Community Services Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

5

Date:

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Time:

9:30 A.m. - 5:30 P.m.

Location:

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

Present:

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

---

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 Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in Community Services Committee Report 5.

The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Monday, September 25, 2023, and the deadline to register to speak by email is 8:30 am on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

CSC Minutes 4 – Tuesday, June 27, 2023

• Carried

4.

Responses to Inquiries

4.1

OCC-2023-07 – Safety at City of Ottawa Beaches

5.

Community and Social Services Department

5.1

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation Mortgage Refinancing 2023-24

File No. ACS2023-CSS-GEN-012 – City-wide

Clara Freire, General Manager, Community and Social Services Department, answered questions from Committee. There were no public submissions on this item.

• Report Recommendations

  That the Community Services Committee recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the refinancing of two Ottawa Community Housing Corporation projects described in this report for which the mortgages are due for renewal in 2023, and
  2. That the Director of Housing Services be delegated the authority to approve the refinancing of three Ottawa Community Housing Corporation projects, described in this report, for which the mortgages are due for renewal in 2024 provided the amount is not greater than the current subsidy and the outcome is revenue-neutral to the City of Ottawa, as described in this report.
  Carried

6.

Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

6.1

Community Partnership Capital Grant Programs Annual Report

File Number: ACS2023-RCF-GEN-0003 – City wide

Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department, answered questions from Committee. There were no public submissions on this item.

• Report Recommendations

  That the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend Council:

  1. Receive for information the list of projects funded under delegated authority through the Community Partnership Minor Capital program in 2022 as detailed in Document 1;
  2. Approve in principle the list of 2023 Community Partnership Major Capital projects as detailed in Document 2 and within the Council approved program budget envelope;
  3. Approve the transfer of $113,500 available in the 2023 Community Partnership Minor Capital Program budget to the Community Partnership Major Capital Program budget;
  4. Receive for information the status of Community Partnership Major Capital projects previously approved in principle as detailed in Document 3; and
  5. Approve the administrative updates to the guidelines for Major/Minor Capital Partnership Programs as detailed in the discussion.
  Carried

6.2

Commemorative Naming Proposal – Roger Michels Volleyball Court

File Number: ACS2023-RCF-GEN-0006 - Osgoode (20)

Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department, provided a brief overview and answered questions from Committee on items 6.2 to 6.5 jointly. Items 6.2 to 6.5 were then carried individually without discussion.

• Report Recommendation

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve the proposal to name the outdoor volleyball court, located at Osgoode Village Park, 5701 Philip Street, the “Roger Michels Volleyball Court”.

  Carried

6.3

Commemorative Naming Proposal – Victor Cyr Woods

File Number: ACS2023-RCF-GEN-0005 – Orléans South-Navan (19)

• Report Recommendation

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve the proposal to re-name Innes Park Woods, located at 3828 Innes Road, “Victor Cyr Woods”.

  Carried

6.4

Commemorative Naming Proposal – Lt. Col. Roland Ashman Park

File Number: ACS2023-RCF-GEN-0008 – Rideau-Jock (21)

• Report Recommendation

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve the proposal to name a new park in the Minto Mahogany community, located at 623 Bridgeport Avenue, “Lt. Col. Roland Ashman Park”.

  Carried

6.5

Commemorative Naming Proposal – Dr. O.B. Wilson Park

File Number: ACS2023-RCF-GEN-0007 – Rideau-Jock (21)

• Report Recommendation

  That the Community Services Committee recommend Council approve the proposal to name a new park in the Minto Mahogany community, located at 216 Skipper Drive, “Dr. O.B. Wilson Park”.

  Carried

7.

Office of the City Clerk

7.1

Status Update – Community Services Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending September 8, 2023

File Number: ACS2023-OCC-CCS-0112 – City wide

• Report Recommendation

  That the Community Services Committee receive this report for information.

  Received

8.

In Camera Items

There were no in camera items.

9.

Information Previously Distributed

9.1

Vanier Area-Day Programming Like Service Plans

This IPD was listed on the agenda for the meeting of June 27, 2023. Councillor Plante requested at that meeting that the IPD be listed on this meeting’s agenda for discussion.

Clara Freire, General Manager, Community and Social Services Department, answered questions from Committee. There were no public submissions on this item.

10.

Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

10.1

Geographically equitable distribution of access to resources and social services

Submitted by Councillor S. Plante:

WHEREAS Ottawa has 729 shelter beds for single men and women experiencing homelessness, many of which are found in Ward 12; and

WHEREAS Ottawa has 145 rooms in the permanent shelter system for families experiencing homelessness;

WHEREAS our existing resources are in very high demand and new emergency shelter spaces could serve as a temporary response in the event of emergencies, including severe winter weather, floods, power outages, refugee resettlement and renoviction; and

WHEREAS the National Shelter Study found that people who identify as Indigenous are overrepresented in shelters; and

WHEREAS precarious housing is also a concern, as many neighbourhoods rank high on indicators of economic and social disadvantage; and

WHEREAS if individuals experiencing homelessness have to travel long distances from their neighbourhoods of origin to access aid, this may contribute to their dislocation and further their social disaffiliation and marginalization; and

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa unveiled its 2023 Integrated Transitions to Housing plan on June 27, 2023, which includes investments such as the purchase of a property on Kilborn Place to build social housing units and supportive housing units for people experiencing homelessness; and

WHEREAS this planned new housing and the current economic situation (inflation, labour shortages and the housing crisis) are signs that we cannot rely on the available housing stock in Ward 12 or recreation facilities to create a more compassionate society;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Ottawa address homelessness by funding the development of new emergency shelter spaces in every area of the City of Ottawa;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Ottawa take matters of equity and diversity into consideration before investing new funding and making decisions with respect to the relocation of emergency accommodations and shelters.

10.2

Lowertown Community Resource Center relocation

Submitted by Councillor S. Plante:

WHEREAS the City provided notice of termination of the lease at the City-owned building at 40 Cobourg in writing to the Patro on July 19, 2023; and

WHEREAS the City provided notice to the tenant to meet a 6 month notice requirement, with the intention of deciding its management and leasing of space for the address in early 2024; and

WHEREAS the Lowertown Community Resource Centre’s food bank is required to significantly reduce its operations and capacity to meet the food insecurity needs of Lowertown residents due to the constraints related to the electrical system at its current building on 45 Beausoleil Drive; and

WHEREAS the demand for the Lowertown Community Resource Centre’s food bank has doubled over the last 5 years.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Ottawa consider programming that meets the needs of the surrounding Lowertown East community when deciding on how to manage the operations at 40 Cobourg;  and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department be directed to consider a lease agreement with the Lowertown Community Resource Center covering the transfer of its food bank to the location so that it can better meet the food insecurity needs of the community; and

AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City be henceforth responsible for the management and operations of the portion of the City-owned building currently governed by the lease with Le Patro until such time that the City grants a lease or leases to other grantee(s).

10.3

Community Gardens Framework

Submitted by Councillor M. Carr (on behalf of Councillor C. Kitts):

WHEREAS item 1. C) of the Council-approved report titled, “Community Garden Action Plan Evaluation” (ACS2009-COS-RCS-0005) states: “Implement a process to identify and provide access to community gardens in City parks, as developed by staff in Recreation and Community Services; balancing demand for community gardens, recognized as a recreational activity, with other park uses.”

WHEREAS the City has not revised the Council-approved Community Garden Action Plan since 2009.

WHEREAS historically, the term “community gardens” exclusively referred to publicly accessible food gardens; however, requests for access to City-owned land have expanded to encompass proposals for similar green community-led initiatives, including but not limited to pollinator gardens, naturalization efforts, and invasive species management, along with requests for their service, maintenance, and development.

WHEREAS community food gardens and similar green community-led initiatives significantly contribute to the City’s key priorities, including addressing climate change, revitalizing neighbourhoods, fostering food security, enhancing community safety and wellbeing, and promoting civic participation.

WHEREAS the requests for access to City-owned land for community food gardens and similar green community-led initiatives is steadily increasing, with a focus on City-owned parkland.

WHEREAS community food gardens and other similar green community-led initiatives have implications for several different City departments.

WHEREAS residents will benefit from a clear process through which the City may consider their requests for access to City-owned land for the purposes of community food gardens and similar green community-led initiatives, ultimately reducing the bureaucratic barriers to residents.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Community Services Committee recommend that Council direct the Recreation, Cultural Facility Services Department and the Community and Social Services Department, in partnership with the Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department and Public Works Department, to conduct a comprehensive review and develop an update to the Community Garden Action Plan with formal recommendations on processes, scope, lead, and necessary resources for considering and facilitating community gardens and similar green community-led initiatives on City-owned land;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Community Services Committee recommend that Council direct City staff to present the revised Community Garden Action Plan and recommendations for implementation to Community Services Committee and Council by Q2 2024.

11.

Inquiries

11.1

Swimming lesson registration

Submitted by Councillor A. Troster:

On August 14th, many parents and guardians logged on to the City’s registration system to attempt to register their children for swimming lessons, and were met with what one resident called “45 minutes of registration hell”. While there are a lot of issues at play here – the staffing issues, lack of available spots, and the equity considerations of this registration model – can staff please provide answers to the following:

1. Council was assured that the new cloud-based software would not experience the same system crashes that occurred regularly with the previous system. What went wrong during the August 14th swimming registration and what is the vendor doing to assure it doesn’t happen again?
2. Why do residents continue to be charged the non-resident fee?
3. Can staff work with the vendor to ensure that there is a standalone language tab so that residents can more easily filter classes by language?
4. Many parents reported that as a result of only being able to register one child per cart, that they were only able to register one of their children for classes. Can staff work with the vendor to explore potential options to permit multiple registrations per cart?
5. Given the repeated failures, are staff currently considering terminating the contract and pursuing a new provider?

12.

Other Business

There was no other business.

13.

Adjournment

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

The meeting adjourned at 9:55 am.