COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

A G E N D A

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

DEPUTATIONS.List to be Distributed at Meeting

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

1.FINAL REPORT OF THE SENIORS' TASK FORCE.

Councillor Anne Johnston,

Chair, Seniors' Task Force

(September 20, 1999)

Submitting the Final Report of the Seniors' Task Force, entitled "Toronto - Building A City For All Ages"; advising that the report represents input from both public consultations and members of the Task Force; noting that the recommendations outline a blue print which will be the subject of a follow-up report on the implementation strategy and development of the proposed Seniors' Assembly; and recommending that:

(1)the 55 recommendations contained in the report be adopted;

(2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services submit a follow up report on the implementation strategy, the development of the proposed Seniors' Assembly and the funding required to support the Assembly.

The following communications have been received providing comments in response to the recommendation contained in the Final Report of the Seniors' Task Force:

1a.-(September 16, 1999) from Ms. Mary Ellen Glover, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Residents' Councils, expressing concern that none of the recommendations deal with the improvement of the quality of life of seniors who live in long-term care facilities; and

1b.-(September 22, 1999) from Mr. Alex Ginou suggesting that the recommendations under Sidewalk and Traffic Safety be amended by adding the following Recommendation No. 37(b):

"That on any city street that has housing a sidewalk be constructed".

(NOTE:COPIES OF THE FULL VERSION OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE SENIORS' TASK FORCE FORWARDED TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ONLY, AND A COPY IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.)

2.RELEASE OF 1998 COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT - FRIENDS OF SHOPPING BAG LADIES.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 3, 1999)

Providing an update on the actions taken by the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies in response to the funding conditions placed on the agency through the 1998 Community Services Grants Program; and recommending that:

(1)the outstanding amount of $24,224.00 be released to Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies; and

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

3.FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SERVICES - APPEALS REPORT.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 20, 1999)

Responding to the request of the Committee to report on the staff review of the six community agency appeals under the Homeless Support Services Fund; outlining the process for the second Proposal Call for the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund; and recommending that:

(1)Council approve funding in the amount of $128,000.00 from the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund to the Fred Victor Centre for the operation of a Drop-in program for homeless women;

(2)Council approve funding in the amount of $25,000.00 from the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund to the Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre for the provision of a day time drop-in program for homeless people;

(3)Council approve funding in the amount of $30,000.00 from the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund to The Massey Centre for Women for the provision of supports to homeless or potentially homeless young parents with no fixed address;

(4)authority be delegated to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to allocate funding to projects selected from the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund second Proposal Call as outlined in this report; and

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

4.FOOD-RELATED CAPITAL GRANTS - SECOND ROUND ALLOCATIONS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 23, 1999)

Respecting second round allocations under the Food-related Capital Grants; and recommending that:

(1)STOP 103 be allocated funding up to $11,000.00; and

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

5.NATIONAL CHILDREN'S AGENDA - ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS.

City Clerk

(September 23, 1999)

Advising that the Children and Youth Action Committee on September 21, 1999, recommended to the Community Services Committee that it be authorized to:

(1)sponsor a round table discussion to invite a response from the community on the National Children's Agenda;

(2)invite Federal Members of Parliament to the round table discussion to enable them to hear the community's response;

and noted that funds in an approximate amount of $1,500.00 are available for this purpose in the Children and Youth Action Committee's 1999 Operating Budget.

6.RESPONSE TO THE PROVINCIAL OPERATIONAL REVIEW OF TORONTO'S IMPLEMENTATION OF ONTARIO WORKS AND CHILD CARE FEE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 22, 1999)

Providing an update on the Provincial Operational Review of Toronto's implementation of Ontario Works and Child Care Fee Subsidy Programs and the Final Report prepared by the consulting firm KPMG, on behalf of the Ministry of Community and Social Services; and recommending that:

(1)City Council support in principle the recommendations contained in the consultant's Final Report that will contribute to the improvement of the Ontario Works program, and the child care required to support it, in Toronto;

(2)based on Provincial endorsement of the directions contained in the Operational Review, and Provincial cost-sharing commitments, the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services provide City Council, in future reports:

(i)with further details about those recommendations that have funding or service delivery implications for the City; and

(ii)with an implementation plan, developed in conjunction with Provincial officials, outlining steps that will be taken to implement those recommendations requiring joint City and Provincial action;

(3)with respect to Social Services, the Department evaluate and report back on the recommendations from the Operational Review which may be implemented immediately by the City within the current provincial legislation and the existing Council policies;

(4)with respect to child care, the Department evaluate and report back on the recommendations from the Operational Review which may be implemented immediately by the City within the current provincial legislation and the existing Council policies; and

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

7.ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 21, 1999)

Providing a description of the key features of the Provincial enhancements to job placement services under the Employment Placement component of Ontario Works; outlining a proposed model for delivering these services; noting that the mandatory changes to the Employment Placement stream of Ontario Works will be cost-shared on an 80/20 Provincial/Municipal basis, and that the 2000 budget submission incorporates costs associated with delivering the enhanced program; and recommending that:

(1)City Council endorse the proposed model for delivering Enhanced Job Placement services in Toronto, as outlined in section II of this report; and

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

8.REQUEST TO ENACT THE EMERGENCY BY-LAW TO ASSIST HOMELESS PEOPLE.

Councillor Jack Layton,

Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(September 23, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons on September 22, 1999, recommended that the Community Services Committee and Members of Council ask the Mayor to evoke the emergency by-law and thereby enact the emergency plan in order to develop an appropriate plan of action to immediately address the critical shortfall of emergency shelter.

9.LIFTING OF BARRING POLICIES IN HOSTELS.

Councillor Jack Layton,

Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(September 23, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons on September 22, 1999, recommended that the Shelter, Housing and Support Division of Community and Neighbourhood Services institute a policy directing emergency shelters in Toronto to lift all barring practices except in cases involving physical violence.

10.DENTAL CARE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.

Councillor Jack Layton,

Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(September 23, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons on September 22, 1999, recommended that the City of Toronto develop a program to provide for the dental needs of people who are homeless; and that this program provide assistance for the range of dental care needs required, not limited to emergency care.

11.UPDATE ON THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Verbal update on the emergency shelter system.

12.ABORIGINAL HOMELESSNESS STEERING COMMITTEE.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 21, 1999)

Recommending that:

(1)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to establish an Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee to advise the City on the implementation of the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force recommendations pertaining to aboriginal homelessness; and

(2)the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee be established for a two-year period, based on the Terms of Reference and membership selection process set out in this report, with annual reports to the City.

13.PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOMELESSNESS REPORT CARD.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 23, 1999)

Providing an outline of the proposed, framework for the City of Toronto's Homelessness Report Card, as directed by City Council in its response to the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force report; and recommending that:

(1)the framework for the City's Homelessness Report Card as outlined in Appendix A be approved; and

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

14.MANDATE AND BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE MAYOR'S HOMELESS INITIATIVE RESERVE FUND.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 23, 1999)

Proposing a mandate and budget allocation for the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund; and recommending that:

(1)(a)the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer be authorized to create a Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund, in accordance with Recommendation No.16 in the approved 1999 Operating Budget for the Shelter, Housing and Support Program;

(b)Council approve an initial amount of up to $5 million to be transferred to the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund in 1999, from the 1999 provincial Housing Download savings within the Shelter, Housing and Support Division's 1999 Operating Budget, contingent on the realization of such savings; and

(c)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report to Council for approval of any further transfers into the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund that the Commissioner deems necessary;

(2)the following mandate be approved for the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund:

(i)to help stabilize the housing of homeless people or those in identified high-risk groups, by providing one-time capital support to suitable projects that have short timeframes to completion;

(ii)to combine with federal capital funding, in the event that federal housing or homelessness capital funding announced within the timeframe of fiscal 1999/2000 requires a City contribution;

(iii)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services report to Council on all expenditures from the Mayor's Homeless Initiative Reserve Fund on a regular periodic basis; and

(iv)such funding to be administered by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, in accordance with the Process for Project Development and Funding Approval set out in this report, including Council approval being required for each specific allocation from the fund in excess of $25,000.00;

(3)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer report back at the appropriate time with updated information on 1999 underspending in the Provincial Housing Download; and

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

15.STATUS REPORT ON THE PROPOSED ADD-A-SUITE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(September 22, 1999)

Providing an update on the proposed Add-a-Suite Incentive Program; noting that the delayed timeline in regard to possible Federal contributions and the OMB hearing leads to the conclusion that an Add-a-Suite program be deferred at this time; and recommending that the report be received.

16.HOMES FOR THE AGED - UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNT.

City Solicitor

(September 13, 1999)

Advising that D.M., a resident at Bendale Acres Home for the Aged, has accommodation arrears as of July 1, 1999, in the amount of $33,165.92; and recommending that authority be granted to commence court action against D.M., J.O. and M.L., to appeal any decision where warranted, to discontinue or settle any such claim or action where it is concluded that it is reasonable to do so and to execute any documents in furtherance thereof.

17.ANNUAL AND PLANNED GIVING PROGRAMS - HOMES FOR THE AGED.

City Clerk

(September 17, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on September 17, 1999, recommended the adoption of a report (August 31, 1999) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, recommending that the Community Services Committee be requested to support in principle the Homes for the Aged Division's strategic direction to establish annual and planned giving programs to enhance fundraising activities; and noting that suggestions by Members of the Advisory Committee had been referred to the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, for consideration.

18.KIPLING ACRES - ACCREDITATION AWARD.

City Clerk

(September 17, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on September 17, 1999, had before it a report (August 25, 1999) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, advising that the accreditation survey for Kipling Acres by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from June 15-18, 1999; attaching a copy of the survey report; and recommending that:

(1)this report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for its information; and

(2)congratulations be extended to the staff and volunteers at Kipling Acres acknowledging their significant achievement;

and that the Advisory Committee directed that the aforementioned report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for information.

19.LAKESHORE LODGE - ACCREDITATION AWARD.

City Clerk

(September 17, 1999)

Advising that the Advisory Committee on Homes for the Aged on September 17, 1999, had before it a report (August 27, 1999) from the General Manager, Homes for the Aged, advising that the accreditation survey for Lakeshore Lodge by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from June 20-22, 1999; attaching a copy of the survey report; and recommending that:

(1)this report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for its information; and

(2)congratulations be extended to the staff and volunteers at Lakeshore Lodge acknowledging their significant achievement;

and that the Advisory Committee directed that the aforementioned report be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for information.

20.TORONTO AMBULANCE SERVICES TO THE GREATER TORONTO AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROPERTY.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and

General Manager, Ambulance Services

(September 22, 1999)

Recommending that:

(a)City Council advise the Regional Municipality of Peel that Toronto Ambulance will discontinue the provision of routine day-to-day emergency and non-emergency services to the GTAA effective June 30, 2000, while maintaining Toronto Ambulance's lead role in disaster and mass casualty services on the GTAA site.

(b)the appropriate City officials be given the authority to give effect thereto.

21.TORONTO AMBULANCE MARINE EMS RESCUE PROGRAM.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and

General Manager, Toronto Ambulance

(September 22, 1999)

Providing an update on the Toronto Ambulance Marine EMS Rescue Program pilot project which was established in co-operation with the Toronto Police Service Marine Unit; and recommending that the report be received for information.

22.ACQUISITION OF REPLACEMENT AMBULANCES.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

and General Manager, Ambulance Services

(September 22, 1999)

Advising that a response has been received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care responding to a recommendation contained in Clause No. 3 of Report No. 2 of the Community Services Committee, headed "Acquisition of Replacement Ambulances", adopted, as amended, by City Council on July 27, 29 and 30, 1999, with respect to exploring alternative fuel other than diesel fuel; noting that the Ministry will work with Toronto Ambulance in examining the potential application of non-diesel engines for ambulance vehicles in future, but that the replacement ambulance for the 1999 budget year will be diesel powered; and recommending that the report be received for information.

23.CONTINUING EVALUATION OF THE AMBULANCE ACT OF ONTARIO - RESPONSE TO OUTSTANDING ITEMS.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

(August 31, 1999)

Providing an update with respect to Minute No. 1.2 of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee from January 12, 1999, on the possibility of billing hospitals for the administration of the paperwork provided by Toronto Ambulance and the new Ambulance Act of Ontario and its Regulations as they relate to the issue of co-payments; advising that correspondence has been received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reaffirming that currently the legislation restricts the charging of fees for ambulance service to hospitals that either send or receive a patient by ambulance in the form of a co-payment of $45.00 charged to the patient by the hospital; indicating that there is no Provincial initiative currently underway to make changes to either the Ambulance or the Health Insurance Act relating to land ambulance payment or fees; and recommending that the report be received for information.

24.TORONTO FIRE SERVICES - 1998 ANNUAL REPORT.

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and

Fire Chief

(September 23, 1999)

Submitting, for information, the Toronto Fire Services 1998 Annual Report.

(NOTE:COPIES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED REPORT FORWARDED TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ONLY.)

25.LEARNING, EARNING AND PARENTING (LEAP) PROGRAM.

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Report to be distributed as soon as it is available.

ANY OTHER MATTERS.