The Grants Ad Hoc Committee (GAC) met on September 9, 2010, at 8:35 a.m. in the 5th Floor Legislative Services Boardroom, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

___________________________________

* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Councillor Moore presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION GAC-3-2010:

That the agenda for the September 9, 2010, Grants Ad hoc Committee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS - Nil

4. REPORTS

a) Community Door in Peel Region and Regional Involvement
Presentation by Winston Meyer, Executive Director, Community Door

Received

RECOMMENDATION GAC-4-2010:

That the establishment of a $500,000 Human Services centre facility revolving fund from the 2010 Budget be authorized;

And further, that the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services be authorized to provide up to $500,000 from the Revolving Fund to Community Door to assist with immediate leasehold improvements required to establish the Community Door human services centres, subject to a satisfactory and appropriate business case and a plan to replenish the funds;

And further, that staff report back as part of the year-end financial report on the source of the funding and outcome of staff deliberations with Community Door.

Winston Myer, Executive Director, Community Door stated that his organization, over the past three years, had explored the viability of bringing a variety of not-for-profit agencies together in one location in each of the three municipalities in the Region of Peel. A study conducted by the United Way in Peel found that a number of not-for-profit service agencies within the Region have struggled to find suitable space for their operations and many of these agencies would welcome the opportunity to co-locate with similar agencies. To date twelve not-for-profit agencies have committed to supporting a co-location site.

Winston Myer reported that Community Door was in the final stages of negotiating lease terms for prime locations in Mississauga and Brampton that would provide locations with high visibility and ease of access for the various social service organizations. Community Door requires capital in order to complete the necessary retro fitting to the leased buildings and is requesting the Region of Peel provide financial assistance in order to complete the necessary modifications.

Chair Kolb asked why Community Door has been unable to secure a bank loan for the retro fitting of the two buildings. Winston Myer responded that banks see this project as a huge financial risk.

Councillor Paterak asked if Community Door had looked at lease-to-own properties. Winston Myer responded that Community Door required buildings that were centrally located and easily accessible by public transit. Few buildings in the Region met those requirements. Community Door did apply for funding under the Federal Infrastructure program for a property at Derry Road and Highway 10 but the application was not successful. The buildings that Community Door is looking to lease in Mississauga and Brampton are ideal locations and offer the flexibility to expand as additional service organizations locate at those sites.

Chair Kolb enquired if Community Door could lease one centrally located building that could serve the entire Region. Winston Myer responded that in order to receive funding, a number of service organizations need to have a specific location within a municipality. As a result, moving to a central location within Peel would leave some social service organizations without sufficient funds.

Councillor Moore asked for clarification on the amount of funds that Community Door is requesting from the Region of Peel. Winston Myer responded that Community Door requires funds in the range of $500,000 to $1 million in assistance.

David Szwarc asked if all the organizations who have committed to locating within one of the Community Door locations were funded by the United Way. Winston Myer reported that United Way funds some of the service organizations committed to locating at a Community Door location, and others receive funding from a variety of sources. Sandy Milakovic, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association noted that a number of social service agencies approached their funding partners for capital required to retro fit the Community Door buildings but were unable to secure any additional funds.

Councillor Mahoney asked if the Region of Peel currently had a program to provide capital for the retro fit required by Community Door. David Szwarc responded that the Region currently does not have a policy or program that provides this type of funding.

Councillor Mahoney enquired if the Region of Peel provides funds to the social service organizations who have committed to locating at one of the Community Door buildings, and if it did, if funds for the retro fit could be provided through those agencies. Sandra Solonik responded that the Region currently funds six of the agencies involved with the Community Door proposal. Of those six organizations, only one receives funding from the Region for rental costs.

Councillor Paterak asked for a total amount that the Region of Peel provides in funds for the six organizations who have committed to moving into a Community Door building. Sandra Solonik reported that the Region provides approximately $590,000 to the six organizations in question.

David Szwarc enquired if Community Door had approached the landlord regarding the possibility of funding leasehold improvements. Winston Myer responded that Community Door could contact the landlord on the issue of leasehold improvements but the landlord has already provided substantial discounts on the rent for the buildings.

Chair Kolb suggested a committee be set up to determine if there is a strong enough business case to take this issue to Regional Council. Councillor Moore stated that there is not enough time to set up a committee to look at this issue as Community Door is facing an immediate deadline to sign the lease agreements.

Councillor Moore requested that this issue be added to the September 9th Regional Council agenda. David Szwarc responded that in order to add this issue to the Regional Council agenda, there needed to be a specific dollar amount requested from the Region that could be released by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at a later date.

Councillor Mahoney enquired about the dollar amount that Community Door was requesting from the Region for the retro fit of the two buildings. Winston Myer responded that Community Door requires funds in the range of $500,000 to $1.5 million for the retro fit. Councillor Moore suggests that Community Door should request that the Region provide $500,000 for the retro fit of the two buildings.

a) Community Investment Fund Application Initial Review
Presentation by Sandra Solonik, Acting Manager, Community Services and Special Projects

Received

Sandra Solonik reported that staff received 65 applications for the Community Investment Fund for a total of just over $4.3 million for 2011.  That is a 96 per cent increase in requested funding from what was experienced in 2007.

Sandra Solonik provided a brief overview on the increase in applications for funding requests for 2011. She outlined the breakdown of applications as follows: applicants previously funded reapplying, new applicants influenced by recession/poverty demands, applications influenced by other funders, applications in response to community need demands, applications in response to organization need demands, funding requests that appear to be opportunistic, and applicants with multiple funding requests.

Sandra Solonik also reviewed how the applications align with the Community Investment Strategy priorities and stated that staff are working with social service agencies to determine the impact funding from the Region has on the community. All 2011 applicants were required to clearly indentify their outcome measurement plans. Sandra Solonik reviewed, with the committee, the concerns regarding the quality of the outcome measurement plans outlined in the funding applications. Staff will support the successful applicants to strengthen their capacity in this area.

Councillor Mahoney asked how other funding partners are responding to this increase in demand from agencies for funding.  Sandra Solonik responded that there is a meeting scheduled later in September for local funding partners and the issue of increased need for financial support will be discussed.

Councillor Paterak noted that the report stated that staff would provide recommendations to the Grants Ad-hoc Committee in December 2010.  He suggested with the municipal elections taking place that the Grants Ad-hoc Committee meet in January 2010.

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil


8. NEXT MEETING

RECOMMENDATION GAC-5-2010:

That the next meeting of the Grants Ad hoc Committee be scheduled for January 2011.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.