Other Items Considered by the Committee
(a) Standing Committee Briefing.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:
(1) expressed its appreciation to the following staff for their presentations; and
(2) directed that the Acting Executive Commissioner be requested to report to the March 26, 1998, meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the feasibility and cost of providing services, such as snow removal and gardening, to assist senior citizens and those disabled who remain in their own homes:
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee received overhead presentations from the following regarding the programs and services under the responsibilities of the Committee:
- Ms. Shirley Hoy, Acting Executive Commissioner, providing an overview of the priority issues under the Community and Neighbourhood Services cluster;
- Ms. Heather MacVicar, General Manager, Social Services Division, Community Services Department;
- Ms. Marna Ramsden, General Manager, Children=s Services Division, Community Services Department;
- Mr. John Jagt, Director of Hostel Services, Community Services Department;
- Ms. Sandra Pitters, General Manager, Homes for the Aged Division, Community Services Department;
- Ms. Joanne Campbell, General Manager, The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited, on behalf of The Housing Company and Cityhome;
- Mr. Joe Halstead, Interim Functional Lead, Parks and Recreation;
- Ms. Kathleen Sharpe, Interim Functional Lead, Arts, Culture and Heritage;
- Ms. Alice Lorriman, Interim Functional Lead, Toronto Library Board;
- Dr. Sheela Basrur, Acting Medical Officer of Health; and
- Mr. Eric Gam, Executive Director, Social Development and Management Services Division, Community Services Department.
(b) Fundraising Program for a Community Performing Arts Centre.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Acting Executive Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:
(October 28, 1997) from the Chair, Etobicoke Municipal Arts Commission, recommending that an amount of $25,000.00 be allocated to the Etobicoke Municipal Arts Commission to permit it to embark on a fundraising program for a Community Performing Arts Centre during 1998; and that the allocation be contingent on a positive report emanating from the current study being carried out by Genovese Vanderhoof and Associates.
(c) Millwood Park Rejuvenation Project.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Acting Executive Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Etobicoke Community Council:
(November 26, 1998) from Ms. S. Farrell, Ms. C. Wilding and Ms. D. Miziolek, Millwood Park Rejuvenation Project, respecting the rejuvenation of playground equipment in Millwood Park, which is located in Markland Wood at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Mill Road; noting that the goal is to raise $30,000.00; and requesting a grant from the City in the amount of $10,000.00 for this project.
(d) Establishment of Task Force on Free Transportation for Jobless People in Toronto.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:
(1) referred the following communication and briefs to a sub-committee to be established to meet with Mr. John Maclennan of the Unemployed Workers Council, Dr. Philip Webb, Centre for Urban and Community Studies, University of Toronto, Ms. Beth Brown, Daily Bread Foodbank, representatives of the Homeless Strategy Task Force, and appropriate staff of the Community Services Department, on the issue of free transportation for jobless people in Toronto, with a request that it report thereon, as soon as possible, to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee; and
(2) requested the Secretary of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee to canvass members to determine their interest in serving on such sub-committee:
(December 17, 1997) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission, advising that the Toronto Transit Commission on December 16, 1997, had before it a report from the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, responding to a request for information on free transportation for jobless people in Toronto; and indicating that the Commission approved forwarding the following motion by Vice-Chair Councillor Moscoe, together with the report of the Chief General Manager, to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for consideration:
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That a Task Force be established to address the issue of transportation for jobless people in Toronto and that the Task Force be comprised of the following members:
- Chair - Toronto Transit Commission;
- Member of the Toronto Transit Commission, other than the Chair;
- Chair - Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, new City of Toronto;
- Member of Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, new City of Toronto, other than the Chair;
- Deputy Mayor, new City of Toronto;
- Staff from the Mayor=s Office, new City of Toronto;
- Staff from the Community Services Department, new City of Toronto; and
- Staff from the Toronto Transit Commission;
and further that the foregoing report of the Chief General Manager be referred to the Task Force for consideration and investigation of possible solutions.@
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The following persons appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:
- Mr. John Maclennan, Unemployed Workers Council; and submitted a brief in regard thereto;
- Ms. Beth Brown, Daily Bread Foodbank; and
- Dr. Philip Webb, Centre for Urban and Community Studies, University of Toronto; and submitted a brief in regard thereto.
(e) Implementation of Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having:
(1) endorsed the recommendations embodied in the report dated December 30, 1997, from the Acting Medical Officer of Health on the implementation of the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program; and
(2) directed that the Acting Medical Officer of Health report to the Children=s Action Committee, the Interim Board of Health, and the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, on the requirements necessary to ensure that the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program meets current standards;
and further directed that City Council be advised accordingly:
(i) (December 30, 1997) advising that the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program is a joint Ministry of Health/Ministry of Community and Social Services initiative designed to screen all families prenatally or at birth, to link families with identified needs with community services, and to provide Alay home visiting services@ for high risk families@; and outlining recommendations in regard thereto; and
(ii) (January 9, 1998) from the Acting Secretary, Interim Board of Health, advising that the Interim Board of Health on January 7, 1998, approved the recommendations contained in the report dated December 30, 1997, from the Acting Medical Officer of Health on the Implementation of Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program.
(f) Request to Establish a Political Liaison Group Regarding Social Housing Program Reform.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having directed that a sub-committee, comprised of Councillor Gordon Chong, Councillor Michael Feldman and Councillor George Mammoliti, be established as the political liaison group referred to in the following communication:
(October 16, 1997) from the Metropolitan Clerk advising that Metropolitan Council on October 8 and 9, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause No. 8 of Report No. 16 of The Financial Priorities Committee, headed AReport of the Advisory Council on Social Housing Reform@, wherein it was recommended that:
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(5) Metropolitan Council recommend to the 1998 City of Toronto Council that it establish a political liaison group to oversee the new City's involvement in social housing program reform and to collaborate with housing sector organizations in the reform process.@
(g) Formulation of Management Model to Maintain Social Services Program Standards and Services in the new City.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Acting Executive Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:
(August 19, 1997) from the Metropolitan Clerk advising that Metropolitan Council on August 13 and 14, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause No. 3 of Report No. 14 of The Financial Priorities Committee, headed AImplementation Team Update@, wherein it was recommended that Metropolitan Council:
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(c) recommend to the new City of Toronto Council that it employ the results of the Round Table Consultation on Social Services as the basis for formulating a management model that, at a minimum, maintains social service program standards and services in the new City.@
(h) Profile of a Changing World - The 1996 Community Agency Survey.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Budget Committee for consideration during the budget process:
(July 21, 1997) from the Assistant City Clerk, City of Toronto, advising that City Council on July 14, 1997, adopted, without amendment, Clause 22 of Report No. 10 of the Neighbourhoods Committee, headed AProfile of a Changing World - The 1996 Community Agency Survey@, and in so doing took the following action:
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(4) Requested the Transition Team and the new Megacity Council to ensure that funding from the municipality for agencies within the current City of Toronto are maintained at least at current levels.@
(i) St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts: Capital Improvement Fund.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Budget Committee for consideration during the budget process:
(October 10, 1997) from the Assistant City Clerk, City of Toronto, advising that City Council on October 6 and 7, 1997, adopted Clause 53 of Report No. 23 of its Executive Committee, headed ASt. Lawrence Centre for the Arts: Capital Improvement Fund@, wherein Council took the following action:
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(1) Authorized the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts to make use of its Capital Improvements Funds in the amount of $8,000.00 for the purpose of engaging a theatrical consultant to carry out the preliminary design work with respect to renovations to the Jane Mallett Theatre.
(2) Authorized the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts to engage in a consultative process with appropriate City staff, including staff from the Property Services Division and the Budget Planning and Policy Office.
(3) Directed that the above consultation be extended to include any appropriate working group/s that may be implemented under that new amalgamated City and that the proposal be reviewed in context of the new City of Toronto=s overall strategic plans.
(4) Directed that the proposal be submitted to the Budget Review Group, or other appropriate funding committee for approval by the new City of Toronto Council.@
(j) Senior=s Golf Fees.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Acting Executive Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services with a request that she review both the seniors= golf fee and the differential between the seniors= and adult user fees, and report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:
(May 21, 1997) from the Metropolitan Clerk advising that Metropolitan Council on May 21, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause No. 1 of Report No. 6 of The Environment and Public Space Committee, headed ASeniors= Golf Fees@, wherein it was recommended that the Council of the new City of Toronto be requested:
(i) to review the seniors' golf fees with a view to increasing the fees by 15 percent in each of 1998 and 1999; and
(ii) to review the differential between seniors' and regular adult fees.
(k) Priority-Setting for Community and Recreation Centre Facilities.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Acting Executive Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services for a report thereon to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:
(October 8, 1997) from the Assistant City Clerk, City of Toronto, advising that City Council on September 22 and 23, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause 50 of Report No. 12 of its Executive Committee, headed APriority-Setting for Community and Recreation Centre Facilities@, and in so doing took the following action:
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(1) Confirmed that the following projects reflect the highest priority for funding City community and recreational facilities in 1998 (individual projects are not listed in order of priority):
Upgrades and Renovations: Fairmount Park, Trinity Community Recreation Centre, McCormick Community Recreation Centre; and
New Facilities or Expansion: Main Square Community Centre, St. James Town, Lord Dufferin Swimming Pool;
and directed that the program of Proposed Capital Works 1999-2002 as described in the report (August 27, 1997) from the Board of Management be forwarded to the new City of Toronto Council as the Council=s proposal for the future expenditures on community and recreation facilities in the City of Toronto.
(2) Recommended that the new City of Toronto Council give priority to capital maintenance and repair matters in existing City community and recreational facilities and requested the Interdepartmental Review Committee to review the matter with City Property Services in conjunction with its Asset Management Strategy on appropriate methods for achieving this goal.@; and
(January 13, 1998) from Councillor Ron Moeser, Highland Creek, requesting that staff report back to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on upgrades and renovations for community and recreation facilities for all the former municipalities.
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Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River, appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee and tabled a copy of a document, entitled ASt. James Town 2000: A Community Action Plan.@
(l) Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library - Results of Consultant Study on User Fee Options.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having referred the following communication to the Toronto Library Board for consideration:
(July 7, 1997) from the Metropolitan Clerk advising that Metropolitan Council on July 2 and 3, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause No. 6 of Report No. 9 of The Environment and Public Space Committee, headed AMetropolitan Toronto Reference Library - Results of Consultant Study User Fee Options,@ wherein it was recommended that:
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(1) any new user fee opportunities identified for the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library in the consulting study, Report on Library User Fees, be reviewed following amalgamation of the seven existing public library systems within the Metro Toronto area; and
(2) copies of the consulting study, Report on Library User Fees, be immediately forwarded to the current Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library for information, and be forwarded to the future board of an amalgamated library system for their consideration respecting implementation.@
(m) Membership of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports having received the following communication:
(January 9, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that City Council on January 2, 6, 8 and 9, 1998, appointed the following as members of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for a term of office expiring on May 31, 1999, and/or until their successors are appointed:
- Councillor G. Chong, Committee Chair
- Councillor E. Brown
- Councillor R. Cho
- Councillor O. Chow
- Councillor R. Davis
- Councillor M. Feldman
- Councillor J. Filion
- Councillor J. King
- Councillor C. Korwin-Kuczynski
- Councillor G. Mammoliti
- Councillor M. Prue
- Mayor M. Lastman
Respectfully submitted,
COUNCILLOR GORDON CHONG,
Chair
Toronto, January 15, 1998
Rosalind Dyers
Tel. (416) 392-8018
