The Decision Document is for preliminary reference purposes only.  Please refer to the Committee’s Report to City Council or to the Minutes for the official record.

 

How to Read the Decision Document:

 

•     Recommendations of the Committee to City Council appear after the item heading

•     Other action taken by the Committee on its own authority, which does not require Council’s approval, is listed in the decision document under the heading “Decision Advice and Other Information” .

•     Declarations of Interest, if any, appear at the end of an item.

 

Minutes Confirmed – May 8, 2009

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council adopt the confidential instructions to staff in Attachment 1.

 

2.         City Council authorize the release of the confidential information and recommendations in Attachment 1 once the contract for the provision of medical services is finalized to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.        City Council approve retroactive to January 1, 2009, rate increases totalling up to $5.946 million be made to eligible child care operators, family resource programs, special needs resourcing services and home child care provider rates, in  accordance with Children’s Services budget guidelines for purchased child care service providers.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council adopt this Middle Childhood Strategy Framework report, and the principles and directions contained in it and request the General Manager of Children’s Services and the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in partnership with other City program areas, to continue the development of a Middle Childhood Strategy based on this framework.

 

2.         Further research be conducted, in collaboration with the Best Start Network and other partners, on the needs of families for high quality after school programs for children ages 6 to 12.  The research should include the current distribution of such programs and any service gaps which may exist, including after school situations and the needs of Toronto's 6 to12 year olds, who, based on data, are not in a full-week after-school program in order to answer the questions: Where are they? Who are they with? What are they doing?

 

3.         The General Manager of Children's Services and the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation use this framework to align future Divisional service plans with an emphasis on ensuring common elements of program quality in out-of-school-time programs and equitable access to those programs and ensure  solid policies, procedures and funding are in place to fully realize the potential of schools as community hubs working with local agencies to deliver after-school programs for middle years children in addition to other vital community programs.

 

4.         City Council request the General Managers, Children's Services, and Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to build on the current research outlined in "Appendix 1- An Inventory of After-School Programs" to develop and include a comprehensive and detailed database of Toronto's after school programs for middle years children aged 6-12 including information on program cost, accessibility for children with special needs, program quality, cultural-appropriateness of programs and identification of school-based programs.

 

5.         These principles and directions be used to guide the development of a City response to the anticipated introduction of full-day learning for four and five year olds by the Government of Ontario.

 

6.         The General Manager, Children's Services, and the General Manager, Parks and Forestry and Recreation, report to the September 22, 2009, meeting of the Community Development and Recreation Committee on an implementation plan for the Middle Childhood Strategy.

 

7.         City Council write to the Province of Ontario to request clarification on the criteria for determining priority communities for the new After School Program.

Building on the Toronto Vision for Children, this report focuses on out-of-school-time programs for children in their middle childhood years of 6-2.  This report outlines a set of guiding principles and directions from which to begin action on developing a system of high quality out-of-school-time programs for children aged 6-2 years. It also identifies elements of high quality programs. The report recognizes that further research needs to be conducted, and anticipates that the as yet released report from the Premier’s Early Learning Advisor on Full Day Learning will impact many existing programs for this age group. It also recommends that the City’s response to Full Day Learning be informed by these principles and directions.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council grant authority  to the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS), to enter into a sole source agreement with Sylogix, Inc., satisfactory to the City Solicitor, for WAYS Phase 2, enhancements to WAYS Phase 1 which was launched in 2008. The contract value is not to exceed $1.1 million net of all taxes, over the 2 years 2009 and 2010.

 

2.         City Council grant authority to the General Manager, TESS, to enter into necessary maintenance agreements with Sylogix, Inc., satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council request that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing implement the following changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) that would improve the City’s program for notifying landlords and tenants in residential rental properties about tax decreases and rent reductions:

 

a.         require that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation provide an accurate tax assessment database to help municipalities notify landlords and tenants about tax decreases and automatic rent reductions, which would include identifying properties that are exempt from requirements for notification of automatic rent reduction and the reason for the exemption, and distinguishing between owner-occupied properties and tenant-occupied properties;

 

b.         amend the Residential Tenancies Act to extend the time limit for tenant applications for rent reductions due to property tax decreases so that tenants unaware of their right to a rent reduction may apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for the rent reduction within one year of becoming aware of the property tax decrease;

 

c.         waive the application fee for tenants applying for a rent reduction due to property tax decrease;

 

d.         amend the Residential Tenancies Act to require that where the Landlord and Tenant Board decides that rents should be reduced for a particular unit in a building based on one tenant’s rent reduction application, all tenants in the building would be automatically added as parties to the application and would all benefit from the ordered reduction in rent;

 

e.         implement any legislative and operational changes required to ensure that tenants benefit from property tax decreases of more than 2.49% in cases where the property taxes are reduced after the notification period;

 

f.          provide specific direction on tax and rent reduction calculation methods where there is a rent reduction due to an assessment shift and when there is a tax decrease in a mixed use property; and

 

g.         pay the City’s costs for administering the Rent Reduction Notification Program, including the cost for database management, education supports, and the printing and mailing of rent reduction notices.

 

2.         City Council adopt the confidential instructions to staff in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2009) from the Acting Treasurer.

 

3.         The confidential recommendations and information contained in Attachment 1 to the report (May 28, 2009) from the Acting Treasurer remain confidential until such time as the City Solicitor advises that the information can be made public.

 

4.         Information be published on the City's website, beginning in 2009, identifying rental residential properties where the property taxes have decreased by more than 2.49 per cent and the corresponding rent reduction percentages permitted under the Residential Tenancies Act, and providing information on other rental residential buildings where the taxes have decreased by 2.49 per cent or less (non-automatic rent reductions) and how tenants can apply for rent reductions, subject to limits on disclosure established under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

 

5.         The Director of Revenue Services implement procedures in 2009 to issue notifications of property tax decreases and rent reduction percentages to landlords and tenants of eligible rental properties where property tax decreases result from assessment or taxation changes occurring after the legislated timeframe for issuing such notifications.

 

6.         The appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

This report responds to the Tenant Defence Sub-Committee’s request to report on recommended changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) that would improve the City’s program for notifying landlords and tenants in residential rental properties about tax decreases and rent reductions. The report discusses the issues staff have encountered in administering the notification program since 1998 and makes recommendations for improvements to be implemented by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, tenants are permitted to reduce the rents they pay when the property taxes on the rental residential building they occupy decrease by more than 2.49 per cent from one year to the next.  The Act requires that municipalities notify landlords and tenants of property tax decreases and the amount by which rents may be decreased.  Tenants of certain rooming houses within the Parkdale Pilot Project assert that they were entitled to notifications of property tax decreases on the rental properties they occupied but that they did not receive such notices from the City.  In the event that their landlord may not have reduced their rents as required, the tenants may have been unaware of their ability to reduce the rents they pay or to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for a rent reduction.  This report outlines measures that can be taken to support tenant populations where rent reduction notices were not received.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council appoint the six individuals listed in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (May 26, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to the 2009 Identify ‘N Impact Investment Program Allocations Review Panel.

 

2.         City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Social Development Finance and Administration, to appoint INI panel members for the six remaining positions from priority neighbourhood areas not now included in the panel.

 

3.         City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to appoint INI panel members to replace any members that resign or are unable to complete their activity, from an unrepresented priority neighbourhood.

 

4.         City Council approve a change to the definition of youth in the INI Panel terms of reference to the age range of 13-24, to conform to the definition of youth used in other City programs and the Toronto Youth Cabinet.

 

5.         City Council authorize the public release of the approved list of Identify ‘N Impact panel members.

 

6.         The appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto. 

The Community Development and Recreation Committee  recommends that:

 

1.         City Council approve the 2009 Service Development Investment Program allocations totalling $399,840.00 to 13 organizations as described in Appendix A and B to the report (May 26, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

 

2.         City Council approve the expanded mandate of Service Development Investment Program to include support for service stabilization opportunities for organizations serving priority neighbourhoods.

 

3.         The appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee on May 29, 2009, considered a report (May 19, 2009) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, entitled "Parks, Forestry and Recreation 2009 Community Festivals and Special Events Allocation Recommendations", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

 

(Note: Copies of the Applicant Summary Sheets (Attachment 2) for this item were distributed to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee meeting of May 29, 2009.)

This report recommends that the $6,909.87 appeals funds from the Parks, Forestry and Recreation 2009 Community Festivals and Special Events (CFSE) Investment Program be allocated to three (3) organizations.

 

Eight (8) organizations appealed their 2009 recommended allocations through deputations and/or written appeals.   Of the eight (8) organizations, four (4) addressed the Appeals Sub-committee; one (1) did not appear; and three (3) submitted written appeals.

 

The CFSE Investment Program budget is jointly administered by Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division (PFR) and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Division.   The 2009 approved Operating Budget for the CFSE program is $142,900.00.   Parks, Forestry and Recreation’s portion is $102,100.00.  (See May 19, 2009 report “Parks, Forestry and Recreation 2009 Community Festivals and Special Events Allocation Recommendations” for details.)

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council approve the allocations for the Recreation Partnership Program (Majors) and the Recreation Investment Program (Minors) totalling $1,342,098.51, as per Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 to the report (May 19, 2009) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

 

2.         City Council approve the total appeals allocations of $49,985.49 for the Recreation Partnership Program (Majors) and the Recreation Investment Program (Minors) within the Community Partnership and Investment Program.

 

3.         City Council allocate $46,920.00 from the Recreation Partnership Program (Majors) to Dixon Hall , as per Attachment 1 to the report (June 4, 2009) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

 

4.         City Council approve a one-time transfer of $3,065.49 from the Majors to augment the Minor Recreation Investment Program appeals fund of $12,866.00.

 

5.         City Council approve an appeals fund totalling $15,931.49 to be allocated to the Minor organizations, as per Attachment 2 to the report (June 4, 2009) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

The Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee on May 29, 2009, considered a report (May 19, 2009) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, entitled "Parks, Forestry and Recreation 2009 Recreation Allocation Recommendations", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

 

(Note: Copies of the Applicant Summary Sheets (Attachments 3 and 4) for this item were distributed to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee meeting of May 29, 2009.)

This report recommends that the $49,985.49 appeals funds from the 2009 Recreation Partnership Program (generally known as Majors) be allocated to Dixon Hall in the amount of $46,920.00, and the remaining amount of $3,065.49 be a one-time transfer to  augment the $12,866.00 appeals funds of the Minor Recreation Investment Program (generally known as Minors).  The total available appeals funds for Minors is therefore $15.931.49.

 

Eleven (11) organizations appealed their 2009 recommended allocations through deputations and/or written appeals. Of the eleven (11) organizations, nine (9) addressed the Community Partnership and Investment Appeals Sub-Committee; and 2 submitted just written appeals.   Of the eleven (11) organizations, all but one (1) is recommended for appeal allocations as per Attachment 1 and Attachment 2.

 

The existence of such a significant appeals fund in the Majors is primarily a result of a late application from Dixon Hall. As well, Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club reduced their request as they are no longer acting as Trustee for Green Thumbs Growing Kids, who are now incorporated and are recommended under the 2009 Minor program.

 

The Major Recreation Partnership Program guidelines specify that the program “allows for a structured link between Parks, Forestry and Recreation and organizations to ensure coordination of planning and service delivery.”  Partnership with multi-service agencies is the focus of the Major Grant program. On the other hand, the Minor Grant Program focuses on investment and supporting neighbourhood development.  In recognition of the distinctions between these two programs, funding should normally be kept separate.

 

However, it is recommended that given that the special circumstance that Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club is no longer supporting the grant application for the Green Thumb Growing Kids through the Majors program, a surplus of $3,065.49 in the Majors program be transferred to the 2009 Minor Grant program on a one-time, this year only basis.

 

Appeals were heard on May 29, 2009 at the Community Partnership and Investment Appeals Sub-Committee meeting at City Hall. (See May 19, 2009 report “Parks, Forestry and Recreation 2009 Recreation Allocation Recommendations” for details).

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council approve total allocations in the amount of $210,600.00 for the 2009 Access, Equity and Human Rights (AEHR) – Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP) as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report (May 13, 2009) from the City Manager.

 

2.         City Council allocate the 2009 Access Equity and Human Rights (AEHR) - Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP) Appeals Fund of $5.0 thousand as follows:

 

            a.         $4.0 thousand to Canadian Tibetan Association; and
b.         $1.0 thousand to Midaynta Community Services.

The Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee on May 29, 2009, considered a report (May 13, 2009) from the City Manager, entitled "2009 Allocations - Access, Equity and Human Rights (AEHR) - Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP)", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

 

(Note: Copies of the Applicant Summary Sheets (Appendix 2) for this item were distributed to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee meeting of May 29, 2009.)

The Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee on May 29, 2009, considered a report (May 15, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, entitled "Community Safety Investment Program (CSI) 2009 Allocation Recommendations", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

 

(Note: Copies of the Applicant Summary Sheets (Appendix B) for this item were distributed to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee meeting of May 29, 2009.) 

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council approve allocations for the Community Service Partnerships totalling $11,645,525.00 for 497 programs in 230 organizations as recommended in Appendices A and D, to the report (May 15, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

 

2.         City Council approve the recommendation of $68,000.00 for the Regent Park Neighbourhood Initiative for the period of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, subject to the organization providing an updated budget and supporting documentation, satisfactory to the Director, Community Resources.

 

3.         The grant allocated for the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre of $6,120.00 in 2009 under the Recreation Investment Program be transferred to the Community Partnership Program starting in 2010.

 

4.         Community Service Partnership (CSP) provide funded organizations that deliver seniors social recreation programs that are also funded by the Provincial Elderly Person’s Centre  program,  with the ability to transfer up to 50% of an approved 2009 CSP allocation within the funding period, with the approval of the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration:

 

a.         from one approved Seniors Elderly Person’s Centre (EPC) program to another approved Seniors EPC program; and

 

b.         from one approved Seniors EPC program to a new provincially funded EPC program.

 

5.         City Council allocate the 2009 Community Service Partnerships (CSP) appeals fund of $31,505.00 to the organizations as recommended in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report (June 3, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

 

6.         The appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee on May 29, 2009, considered a report (May 15, 2009) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, entitled "Community Service Partnership Program - 2009 Allocation Recommendations", and forwarded its recommendations to the Community Development and Recreation Committee.

 

(Note: Copies of the Applicant Summary Sheets (Appendix E) for this item were distributed to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Sub-Committee meeting of May 29, 2009.)