GENERAL COMMITTEE – FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services
	PREPARED BY:	Shayne Mintz, Deputy Fire Chief
	DATE OF MEETING:	28-Feb-2005
	SUBJECT:	Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses Addendum

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report dated February 28, 2005, entitled “Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses Addendum”, be received;

And that the revised resolution, attached to the February 28, 2005 staff report as Appendix A, be approved, as follows:

“THAT the staff report, dated November 8, 2004, entitled “Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses”, be received;

AND THAT Council approve the recommended Town regulations for inspecting and registering “grandfathered” two unit houses as outlined in this report, notably that:

(a) the Fire Services Department continue to act as “Lead” Department for the inspection and registration of “grandfathered two unit houses”;

(b) the Town’s By-law for Registration of Two-Unit Residential Occupancies (By-law 308-97) be amended to:

- incorporate a new definition of “two unit house” and “residential unit” consistent

with the provincial government’s definition; and

- require that prior to registration, every dwelling unit in a two unit house shall be inspected to ensure that it complies with all relevant standards determined to be applicable, as set out in the Ontario Building Code, the Ontario Fire Code, the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, and

the applicable Zoning By-law and the Property Standards By-law, all as amended from time to time;

(c) a new Two Unit House Declaration Form as set out in Appendix “A” of the November 8, 2004 report be approved for use by the Building Standards Department in qualifying “grandfathered” two unit houses;

(d) funding in the amount of $6000.00 be approved from the Development Services Commission operating budget for consulting services for AMANDA set-up and training support for the managers and staff assigned from Fire Services Department, Building Standards Department, and the Clerks Department (By-law Enforcement) to coordinate administration of “grandfathered” two unit houses;

(e) the procedural flowchart as set out in Appendix “B” of the November 8, 2004 report be approved as a template for an enhanced process for inspecting and registering “grandfathered” two unit houses and enforcement of illegally established units;

(f) Corporate Communications be authorized to publish an in-house public information sheet specifically for owners, landlords, architects, engineers, builders and general contractors, for use as a guide to inspection and registration of “grandfathered” two units houses;

AND THAT the Commissioner of Development Services, the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Community Services be authorized to allocate funding, from their operating budgets and/or fees payable to the Town for inspection and registration of two unit houses, for staff resources (including fire prevention and by-law enforcement staff) and training support to implement the enhanced procedures, recommended in this report; and

AND FURTHER THAT staff from the Development Services Commission (Building Standards), Corporate Services Commission (By-law Enforcement), and Community Services Commission (Fire Services), be directed to implement the actions outlined in this report and provide a status report on the delivery of enhanced procedural changes for “grandfathered” two unit houses to the Development Services Committee in six months time or as otherwise determined by the CAO and Commissioners.”

PURPOSE:

The Purpose of this report is to update Council and to bring forward a revised recommendation to address the discussion at Council on November 30, 2004.

BACKGROUND:

At the November 8, 2004 meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee, Council received a report ‘Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses’. The original report is attached as Appendix B.

Council requested that staff review and audit information relating to Fire Department inspections and fees.

Staff met with Regional Councillor Heath, Councillors Usman and Daurio and explained and demonstrated the process that is used in dealing with these types of occupancies.

As an outcome of that meeting alterations have been made to the recommendations of the report received in November 2004. Most specifically references to any change in inspection and registration fees have been deleted as these issues have a fairly minimal financial and operational impact. Additionally, senior staff from all three Commissions has reviewed the proposed budget and funding scenarios and are in agreement with the recommendation that they be authorized to allocate funding from their operating budgets and/or fees payable to the Town for the inspection and registration of two unit houses.

Attached, as Appendix A is the revised recommendation for the ‘Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses’, which deletes any reference to increased Fire Department fees.

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A - Recommended Resolution (revised).

Appendix B – Original November 8, 2004 staff report – Recommended Town Procedures for Inspecting and Registering Two Unit Houses.

Shayne Mintz Deputy Fire Chief

Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

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