June 1, 1999
To:Community Services Committee
From:Commissioner of Community & Neighbourhood Services
Subject:Capital Funding Support for Pelmo Park Child Care Centre
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to seek approval to adjust the funding allocated to Pelmo Park Child Care Centre from the
Child Care Capital Reserve to reflect their 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 and renovation costs
being encountered by Pelmo Park 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 $150,000 be allocated to Pelmo Park Child Care Centre from the Child Care Capital Reserve to
support the renovation costs associated with their relocation to Westminster United Church; 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 its 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 renovations 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. Based on an expected move to a property located on the grounds
of Humber Memorial Hospital, approval for $25,000 was given to cover what were expected to be Pelmo's Park's share of
the relocation costs.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Pelmo Park Child Care Centre was expected to leave its location at Pelmo Park School by August 31, 1998. Preliminary
negotiations with Humber Memorial Hospital to relocate the child care centre to a building on the hospital grounds were
based on the assumption that the necessary renovations would be shared by the Hospital and the centre. Pelmo's share was
estimated to be $25,000. Because the proposed relocation did not have appropriate zoning, the move of the child care
centre to its new location was delayed and the program was forced to operate from two interim locations. In September,
1998, a portion of the program was temporarily relocated to Westminster United Church while the remainder of the
program was able to secure a month by month extension in the existing school location. Although the zoning for the child
care centre was eventually resolved the program was unable to secure sufficient security of tenure at the hospital site and as
a result pursued an alternate plan. Westminster United Church agreed to house the entire child care program and to provide
an agreeable long term lease arrangement. The centre must complete its renovation to the church facility in time to relocate
all the children to the new site by September 1999.
In order to complete the renovations necessary to meet the licensing requirements of the Day Nurseries Act, up to $150,000
in capital funding is required. This is $125,000 more than originally approved by Council. Pelmo Park Child Care Centre
does not have the funds to pay for these added renovations costs. Without additional capital funding support, the centre
will 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.
Conclusions:
The Department supports the centre's revised relocation and renovation plan and recommends that Council approve support
for the revised renovation estimate of up to $150,000. There are adequate funds remaining within the Child Care Capital
Reserve to accommodate the increased renovation costs associated with the relocation of Pelmo Park Child Care Centre to
the Westminster United Church site.
Contact Name
Brenda Patterson
Director, Contract & Quality Compliance
Children's Services Division
Tel.: 392-3319
email: patterso@csis.csis.csd.metrotor.on.ca
General Manager of Children's Services
Commissioner of Community & Neighbourhood Services
