Capital Funding Support for Playhouse

Child Care Centre in Ward 11

The Policy and Finance Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the report (July 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services; and

(2)that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to:

(a)reach an agreement with the Toronto District School Board respecting tenancy security on this site;

(b)submit a report to the meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee scheduled to be held on September 16, 1999:

(i)on the status of the overall negotiations with the Toronto District School Board respecting day care and parks and recreation use; and

(ii)with an update on the Capital reserve funds for Child Care Centres; and

(c)to include in the 2000-2004 Capital Budget any future anticipated projects.

The Policy and Finance Committee submits the following report (July 7, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to adjust the funding allocated to Playhouse Child Care Centre from the Child Care Capital Reserve to reflect its actual relocation costs.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The Child Care Capital Reserve was originally established by the former Metropolitan Toronto Council in 1997 to assist child care centres facing closure as a result of capital renovations to schools in which they were located. The fund was later augmented and extended in July 1998 by Toronto Council to support child care programs being evicted from schools. There are sufficient funds in the Child Care Capital Reserve to accommodate the additional relocation costs being encountered by Playhouse Child Care Centre, originally approved for funding at the July 29, 30, 31, 1998, meeting of Toronto Council.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval for up to $800,000.00 be allocated to Playhouse Child Care Centre from the Child Care Capital Reserve to support the renovation associated with its move to Greenland School; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

The former Metropolitan Toronto Council established a Child Care Capital Reserve in 1997 to assist child care centres facing closure as a result of capital renovations to the schools in which they were located. At is July 29, 30, 31, 1998 meeting, Toronto Council extended the criteria and guidelines governing the use of the Child Care Capital Reserve to assist child care programs being evicted from schools and facing renovation costs in the sites to which they were being relocated. Council specifically approved funds associated with the relocation of Pelmo Park Child Care Centre, Silverthorne Day Care and Playhouse Child Care Centre. Initial plans for Playhouse Child Care were based on preliminary estimates to build onto Greenland Public School and approval for $500,000.00 was given to Playhouse Child Care Centre for this purpose.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Playhouse Child Care Centre was expected to leave its location in September 1998. Because of uncertainty associated with potential school closures the Toronto District School Board was unable to give final approval to the proposed move to Greenland Public School until June 1999. A review of the options available to relocate Playhouse Child Care Centre has indicated that Greenland Public School is the most viable location for both the Child Care Centre and the Toronto District School Board.

The Toronto District School Board has costed the actual requirements to relocate Playhouse Child Care Centre by adding onto Greenland School. The total costs of construction will require up to $800,000.00 in capital funding. This is $300,000.00 more than originally approved by Council. Playhouse Child Care Centre does not have funds to pay for the renovation costs. Without capital funding support for the renovation the centre would be forced to close. This would have a serious impact on the stock of licensed space available to support subsidized families and could also hinder the City's ability to maintain the full level of subsidized service required under the service contract with the Province.

Playhouse Child Care Centre has successfully provided subsidized child service in Ward 11 for over twelve years. It provides much needed care to ten infants, ten toddlers, twenty four preschoolers and ten kindergarten aged children. Thirty-five more children (thirteen infants, nine toddlers, eleven preschoolers and 2 kindergarten aged) are currently on the subsidy waiting list awaiting placement in this centre. Without the capital support requested, this valued community resource will be lost and over fifty children will lose their current child care placement.

Conclusions:

The Department supports the centre's revised renovation plan and recommends that Council approve support for the revised construction estimate of up to $800,000.00. There are adequate funds remaining within the Child Care Capital Reserve to accommodate the increased construction costs associated with the relocation of Playhouse Child Care Centre to Greenland Public School.

Contact Name:

Brenda Patterson, Director, Contract and Quality Compliance, Children's Services Division;

Tel.: 392-3319; patterso@csis.csis.csd.metrotor.on.ca