York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors - Bocce Courts

- Ward 28 York Eglinton

The Economic Development and Parks Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the report (August 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, subject to deleting the words "during the months of July and August from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m." in Recommendation No. (2);

(2)that between now and the 2000 Grants Review process, the Recreation Division cover the new costs incurred by the opening of the new Bocce facilities at this location; and

(3)that the communication (June 7, 1999) from Ms. Lisa Tobio, Executive Director, York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors be received.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report back to the Economic Development and Parks Committee on co-ordinating the York-Fairbank Bocce facility with other such facilities across the City in accordance with the new process emanating from the Bocce Review, including the Pleasantview facility.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee submits the following report (August 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

At the Economic Development and Parks Committee meeting held on Monday, June 21, 1999, members had before them correspondence from the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors. The Centre requested that Committee approve a grant in the amount of $27,500.00 for the Centre to hire a co-ordinator for the bocce program offered by the Seniors Centre in the new bocce facility at Fairbank Park.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications:

There is no financial impact to the Department.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Division, West District - East Region staff provide the maintenance and management of the new bocce facility in Fairbank Park and that a permit procedure be in place to allow the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors to request time for use of the bocce facility;

(2)maintenance staff of the City of Toronto be available to cover permits as requested during the months of July and August from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., and from September through December 1999 from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.; and

(3)the request for additional funds to include wages and mileage be included as part of the grant application submitted by the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors to the Social Development Unit of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The City of Toronto recently constructed three indoor bocce courts in Fairbank Park. The new bocce facility will be maintained by City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Division maintenance staff as is the current procedure with the Fairbank Community Centre which is adjacent to the new building.

The York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors applies for a community grant each year through the Social Development Unit of Community and Neighbourhood Services. In addition, the Centre receives additional funds as outlined in their request in order to provide a snow link program for older adults in Ward 28. Further, it should be noted that the Centre currently has an active bocce club that is part of the membership of the York-Fairbank Centre which currently operates the program in the five outdoor courts which are also located in Fairbank Park.

The Parks and Recreation Division intends to operate the bocce facility to provide maintenance and caretaking coverage during the operating hours. As with other facilities located in the Fairbank Community Centre, the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors will be required to apply for a permit to use the bocce facility and that would allow for any regulations that the Centre would like to monitor to include membership during their permitted hours. Any other hours that are available for use by the general public will be permitted as time permits. The Parks and Recreation staff are also aware that the primary users of the facility will be the bocce club members of the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors.

As the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors has completed their application for this year's grant, there may be an opportunity to adjust or appeal from 1999. Currently, the Parks and Recreation Division covers all costs for the facility as part of the in-kind grant.

Staff currently working at the Fairbank Community Centre, will consult with recreation staff working at both the Piccininni Community Centre in the South District and the Amesbury Community Centre in the North District, to understand the method in which those districts offer indoor bocce at their facility.

The Bocce Sub-committee was consulted regarding staff resourcing and advised that staffing bocce facilities is not part of the Sub-committee's mandate at this time.

Conclusions:

That the Parks and Recreation Division go forward with the permit process and the hours of operation requested by the Centre, and that their request for additional grant money be referred to the grants process of the Social Development Unit of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

Contact Names:

Mr. Don Boyle, 394-5723, Mr. Kevin Bowser, 394-2486.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee also submits the following communication (June 7, 1999) from Ms. Lisa Tobio, Executive Director, York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors in the City of York:

We are writing to you on behalf of York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors, Board of Directors and Bocce Club members. It has come to our attention that our new Bocce facility is set to be ready for use by the middle of July but many issues have not been resolved with this facility.

We have met with other facilities representatives and are requesting the following in complying with other City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Centres which provide similar services.

We are requesting that all members taking part in Bocce or any other program at York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors become members of our fine Centre. We are requesting that the Centre should stay open on the following days and times:

July 1999 and August 1999 - 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m.

(closed from August 23 to September 6, 1999)

September 7, 1999 to February 28, 2000

(12:00 noon - 9:00 p.m. seven days a week)

(closed Friday, December 24, Saturday, December 25, Monday, December 27, Tuesday, December 28, Friday, December 31, 1999, Saturday, January 1, Monday, January 3, 2000)

As in other facilities, a staff member should also be assigned to co-ordinate these new Bocce courts. Our attached proposal is similar to the Snow Link Program partnership that the City of Toronto and York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors presently have, in which program services are provided through our office and billed to the City of Toronto. This Co-ordinator will also be responsible for keeping statistics on level of participation, hours of participation and age/sex of participants.

Program Co-ordinator

Cost for program from July 1999 - February 2000

Due to the nature of this position, Co-ordinators will have to have speaking, reading and writing skills in Italian and Portuguese. Have CPR training and some experience in dealing with Seniors.

Wages:

July-August 1999

6 weeks at 42 hours at $12.50 per hour

$3,150.00 + $470.00 (statutory benefits) =$3,620.00

September 1999 - February 2000

26 weeks at 63 hours at $12.50 per hour

$20,475.00 + $2,525.00 (statutory benefits) =$23,000.00

Mileage$880.00

Total Wages:$27,500.00

All overhead costs such as office supplies, beverage costs and liability insurance will have to be covered by the Seniors Centre.

In discussing this with the other Centres they will be forwarding staff wage reports to our Centre and we will then forward them to Community Council, as soon as they are received.

--------

The following Members of Council appeared before the Economic Development and Parks Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Councillor Rob Davis, York Eglinton; and

-Councillor Joe Mihevc, York Eglinton.