Item - 2020.GL16.7

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the City to enter into a lease agreement (the "Lease") pursuant to the Community Space Tenancy Policy with Midaynta Community Services for a five year term, with such revisions thereto and on such other or amended terms and conditions acceptable to the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, or their designate and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, or their designate, to administer and manage the Community Space Tenancy leases with Midaynta Community Services set out in Appendix A to the report (September 21, 2020) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, including the provision of any amendments, consents, approvals, waivers, notices, and notices of termination, provided that the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters (including their content) to City Council for its determination and direction.

3. City Council grant an exemption to the Community Space Tenancy Policy to allow Midaynta Community Services to lease space at 1652 Keele Street without the need to solicit a Request for Expression of Interest as required by the Community Space Tenancy Policy.

4. City Council pass a By-law pursuant to Section 252 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, providing authority to:

a. enter into a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement with Midaynta Community Services for the property known as 1652 Keele Street, with respect to approximately 393 square feet (250 dedicated and 143 of proportionate share of common area) of community space (the "Leased Premises"), for the purposes of providing a Municipal Capital Facility related to the provision of social and health services; and

b. exempt the Leased Premises from taxation for municipal and school purposes, with the tax exemption being effective from the latest of: (1) the commencement date of the Lease, (2) the date the Municipal Capital Facility Agreement is entered into, and (3) the date the Tax Exemption By-law is enacted.

5. City Council amend Schedule A of By-law 1762-2019 (a by-law authorizing the entering into of an agreement for the provision of a municipal capital facility by For Youth Initiative) to replace "3,632 square feet" with "5,698 square feet".

6. City Council direct the City Clerk to give written notice of the By-laws respecting Midaynta Community Services and For Youth Initiative to the Minister of Finance, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, and le Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir.

Midaynta Community Services is a non-profit organization that provides settlement services and social cultural programs to improve the quality of life for newcomers, immigrants and youths.   Midaynta Community Services has over 25 years of experience in community development, capacity building and service provision within the Somali Canadian community. Since 2016, Midaynta Community Services has partnered with Somali Immigrant Aid Organization, the current tenant at 1652 Keele Street, and successfully collaborated on various initiatives affecting the Somali Canadian community. Together, they have utilized the space at 1652 Keele Street to provide gang prevention, mentoring programs and settlement services to youth, families and the general community in the York-South Weston neighbourhood.

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council authority to enter into a five (5) year lease agreement under the Community Space Tenancy Policy for approximately 393 square feet of space located at 1652 Keele Street in Ward 5 York South‑Weston and to have the leased premises designated as a Municipal Capital Facility. Additionally, this report is seeking Council approval to grant the lease to Midaynta Community Services, the sister agency of the original lease holder, Somali Immigrant Aid Organization. The change of lease holder requires approval of an exemption to the Community Space Tenancy Policy to allow Midaynta Community Services to lease space at 1652 Keele Street without undertaking a Request for Expression of Interest process. This exemption would allow Midaynta Community Services with over 25 years of service provision with Somali Immigrant Aid to continue to provide programming at 1652 Keele Street to support racialized youth and their families without any interruption of services to the community.

Finally, this report recommends a correction to the Municipal Capital Facility designation of For Youth Initiative, Item GL10.7 approved by City Council on December 17, 2019. For Youth Initiative is another tenant at 1652 Keele Street. It assists young persons to identify and reach their personal goals, graduate high school, enroll in post-secondary education, gain employment and achieve independence. The 3,632 square feet designated by By-law 1762-2019 did not include For Youth Initiative's share of the common space, 2,066 square feet, for a total of 5,698 square feet.