The motion voted on at Oshawa Council meeting this morning concerning the L.I.F.E. Community Project vacating Memorial Park to a new location November 1, 2020:
Council approved a location at the east end of Midtown Mall Dr. to be made available for a Hub for LIFE and Durham Dignity groups to relocate from Memorial Park, as follows:
Whereas the Life Community Project provides needed food and clothing support to those in need in our community through donations and volunteer efforts, and
Whereas Durham Dignity For The Homeless also provides such services in concert with the LIFE group, and
Whereas there have been/are other small groups and individuals also providing/have been providing such services to the point where over-supply and issues with clutter and refuse have created an environment to which many other citizens of Oshawa will not attend and have complained to the City to clean up Memorial Park (although no one group is completely responsible), and
Whereas the Gap Committee identified the need for services hubs to concentrate related services for ease of acquisition of such services by those in need (the first of which is the Mission United medical services-based hub at the Simcoe Street United Church - previously known as The Backdoor Mission), and
Whereas the City through consultation with the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups (the major food and clothing supply organizations in Memorial Park) have offered the use of the hammer head road allowance at the east end of Midtown Drive should a fully-compliant Road Occupancy Permit (ROP) be qualified for through an insurance company and all pertinent ROP fees be submitted, and
Whereas the creation of this second and different hub will concentrate such services as ODSP, OW, Service Ontario, Service Canada, and the Legal Aid Clinic in the immediate vicinity such that an enhanced public service situation is the result,
Therefore, be it resolved
1. That the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups be granted an ROP for the Midtown Mall hammer head road site (hereafter called the Midtown Mall Hub) provided all requirements of the ROP have been met subject to a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Commissioner of Community Services, and
2. That City Staff carry out an amended snow-removal program to maintain the area of the hammerhead road and the Oshawa Creek Trail as well as the paths and bridge over the Oshawa Creek adjacent to the Robert McLaughlin Gallery clear of snow,
3. That a mobile trailer to enhance the quality and range of services - to be supplied and paid for by the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups - be placed at the MMH site for the duration of the ROP and located according to LIFE and Durham Dignity needs and in order to satisfy the snow-clearing procedures by City Staff necessary for the site, in general.
4. That once the ROP has been qualified for and agreed to by both the City and the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups these two groups relocate from Memorial Park to the MMH.
5. That the pertinent City By-law be amended to say that no unpermitted food nor clothing disbursement shall take place in an Oshawa park (including Memorial Park) and that Staff investigate and report back.
THE ABOVE IS THE MOTION THAT PASSED.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE POINTS RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THE DISCUSSION:
Councillor Nicholson objects to number 5, and wants it to be voted on separately, otherwise he supports the motion.
Councillor Marks says number 5 is the part of the motion that he supports the most. Asks what is the City's involvement with these two groups.
Mayor says it is not a partnership. The City has worked on this, it is city owned property. The Region is involved to ensure the food is safely prepared.
City lawyer Mr. Yoon answers question about insurance. It will be clearly set out what insurance will be needed.
Several questions, Councillor Gray asks about problem with food and clothing giving, with so many involved in providing food how is it an issue.
Councillor Kerr explains about the road occupancy permit, that the two organizations have insurance that can be activated by November 1st. 2020 and also have permit to have food preparation at a local restaurant Top Corner and have received the Durham Region 'Green' permit. About the food clothing dissemination that will be COVID safe.
When I posted about this on my Facebook page earlier today, someone wrote that a Chip Truck had been located in this same spot for many years. Note: The Road Occupancy Permit does not allow a permanent structure. The meals and clothes will be made available from a type of mobile unit. Below are two views of the location.
Council approved a location at the east end of Midtown Mall Dr. to be made available for a Hub for LIFE and Durham Dignity groups to relocate from Memorial Park, as follows:
Whereas the Life Community Project provides needed food and clothing support to those in need in our community through donations and volunteer efforts, and
Whereas Durham Dignity For The Homeless also provides such services in concert with the LIFE group, and
Whereas there have been/are other small groups and individuals also providing/have been providing such services to the point where over-supply and issues with clutter and refuse have created an environment to which many other citizens of Oshawa will not attend and have complained to the City to clean up Memorial Park (although no one group is completely responsible), and
Whereas the Gap Committee identified the need for services hubs to concentrate related services for ease of acquisition of such services by those in need (the first of which is the Mission United medical services-based hub at the Simcoe Street United Church - previously known as The Backdoor Mission), and
Whereas the City through consultation with the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups (the major food and clothing supply organizations in Memorial Park) have offered the use of the hammer head road allowance at the east end of Midtown Drive should a fully-compliant Road Occupancy Permit (ROP) be qualified for through an insurance company and all pertinent ROP fees be submitted, and
Whereas the creation of this second and different hub will concentrate such services as ODSP, OW, Service Ontario, Service Canada, and the Legal Aid Clinic in the immediate vicinity such that an enhanced public service situation is the result,
Therefore, be it resolved
1. That the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups be granted an ROP for the Midtown Mall hammer head road site (hereafter called the Midtown Mall Hub) provided all requirements of the ROP have been met subject to a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Commissioner of Community Services, and
2. That City Staff carry out an amended snow-removal program to maintain the area of the hammerhead road and the Oshawa Creek Trail as well as the paths and bridge over the Oshawa Creek adjacent to the Robert McLaughlin Gallery clear of snow,
3. That a mobile trailer to enhance the quality and range of services - to be supplied and paid for by the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups - be placed at the MMH site for the duration of the ROP and located according to LIFE and Durham Dignity needs and in order to satisfy the snow-clearing procedures by City Staff necessary for the site, in general.
4. That once the ROP has been qualified for and agreed to by both the City and the LIFE and Durham Dignity groups these two groups relocate from Memorial Park to the MMH.
5. That the pertinent City By-law be amended to say that no unpermitted food nor clothing disbursement shall take place in an Oshawa park (including Memorial Park) and that Staff investigate and report back.
THE ABOVE IS THE MOTION THAT PASSED.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE POINTS RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THE DISCUSSION:
Councillor Nicholson objects to number 5, and wants it to be voted on separately, otherwise he supports the motion.
Councillor Marks says number 5 is the part of the motion that he supports the most. Asks what is the City's involvement with these two groups.
Mayor says it is not a partnership. The City has worked on this, it is city owned property. The Region is involved to ensure the food is safely prepared.
City lawyer Mr. Yoon answers question about insurance. It will be clearly set out what insurance will be needed.
Several questions, Councillor Gray asks about problem with food and clothing giving, with so many involved in providing food how is it an issue.
Councillor Kerr explains about the road occupancy permit, that the two organizations have insurance that can be activated by November 1st. 2020 and also have permit to have food preparation at a local restaurant Top Corner and have received the Durham Region 'Green' permit. About the food clothing dissemination that will be COVID safe.
When I posted about this on my Facebook page earlier today, someone wrote that a Chip Truck had been located in this same spot for many years. Note: The Road Occupancy Permit does not allow a permanent structure. The meals and clothes will be made available from a type of mobile unit. Below are two views of the location.
