Building & Investment Committee (BIC) Meeting - July 17, 2014

Public Agenda

1. Approval of Public Meeting Agenda and Review of Agenda Order

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: Chair

2. Chair’s Poll re: Conflict of Interest

Action: Declaration

Pre-read

• Agenda
• Conflict of Interest Policy

Presenter: Chair

3. Confirmation of the Public Meeting Minutes of May 29, 2014

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Minutes

Presenter: Chair

4. Business Arising from the Minutes and Committee Action Items Update

Action: Discussion

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: Chair

Reports from the Building and Investment Committee Chair

5. Chair’s Report and Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: -

Presenter: Chair

Reports from Management

6. Update on Putting People First Recommendations

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2014-58

Presenter: Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations

7. Sale of Stand-Alone Properties – Sales and Relocation Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2014-59

Presenter: Senior Manager, Commercial & Business Development

8. Affordable Ownership Programs in Revitalization Communities

Action: Approval

Pre-read: BIC:2014-60

Presenter: Development Director

9. Project Completion Report: Railway Lands, Block 32

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2014-61

Presenter: Director Development

Closed Meeting Agenda

A. Approval of Agenda and Review of Agenda Order

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: Chair

B. Chair’s Poll re: Conflict of Interest

Action: Declaration

Pre-read

• Agenda
• Conflict of Interest Policy

Presenter: Chair

C. Confirmation of BIC Closed Meeting Minutes of May 29, 2014

Action: Committee Approval

Pre-read: Minutes

Presenter: Chair

D. Business Arising from the Minutes and Committee Action Items Update

Action: Discussion

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: Chair

Reports from the Building and Investment Committee Chair

E. Chair’s Report and Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: -

Presenter: Chair

Reports from Management

F. Confidential item from the Chief Development Officer

Action: Information

Pre-read: Verbal

Presenter: Chief Development Officer

G. Confidential item including, but not limited to identifiable individuals, proposed, pending and current transaction with a third party and recommendations of proposed policy or processes 

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:C2014-62

Presenter: Chief Development Officer

H. Confidential item respecting matters that are not required to be disclosed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including but not limited to recommendations of proposed policy or processes.

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:C2014-65

Presenter: Chief Financial Officer

I. Confidential item respecting matters that are not required to be disclosed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including but not limited to matters about a proposed or pending transaction with a third party.

Action: Committee Approval

Pre-read: BIC:C2014-63

Presenter: VP, Facilities Management / Senior Director, Strategic Procurement

J. Confidential item respecting matters that are not required to be disclosed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including but not limited to personal matters about identifiable individuals, a proposed or pending transaction with a third party, and recommendations of proposed policy or processes.

Action: Committee and Board approval

Pre-read: BIC:C2014-64

Presenter: Director, Development

INVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

K. Chair’s Report and Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: Verbal

Presenter: Chair, Investment Advisory Committee

TERMINATION

Public Meeting Minutes

The Building and Investment Committee (“BIC”) of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (“TCHC”) held a public meeting on July 17, 2014 at 9:02 a.m. in the Main Floor Conference Room at 931 Yonge Street, Toronto, M4W 2H2 and via teleconference.

Directors in Attendance:

Brian Kwan, Chair 

Councillor Maria Augimeri

Councillor Ana Bailao (via teleconference)

Karen Newman

Audrey Wubbenhorst

Other Directors in Attendance:

Norman (Bud) Purves, Chair of the Board of Directors (via teleconference)

Directors Absent:

Jennifer Wood

Also present:

Marta Asturi, Legal Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary

Valesa Faria, Senior Manager, Commercial & Business Development

Leslie Gash, Development Director

Heather Grey-Wolf, Development Director

Hugh Lawson, Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations

Laurie Payne, Development Director

Sheila Penny, Vice President, Facilities Managemen

Greg Spearn, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer/ Chief Development Officer

A quorum being present, Mr. Brian Kwan, Chair, called the meeting to order, and Ms. Mirela Bolentiru served as recording secretary.

Item 1 - Approval of Agenda and Review of Agenda Order

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst and carried, the BIC unanimously approved the agenda as presented.

Item 2 - Declaration of Conflict of Interest

The Chair requested members of the Building and Investment Committee to indicate any agenda item in which they have a conflict of interest, together with the nature of the interest. No conflicts of interest were declared.

Deputations

The Chair polled for any deputations to be heard at the meeting. No deputations were received by the Secretary and none were declared at the meeting.

Item 3 - Confirmation of Building and Investment Committee Public Minutes – May 29, 2014

The BIC had before it the draft minutes for the May 29, 2014 public meeting.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman and carried, the BIC unanimously confirmed the above-captioned public minutes of May 29, 2014 as presented.

Item 4 - Business Arising from the Minutes and Committee Action Items Update

The BIC requested that the two target dates marked as “TBD” on the report be replaced by specific dates for reporting at the next BIC meeting.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst and carried, the BIC unanimously received the report for information.

Item 5 - Chair's Reports and Remarks

No comments or remarks from the Chair.

Item 6 - Update on Putting People First Recommendations, BIC:2014-58

The BIC had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2014-58) from the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

A discussion ensued, including the following salient points:

• In May and June 2014, the Interim Chief Executive Officer and other TCHC staff met with over a dozen of City Councillors, providing them with information about TCHC’s State of Good Repair (SOGR) Program and the capital repairs spending in their respective wards. Positive feedback was received from the Councillors and their staff.
• On July 9, 2014, a “Close the Housing Gap” meeting of the social housing sector and other supporting organizations was held at the City Hall, to review activity to date and identify activities planned for the next two quarters.
• Public Affairs is working on an enhanced public advocacy/government relations program to support the Quality Homes/capital repair funding strategy that will target elected officials, decision makers and general public audiences.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst and carried, the BIC unanimously received the report for information.

Item 7 - Sale of Stand-Alone Properties – Sales and Relocation Update, BIC:2014-59

The BIC had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2014-59) from the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.  

At 9:16 a.m. Councillor Maria Augimeri joined the meeting.

Management presented the report. The following discussion ensued:

• The BIC discussed the relocation process for residents in occupied houses. 
• Management is looking at developing alternative strategies for certain properties affected by specific constraints. 

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman and carried, the BIC unanimously received the report for information and recommended that the Board of Directors be updated accordingly.

Item 8 - Affordable Ownership Programs in Revitalization Communities, BIC:2014-60

The BIC had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2014-60) from the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.  

A discussion ensued, including the following highlights:

• Management presented the report, seeking approval for an extension of an existing program, which is currently managing the affordable homeownership funding for the Regent Park residents only, to expand the program’s scope to receive, manage and administer funds for affordable homeownership programs to the other TCHC revitalization communities for TCHC residents.
• In 2009, the City of Toronto committed $1,610,000 in federal affordable housing funding to support resident purchases of new market housing in Regent Park. 
• The Development Division has been working closely with the City of Toronto’s Affordable Housing Office to secure additional funding and develop a program that will expand resident homeownership opportunities to other revitalization communities beyond Regent Park. The additional funding support will support approximately 12-15 loans, which equals to 4-5 units in each of the following revitalization projects: Allenbury Gardens, Alexandra Park and Lawrence Heights.
• The BIC discussed the recommendations in the report and requested amendments to recommendation #2 to clarify that the authorization is to assign the contribution agreement to the subsidiary, Toronto Affordable Housing Fund (TAHF).

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman and carried, the BIC unanimously adopted the report as amended and recommended that the report be forwarded to the Board of Directors to:

1. Authorize the President and CEO or his designate to enter into contribution agreements with the City of Toronto to administer currently available and future affordable homeownership funding for Toronto Community Housing communities.
2. Authorize the President and CEO or his designate to assign any affordable homeownership contribution agreements with the City to the Toronto Affordable Housing Fund (TAHF), a Toronto Community Housing Subsidiary which is currently managing the affordable homeownership funding for Regent Park.
3. Authorize the President and Chief Executive Officer (or designate) and the Directors of the Toronto Affordable Housing Fund to take the necessary action to incur capital commitments, and execute any and all documents as may be necessary in connection with the implementation of affordable homeownership programs for Toronto Community Housing residents in accordance with recommendations 1 and 2 above. Such arrangements shall include, but not be limited to, contribution agreements with the City of Toronto, agreements with lending partners, mortgage agreements with purchasers, and other ancillary contracts required to give effect to the above recommendations.

Item 9 - Project Completion Report: Railway Lands, Block 32, BIC:2014-61

The BIC had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2014-61) from the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.  

Management presented the report and a discussion ensued, including the following:

• Overall, the project is a success story that was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. The project has been praised in both the development and the design industry.
• The BIC discussed the project turnover process, as well as the TCHC staff turnover which had an impact in identifying deficiencies within the project.
• Sources of funding:  The BIC noted a variance in the actual amount of grant funding received from City, Federal and Provincial levels of government, and requested management to follow up on the status of this shortfall.
• Elevators:  No elevator consultant was retained by TCHC for Block 32. This has become a standard practice for all new development projects. In future, staff will work with the elevator consultant to ensure that the elevators included in a new development project are manufactured in North America  and that there is a North American source for integral elevator components.
• In response to a question raised, management confirmed that TCHC has achieved its target with respect to the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units in Block 32.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Maria Augimeri, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman and carried, the BIC unanimously received the report for information, subject to the amendments discussed and resolved that the revised report be forwarded to the Board of Directors for information.

TERMINATION

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Audrey Wubbenhorst, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman and carried, the BIC terminated the public meeting at 9:46 a.m.