Correspondence with PFR general manager Howie Dayton

From: Jutta Mason <juttamason@gmail.com>

Sent: Monday, July 15, 2024 10:00 AM

To: Howie Dayton <Howie.Dayton@toronto.ca>; Marinel Cruz <Marinel.Cruz@toronto.ca>

Subject: this is what I'm hoping to ask you about

Responses in the email

Dear Howie,

I want to ask you about three things. If I can get 15 minutes to ask you directly, that would save time for both your division and me:

1. Re the report you agreed to make for the ECDC - PFR hiring and deployment practices -- who have you assigned to be in charge of making that report and can you put me in touch with them? We have some examples that could help ground the November discussion.

Response: Aydin Sarrafzadeh is leading our local hiring review noting we don’t have direction at this point to report back. Nonetheless, we agree this is important data to collect to determine what, if any, gaps exist and how to best address them. We are working on this with our colleagues in Community Recreation (Cathy Vincelli’s group) and People and Equity.

2. Re the Inclusive Economic Development Framework report: we have been working for about a year on a CELOS-proposed case study to show how PFR can contribute to this Council aim. It involves a fairly simple, low-cost project co-run by the original AOCC (Scadding CCC) and Rec in a "rink clubhouse" partnership, with help from CELOS. At a recent meeting with two of your rec managers and Herman Ellis (ED of Scadding), we found out that your rec manager Terri Jones is where the (Rec) buck stops on outdoor rinks. Can you give the green light for Terri to work with us on making the "business case" for a November launch for that case study?

Response: I would need to better understand what the partnership proposal is to determine our involvement and whom from the division best suited. Cathy Vincelli is the Acting Director for Community Recreation and Christina Iacovino, our Partnerships group-so we would determine where this sits and who would collaborate following a review of the proposal

3. Last May, Council adopted an "encampment policy" based partly on a "Dufferin Grove Park model." It needs to involve your local rec staff more directly than currently, and the groundwork is already there. Can you connect me with the person in your division who reports to you about the encampment issues relating to parks?

Response: Donna Kovachis is the PFR Director lead for encampments though we work as I believe you know with the city’s Encampment Office who set policy and response protocols.