Next week, on the 8th, 9th and 10th, City Council will be discussing some important items including:
– 2012 Annual Human Rights Report – Toronto Transit Commission
– Budget Adjustment to the Toronto Public Health 2013 Approved Operating Budget for the Healthy Communities Partnership Fund
-Recreation Services for Youth
– Expanding the Application of Operating Criteria for Child Care
– Housing Stabilization Fund – Updates and New Housing Allowance
– Results from the 2013 Street Needs Assessment and Next Steps to Improve Services for Those Experiencing Homelessness
-Review of City Service Levels Supporting Toronto’s At Risk Youth
-2014 Service Level Review – Community Development and Recreation Programs
– 2014 Service Level Review – Planning and Growth Management Programs
– Scarborough Rapid Transit Options: Reporting on Council Terms and Conditions
The City has added a step to the budget process this year. Standing Committees have a role in reviewing and establishing service level standards for all City services to give direction on the 2014 budget. Every Standing Committee in September received presentations on current and proposed “service levels” from each operating division.
While most Committees referred their recommendations to the Budget Committee, the Community Development Committee approved motions on service levels for 2014, and directed that the following service standards be included in the 2014 Service Standards, and that the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer include the necessary resources in the 2014 recommended budget:
Community Recreation:
Drop-in youth programs be expanded to include 10 new sites;
Priority Centre expansion to include the implementation of 17 new centres, as approved by City Council;
Implementation of the Swim to Survive program, which is included in the approved Recreation Plan Implementation Strategy; and Implementation of the Youth Leadership program, which is included in the approved Recreation Service Plan timeline and implementation strategy.
All leisure swim programs have the same levels of service access as priority centre pools;
All priority centres have equitable hours of programming with no centre losing existing hour of programming; and
2014 service access for Welcome Policy users be maintained at 2013 levels.
Child Care
the equity service standard for infant, toddler, pre-school groups be increased by 2% (528 spaces).
Community Investments
CPIP service levels be set based on the assessed high priority applications meeting all program criteria in the 2013 review cycle.
Hostel Services:
Actual bednights as a percentage of capacity to never fall below the Council approved rate of 90%.
Housing Stabilization Fund:
The 2014 service levels be maintained at 2013 service levels.
Housing:
The 2013 target of 1641 affordable rental housing starts be maintained in 2014.
The full report can be found online.
If Council endorses these service standards, they will be included in the budget that is to be released in November. Council will be voting on these standards at its meeting on October 8,9 (and probably 10th) We need 23 votes to ensure that these important services will be in next year’s budget at these levels. Please contact your Councillor and ask for their support.
If you have any questions about any of the agenda items, contact us: info@twca.ca
Or, contact you local Councillor:
http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp
The council session will be live streamed on Rogers TV
To review the full agenda:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewPublishedReport.do?function=getCouncilAgendaReport&meetingId=6812
