Economic and Community Development Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
EC1.1amended
Election of Vice Chair - Economic and Community Development Committee
Election of the Vice Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee under Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Appendix A-2, for a term of office ending December 31, 2020, and until a successor is appointed.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Elected Councillor Mark Grimes as Vice Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee for a term of office starting January 16, 2019 and ending December 31, 2020, and until a successor is appointed.
EC1.2adopted
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) - 2019 Operating Budgets - Report No. 1
This report brings forward Business Improvement Area (BIA) annual operating budgets for approval by City Council as required by the City of Toronto Act, 2006. City Council approval is required to permit the City to collect funds through the tax levy on behalf of the BIAs. Complete budgets and supporting documentation received by November 9, 2018 have been reviewed and included in this report. Of the 83 established BIAs, 28 BIA budgets are submitted for approval in this report and 1 BIA, Historic Queen East, is inactive. The recommendations in this report reflect 2019 Operating Budgets approved by the respective BIAs' Boards of Management and General Membership, and have been reviewed by City staff to ensure the BIA budgets reflect Council's approved policies and practices.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council adopt and certify the 2019 recommended operating budget and levy requirements of the following Business Improvement Areas: Business Improvement Area 2019 Operating Budget ($) 2019 Levy Funds Required ($) Baby Point Gates BIA 155,559 60,000 Bayview Leaside BIA 257,014 193,348 Bloor by the Park BIA 411,080 108,765 Bloorcourt Village BIA 354,770 193,800 Cabbagetown BIA 315,606 228,230 Chinatown BIA 612,120 459,162 Church-Wellesley Village BIA 301,467 249,051 Crossroads of the Danforth BIA 274,781 225,123 Fairbank Village BIA 331,023 287,009 Financial District BIA 1,941,344 1,611,795 Forest Hill Village BIA 316,203 196,184 Greektown on the Danforth BIA 1,152,049 424,900 Junction Gardens BIA 410,252 333,559 Liberty Village BIA 1,989,748 348,327 Little Italy BIA 553,290 383,422 Ossington Avenue BIA 101,460 63,760 Pape Village BIA 111,565 98,228 Parkdale Village BIA 334,229 260,160 Riverside District BIA 242,929 196,862 Roncesvalles Village BIA 676,201 317,533 Rosedale Main Street BIA 283,321 267,321 The Beach BIA 360,005 290,703 The Danforth BIA 386,267 315,775 Trinity Bellwoods BIA 165,461 56,155 West Queen West BIA 359,219 332,680 Wexford Heights BIA 482,984 231,069 Wychwood Heights BIA 125,995 60,244 Yonge Lawrence Village BIA 236,623 208,304 Total 13,242,565 8,001,469
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee adopt and certify to City Council the 2019 recommended operating budget and levy requirements of the following Business Improvement Areas: Business Improvement Area 2019 Operating Budget ($) 2019 Levy Funds Required ($) Baby Point Gates BIA 155,559 60,000 Bayview Leaside BIA 257,014 193,348 Bloor by the Park BIA 411,080 108,765 Bloorcourt Village BIA 354,770 193,800 Cabbagetown BIA 315,606 228,230 Chinatown BIA 612,120 459,162 Church-Wellesley Village BIA 301,467 249,051 Crossroads of the Danforth BIA 274,781 225,123 Fairbank Village BIA 331,023 287,009 Financial District BIA 1,941,344 1,611,795 Forest Hill Village BIA 316,203 196,184 Greektown on the Danforth BIA 1,152,049 424,900 Junction Gardens BIA 410,252 333,559 Liberty Village BIA 1,989,748 348,327 Little Italy BIA 553,290 383,422 Ossington Avenue BIA 101,460 63,760 Pape Village BIA 111,565 98,228 Parkdale Village BIA 334,229 260,160 Riverside District BIA 242,929 196,862 Roncesvalles Village BIA 676,201 317,533 Rosedale Main Street BIA 283,321 267,321 The Beach BIA 360,005 290,703 The Danforth BIA 386,267 315,775 Trinity Bellwoods BIA 165,461 56,155 West Queen West BIA 359,219 332,680 Wexford Heights BIA 482,984 231,069 Wychwood Heights BIA 125,995 60,244 Yonge Lawrence Village BIA 236,623 208,304 Total 13,242,565 8,001,469
EC1.3amended
Appointments to Business Improvement Area Boards of Management
The purpose of this report is to appoint directors to the Boards of Management of six (6) Business Improvement Areas that fall within more than one Community Council boundary for the new term of Council and make necessary changes to Schedule A of the Municipal Code, Chapter 19.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Boards of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: DuKe Heights: Abate, Paolo Bortoletto, Lou Cunsolo, Marco Dime, Larry Gelbloom, David Goldkind, Murray Hertzman, David Marshall, Kevin Pliamm, Dr. Lew Punjanii, Shafiq Rumanek, Jordan Serebryany, Carmela Tannous, Alaa The Eglinton Way: Barchuk, Maria Beben, Ronald Capella, Victor Cinelli, Mario Dimitrijevic, Anita Garcia, Oscar Le Fave, Peter Longo, Tara Marinuzzi, Vito Siklos, Michael Sirois, Maureen Tabakian, Susan Fairbank Village: Cancelli, Luisa Maria Kremizes, Anastasios Mazzone, Damiano Mian, Assad Torrone, Enzo Mount Pleasant: Breen, Shirley Heller, Gregory Hillesheim, Laurie Keefe, Sam Lawrence, Corey McEwan, Jessica Morris, Rick Purdy, Scott Wexford Heights: Aboosaidi, Arya Bassett, Sandra Boyadjian, Hovic Phan, Michael Givelas , Robert Thiyagarajah, Shien Wanless, Steve Zhao, Yani York-Eglinton: Alampi, Nick Borrelli, Joe Carreon, Jeremiah Jeffrey, Martin Munawwer, Syed Fahad Renwick, Marjorie Romero, Jenny. 2. City Council direct that Schedule A of the Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, be amended by changing the number of directors of the following Boards of Management: DuKe Heights 15 The Eglinton Way 16 Fairbank Village 7 Mount Pleasant 11 Wexford Heights 10 York-Eglinton 9.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Boards of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: DuKe Heights: Abate, Paolo Bortoletto, Lou Cunsolo, Marco Dime, Larry Gelbloom, David Goldkind, Murray Hertzman, David Marshall, Kevin Pliamm, Dr. Lew Punjanii, Shafiq Rumanek, Jordan Serebryany, Carmela Tannous, Alaa The Eglinton Way: Barchuk, Maria Beben, Ronald Capella, Victor Cinelli, Mario Dimitrijevic, Anita Garcia, Oscar Le Fave, Peter Longo, Tara Marinuzzi, Vito Siklos, Michael Sirois, Maureen Tabakian, Susan Fairbank Village: Cancelli, Luisa Maria Kremizes, Anastasios Mazzone, Damiano Mian, Assad Torrone, Enzo Mount Pleasant: Breen, Shirley Heller, Gregory Hillesheim, Laurie Keefe, Sam Lawrence, Corey McEwan, Jessica Morris, Rick Purdy, Scott Wexford Heights: Aboosaidi, Arya Agustin, Melania Bassett, Sandra Phan, Michael Givelas , Robert Thiyagarajah, Shien Wanless, Steve Zhao, Yani York-Eglinton: Alampi, Nick Borrelli, Joe Carreon, Jeremiah Jeffrey, Martin Munawwer, Syed Fahad Renwick, Marjorie Romero, Jenny 2. City Council direct that Schedule A of the Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, be amended by changing the number of directors of the following Boards of Management: DuKe Heights 15 The Eglinton Way 16 Fairbank Village 7 Mount Pleasant 11 Wexford Heights 10 York-Eglinton 9
EC1.4adopted
Mount Pleasant and The Danforth Business Improvement Areas - Name Changes
The purpose of this report is to recommend that the name of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area (BIA) be changed to the "Mount Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area," and that the name of The Danforth Business Improvement Area be changed to the "Broadview Danforth Business Improvement Area." The general membership of the Mount Pleasant BIA voted at its November 19, 2018, annual general meeting to rename the BIA for marketing and branding purposes. At its annual general meeting on October 29, 2018, the membership of The Danforth BIA instructed its board of management to survey members regarding a new BIA name and logo. The name change was approved.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve the renaming of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area (BIA) as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment 1 to the report (December 27, 2018) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to the Mount Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). 2. City Council approve the renaming of The Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment 2 to the report (December 27, 2018) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to the Broadview Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA). 3. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, as required to reflect the name changes.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council approve the renaming of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area (BIA) as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment No. 1, to the Mount Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). 2. City Council approve the renaming of The Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment No. 2, to the Broadview Danforth Business Improvement Area (BIA). 3. City Council amend The Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, as required to reflect the name changes.
EC1.5adopted
The attached Toronto Economic Bulletin summarizes the most recent data available for key economic indicators benchmarking the city's economic performance.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council receive the report (January 4, 2019) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, recommends that: 1. City Council receive this report for information.
EC1.6amended
Optimizing Youth Service Delivery
The City of Toronto currently has at least 10 different divisions or Agencies, Boards, and Commissions that deliver programming and services to youth, aged 13-29: Social Development, Finance and Administration; Parks, Forestry and Recreation; Shelter, Support and Housing Administration; Toronto Public Health; Toronto Employment and Social Services; Economic Development and Culture; Equity, Diversity and Human Rights; Toronto Police Service; Toronto Community Housing Corporation; and Toronto Public Library. While efforts have been made over the years to better coordinate services, there still exist many silos and a lack of strategic vision in the allocation of resources for youth services and programming across the corporation. After a year with persistent high levels of gun violence, youth under- and un-employment, and housing instability, it is time to review all youth services in order to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable youth. Given the signalled changes to Provincial support for student and youth programs, it is particularly important that we act now to address any gaps, ensure our services are well coordinated, and truly meeting the growing needs of Toronto's youth.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Directed the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, to undertake a review of all City of Toronto youth services and programming, including a review of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, and report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the second quarter of 2020 with recommendations on how best to optimize youth service delivery to meet the needs of youth most vulnerable to serious crime and violence; and to provide an interim report to the September 5, 2019 Economic and Community Development Committee meeting. 2. Requested the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to explore options to support the City's 83 Business Improvement Areas in accessing government funded summer jobs programs to provide local employment opportunities for youth in their communities. 3. Requested the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to prepare a Briefing Note to the Budget Committee on the implementation status of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy's 110 recommended actions, and the funding required to fully deliver the program, including: a. Which actions are fully funded, implemented, and sustained? b. Which recommendations are not fully funded, implemented, and sustained? c. What is the budget impact of fully funding, implementing, and sustaining all recommendations in the Youth Equity Strategy?
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Shelley Carroll recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee direct the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, to undertake a review of all City of Toronto youth services and programming, including a review of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, and report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the second quarter of 2020 with recommendations on how best to optimize youth service delivery to meet the needs of youth most vulnerable to serious crime and violence.
EC1.7amended
Improving Access to Recreation for Regent Park Residents in Local Facilities
In 1999 the City of Toronto approved two strategies of increasing equitable access to recreation. Firstly, a fee-based subsidy known as the Welcome Policy and secondly, a place-based subsidy known as Free Centres. The policies complement one another in order to meet the Park, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) objectives to achieve the following: 1. increase equitable access, 2. reduce financial and administrative barriers, 3. encourage social inclusion, 4. enable local access and 5. increase overall participation in recreation. The two subsidy initiatives were instrumental in setting the foundation for equitable access, however, new challenges emerged which require a more streamlined demographic-based policy and the offering of recreation services in other local facilities, including schools and other non-profit centres. The newly constructed Regent Park Community Centre and the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre are high-quality recreation facilities and Free Centres, built largely as a result of the Regent Park Revitalization Plan. They have been promoted city-wide and are in adjacent proximity to other high-density downtown neighbourhoods. Regent Park is in itself a rapidly growing neighbourhood as the entire 69 acres are being redeveloped and a significant increase of new residents have moved in and will continue to do as the final Phases of 4 and 5 get underway. As a result of the surging demand for recreation services in a growing city and across the downtown neighbourhoods, Regent Park residents have experienced tremendous difficulty in accessing programs offered in their own neighbourhood, in particular camps and swimming lessons. An informal poll conducted at the aquatic centre revealed that 70% of the users traveled from outside of the neighbourhood to use the swim programs there. Other reasons for obstacles to recreation access for local residents include: Capacity - There are long waiting lists for swimming lessons and camps in Regent Park, and this is the case in many other communities, particularly where programs are free. Also, the City cut more than 100 full-time jobs out of Parks, Forestry and Recreation in the 2017 budget process and they have not been reconstituted. Registration Process - The current registration process presents barriers for low-income Regent Park families without access to high-speed Internet, multiple devices, sufficient time dedicated to the registration process due to child care, elder care, work and other obligations. Language and the lack of familiarity with the recreation programs and the registration process present additional barriers. This creates inequities in terms of who can and can't access recreation programs - including the free programs. City-Wide Access vs Equitable Access - Low-income, racialized families in Regent Park compete with other residents to register for programs that are free of charge in these facilities that are also in close proximity to other more affluent downtown neighbourhoods. Among the core pillars in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan developed by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), among the core pillars of that strategy are: Provide Equity of Access to Learning Opportunities for All Students Allocate Human and Financial Resources Strategically to Support Student Needs Build Strong Relationships and Partnerships within School Communities to Support Student Learning and Well-Being In order to achieve the TDSB's strategic plan and the City of Toronto's objectives of increasing equitable access to recreation, an opportunity emerges to partner with one another to provide swimming instructions for students attending close to centres where programs are free.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Directed the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to continue to work with the Access to Recreation Working Group in Regent Park to address local access to recreation services through programs, partnerships, permitted use of space and through broader community consultation on the modernization of the registration and facility booking project and to provide a status report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the fall of 2019. 2. Referred the following Recommendation 2 in the letter (January 16, 2019) from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam to the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services for consideration and a report back through the 2019 budget process: "2. City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult with community stakeholders including Access to Recreation, the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, Youth Gravity, Communities for Zero Violence and work in partnership with the Toronto District School Board to explore the feasibility of creating a localized recreation programs in Regent Park public schools, such as Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School and Nelson Mandela Park Public School for a pilot period of two years, beginning in July 2019." 3. Requested the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, to report prior to the end of 2019 on the implementation of revitalization social development plans with respect to access to services and building complete communities.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Wong-Tam recommends that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult with Access to Recreation, the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, Youth Gravity, Communities for Zero Violence and other stakeholders to create a demographic-based policy for the existing 39 Free Centres, to measure equitable impact and increase equitable access and participation, and to report back to April 2019 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee. 2. City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult with community stakeholders including Access to Recreation, the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, Youth Gravity, Communities for Zero Violence and work in partnership with the Toronto District School Board to explore the feasibility of creating a localized recreation programs in Regent Park public schools, such as Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School and Nelson Mandela Park Public School for a pilot period of two years, beginning in July 2019.