Item - 2022.EC29.1

City Council considered Items EC29.1 and EY31.1 together.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to use the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report, found in Attachment 3 to the report (April 12, 2022) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, as a guide for a second phase of community engagement.

2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report back with a proposed Jane Finch Community Development Plan and associated resource requirements to be considered in the 2024 operating budget process, guided by the Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report and input from ongoing community consultation, by the third quarter of 2023.

The Jane Finch Initiative is a resident-informed project to plan for the future of the Jane and Finch area (Neighbourhood 24 - Black Creek and Neighbourhood 25 - Glenfield-Jane Heights). The Initiative involves the development of two integrated plans – a Secondary Plan and a Community Development Plan – both intended to support residents, local groups and businesses are supported as the area changes over time, including with the opening of the Finch West Light Rail Transit line.

This report provides an update from staff in the Social Development, Finance and Administration and Economic Development and Culture Divisions. It responds to City Council's direction to report with a draft Jane Finch Initiative Community Development Plan and a summary of community input received by the fourth quarter of 2021. Due to COVID-19 and its impacts on both community members and City staffing requirements, the Phase 1 engagement process was slowed to ensure meaningful participation. It is now complete. This report summarizes this first round of community engagement and outlines a series of directions to guide the next phase of work to develop a Community Development Plan for the study area. Phase 2 will continue to prioritize extensive engagement to ensure the development of a community centered plan.

An additional staff report, Jane and Finch Initiative: Ideas Report and Phase 2 Directions, prepared by the City Planning Division and is to be included on the agenda of Etobicoke and York Community Council at its meeting on April 19, 2022. That report speaks to the development of the Secondary Plan and urban design guidelines. It is the intention of staff that these two reports be considered together by City Council if forwarded with recommendation by the respective Committee and Community Council. The Jane Finch Initiative Ideas Report (Attachment 3) is attached to both reports and speaks to the initiative as a whole, combining project background and directions to be pursued related to both land use and community development, and informed by community engagement. A summary of the Community Development Plan themes and proposed actions is included as Attachment 1.

Over the course of 2021, through a first round of engagement, community members shared their thoughts, concerns and aspirations for the future of the neighbourhood. A record of these community conversations is contained in the Jane Finch Initiative Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report (Attachment 2) prepared by the City's engagement partner, the Jane Finch Community and Family Centre.