May 10, 1999

To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:Minor Recreation Grants -

Eligibility Assessment of New Applicants

Recommendation:

The Municipal Grants Review Committee on May 10, 1999, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee the adoption of the attached report (April 28, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism respecting Minor Recreation Grants - Eligibility Assessment of New Applicants, subject to amending Recommendation No.(3) to read as follows:

"(3)Alexandra Park Community Centre secure an incorporated community organization that has submitted a 1999 Minor Recreation application to act as trustee in order that the application/program be reviewed."

The Municipal Grants Review Committee reports, for the information of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, having requested the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with appropriate Grants staff, to report to the new Grants Sub-Committee of the Policy and Finance Committee on setting allocation priorities beginning in the year 2000 for all high risk groups, i.e., youth, seniors etc.

City Clerk

R. Dyers/tl

Item No. 1

Sent to:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

(Report dated April 28, 1999, addressed to the

Municipal Grants Review Committee from the

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)

Purpose:

This report presents a summary of the eligibility assessment of new applicants within the 1999 Minor Recreation Grants Program and seeks direction for one late returning applicant.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)Synchro Canada Centre of Excellence be declared ineligible under the Minor Recreation Grants Program Eligibility Criteria;

(2)519 Church Street Community Centre be declared ineligible under the Minor Recreation Grants Program Eligibility Criteria;

(3)the Municipal Grants Review Committee provide direction with respect to the following options:

(a)Alexandra Park Community Centre application be declared ineligible and the application will not go forward for review; or

(b)Alexandra Park Community Centre secure an incorporated community organization that has submitted a 1999 Minor Recreation application to act as trustee in order that the application/program be reviewed.

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its meeting of September 28, 1998, the Municipal Grants Review Committee received a report titled Recreation Grants Program Review that detailed the program guidelines for an amalgamated Recreation Grants Program. Eligibility criteria for the 1999 grants cycle were revised and clarified to meet standards articulated in the program review. This eligibility criteria for the 1999 Recreation Grants Program Guidelines are attached as Appendix A.

Eligibility criteria are straightforward. Where a new applicant can be deemed ineligible based on their submission, the agency has been notified of their ineligibility for funding and that their application will not go forward to the interview and allocation processes.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

A total of 39 new applicants applied to the 1999 Minor Recreation Grants Programs. Based on eligibility criteria contained in Appendix A, staff have determined that 37 of the 39 new applicants are eligible for consideration at this stage of the review. However, these 37 organizations could be deemed ineligible based on additional information at the interview and allocation stages.

Synchro Canada's Centre of Excellence is the elite team of high performance for Canada's top ranked synchro athletes. They obtain year-round leading edge centralized training at the Etobicoke Olympium Pool and receive $743,050.00 in Federal support. Minor Recreation Grants are available to Toronto based organizations that are managed by local boards and provide direct services to Toronto residents. Synchro Canada's Board of Directors is comprised of seven members from across Canada, one of whom lives in Toronto. Minor Recreation Grants support grass root and developmental clubs and organizations that have locally established Boards and memberships. Synchro Canada's application is ineligible for Minor Recreation funding.

The City of Toronto provides Major and Minor Recreation Grants Programs. Policy for the Major and Minor Recreation Grants Programs established two separate programs and criteria that made each organization eligible in only one category. This allows both large and smaller groups to be funded. The policy establishing the Major Recreation Category is attached as Appendix B. It should be noted that the minimum level of funding for Major Recreation Grants was increased from $10,000.00 to $12,000.00 some years ago. The 519 Church Street Community Centre is eligible for and receives an annual Major Recreation Grant of $23,047.00; therefore, their application for Minor Recreation funding is ineligible.

There are two other Minor Recreation Grant applications from Major Recreation Grant recipients; however, St. Alban's Boys' and Girls' Club is applying as trustee for the Jane/Finch Boys' and Girls' Club, and Scadding Court is applying as trustee for the Lion Park of the Toronto Lion Dance Festival.

Staff are seeking direction on a late grant application received from Alexandra Park Community Centre. For 1998, Alexandra Park Community Centre received $11,000.00 from the Minor Recreation Grants Program and $14,447.00 from the Community Resources Fund (CRF). The CRF conditions stated that "future funding is conditional on demonstrated improvements in the agency's administrative and financial management of systems". Alexandra Park Community Centre was mailed a Minor Recreation Grant application in January and requested additional applications on twooccasions in 1999. Deadline for filing an application was 4 p.m. on March 15, 1999. On April1,1999, an incomplete Minor Recreation Grant application was received. Their Board Minutes of January 27, 1999, show approval of the general submission of a grant to the City of Toronto.

The Minor Recreation funding request is for a summer day camp that operates in a high needs area for eight weeks in July and August and is directed to youth program materials, outings, special events, and some administration costs. It would appear that the agency has not improved its administrative management, nor filled out or presented accurate and complete information in the grants application in a timely manner. Policy states that late applications will not be accepted or reviewed. To support one late application over another may set a precedent, as many organizations have requested applications after the deadline and have been denied. It may be possible to award some grant funds for the camp, if the Board of Directors of Alexandra Park Community Centre identifies and secures a not-for-profit incorporated community organization that has submitted a grant application to the City for 1999 funding and becomes a trustee for the administrative and financial management of the summer camp.

Conclusions:

This report summarizes the results of the eligibility assessments of new applicants under the Minor Recreation Grants Program. Pending approval of the 1999 Consolidated Grants Budget, it is anticipated that there will be limited funding available for all applicants in the Minor Recreation Grants.

Contact Name:

Cathi Forbes

Acting Recreation Grants Manager

Tel: 395-6192

(A copy of each of the Appendices referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the Municipal Grants Review Committee for its meeting on May10,1999, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)