Community Services Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

21

Date:

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

Location:

Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, and by electronic participation

Present:

• Chair Laura Dudas, 
• Vice-Chair Jessica Bradley, 
• Councillor Riley Brockington, 
• Councillor David Brown, 
• Councillor Marty Carr, 
• Councillor David Hill, 
• Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, 
• Councillor Rawlson King, 
• Councillor Wilson Lo, 
• Councillor Stéphanie Plante, 
• and Councillor Ariel Troster 

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and hybrid participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on March 11, 2026 in Community Services Committee Report 21.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on February 23, 2026, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on February 24, 2026.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

CSC Minutes 20 – November 25, 2025

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

CSC-2025-06 – Stages of the Alexander Community Centre renovation and expansion

5.

Community and Social Services Department

5.1

Community Funding Framework Midterm Review

File No.  ACS2026-CSS-GEN-001 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve: 

  1. The Community Funding Framework Funding Policy Statements as outlined in this report and attached as Document 2 to this report. 
  2. Delegate authority to the Director of Community Safety, Well-Being, Policy and Analytics and the Program Manager of Social Development and Funding, individually, to manage and administer the Community and Social Services Department Community Funding budget as described in this report and the Policy Statements attached as Document 2 to this report. 
  Carried

5.2

Community Safety and Well-Being Legislated Review

File No.  ACS2026-CSS-GEN-002 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council:

  1. Adopt the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2021–2031 in accordance with s. 255(1) of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, as outlined in this report and attached as Document 1.
  2. Direct the General Manager, Community and Social Services and Director, Community Safety and Well-Being, Policy, and Analytics to explore opportunities and the funding to expand and enhance access to alternate neighbourhood crisis response (ANCHOR) services; with a report back to Council outlining options and recommendations by 2027, in coordination with community partners and mental health service providers.
  3. Direct staff to engage Federal and Provincial governments to advocate for continued funding and explore new funding opportunities to support initiatives under the City’s CSWB Plan in collaboration with community partners.
  4. Advocate to the Ministry of the Solicitor General and other provincial ministries for the establishment of a stable, long-term funding model available for municipalities to access in order to support the operational and project-based initiatives associated with Community Safety and Well-Being plans, recognizing the fiscal limitations faced by Ottawa and other municipalities committed to advancing proactive community well-being.
  5. Forward this report to the Ottawa Police Services Board and Ottawa Board 
     of Health for their information and collaboration.
  Carried

5.3

Unsheltered Homelessness Outreach Model

File No.  ACS2026-CSS-GEN-003 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council:

  1. Approve the outreach model outlined in the report below.
  2. Delegate authority to the General Manager, Community and Social Services to make operational adjustments to the model through evidence-based processes in the future.
  3. Direct the General Manager, Community and Social Services and Chief Financial Officer to identify sustainable funding sources for the outreach model, including in partnership with other levels of government. 
  Carried as amended
• Motion No. CSC 2026-21-01
  Moved by S. Plante

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the report recommendations be amended to add recommendation 4 as follows:

  [That the Community Services Committee recommend Council:…]

  “4. Receive the memorandum dated February 20, 2026, in which staff respond to the October 8, 2025 Council direction on encampment responses (File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0090), attached as Document 1 to this report.”

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the memorandum be added to the report as Document 1.

  Carried

5.4

Long-Term Care Accountability Agreement with Ontario Health

File No. ACS2026-CSS-GEN-004 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Community Services Committee, as Committee of Management for the four City-operated long-term care homes, approve the 2025 Declarations of Compliance that are required under the 2023-26 Long-Term Care Home Service Accountability Agreement – Multi Homes and the 2023-26 Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement as detailed in this report.

  Carried

6.

Office of the City Clerk

6.1

Status Update – Community Services Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending February 6, 2026

File No.  ACS2026-OCC-CCS-0013 – City-wide

• Report recommendation(s)

  That the Community Services Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

7.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

8.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

There were no Notices of Motion.

9.

Inquiries

9.1

CSC-2026-01 – Fencing at play structures adjacent to off-leash parks

Submitted by Vice-Chair J. Bradley (on behalf of Councillor G. Gower):

1. Some children’s play structures adjacent to off-leash recreation areas are protected by a fence, while many are not.  How does the city decide where to install protective fencing adjacent to off-leash areas?
2. What considerations - financial or otherwise - would prevent Ottawa from adding fencing around all play structures adjacent to off-leash areas?

9.2

CSC-2026-02 – Family Shelter System and Transitional Housing

Submitted by Councillor M. Carr:

In light of the City’s interest in purchasing the former hotel located at 377 O’Connor Street, which would be used as transitional housing for families, could staff please provide the following information:

1. How many families are presently in the City of Ottawa family shelter system, including both designated family shelter spaces and overflow spaces?
2. What is the average family size (number of individuals per family) currently accessing the family shelter system?
3. What is the average length of stay for a family in the family shelter system?
4. What is the longest stay presently recorded for a family in the system?
5. Including the Corkstown Family Transitional Housing, how many active service agreements are currently in place with external providers (e.g., motels)?
6. What supports and services are provided to families residing in the family shelter system (e.g., meals, transit services, etc.)?
7. Which languages are services available in for residents in the family shelter system?
8. Over the past 12 months, how many families have exited the family shelter system for the following reasons:
   
   1. Secured a Rent-Geared-to-Income unit;
   2. Accepted another housing benefit (e.g. COHB)
   3. Other (please specify the reason where possible)?

9.3

CSC-2026-03 – Community Partnership Insurance availability for community gardening initiatives and invasive plants removal

Submitted by Councillor M. Carr:

Community groups who undertake community gardening initiatives under the City of Ottawa’s Community Gardens program receive coverage under the Community Partnership Insurance Program (CPIP), even if they are not a registered community association, however community groups who remove invasive plants from greenspaces under a Stewardship Agreement from Forestry do not. Both programs promote biodiversity, native plant gardening, and stewardship of city lands.

Could city staff please report back on why one program is eligible and the other is not, and provide information on what would be necessary in order to have those groups removing Invasive plants under a Stewardship Agreement be eligible?

10.

Other Business

There was no other business.

11.

Adjournment

Next Meetings

Special Joint Meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee and Community Services Committee: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Community Services Committee: Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The meeting adjourned at 12:35 am.