Item - 2024.EX13.4

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on April 17, 2024 without amendments.
  • This item was considered by Executive Committee on April 9, 2024 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on April 17, 2024.

EX13.4 - The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on April 17 and 18, 2024, adopted the following:

 

1. City Council request both the Provincial and Federal Governments to provide financial support for this project in the form of capital funding.

  

2. City Council direct Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate, to negotiate a contractual agreement with the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation that satisfies Federal and Provincial funding requirements, subject to, the necessary due diligence including site identification and due diligence, funding strategy, development plan, operations plan, and any other milestones to be identified by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and to report back to City Council in June 2024 prior to entering into any lease agreement with an update on the status of the negotiations and the due diligence.

 

3. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth to work with CreateTO and the Somali Centre, as part of their exploration of viable sites and funding sources for a community centre, identify potential sites, and development and funding partners, to develop affordable housing in the northwest corner of the City.

 

4. City Council authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO.

 

Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO remains confidential at this time in accordance with the provisions of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as it pertains to a proposed or pending acquisition or sale of land by the City of Toronto. Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO will be made public following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO.

Confidential Attachment - A proposed or pending acquisition or sale of land by the City of Toronto

Background Information (Committee)

(February 16, 2024) Letter from the Board of Directors of CreateTO on The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-243673.pdf
(February 2, 2024) Report from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO on The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-243398.pdf
Confidential Attachment 1 - Overview of sites reviewed by CreateTO

Background Information (City Council)

(April 16, 2024) Supplementary report from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management on The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation (EX13.4a)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-244998.pdf

Communications (Committee)

(February 16, 2024) Letter from Councillor James Pasternak (EX.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-177816.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Michael Cook, Director, The Black Planners and Urbanists Association (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178717.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Faduma Mohamed, Executive Director, Labour Community Services (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178720.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Amanuel Melles, Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178721.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Liben Gebremikael, Chief Executive Officer, TAIBU Community Health Centre (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178722.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Hodan Ahmed, Chair, Positive Change TO (EX.Supp)
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Alica Hall, Executive Director, Nia Centre for the Arts (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178724.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Kofi K. Achampong, Member Board of Directors, Black Muslim Initiative (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178734.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Sarah Ali, Co-Chair, Somali Workers Network (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178725.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Nneka Otogbolu, Chief Operations Officer, Foundation for Black Communities (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178726.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Graham McGregor, Member of Provincial Parliament, Brampton North (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178727.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Shua Amari, African Canadian Youth in Action (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178728.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Umair Ashraf, Executive Director, The Canadian-Muslim Vote (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178735.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178736.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Helen Ketema, Project Lead, Infrastructure Institute (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178729.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Rizwan Mohammad, Advocacy Officer, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178730.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Abdi Hagi Yusuf, Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Toronto Local (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178732.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Nedra Rodrigo, Chair Board of Directors, Tamil Community Centre (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178741.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Safia Ahmed, Executive Director, Rexdale Community Health Centre (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178742.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Hodan A. Mohamed, Positive Change Toronto Initiative (PCTOI) (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178744.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Mohamed Lachemi, Toronto Metropolitan University (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178755.pdf

Motions (City Council)

1a - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Stephen Holyday (Lost)

April 18, 2024 at 5:26 p.m. - That City Council authorize the immediate release of the first shortlisted site contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, so that it may be considered in public.

Vote (Amend Item) Apr-18-2024 5:26 PM

Result: Lost Majority Required - EX13.4 - Holyday - motion 1a
Total members that voted Yes: 3 Members that voted Yes are Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday, Jamaal Myers
Total members that voted No: 20 Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson
Total members that were Absent: 3 Members that were absent are Jennifer McKelvie, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe

Vote (Amend Item) Apr-18-2024 5:29 PM

Result: Lost Majority Required - EX13.4 - Holyday - motion 1a - Re-Vote
Total members that voted Yes: 2 Members that voted Yes are Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday
Total members that voted No: 22 Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Jennifer McKelvie, Jaye Robinson

Motion to Reconsider Vote moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)

April 18, 2024 at 5:28 p.m. - That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council reconsider the vote on procedural motion 1a by Councillor Stephen Holyday.


1c - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Stephen Holyday (Lost)

That City Council amend Executive Committee Recommendation 2 by adding the words "to first conduct a robust community public consultation for any site under consideration and report to Council with the findings, prior" so that it now reads as follows:

 

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate, to first conduct a robust community public consultation for any site under consideration and report to Council with the findings, prior to negotiating a contractual agreement with the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation that satisfies Federal and Provincial funding requirements, subject to, the necessary due diligence including site identification and due diligence, funding strategy, development plan, operations plan, and any other milestones to be identified by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and to report back to City Council in June 2024 prior to entering into any lease agreement with an update on the status of the negotiations and the due diligence.

Vote (Amend Item) Apr-18-2024 6:03 PM

Result: Lost Majority Required - EX13.4 - Holyday - motion 1c
Total members that voted Yes: 2 Members that voted Yes are Vincent Crisanti, Stephen Holyday
Total members that voted No: 21 Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson
Total members that were Absent: 3 Members that were absent are Jennifer McKelvie, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe

1d - Motion to Amend Item moved by Stephen Holyday (Lost)

That City Council amend Executive Committee Recommendation 4 so that it now reads as follows:

 

4. City Council authorize the public release of the first shortlisted site contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO upon adoption of this item by City Council, and City Council authorize the public release of the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO.

Vote (Amend Item) Apr-18-2024 6:05 PM

Result: Lost Majority Required - EX13.4 - Holyday - motion 1d
Total members that voted Yes: 1 Members that voted Yes are Stephen Holyday
Total members that voted No: 22 Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson
Total members that were Absent: 3 Members that were absent are Jennifer McKelvie, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe

Motion to Adopt Item (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item) Apr-18-2024 6:06 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX13.4 - Adopt the item
Total members that voted Yes: 22 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Shelley Carroll, Lily Cheng, Olivia Chow, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson
Total members that voted No: 1 Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday
Total members that were Absent: 3 Members that were absent are Jennifer McKelvie, Jaye Robinson, Dianne Saxe

EX13.4 - The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Confidential Attachment - A proposed or pending acquisition or sale of land by the City of Toronto

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council request both the Provincial and Federal Governments to provide financial support for this project in the form of capital funding.

  

2.  City Council direct Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate, to negotiate a contractual agreement with the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation that satisfies Federal and Provincial funding requirements, subject to, the necessary due diligence including site identification and due diligence, funding strategy, development plan, operations plan, and any other milestones to be identified by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and to report back to City Council in June 2024 prior to entering into any lease agreement with an update on the status of the negotiations and the due diligence.

 

3. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth to work with CreateTO and the Somali Centre, as part of their exploration of viable sites and funding sources for a community centre, identify potential sites, and development and funding partners, to develop affordable housing in the northwest corner of the City.

 

4. City Council authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Executive Committee directed the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate, to report to the April 17, 2024 meeting of City Council with an overview of the milestones required to be achieved in the negotiation of a contractual agreement that satisfies Federal and Provincial funding requirements in support of this project.

Origin

(February 16, 2024) Letter from the Board of Directors of CreateTO

Summary

At its meeting on February 16, 2024, the Board of Directors of CreateTO considered Item RA9.6 and made recommendations to City Council.

 

 

Summary from the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO:

 

The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation ("Somali Centre") is a registered non-profit organization led by a group of Somali Canadian young professionals from across Ontario aiming to create a dedicated cultural recreation and community space for the Somali population in Toronto. According to the organization, there has been a 40-year effort from the Somali community to develop a culture and recreation centre in Toronto to address the needs of this under-served community.

 

Beginning in the 1970s, the community began working with local leaders and politicians to advocate for this type of facility. The main goal of this centre is to create a "…central space for the Somali community to gather and receive culturally appropriate community services from non-profit service providers and agencies." After decades of advocacy, Toronto City Council adopted a motion in July 2022 to direct City of Toronto and CreateTO staff to work with the Somali Centre on a feasibility study to identify potential sites for this facility.

 

This report provides an outline of the collaborative process undertaken by CreateTO, the City of Toronto, and the Somali Centre and provides a staff review of their feasibility study. Next steps will include a continued effort to work together and to understand the operating model and long-term financial feasibility of the Somali Centre.

Background Information

(February 16, 2024) Letter from the Board of Directors of CreateTO on The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-243673.pdf
(February 2, 2024) Report from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO on The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-243398.pdf
Confidential Attachment 1 - Overview of sites reviewed by CreateTO

Communications

(February 16, 2024) Letter from Councillor James Pasternak (EX.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-177816.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Michael Cook, Director, The Black Planners and Urbanists Association (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178717.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Faduma Mohamed, Executive Director, Labour Community Services (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178720.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Amanuel Melles, Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178721.pdf
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Liben Gebremikael, Chief Executive Officer, TAIBU Community Health Centre (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178722.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Hodan Ahmed, Chair, Positive Change TO (EX.Supp)
(April 6, 2024) Letter from Alica Hall, Executive Director, Nia Centre for the Arts (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178724.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Kofi K. Achampong, Member Board of Directors, Black Muslim Initiative (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178734.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Sarah Ali, Co-Chair, Somali Workers Network (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178725.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Nneka Otogbolu, Chief Operations Officer, Foundation for Black Communities (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178726.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Graham McGregor, Member of Provincial Parliament, Brampton North (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178727.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Shua Amari, African Canadian Youth in Action (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178728.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Umair Ashraf, Executive Director, The Canadian-Muslim Vote (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178735.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Agapi Gessesse, Executive Director, CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178736.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Helen Ketema, Project Lead, Infrastructure Institute (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178729.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Rizwan Mohammad, Advocacy Officer, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178730.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Abdi Hagi Yusuf, Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Toronto Local (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178732.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Nedra Rodrigo, Chair Board of Directors, Tamil Community Centre (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178741.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Safia Ahmed, Executive Director, Rexdale Community Health Centre (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178742.pdf
(April 7, 2024) Letter from Hodan A. Mohamed, Positive Change Toronto Initiative (PCTOI) (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178744.pdf
(April 8, 2024) Letter from Mohamed Lachemi, Toronto Metropolitan University (EX.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-178755.pdf

Speakers

Fuad Abdi
Faduma Mohamed
Zakaria Abdulle, SCCR
Abdulkadir Nur, The Canadian-Muslim Vote
Rizwan Mohammad, National Council of Canadian Muslims
Noel Semple
Helen Ketema
Nigel Carvalho, Infrastructure Institute (School of Cities, UofT)
Councillor Stephen Holyday

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Amber Morley (Carried)

That the Executive Committee:

 

1. Amend Recommendation 1 so that it now reads:

 

1. City Council consider a request to both the Provincial and Federal governments to provide financial support for this project in the form of capital and long-term operating funding.

 

2. Adopt the following new Recommendation:

 

Direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate, to report to the April 17, 2024 meeting of City Council with an overview of the milestones required to be achieved in the negotiation of a contractual agreement that satisfies federal and provincial funding requirements in support of this project.

 

3. Delete Recommendation 2

 

Recommendation to be deleted

 

2. City Council request the City Manager to provide the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation a non-binding letter of intent, to give assurance to the provincial and federal governments of the City’s intention to negotiate a long term lease with the Somali centre once an appropriate city site has been selected, conditional upon receiving the provincial and federal government funding. The letter would also stipulate that the municipal support through a long term land lease would be based on the Provincial and Federal Governments providing financial support for this project in the form of capital and long term operating funding.

 

and adopt instead the following new Recommendation:

  

City Council direct Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and other necessary staff as appropriate to negotiate a contractual agreement with the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation that satisfies federal and provincial funding requirements, subject to, the necessary due diligence including site identification and due diligence, funding strategy, development plan, operations plan, and any other milestones as referenced in the new Recommendation in Part 2 above, and to report back to Council in June 2024 prior to entering into any lease agreement with an update on the status of the negotiations and the due diligence.

Vote (Amend Item) Apr-09-2024

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX13.1 - Morley - motion 1
Total members that voted Yes: 9 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow (Chair), Ausma Malik, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Amber Morley, Gord Perks
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher

Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor Olivia Chow (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council