October 20, 1999

To: Policy and Finance Committee

From: City Clerk

Subject: Contingency Grants Requests

Recommendation:

The Grants Sub-Committee on October 20, 1999, recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council, the adoption of the attached report (October 6, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting awards of grants to The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, Volunteers Etobicoke and The East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club, subject to such grants being allocated on a one-time basis only.

The Grants Sub-Committee reports, for the information of the Policy and Finance Committee, having requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to:

(1) undertake a detailed review prior to the 2000 Grants cycle on The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, Volunteers Etobicoke, and East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club; and

(2) report to the Grants Sub-Committee on the historical funding from both the private and public sector for each of these organizations, and including information as to where the money is being targeted.

Background

The Grants Sub-Committee had before it a report (October 9, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the request for a one-time grant for restructuring costs of The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, Volunteers Etobicoke and East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club; and recommending that:

(1) Contingency Grants totaling $15,000.00 be allocated to The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto ( $5,000.00), Volunteers Etobicoke ($5,000.00), and East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club ($5,000.00); and

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

City Clerk

B.Sears/tl

Item No. 3

Sent to: Policy and Finance Committee

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

c: Mr. Chris Brillinger, Community and Neighbourhood Services Department

(Report dated October 9, 1999, addressed to the

Grants Sub-Committee from the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services)

Purpose:

This report presents a recommendation to support a request for a one-time grant for restructuring costs for The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, Volunteers Etobicoke, and East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Sufficient funds for these allocations exist within the approved 1999 Consolidated Grants appropriation.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) Contingency Grants totaling $15,000.00 be allocated to The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto ( $5,000.00), Volunteers Etobicoke ($5,000.00), and East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club ($5,000.00); and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

Under the general authority for making municipal grants provided in Section 113(1) of the Municipal Act, all of the former municipalities provided support to the not-for-profit sector through community service grants.

On June 30, 1999, the Community Services Committee received a report entitled ACommunity Services Grants Program (C.S.G.P.) B 1999 Appeals Report@, which recommended that a request of $10,000.00 from the Contingency Grant for the one-time restructuring costs of Volunteers Etobicoke ($5,000.00) and for East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club ($5,000.00) be referred to the Grants Sub-Committee to be established under the Policy and Finance Committee.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

One-time costs associated to agency restructuring are not eligible under the criteria of the Community Services Grants Program. As a result these requests have been referred to the Contingency Grant program.

The two organizations have been undergoing discussions concerning a possible amalgamation for the past 12 months with the support and encouragement of City staff. Given the current unfavorable funding climate, staff have supported the restructuring efforts of organizations particularly where they enable community-based services to continue.

In June 1999, both organizations formally endorsed an Amalgamation Alliance and submitted the outlines of an implementation plan to the Community Resources Unit fulfilling their grant conditions.

Volunteers Etobicoke made their request for $5,000.00 through the C.S.G.P. appeals process and were referred to the Grants Sub-Committee, with a subsequent request being made by The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto for $5,000.00.

East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club have recently merged with Neighbourhood Resources of Scarborough and in 1999 a joint application was submitted to the Community Service Grants Program. East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club made their request for $5,000.00 through the C.S.G.P. appeals process and were referred to the Grants Sub-Committee.

Staff have reviewed the requests and determined that they meet the criteria for the Contingency Grant.

Conclusion:

It is recommended that a Contingency Grant totaling $15,000.00 for oneBtime restructuring costs be allocated as follows:

(1) The Volunteer Centre of Metropolitan Toronto ($5,000.00):

(2) Volunteers Etobicoke ($5,000.00); and

(3) East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club ($5,000.00).

Contact Name:

Kamaldeep Sangha

Tel: 392B8527/Fax: 392B8492