Item - 2016.EX17.11

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the City Manager in collaboration with Toronto Building, Municipal Licensing and Standards, City Planning, Social Development and Finance Administration, Shelter Support and Housing Administration and 311 to consider the development of online resources to provide condominium dwellers with information on City services and currently available resources.  

2.  City Council request that the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning in consultation with Toronto Building, Municipal Licensing and Standards, City Planning, Social Development and Finance Administration, Shelter Support and Housing Administration to leverage existing consultation initiatives in order to inform condominium dwellers of relevant City services and better understand their needs to inform future City policy and planning decisions.

On October 20, 2015, the Executive Committee requested the City Manager in consultation with Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Public Health, City Planning, Legal Services, and Social Development and Finance Administration, to consider the feasibility of Condo Clinics to support Torontonians living in condominiums.   

The Condo Clinic model was introduced in Chicago to provide information to condominium owners, tenants and boards on governance, laws and roles and responsibilities. The Clinics are led by a non-profit membership based organization and are delivered in a single Ward in Chicago (in collaboration with the Ward Alderman). The City of Chicago's administration is not directly involved in the organization and operationalization of the Condo Clinic.

Staff have evaluated the feasibility of the Condo Clinic model to the City of Toronto based on four criteria: Ontario's regulatory framework for condos (including the City's jurisdiction); the effectiveness and efficiency of the model; resource requirements; and the value it would provide to Toronto residents.  

Many of the benefits provided by Condo Clinics are already available to residents of Toronto through a suite of City and Provincial initiatives currently underway. Although a condo clinic model is not supported, it is recommended that the City provide additional support to condominium dwellers with the following complementary initiatives:

-  Develop a web-portal that serves as an online resource for condominium dwellers to access and learn about City services and resources, including how to locate and contact local Councillors; and

-   Leverage existing initiatives to inform condominium dwellers of relevant City services and better understand their needs to inform future City policy and planning decisions.