Item - 2014.CD31.7

City Council on August 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2014, adopted the following:

1.         City Council approve the permanent relocation of Cornerstone Place Shelter at 616 Vaughan Road in accordance with the requirement of the Municipal Shelter By-law 138-2003, subject to Cornerstone Place providing a business case that demonstrates the viability of the shelter's operations at the new location, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration.

2.         City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to convene a community working group facilitated by a third party including local residents, agency staff, clients, and City staff to work with the community agency and the City on the shelter's transition to the proposed location and to refine the shelter service model.

3.         City Council direct the Executive Director of Social Development, Finance and Administration, to work with the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, effective immediately, and report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in the first quarter of 2015 on the social-economic, health and community planning resources needed to support Cornerstone Place Shelter and the local neighbourhood stakeholders with the relocation.

4.         City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee by March, 2015 with recommendations for an "Oakwood Vaughan Strategy" to improve economic development, social services and land-use planning for the neighbourhood to address issues of high unemployment, petty crime, and lack of economic development, the Strategy to:

a.         be developed in coordination with relevant city agencies and divisions, including the Toronto Public Library, Toronto Public Health and Toronto Police;

b.         make recommendations to provide adequate funding for the plan; and

c.         be developed through a robust community engagement process that is inclusive of local residents and businesses.

5.         City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing to develop an operating agreement with Cornerstone that addresses issues of concern to the Oakwood Vaughan community, such as hours of operation, entrance and exit procedures, and noise.

6.         As a result of the relocation of the Cornerstone Shelter to the Oakwood Vaughan neighbourhood, City Council approve the following initiatives and strategies to strengthen community support in the area:

a.         City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to write to the Minister of Health requesting Ministry support for a community health provider or satellite family health care clinic within the Oakwood and Vaughan community to support existing residents and residents of Cornerstone Shelter.

b.         City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to include funding for a Community Health Officer in the Oakwood and Vaughan community to support existing residents and the residents of Cornerstone Shelter in the 2015 Operating Budget submission for Public Health.

c.         City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, in consultation with the Toronto Police Service, Public Health, local residents and additional appropriate groups and City divisions, to develop a "Safe Growth" strategy for Oakwood and Vaughan to include strategic actions identified under the City of Toronto Strategic Actions, 2013 - 2018.

d.         City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to work with the Oakwood Village Community Association and Oakwood Village Business Improvement Association on a strategy to generate economic revitalization, including how to encourage new business opportunities and deal with vacant storefronts in the Oakwood Vaughan area, and to report to the March 2015 meeting of the Economic Development Committee.

e.         City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to:

i.          immediately assign Youth Outreach Worker services or programs at Fairbank Memorial Community Centre to serve the Oakwood Village area; and

ii.         include funding for a permanent Youth Outreach Worker position at Fairbank Memorial Community Centre as part of the 2015 operating budget submission for Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

f.          City Council request Toronto Building to carry out an inspection of 616 Vaughan Road to ensure that the building can accommodate the intended use in accordance with the Ontario Building Code.

g.         City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the appropriate standing committees in March 2015 on the following matters in order to ensure a smooth transition with the necessary supports for Cornerstone shelter residents and existing residents in the Oakwood and Vaughan community:

i.          an overview of the current zoning in the Oakwood Village neighbourhood and Oakwood Village BIA that includes current permitted uses and an inventory of "soft sites" that have development potential to ensure compatibility with Cornerstone shelter; and

ii.         an update on the long term strategy for filling the vacancy at 524 Oakwood Avenue through a below market rent lease agreement to provide supportive/ family health services to Cornerstone shelter residents and existing residents in the Oakwood and Vaughan community

7.         City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in 2015 on best practices for community engagement in establishing shelters.