Indoor Bocce Program User Fees for Older Adults

The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following Resolution by Councillor Mammoliti, North York Humber:

WHEREAS the City's Chair of the User Fee Committee initiated an amalgamated city wide policy on free bocce for seniors; and

WHEREAS a Bocce/Card Playing Advisory Committee established by the User Fee Committee and endorsed by the Economic Development and Parks Committee, has made recommendations to the North Division Parks and Recreation staff and a staff report has been drawn up; and

WHEREAS a memorandum and report dated July 22, 1999, makes six recommendations; and

WHEREAS Toronto Parks and Recreation Policies re Bocce for Seniors, are being implemented without regard to the Advisory Committee's recommendations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the North York Community Council review the issue of indoor bocce program user fees for older adults; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the North York Community Council recommend that the recommendations made by the Bocce/Card Playing Advisory Committee be adopted.

The North York Community Council also submits the following memorandum (July 22, 1999) from the Acting Manager, Parks and Recreation, West Region, addressed to the Director, Parks and Recreation, North District:

"On Monday, July 5, 1999, Parks and Recreation Division staff attended a meeting with Councillor George Mammoliti, Councillor Mario Giansante and representatives from various bocce clubs including Gord and Irene Risk Indoor Bocce Centre, Grandravine Indoor Bocce Centre, Amesbury Indoor Bocce Centre, Grey Club, Kingsview Club and Riverlea Seniors Club.

The meeting discussed the impact of the new user fee policy on older adults playing indoor bocce. The users of the bocce program wanted to ensure that older adults, across the City, have full and equitable access to indoor bocce programs. The following recommendations were agreed to by the representatives present at the meeting:

(1)an older adult is any individual over the age of 60 years;

(2)older adults are responsible for paying $10.00 for an indoor bocce court membership fee which will allow them access to any bocce facility in the City of Toronto;

(3)any person with a disability will be treated as an older adult;

(4)all indoor bocce facilities, with full and regulation size courts, will be operated and staffed by the City of Toronto, Parks and Recreation Division;

(5)older adults playing cards, in the bocce areas, are required to purchase a membership card at a cost of $10.00; and

(6)all indoor bocce facilities will have hours of operation as follows:

Monday - Thursday12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Friday - Sunday12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

The recommendations are consistent with the new user fee policy which classifies the indoor bocce program as a subscriber program. The new policy, however, recommends that older adults pay a $12.00 membership fee for subscriber programs rather than the $10.00 recommended at the meeting.

In addition to the user fee issues, the representatives at the meeting were unanimous in the view that the Parks and Recreation Division should manage and staff all regulation size indoor bocce facilities to ensure consistency in the application of policies and procedures.

Councillor Mammoliti was requested that staff prepare a report for Council on the issues agreed to at the July 5, 1999 meeting."