Building Services Standards and Neighbourhood Committee (BSNSC) Meeting - March 28, 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 August 15, 2013

Action: Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: Chair

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

Action: Discussion

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: Chair

Reports from Management

5. 2014 Work Plan

Action: Information

Pre-read: BSNSC:2014-01

Presenter: VP, Resident Community Services 

6. Community Safety Strategy 

Action: Information

Pre-read: BSNSC:2014-02

Presenter: Senior Director, Community Safety and Council Liaison

TERMINATION

Public Meeting Minutes

The Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee (BSNSC) of Toronto Community Housing Corporation held a public meeting on March 28, 2014, in the Main Floor Conference Room, 931 Yonge Street, Toronto, commencing at 9:10 a.m.

Committee Directors present:

Councillor Cesar Palacio, Chair (9:15 a.m.)

Christian Buhagiar

Councillor Frances Nunziata

Catherine Wilkinson

Also present:

Marta Asturi, Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary

Graham Leah, Vice President, Asset Management

Pamela Spencer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Sheila Penny, Vice President, Facilities Management

Lisa-Joan Overholt, Senior Director, Community Safety Unit & Council Liaison

Lenna Bradburn, Director, Resident and Community Services  

The Committee nominated Councillor Nunziata to act as Chair in the absence and until the arrival of Councillor Palacio.

A quorum being present, Councillor Nunziata, called the meeting to order and Ms. Pamela Cook served as recording secretary.

Item 1 - Approval of Agenda

Motion Carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Mr. Christian Buhagiar, seconded by Catherine Wilkinson and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee approved the agenda as presented.

Deputations

The Committee Chair polled for any deputations to be heard at the meeting and explained the deputation process. The Chair noted that one written request for a verbal deputation was received prior to the meeting with respect to agenda Item 6 “Community Safety Strategy”.

Item 2 - Declaration of Conflict of Interest

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

Councillor Cesar Palacio arrived at the meeting at 9:15 a.m., confirmed he had no conflicts of interest and assumed the position of Chair.

Item 3 - Confirmation of the Public Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2013

On review of the Public Minutes of August 15, 2013 the Committee directed that an item on Hoarding be added to the Action Item List in relation to Item 6 Pest Management Strategy.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Frances Nunziata, seconded by Ms. Catherine Wilkinson and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee approved the public meeting minutes of August 15, 2013.

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

In response to a query from the Committee concerning use of TCHC buildings for election campaign activities, it was confirmed that there is a formal TCHC Elections Policy in place, which is consistent with the City’s policy.

Item 5 - 2014 Work Plan, BSNSC:2014-01

The Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee had before it the report 2014 BSNSC Work Plan (BSNSC:2014-01) for information and discussion.

• Page 3 – Risk should not be reflected as a stand-alone item, but rather should be identified in all reports that come before the Committee.
• The Committee recommended that management map out which resident committees align with the Resident Services Committee, and which resident committees better align with the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee. The Committee felt that a clear definition would provide better direction to more effectively respond to resident needs.
• The City of Toronto’s Great Garden Award program should be extended to TCHC properties, and it was suggested that local newsletters inform residents of this opportunity.  Management will work with the Resident Services Committee to prepare a report on ‘TCHC community green initiatives’ for presentation back to this Committee.

Motion carried

ON A MOTION DULLY MADE by Councillor Cesar Palacio, seconded by Mr. Christian Buhagiar and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee receive the 2014 Work Plan as amended.

Item 6 - Community Safety Strategy, BSNSC:2014-02

The Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee had before it a report on Community Safety Strategy (BSNCS:2014-02) from the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Miguel Avila Velarde made a verbal deputation on this item.

In response to a query, the Senior Director, Community Safety Unit and Council Liaison explained that the twelve communities noted in the report were identified based on volume of calls for special constables, not Toronto Police Services, and that 77% were priority 3 calls – false fire alarms, loitering, noise. It was suggested that statistics from the local police divisions would be useful information for the special constables to have as well.

There was a discussion about improving computer access on vehicles to better facilitate information and response times for the special constables. The Senior Director further reported that the special constables would be receiving more extensive training in 2014 on issues such as use of force, dealing with special needs clients, and community safety issues.  

The Chair commented that he had met with TCHC President and CEO and it was agreed that a forum should be set up to organize four community meetings with the 12 neighbourhoods identified in this report. In response to Councillor Palacio’s suggestion that he would serve as Chair for these meetings, it was decided that the Board of Directors should receive this request for discussion and approval.  

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Catherine Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Cesar Palacio and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee receive the report for information.

PUBLIC MEETING PROCEEDINGS

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Catherine Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee terminated the public meeting at 11:06 a.m.

CLOSED MEETING PROCEEDINGS 

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Catherine Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata and carried, the Building Standards and Neighbourhood Safety Committee resolved to meet in closed meeting at 11:06 a.m. to consider items A through D.