, including $2,450,300.00 for 1998 in operational costs and $130,000.00 in capital costs for children=s health services in the City of Toronto (as per Appendix 1)@;

 and adopted the report, as amended, and directed that this report also be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and the Children=s Action Committee for their consideration in the development of a children=s strategy;

 (2)deleted Recommendation No. (2) of the report dated March 11, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Child Nutrition Programs in Toronto and adopted the report; and requested that this report be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, the Budget Committee, the Children=s Action Committee, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic School Board and all Members of Council for information; and

 (3)adopted the report dated March 12, 1998, from the Medical Officer of Health respecting Investing in Public Health and directed that it be forwarded to the Budget Committee, the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and all Members of Council for information;

 (M)(March 19, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Operating Budget for the Toronto Public Library, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, subject to the amendments proposed by the Chief Administrative Officer as embodied in Section AC@; and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 1998 Capital Budgets:

 (N)(March 24, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Capital Budget for Arts, Culture and Heritage, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Polices and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, subject to the following amendments:

(a)transferring the amount of $99,000.00 allocated to the Capital Maintenance - Health and Safety Repairs category, to the 1998 Operating Budget; and in future years it be considered as an operating expense;

 (b)deleting $300,000.00 from the Guild Inn Capital Budget which was allocated for repairs;

 (c)the amount of $35,000.00 allocated to the Guild Inn for conducting a feasibility study for future uses of the facility being conditional upon the Guild Inn providing Terms of Reference for this feasibility study;

 (d)an amount of $50,000.00 being allocated to the Etobicoke Public Art Acquisition Project; and

 (e)$26,000.00 be deleted for the replacement of a vehicle; and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (O)(March 24, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Capital Budget for Community and Neighbourhood Services, noting that:

 (1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of the following budgets:

 (a)Hostels;

(b)Homes for the Aged;

(c)Housing; and

(d)Social Services; and

 (2)such budgets will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998;

 (P)1998 Capital Program for Parks and Recreation; and

 (Q)(March 19, 1998) from the City Clerk submitting, for review and comment, the 1998 Capital Budget from the Toronto Public Library, noting that:

(1)the Budget Committee proposes to recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting to be held on April 14, 1998, the adoption of such budget, subject to the following amendments:

 (a)that the loan for the Burrows Hall Library in the amount of $270,000.00 be repaid and such funds be allocated from the Capital Reserve Fund;

 (b)that funds in the amount of $137,500.00 be allocated for Project No. 809 - Minor Capital Program (Toronto); and

 (2)such budget will again be considered by the Budget Committee at its meeting to be held on March 31, 1998.

 (b)Current Gaps in Public Health Services for Children.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication:

 (February 26, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Board of Health on February 23, 1998, recommended that the report (February 11, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health identifying current gaps in public health services for children and families across the City of Toronto be forwarded to the Children=s Action Committee and the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for consideration, and to the Budget Committee with a request that the Medical Officer of Health report to that Committee with respect to the amount of funding required.

 (c)The State of the City=s Health: Implications for Public Health.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication:

 (February 26, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Board of Health on February 23, 1998, had before it a report (February 19, 1998) from the Medical Officer of Health respecting the State of the City=s Health: Implications for Public Health which updates the view of health and health trends in Toronto and outlines key issues for Public Health programs and resource allocations; and that the Board recommended that the report be forwarded to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, the Budget Committee, and City Council for consideration during the budget process.

 (d)General Education Development Preparation Courses.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report and communication:

(i)(March 12, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of the Committee on February 12, 1998, to report on a communication from Dr. Dale Shuttleworth of The Training Renewal Foundation seeking funding through purchase of service under Ontario Works for the Foundation=s General Education Development (G.E.D.) preparation course; advising that the Social Services Division surveyed a range of G.E.D. preparation courses provided and summarizing the findings from such survey; outlining the Division=s position concerning the funding of G.E.D. through Ontario Works; and recommending that the report be received for information; and

 (ii)(March 19, 1998) from Dr. Shuttleworth providing the comments of The Training Renewal Foundation with respect to the aforementioned report; and requesting that interim funding of $4,500.00 per month be provided to ensure the continued operation of the GED Preparation Centre in serving the employment preparation needs of social assistance recipients.

Dr. Dale Shuttleworth appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

 (e)Proposal for Affordable Shared Accommodation.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having directed that:

 (1)the following communications and briefs be referred to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon through the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes (Homeless Strategy Task Force), such report to include:

 (a)an exploration of models that provide necessary supports within the proposed pilot project for those in need, but which are outside the housing project budget;

 (b)suggestions on how the private sector can become involved in the pilot project;

 (c)the potential impact of the distribution/location of this type of housing; and

 (d)the feasibility of a separate policy, including waiting lists, for this type of housing; and

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to approach Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to ascertain their interest in providing funds for development of this pilot project:

 (i)(March 12, 1998) from Councillor Jack Layton, Ad Hoc Committee on Shared Accommodation, advising of the need to create pilot projects for affordable housing for singles in private bedrooms within shared apartments; indicating that this second stage housing would benefit those currently in the hostel system and those in danger of becoming homeless due to their inability to continue paying market rent; and recommending that:

 (1)the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee adopt the proposal from the Ad Hoc Committee for Shared Accommodation;

 (2)City of Toronto allocate staff time and outside consulting up to an amount of $10,000.00 to develop the specifications of the shared accommodation model;

 (3)the City of Toronto direct a 96-unit pilot project as outlined in the proposal; there would be no subsidy, excepting a loan guarantee; the City of Toronto would guarantee the construction loan and mortgage up to a maximum of $2.5 million, this project would be developed by City staff and owned by the City after completion; and

 (4)based on the nature of the above pilot project, the City of Toronto develop calls for proposals (to be evaluated by City staff and returned to Council for review):

 (i)asking private developer/managers to develop proposals to identify the extent of subsidy required to provide the specified accommodation and building management;

 (ii)asking agencies and private firms to develop proposals, which incorporate varying levels of accommodation, management and services;

 (ii)the proposal from the Ad Hoc Committee for Shared Accommodation, submitted by Mr. Bob Barnett, Architect; and

 (iii)(March 26, 1998) from Dr. Bob Frankford, a regular general practitioner at Seaton House.

The following persons appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

 -Mr. Bob Barnett, Architect; and submitted a brief in regard thereto, together with a communication from Touchtone Youth Centre in support of the foregoing proposal;

 -Mr. Larry Chilton, Hometeam, and Toronto Rooming House Association; and submitted a brief in regard thereto; and

 -Councillor Jack Layton, Ad Hoc Committee on Shared Accommodation.

 (f)Response to the Joint Report of the Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons:

 (January 27, 1998) from Mr. Richard Barnhorst, Director, Health Policy Branch, Ministry of Health responding to the recommendations contained in the joint report of the Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons; attaching a copy of the Ministry=s response to the Chief Coroner on the recommendations and issues identified as a result of the Coroner=s Inquest into the deaths of Eugene Upper, Mirsalah-Aldin Kompani and Irwin Anderson; outlining types of initiatives within the mental health area to serve the homeless population; and noting that the Ministry is continuing to develop strategies that will improve services for homeless people with serious mental illness.

 (g)Homelessness in the City of Toronto.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a response thereto:

 (February 11, 1998) from the Regional Clerk, The Regional Municipality of Durham, advising that on February 11, 1998, the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham adopted the following recommendations of its Health and Social Services Committee in response to the resolution passed by the Metropolitan Council on October 8 and 9, 1997, regarding AHomeless Families in Metropolitan Toronto@:

 A(a)That staff of the Social Services Department be directed to liaise with the City of Toronto to maintain an accurate estimate of alternative housing arrangements;

 (b)that an estimate be provided of the number of individuals who may be transferred to the Region of Durham;

(c)that an estimate of the long term financial effects associated with emergency housing, the pooling of GTA Social Housing and Welfare costs be provided; and

 (d)that the Region of Durham not endorse the following:

 (i)asking the Province to insist that other municipalities pay the administrative costs incurred by Metro as a result of Metro staff having to make arrangements for emergency housing accommodation in these other municipalities;

 (ii)requesting other GTA municipalities provide an estimation of the accommodation that may be available within their respective jurisdictions for homeless people; and

 (iii)examining the feasibility of an office inside the immigration office at Pearson International Airport, in order to simplify the process of assisting people to settle within the Greater Toronto Area;

 at this time.@

 (h)Municipal Support Services to Seniors and People with Mobility Limitations in the City of Toronto.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report; and having directed that a copy thereof be forwarded to the Task Force on Developing a Strategy for Issues Concerning the Elderly:

 (March 11, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of the Committee on January 15, 1998, to report on the cost of providing home support services to seniors and people with disabilities, including program areas such as snow removal and gardening; providing an overview of the support services the City of Toronto provides and/or funds to enable senior citizens and citizens with mobility limitations to continue to maintain residency within the community; and recommending that:

 (1)this report be forwarded to the Task Force on Developing a Strategy for Issues Concerning the Elderly for consideration in the development of a seniors= strategy; and

 (2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 (i)Parks and Recreation - Facility Planning Initiatives.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following report; and having referred the following communication from Councillor Irene Jones to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services with a request that Councillor Jones be consulted during consideration of the terms of reference for the proposed studies:

 (i)(March 11, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Parks and Recreation respecting the need to undertake two major planning studies for Parks and Recreation, the first a feasibility study for the development of three major Parks and Recreation facilities, and the second to undertake a facility rationalization study of existing facilities; advising that the immediate costs of these studies are identified in the 1998 Capital Works Program submission; noting that both studies will include a public consultation process with steering committees consisting of local Councillors and staff from Parks and Recreation and other departments; and recommending that the report be received for the information of the Committee; and

 (ii)(March 25, 1998) from Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore Queensway, requesting the opportunity to provide input into the terms of reference for the studies referred to in the aforementioned report on facility planning initiatives.

(j)Development of Uniform Policy - Leashed and Unleashed Dogs in City Parks.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Medical Officer of Health for a report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:

 (February 2, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that York Community Council on January 21, 1998, recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that the Medical Officer of Health be requested to report on the development of a City-wide uniform policy regarding leashed and unleashed dogs in City Parks.

 (k)Request for Recreation Centre in Cedarvale Park, York.

 The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Budget Committee for consideration with the 1998 Capital Budget for Parks and Recreation:

 (February 16, 1998) from Mr. Chaitanya K. Kalevar advising that he has a petition from over 1,000 residents in support of building a recreation centre in Cedarvale Park, behind the Arlington Middle School.