Building & Investment Committee (BIC) Meeting - November 20, 2013

Public Agenda

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

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: All

2. Confirmation of Public Meeting Minutes of September 26, 2013

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Minutes

Presenter: All

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

Action: Discussion

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: All

Reports from the Building and Investment Committee Chair

4. Chair's Report and Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: -

Presenter: Chair, Board of Directors

Reports from Management

5. Stand-Alone Properties - Sales Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2013-74

Presenter: Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations

6. City Manager’s Report on Putting People First Recommendations

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2013-75

Presenter: Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations

7. Update – Status of Community Economic Development in Lawrence Heights

Action: Information

Pre-read: BIC:2013-76

Presenter: Chief Development Officer and A/Vice President, Resident Services

TERMINATION

Public Meeting Minutes

The Building and Investment Committee of Toronto Community Housing Corporation held a public meeting on November 20, 2013, in the Main Floor Conference Room, 931 Yonge Street, Toronto and via teleconference, commencing at 9:08 a.m.

Committee Directors present:

Brian Kwan, Chair

Karen Newman

Jennifer Wood (via teleconference)

Committee Directors absent:

Councillor Maria Augimeri

Councillor Ana Bailao

Audrey Wubbenhors

Also present:

Marta Asturi, Legal Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary

Hugh Lawson, Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations

Janice Lewkoski, Board Secretary

Carmen Smith, Community Revitalization Consultant

Greg Spearn, Chief Development Officer

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

Item 1 - Confirmation of Agenda

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Jennifer Wood, seconded by Ms. Karen Newman, the Building and Investment Committee unanimously approved the agenda as presented.

Declaration of Conflict of Interest

The Chair requested members of the Building and Investment Committee to indicate any agenda item in which they had a conflict of interest, together with the nature of the interest. None were declared.

Deputations

The Committee Chair polled for any deputations to be heard at the meeting and explained the deputation process. None were declared.

Item 2 - Confirmation of Building and Investment Committee Minutes - September 26, 2013

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Mr. Brian Kwan, the Building and Investment Committee confirmed the above-captioned minutes.

Item 3 - Business Arising from the Minutes and Committee Action Items Update

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Mr. Brian Kwan, the Building and Investment Committee received the report for information.

The Committee requested a status update on the list of MLS deficiencies with respect to the stand-alone properties.

Item 4 - Chair's Report and Remarks

No report and remarks to present.

Item 5 - Stand-Alone Properties - Sales Update, BIC:2013-74

The Building and Investment Committee had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2013-74) from the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Management presented a summary and a discussion ensued, including the following highlights:

• Status of the sale of the stand-alone homes, including the three properties located at 6, 8 & 10 Ellerbeck Street.
• The agents of the largest group of properties being sold moved to a new brokerage firm, which delayed the process as staff had to review the procurement process to determine if the new brokerage company can be utilized or if a new RFP process was required.
• Of the current group of properties, 29 have finalized agreements of purchase and sale. To date, 23 out of 29 properties have closed.
• Trustwell Realty has been chosen to proceed with the sale of the 17 properties that have become vacant lately and are being appraised to determine their current market value.
• Renovations to the newly vacant properties are required and it is expected that they will be sold by the end of Q1 2014.
• The City’s Planning and Real Estate Departments believe that TCHC may require an Official Plan Amendment in order to sell four properties that are covered by the Official Plan rental housing protection rules. A meeting between TCHC staff and City’s Planning Department staff is scheduled on October 23, 2013 to discuss requirements and alternative approaches. 
• Management will report back to the Committee on any transition issues with respect to relocating the residents and management of the process.
• Closing dates – the Committee noted that the most of the closing dates included in the report have already passed and asked whether there is an extension of those dates. The data available at the end of September and included in the report was not final. Staff will update all the closing dates as of November 20, 2013.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Jennifer Wood, the Building and Investment Committee received the report for information, and recommended that the report be circulated to the Board for information subject to updating the closing dates of the stand-alone properties and data available as of November 20, 2013.

Item 6 - City Manager’s Report on Putting People First Recommendations, BIC:2013-75

The Building and Investment Committee had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2013-75) from the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Management presented the Committee with an update, including the following highlights:

• The City Manager’s one-year status update report “Putting People First: Moving Forward” was discussed at the City Executive Committee meeting held on October 30, 2013  and approved at last week’s City Council’s meeting.
• A joint TCHC and City staff group, including the TCHC President and CEO and Councillor Ana Bailao, will present a submission to Ottawa to promote closing the social housing gap by advocating for federal funding.
• The City Manager’s report included recommendations related to advocacy with the federal and provincial governments for sustainable funding for the TCHC’s capital repair backlog, as well as recommendations to the City Council to introduce annual reporting requirements for TCHC, commencing in 2014, with respect to the following:
  • Results of the organizational review and the creation of a specialized unit for the single-family homes; 
  • Partnerships with other organizations to provide affordable ownership opportunities to TCHC residents and qualifying families; and
  • Progress of redevelopment and revitalization activities.
• The Committee discussed whether TCHC and the City have a concrete, fulsome plan in place to engage the provincial and federal governments to provide sustainable funding for the TCHC’s capital repair backlog. Management will report back to the Committee with more details from the City. The Committee further requested that a briefing noted be circulated to the Board members prior to the December 11, 2013 Board meeting, outlining TCHC’s engagement strategies in various projects and the status of the projects undertaken. The Committee further recommended a well established communications plan for effective and timely dissemination of the TCHC’s achievements to the public and accessible on the Corporation’s website.
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) – no further work is required at this time. The report requested that the City and TCHC investigate the feasibility and interest of the private sector for a partnership with TCHC in a housing REIT. The City engaged Ernst & Young in 2013 to investigate these opportunities and gather market insights.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Jennifer Wood, the Building and Investment Committee received the report for information. 

Item 7 - Update – Status of Community Economic Development in Lawrence Heights, BIC:2013-76

The Building and Investment Committee had before it the above-captioned report (BIC:2013-76) from the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Management presented a summary and a discussion ensued, including the following highlights:

• This report was presented to the Committee at the Board’s request that management report back within six months on the status of Community Economic Development (CED) in Lawrence Heights, including job creation, scholarships and training.
• TCHC and its developer partner have developed the following CED plan:

1. Building Our Future: Limitless Heights Scholarship Program. In September 2013, 21 residents were awarded scholarships of up to $5,000 to cover tuition fees for post secondary education or training, educational support expenses (including books, child care, transportation), and ongoing mentorship from TCHC staff.
2. Employment and Training for residents, including paid internships, mentorships or apprenticeships.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Ms. Jennifer Wood, the Building and Investment Committee received the report and recommended that the report be forwarded to the Board of Directors for information. 

TERMINATION

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Karen Newman, seconded by Mr. Brian Kwan, the Building and Investment Committee terminated the public meeting at 9:40 a.m. and resolved to meet in closed session to discuss items A to J.