COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE

  A G E N D A

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

  DEPUTATIONS.LIST TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT MEETING

COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

 1.TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD - PRESSURES RESULTING

FROM PROVINCIAL RESTRUCTURING OF EDUCATION FINANCE.

 Mr. John Davies,

Director - Executive Council,

Toronto District School Board

(April 6, 1998)

 Requesting the opportunity to appear before the Committee to discuss a number of issues resulting from the Provincial restructuring of education finance which has created considerable pressure on the ability of school boards to deliver services to the community.

2.IMPACT OF EDUCATION FUNDING CHANGES ON

PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN.

 City Clerk

(April 15, 1998)

 Advising that on April 6, 1998, the Children=s Action Committee recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that:

 (1)the Provincial Government be advised of Council=s extreme concern that the Provincial Government=s new education funding model will jeopardize the services currently provided in Toronto to children and their families;

 (2)the Provincial Government be requested to review its education funding allocation and broaden its definition of classroom and student needs to include the whole education community to ensure that there are adequate resources available to address children=s needs such as: nutrition programs; childcare; adult education; Aafter four@ programs; community use of schools; programs and services for newly arrived students and their families; additional staff and programs for inner City students; and other services that improve a student=s Areadiness to learn@;

 (3)the Provincial Government be invited to appoint two MPPs from its caucus representing the Toronto Area to work with City and Toronto School Board officials to ensure that the programs listed in Recommendation No. (2) are protected;

 (4)the Mayor and the Children=s Advocate, together with representatives from the Board of Health and the Toronto School District Board be requested to meet with the Minister of Community and Social Services to seek a matching contribution of $1.2 million from the Province for the continuation of the children=s nutrition program; and

 (5)the Toronto District School Board be requested to continue its immigration settlement activities by creating a partnership approach which involves the Toronto School Boards, the City, and the Provincial and Federal Governments; and

 (6)funding be provided to fill the 2,000 licensed daycare spaces currently vacant; and, further that Council be advised that the Children=s Action Committee reiterated point No. (1) of its previous recommendation to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, viz:

 AThat the following principles be considered during the 1998 budget process:

 (1)that there be an expansion of child care subsidies to ensure that the 2,000 vacancies in the licensed child care system are filled; .....@

 (NOTE:Recommendation No. (6) has also been submitted to the Budget Committee for consideration at its meeting on April 20, 1998.)

 3.EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR YOUTH.

 Councillor Jack Layton,

Co-Chair,

Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(April 9, 1998)

 Respecting the need for emergency shelter for youth; and recommending that, given that a number of the temporary winter facilities, created by the Hostel Services Division during the winter of 1997/98 to address increased demand for daytime and overnight emergency shelter, are scheduled to close on April 30, 1998, resulting in a significant reduction in overnight services for a minimum of 120 youth per night:

 (1)the City of Toronto Hostels Division recognize the need for expanded overnight services for youth as a high priority and continue to explore all possible options for meeting the needs of youth using the services at The Satellite, 60 Richmond Street, 11 Ordnance Street and the Out of the Cold programs; specifically:

 (a)that existing youth shelters be surveyed to determine the potential for adding Aemergency service@ beds, funded at the current per diem rate; and

 (b)given the success of the model utilized by Eva=s Place at The Satellite, that a high priority be placed on finding another facility to enable the program to continue to operate; and

 (2)the City of Toronto promote the creation of permanent housing for youth in recognition that emergency shelters are not an effective long term solution to homelessness.

4.PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS BY REDUCING EVICTIONS.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(April 9, 1998)

 Responding to the request of the Committee on March 26 and 27, 1998, to report on a number of recommendations embodied in a communication from the Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons regarding AAn Eviction Prevention Strategy for the City of Toronto; and recommending that:

 (1)a meeting between MTHA, MTHCL, Cityhome and representatives of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons be convened to discuss policies and procedures for working with tenants to avoid arrears and economic evictions;

     (2)the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services report to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the matter of the proposal for a AUse it or Lose it@ by-law as considered by the former Metropolitan Council at the time of adoption of the Report of the Metro Stakeholder Panel on Housing in September 1997;

 (3)City Council refer the report, AAn Eviction Prevention Strategy for the City of Toronto@, of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons to the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to be considered in their 1998 review of a uniform by-law for accessory apartment units and for a report back to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee as soon as possible;

 (4)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to undertake a proposal call for a rent bank pilot project as outlined in this report, and report back should authority for funding be required; and

 (5)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

5.PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT - NORTH-EAST QUADRANT,

NORTH REGENT PARK, DON RIVER WARD.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(April 7, 1998)

 Advising that, in May 1997, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, on behalf of Ontario Housing Corporation, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to the development industry for the redevelopment of the north-east quadrant of North Regent Park via a public/private partnership in the area comprising lands bounded by Gerrard Street on the north, River Street on the east, Oak Street on the south, and Sumach Street on the west; outlining the results of the RFP process; indicating that a team comprised of staff from various City Departments has been formed to deal with this Provincial/private sector proposal; noting that financial information on the proposal will be provided when details are further developed, but that there is no impact on the 1998 budget; and recommending that:

 (1)staff be directed to continue working with Provincial representatives, and with the Province=s development partner, to further the proposed redevelopment, on the basis of the City goals and objectives set out in the body of this report;

 (2)staff be instructed to report back to Council when the redevelopment proposals are further advanced including all costs, revenues, and any contribution from the City, if required; and

 (3)staff be requested to report again in two months on the progress of negotiations between the parties, and the extent to which the City=s goals and objectives are being satisfied.

 6.TORONTO HERITAGE FUND GRANT APPLICATION - 45 SOUTH DRIVE.

 Acting Managing Director, Heritage Toronto

(March 31, 1998)

 Advising that on September 18, 1997, Ms. Louise Mac Donald, Mac Donald Design Build Inc., acting for the owner of the property located at 45 South Drive, applied for a Toronto Heritage Fund grant for the restoration of the exterior of the building; and recommending that:

 (1)the Toronto Heritage Fund application for 45 South Drive for a matching sum of up to $5,000.00 be approved;

 (2)the grant be conditional on the owner entering into a Restoration Grant agreement prepared by the City Legal Department, in consultation with the Acting Managing Director, Heritage Toronto; and

 (3)the owner ensure that the Board=s support for the project is suitably recognized.

7.PROVISION OF DENTAL SERVICES TO

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(April 14, 1998)

 Providing an update on recent Provincial announcements regarding the provision of dental services for social assistance recipients in Toronto, and on the larger review of changes in dental services provided by the municipality that is being undertaken jointly by Toronto Public Health and the Social Services Division; and recommending that the report be received for information.

8.CAREFREE LODGE HOME FOR THE AGED -

THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION AWARD.

 City Clerk

(April 3, 1998)

 Advising, for information, that the accreditation survey for Carefree Lodge by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation was carried out from November 26-28, 1997, and that the Home received a three-year award.

  ANY OTHER MATTERS.

 
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