Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Organizational Structure for the New Committee of Adjustment

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having :

(1)referred Recommendation (2) to (6) of the report (August 26, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services and the following motions to Community Councils for review and comment to the Planning and Transportation Committee for its November 1, 1999 meeting:

By Councillor McConnell:

"That Recommendation 2(iii) of the report (August 26, 1999) be amended to clarify that it is the Committee of Adjustment that appoints a City-wide Chair, so as to read:

"2(iii)the Committee of Adjustment appoint a City-wide Chair to provide leadership for the Committee and each Panel appoint a District Chair to guide the process at the local level"; and"

By Councillor Berger

"That the membership of the Committee of Adjustment consist of 5 members, chaired by the Secretary-Treasurer."

(2)requested the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to report to the next meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee on October 4, 199, and to the Community Councils, if possible:

(a)with a compilation of sample staff reports utilized by each of the Committees of Adjustment for review by the Planning and Transportation Committee with a view to recommending a standard format;

(b)on how the process could be structured to allow for evening meetings where requested;

(c)on a "bump-up" provision for evening meetings made at the request of a City Councillor;

(d)on the right of a City Councillor to defer a hearing for additional community input;

(e)on amending the second "Basic Qualification for Appointment to the Committee of Adjustment" contained in Appendix 3 of the report (August 26, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services by deleting the words "and/or municipal property taxpayer in", so as to read:

"Any person applying for appointment shall be, and must maintain status throughout their term of office as:

-a resident of the City of Toronto

-a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant

-at least 18 years of age"

(f)on a Committee of Adjustment fee increase to accommodate for an increase in the membership of the panels, as follows:

-north, east and west panels to 7 members with 5 members sitting per session; and

-south district panel to 9 members

(3)requested the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to give a presentation on the organizational structure for the new Committee of Adjustment when it considers this matter and the comments from the Community Councils.

(August 26, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services recommending an organizational structure for a new city-wide Committee of Adjustment, as requested by City Council prior to proceeding with the nomination process and subsequent appointments, advising that the City Solicitor will submit the draft enabling by-law which is required by the Planning Act, and recommending that:

(1)this report be referred to the Community Councils for review and comment to the Planning and Transportation Committee for its November 1, 1999 meeting;

(2)Council approve the following structure for the new Committee of Adjustment for the City of Toronto:

(I)the Committee operate as four District Panels corresponding with the four geographic Districts through which City Planning services are delivered;

(ii)the Committee comprise a total of 22 members assigned and nominated as follows:

North District: 5 membersall nominated by North York Community Council;

South District: 7 membersall nominated by Toronto Community Council;

East District: 5 members2 nominated by East York Community Council; and

3 nominated by Scarborough Community Council;

West District: 5 members2 nominated by York Community Council; and

3 nominated by Etobicoke Community Council;

(iii)the Committee appoint a city-wide Chair, to provide leadership for the Committee and each Panel appoint a District Chair to guide the process at the local level;

(iv)each Hearing be conducted by three of the respective District Panel members, the sitting members to be assigned on a rotational basis;

(v)each Committee Hearing be held during regular business hours; and

(vi)the Committee's four District Panels conduct Hearings in the following four locations: Toronto City Hall and the North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke civic centres;

(3)the City Solicitor be requested to prepare a by-law for presentation to and approval by City Council to constitute one Committee of Adjustment for the City of Toronto and to delegate approval authority to hear applications for minor variance/permission and for the creation of new lots by consent, as permitted by the Planning Act;

(4)City Council direct the City Clerk's Division, Corporate Services Department to commence the process for nominations by the Community Councils;

(5)the Committee of Adjustment, when constituted, be requested to appoint the City Planning Executive Director/Chief Planner or delegate(s) as its Secretary-Treasurer; and

(6)the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services submit a report to City Council, at the beginning of its next term, evaluating the new Committee of Adjustment's organizational structure.

(b)Tenant Defence Fund

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having:

(1)referred the report (August 24, 1999) from the Chair and Members of the Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhoods Services, with a request that she report thereon, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, to the Planning and Transportation Committee's next meeting on October 4, 1999 for subsequent submission to the Policy and Finance Committee at its October 14, 1999 meeting and thereon to Council for its October 26, 1999 meeting; and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to develop various scenarios as to how the needs, as outlined in the report from the Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control, can be staffed and fulfilled, identify the level of cost in responding to these needs and define the term 'unreasonable "above-guideline" rent increases' referred to in the Sub-Committee's report.

(August 24, 1999) from Councillor Michael Walker, Chair, Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control requesting that the Planning and Transportation Committee endorse the Sub-Committee to Restore Rent Control's recommendation to establish a Tenant Defence Fund, in principle, to assist tenants and tenant associations in opposing unreasonable "above-guideline" rent increases, and recommending that:

(1)the Planning and Transportation Committee recommend to City Council the establishment of a Tenant Defence Fund, in principle, that would provide assistance to tenants and tenant associations wishing to oppose unreasonable "above-guideline" rent increases at the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal;

(2)this fund be used to hire on an on-going basis;

(a)two tenant consultants/organizers who could assist tenants in effectively organizing and presenting their case at the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal hearings; and

(b)one construction engineer/consultant who could testify as an expert, on behalf of the tenants at Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal hearings; and

(3)the Planning and Transportation Committee request the appropriate city staff to develop an implementation strategy for the Tenant Defence Fund giving consideration to:

(a)options such as hiring the required staff internally to work in the Shelter, Housing Support Division; issuing a Request for Proposal to solicit individuals outside the corporation; or, involving the Federation of Metro Tenants' Association; and

(b)establishing a system and criteria for managing the Tenant Defence Fund, including the possibility of providing intervenor funding to groups needing assistance.

 (c)Parkdale Deck - Status Report (Wards 19 & 20 - High Park and Trinity-Niagara)

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having received the report (June 30, 1999) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services and forwarded same to the Official Plan Reference Group and the Toronto Olympic Committee for comment.

(June 30, 1999) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services providing background and comment on the Parkdale Deck proposal and recommending that this report be received for information.

 (d)Retirement and Lodging Homes

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having:

(1)endorsed the recommendations of the Community Services Committee as outlined in the attached communication (September 9, 1999) from the City Clerk, subject to amending Recommendation 1(a)(8) by adding the words "through the Budget Advisory Committee" after the words "Policy and Finance Committee", so as to read:

"1(a)(8)the funding implications of a longer-term solution be subject to a report to the Policy and Finance Committee, through the Budget Advisory Committee, for consideration with the year 2000 Operating Budget process; and"

and requested that notice of its endorsement be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration at its September 16, 1999 meeting.

(2)requested the City Solicitor to report to the Planning and Transportation Committee for consideration at its next meeting on October 4, 1999 on:

(a)appropriate draft by-laws which would extend, to the newly amalgamated City of Toronto, the enforcement powers that presently exist in the former Cities of Toronto and Etobicoke with respect to the Personal Care Rooming House By-law and the Lodging Houses By-law;

(b)the ability of the City of Toronto to extend, to the newly amalgamated City of Toronto, powers that were granted to a former municipality by way of Special Legislation, and the process for enacting such extensions.

(September 9, 1999) from the City Clerk forwarding a joint report (September 8, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Medical Officer of Health to the September 13, 1999 meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee for information, insofar as it pertains to municipal property standards, zoning and related issues, with a request that any comments thereon be submitted directly to the Policy and Finance Committee for its meeting on September 16, 1999, and advising that it also:

(1)recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council:

(a)the adoption of the attached joint report dated September 8, 1999, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Medical Officer of Health, subject to the recommendations being amended to read as follows:

"It is recommended that:

(1)a Retirement and Lodging Homes Advisory Committee be established, comprised of Councillors Ootes (Deputy Mayor), Johnston (Seniors Advocate), Filion (Chair, Board of Health), Duguid (Chair, Community Services Committee), Jones (Vice-Chair, Community Services Committee), and Flint (Chair, Planning and Transportation Committee);

(2)a Retirement and Lodging Homes Action Team, led by Public Health, be established with membership from Homes for the Aged, Municipal Standards and Licensing, Fire, Ambulance, Buildings, Legal Services, Shelter Housing and Support, Toronto Police, and Social Development. This team will immediately implement a short-term action plan to address complaints and concerns from the public regarding retirement homes;

(3)the City of Toronto fully apply its existing legal powers to investigate complaints related to the health and safety of residents in retirement homes across the City;

(4)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health and City Solicitor, establish an interdepartmental working group comprised of staff from Police, Fire, Ambulance and Legal as well as other appropriate stakeholders. This working group will report back to the Retirement and Lodging Homes Advisory Committee by November 1999, and by December 1999 to the Community Services Committee and the Planning and Transportation Committee on the scope of the problem, issues related to the development and monitoring of mechanisms for ensuring quality and standards of care, and possible roles for the City, the Province and other stakeholders in this regard;

(5)this report be forwarded to the Planning and Transportation Committee and the Policy and Finance Committee;

(6)the estimated funding of $527,500.00 required for the short-term solution be absorbed in the Community and Neighbourhood Services 1999 approved Operating Budget, and that a report be submitted to the Policy and Finance Committee on the details of this expenditure, and the underexpenditures in 1999 that may be reallocated for this purpose, as part of the 1999 Operating Budget Variance reporting process;

(7)the 1999 expenditures required to immediately implement the initiatives proposed by the Retirement and Lodging Homes Action Team be approved and futher that the City seek 50/50 cost-sharing from the Province of Ontario to cover these expenditures;

(8)the funding implications of a longer-term solution be subject to a report to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration with the year 2000 Operating Budget process; and

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

(b)that all references to the Retirement Homes Advisory Committee and the Retirement Homes Action Team, referred to in the joint report, be amended to read Retirement and Lodging Homes Advisory Committee and the Retirement and Lodging Homes Action Team respectively; and

(c)that the focus of both the Retirement and Lodging Homes Advisory Committee and the Retirement and Lodging Homes Action Team include retirement and lodging homes where personal support is being provided on site;

(2)directed that the Policy and Finance Committee be requested to expedite discussion of the aforementioned joint report from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Medical Officer of Health to ensure consideration by Council at its meeting on September 28, 1999; and

(3)directed that the aforementioned joint report be forwarded to the September 13, 1999, meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee for information, insofar as it pertains to municipal property standards, zoning and related issues, with a request that any comments thereon be submitted directly to the Policy and Finance Committee for its meeting on September 16, 1999.

Bob Rose, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, appeared before the Planning and Transportation Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

      Respectfully submitted,

 Councillor Joanne Flint,

Chair

Toronto, September 13, 1999

Christine Archibald

Tel. (416) 392-7039