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.UNIFORM POLICY FOR LEASHED AND UNLEASHED DOGS IN PARKS.

 Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and

Medical Officer of Health

(June 30, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)the process and guidelines for designating off-leash areas in City of Toronto parks, as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2, be adopted;

 (2)the number of dogs allowed under the control of one person in a City of Toronto park be limited to three which is the maximum allowed to be owned by one household, and the City Solicitor be asked to draft appropriate legislation to give effect thereto;

 (3)Animal Services be requested to report back on any additional resources required to increase their capacity to work with the community to encourage voluntary compliance with park by-laws; and further that Animal Services be authorized to approach potential corporate partners to solicit funding for educational programming;

 (4)staff be directed to review all existing arrangements where off-leash areas currently exist and report back with suggested amendments in accordance with Recommendation No. (1);

 (5)the Commissioner of Corporate Services be requested to report on the feasibility of using vacant City lands for the development of "dog parks";

 (6)this report be sent to the Board of Health for comment to City Council; and

 (7)the appropriate City officials be authorized to give effect thereto.

 1a.Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski

(May 7, 1998)

 Forwarding a copy of Clause 32 of Report No. 12 of the Neighbourhoods Committee, entitled "Dogs Off-Leash in Designated Areas - City of Toronto" which was adopted, as amended, by the former City of Toronto Council on September 22 and 23, 1997.

 1b.(May 22, 1998)

 Submitting a communication (May 15, 1998) from Mr. and Mrs. D. Teixeira forwarding a petition requesting a designated "leash-free area in Rennie Park near the ravine.

 (NOTE:A COPY OF THE PETITION, REFERRED TO IN THE FOREGOING COMMUNICATION (1b), CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 132 NAMES IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.)

 2.SALE OF SCATTERED UNITS OWNED BY ONTARIO

HOUSING CORPORATION IN THE CITY OF TORONTO.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(June 30, 1998)

 Responding to the request of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to report on the Department's position regarding the sale of Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority scattered units; and recommending that:

 (1)Council oppose the sale of the scattered houses owned by the Ontario Housing Corporation in the City of Toronto;

 (2)Council's position be forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and to the Chairs of the Boards of the Ontario Housing Corporation (OHC) and the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority (MTHA); and

 (3)the appropriate City officials take the necessary steps to give effect thereto

 3.ONTARIO WORKS PILOT PROJECTS.

 Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

(June 30, 1998)

 Advising of recent changes to the Ontario Works (O.W.) funding model; noting that, based on these changes, the Social Services Division, in partnership with contracted community agencies, is preparing to test new approaches to delivering training and employment placement services to Toronto's O.W. clients; providing a brief description of one pilot project; and recommending that:

 (1) the Social Services Division develop and fund pilot projects for 1998 with a range of community-based agencies and organizations which provide a blended approach to delivering services under the Employment Support and Employment Placement streams of Ontario Works;

 (2)the Department, in concert with the area office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services, evaluate the outcomes of these pilot projects in order to determine the benefits of the approach, and the required funding levels for the development of the 1999 budget; and

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

 4.NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT.

 Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

(June 30, 1998)

 Providing information on the recently announced Federal National Child Benefit Supplement (N.C.B.S.) which will be introduced on July 1, 1998; outlining the implications for social assistance clients; and identifying implementation issues; advising that social assistance program savings for the City of Toronto in 1998, based on the five-month period August 1 to December 31, 1998, resulting from the introduction of the National Child Benefit Supplement are estimated at approximately $15 million gross/$3 million net, and on an annualized basis program savings are estimated at $36 million gross/7.2 million net; and recommending that:

  (1)upon finalization of the Provincial framework governing how municipal program savings achieved as a result of the introduction of the N.C.B.S. are to be used, the Department will develop a plan for reinvestment of City of Toronto savings and report back to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in the fall of 1998; and

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

  5.ELIMINATION OF SPECIAL ASSISTANCE AND

SUPPLEMENTARY AID.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(July 6, 1998)

 Respecting the elimination of Special Assistance and Supplementary Aid under the new Provincial Ontario Works regulations; and recommending that:

 (1)City Council request the Province to reinstate the former level of services to low income families, including coverage of the cost of prescription drugs and medical items provided through Special Assistance and Supplementary Aid;

 (2)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services implement Provincial changes to Special Assistance and Supplementary Aid resulting from the introduction of the new Ontario Works regulations;

 (3)City Council continue to advocate to the Province that the Assistive Devices Program be modified to cover the full costs of medical items formerly covered through Special Assistance and Supplementary Aid; and

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

  6.CHANGE IN FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR

SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL HOUSING.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(July 6, 1998)

 Providing information with respect to the reduction in City costs for social housing due to the Province's recent decision to retain funding responsibility for supportive housing portfolio; and recommending that:

   (1)Council strongly endorse the Province's decision to retain funding responsibility for 100 percent dedicated supportive housing portfolios. This recognizes that providing housing for people who need support to live independently is a Provincial concern and should be funded by the Province;

 (2)Council forward to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing a request that:

 (a)the Province not pass on the housing cost of any unit which falls under the definition of supportive, even if it is located within a mixed project or mixed portfolio; and

 (b)the Province expand its definition of supportive housing to include social housing provided for tenants who require support to live independently in their unit, and that the additional housing costs incurred in housing special needs tenants be paid for by the Province; and

 (3)the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer report back on reallocation of $11.7 million which was set aside in the 1998 City Operating Budget for Social Housing Costs, and is no longer required due to the Province's decision to retain funding for 100 percent supportive housing portfolios. Potential uses for this fund would include providing support for affordable housing demonstration projects.

  7.30 ST. LAWRENCE STREET - STATUS REPORT ON

DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS.

 Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

(June 25, 1998)

 Providing an update on the progress made in realizing proposed permanent housing at 30 St. Lawrence Street for formerly homeless men and women; outlining the background and details of this project; and recommending that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to advance $40,000.00 of the grant monies from the Capital Leverage Fund to permit completion of working drawings, to allow tendering to proceed, and to pay the application fee for a Building Permit.

  8.IMPACT OF HEALTH CARD REQUIREMENTS ON THE HOMELESS.

 Councillor Jack Layton and Ms. Alison Kemper

Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(July 2, 1998)

 Advising of the serious health care access issues for homeless people resulting from changes imposed by the Ministry of Health on March 1, 1998; and recommending that Council request an urgent meeting with the Minister of Health, in conjunction with representatives of the Health Care for the Homeless Group, to discuss strategies for ensuring effective health care access for people who are homeless in light of the imposition of strict health card requirements by the Ministry of Health.

  9.HOSTEL OMBUDSPERSON.

 Councillor Jack Layton and Ms. Alison Kemper,

Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(July 2, 1998)

 Proposing a one-year hostel ombudsperson pilot project, to be operated independently of the hostel system, which would assist hostel users in resolving complaints with Toronto's hostel system; and recommending that:

 (1)Council approve funds in an amount no greater than $100,000.00 for a one-year hostel ombudsperson pilot project operated independently of the hostel system;

 (2)the pilot project be funded through a purchase of service agreement with a community-based agency selected through a proposal process; and

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

  10.THE PUBLIC HOUSING INQUIRY.

 Councillor Jack Layton and Ms. Alison Kemper,

Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons

(July 2, 1998)

 Advising that on June 12, 1998, the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons heard from representatives of a Public Housing Inquiry concerned with the future of social housing in Ontario; indicating that recommendations were developed in ten key areas, including the mandate of social housing, the role of governments in social housing, keeping housing affordable, the RGI subsidy system, tenants rights and the privatization of management in social housing; and recommending that Council endorse the recommendations contained in The Public Housing Inquiry Final Report thereby making a commitment at the municipal level toward the achievement of real social and public housing reform.

11."GROW-AS-YOU-GO" HOUSING PROPOSAL.

 Councillor Jack Layton,

Don River - Ward 25

(July 2, 1998)

 Forwarding a copy of a report, entitled "Grow As You Go: From Homelessness to Housing, A Planned Approach to Progressive Housing Development In Toronto May 1998", by Van Nostrand DiCastri, Architects with Quantum Mortgage Advisors; and recommending that:

 (1)this report be referred to staff for review and research; and

 (2)staff report to the Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes within two months and that the following issues be specifically addressed in their report:

 (a)the potential of the proposed development model to provide affordable housing for low-income people and the income ranges that could be served by this housing;

 (b)the constraints presented by Building Code, zoning and other regulatory mechanisms on the development of this type of housing; and

 (c)the optimum size and location of development site for this type of housing, and potential City-owned sites that could be used for a pilot project.

  12.HARMONIZATION OF PROCEDURAL AND OTHER MATTERS -

AMENDMENTS TO HOUSING BY-LAWS.

 (a).Corporate Secretary,

Board of Directors of The City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation

(June 24, 1998)

 Advising that the Board of Directors of the City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation on June 22, 1998, had before it a report (June 9, 1998) from the City Solicitor, advising that By-law No. 9 governs, among other things, the calling, place and proceedings of Board meetings and the structure of the Board Committees; "submitting a draft amending by-law which addresses these issues, headed "By-Law No. 19"; and recommending that:

 (1)the draft amending by-law attached to this report be enacted as a by-law of Cityhome;

 (2)the amending by-law enacted pursuant to Recommendation No. (1) be forwarded to the Clerk of the City of Toronto for confirmation by City Council; and

 (3)the appropriate members of Cityhome staff be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation No. (2).

 (b).Corporate Secretary,

Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited

(June 24, 1998)

 Advising that the Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited on June 22, 1998, had before it a report (June 8, 1998) from the City Solicitor, advising that By-law No. A-8 governs the calling, place and proceedings of Board meetings; submitting a draft amending by-law which addresses these issues, headed "By-law No. A-19"; and recommending that:

 (1)the draft amending by-law attached to this report be enacted as a by-law of the Housing Company;

 (2)the amending by-law enacted pursuant to Recommendation No. (1) be forwarded to the Clerk of the City of Toronto for confirmation by City Council; and

 (3)the appropriate members of Housing Company staff be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to Recommendation No. (2).

  13.TOWARDS A CANADIAN CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK.

 City Clerk

(June 22, 1998)

 Advising that the Children's Action Committee on June 12, 1998, had before it a communication on the City of Toronto Environmental Protection Office and an overview of work on Children's Environmental Health Issues, submitted by Dr. Jack Lee, Regional Director of the Downtown Health Area, Public Health Division; and that the Children's Action Committee recommended that:

 (1)Council endorse the following principles contained in the report "Towards a Canadian Children's Environmental Health Network" and that the Children's Action Committee be requested to take an active role at both the national and provincial levels when such a network is established:

 "-That the mission of the Network should be to protect the environment, and to protect the fetus/child from environmental hazards.

 -That the Network should focus on advocacy, education, public awareness and some research-related activities.

 -That the Network should be housed in the non-governmental (NGO) sector, but that it should be based on a partnership with national, regional and local agencies/groups in diverse sectors.

 -That the Network should develop a website and use computer-based technology to connect its partners and to disseminate information to a broad audience.";

 (2)Council endorse the Canadian Institute of Child Health in taking a leadership role in housing the merging Children's Environmental Health Network; and

 (3)Council urge all levels of government to move with all possible speed to set up this network.

  14.CHILD CARE STATUS RESEARCH PROJECT.

 City Clerk

(June 22, 1998)

 Advising that the Children's Action Committee on June 12, 1998, had before it a communication (undated) from Mr. Peter Clutterbuck, Co-Director, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, regarding the Child Care Status Research Project; and that the Children's Action Committee recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that Council endorse the Child Care Status Research Project and authorize a contribution of $5,000.00 to the overall budget for the project, such funds to be paid out from the Children's Action Committee Budget, Account Code CD200-G39951.

15.HOMES FOR THE AGED - UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS.

 (a).Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(June 9, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)authority be given to the Homes for the Aged Division to write-off the arrears in the amount of $5,367.56 accumulated on behalf of M.I.H. while she was a resident at Cummer Lodge; and

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

 (b).(June 9, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)authority be given to the Homes for the Aged Division to write-off the arrears in the amount of $7,544.75 accumulated on behalf of E.D. while she was a resident at Cummer Lodge; and

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

  16.FUTURE DIRECTION OF RIVERDALE HOSPITAL.

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

(July 3, 1998)

 Responding to the request of the Committee on June 18, 1998, to report on the proposal to renovate Riverdale Hospital for use as a long-term care facility, clarifying the status of Riverdale Hospital, its relationship to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79, and the City of Toronto; providing details regarding the plans of the Board of Directors of the hospital with respect to future directions; and recommending that the City of Toronto take no action with respect to the future direction of Riverdale Hospital, except if requested to do so by the Board of Directors of the Hospital.

ANY OTHER MATTERS.