Grants Ad hoc Committee Minutes - June 4, 2009

THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL

GRANTS AD HOC COMMITTEE

MINUTES GAC-2009-1

The Grants Ad Hoc Committee (GAC) met on June 4, 2009, at 10:36 a.m. in the Chairman's Boardroom, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Members Present:		E. Kolb, K. Mahoney, E. Moore, R. Paterak

Members Absent:		Nil

Also Present:		D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; J. Menard, Interim Commissioner of Human Services, S. Solonik, Acting Manager, Community Services and Special Projects; R. Martin, Legislative Specialist

___________________________________

* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Councillor Moore presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION GAC-1-2009:

That the agenda for the June 4, 2009, Grants Ad Hoc Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS - Nil

4. REPORTS

a) Community Investment Review - 2010 Community Programs Fund
Presentation by Sandra Solonik, Acting Manager, Community Services and Special Projects

Received

RECOMMENDATION GAC-2-2009:

That the Grants Ad Hoc Committee consider the following:

Extension of the 2007-2009 Multi-year Operational Funding through to 2010 for a one year period; and

The extended contracts be given a cost of living increase of up to 2.5 per cent, for a total not to exceed $38,485; and

June 2009 call for interest for 2010 Renewable Project funding based on the new funding priorities as described in the report “Community Investment Review – 2010 Community Programs Fund”; and

A community based review of the Strengthening Organizational Effectiveness Fund with recommendations to the Grants Ad Hoc Committee in the fall of 2009; and

Community Investment Strategy Review implementation to determine the most effective delivery of future Community Programs funding including the Renewable Project Fund by February 2010.

Sandra Solonik, Acting Manager, Community Services and Special Projects provided an overview of the Community Investment Strategy Review.

Sandra Solonik reported that in late 2008, after a broad consultation process, the Region of Peel and the United Way of Peel shared results of a jointly planned Community Investment Strategy Review report with community organizations. The Region of Peel and the United Way of Peel drew upon the work of Sherri Torjman, author of Shared Space: The Communities Agenda. Torjman defines “shared space” as not only the physical place in which we all live, but also as a place where we connect emotionally to each other and work collectively toward our common vision and goals. According to Torjman, it is in this shared space, that the “communities’ agenda” takes shape. The community’s agenda promotes resilience so that communities become strong and vibrant. A community’s resilience is determined by its capacity to provide services in four independent but related areas or clusters.

Sustenance: meeting basic physical and emotional needs;

Adaptation: helping to develop coping skills and abilities;

Opportunity : providing economic opportunities;

Engagement: aiding active participation in society.

Sandra Solonik stated that the Community Investment Strategy Review report indentified six key areas warranting attention. These include:

Funding priorities;

Outcome measurement;

Capacity building;

Community wide planning;

Streamlining the funding process;

Leadership and Advocacy.

Sandra Solonik reported that Region of Peel staff has been working closely with the United Way of Peel towards the implementation of the recommendations in the report.

Chair Kolb thanked Sandra Solonik for the presentation and enquired if the Region of Peel had provided enough funding for community grants to meet the current demand. Janet Menard responded that Regional Council has allocated $9.3 million in additional funding to address the impact of the recession. $400,000 of that total will be used to assist community agencies that are struggling financially as a result of the downturn in the economy and services that are assisting people affected by the recession.

Councillor Paterak asked if the Region of Peel audit process could be applied to community agencies in measuring the results of investments in programs. David Szwarc responded that the focus of Region of Peel auditors focus on monetary issues rather than determining the effectiveness of investments in programs. Regional auditors would require additional training in order to provide outcome program evaluations in the community.

Councillor Moore suggested the Investing for Resilience document be presented to Premier McGuinty when Chair Kolb and the three Mayors meet with him.

Councillor Moore enquired about plans to distribute the Investing for Resilience document. Sandra Solonik responded that Regional staff and the United Way of Peel are currently discussing the distribution of the Investing for Resilience document to community agencies and it will be a key part of the Region of Peel application process for 2010 funding.

Councillor Moore stated that the United Way should use the Investing for Resilience document as a marketing tool in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of United Way programs to potential financial supporters.

Janet Menard stated that the recommendation to extend the 2007-2009 multi-year operational funding through 2010 for a one year period can cause difficulties for a number of community agencies who are accustomed to the traditional two year cycle for funding. Regional staff will have to manage this issue in the short term while the impact of the new approach to community funding is determined.

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Grants Ad Hoc Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.