Finance and administrative committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community and Fire Services Jim Baird, Commissioner, Development Services
	PREPARED BY:	Stuart Taylor, Director, Strategic Services Scott Heaslip, Senior Planner East District
	DATE OF MEETING:	September 20, 2004
	SUBJECT:	MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE Markham-Stouffville Hospital For the development of a town recreation and Library facility on the markham stouffville hospital campus

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approve in principle the concept of integrating the East Community Centre within the emerging Markham Stouffville hospital site campus;

THAT staff prepare a facility concept plan for Council consideration;

THAT Council endorse the Memorandum of Understanding between the Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Town of Markham (Appendix C);

THAT staff enters into formal discussions and negotiations with the Markham Stouffville Hospital to develop in more detail the partnership agreement between the Town of Markham and the Markham Stouffville Hospital related to the development and the operation of the East Community Centre;

THAT staff works in cooperation with the Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Grace Hospital of York Region to prepare a report that identifies a concept plan for facility amenities and additional details on the partnership for Council consideration;

THAT the Town participate in the site master plan process with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and the Grace Hospital of York Region to an upset limit of $74,000 to be funded from the Development Charge account (90%) and the General Capital Reserve (10%) in 2005.

PURPOSE:

This report is to outline and seek approval, in principle, from Council to develop a partnership for an integrated Health and Wellness/ Community Centre between the Town of Markham and the Markham-Stouffville Hospital. The facility would include Town library and recreation facilities, and hospital related clinical and health services.

BACKGROUND:

The 1999 Recreation, Culture and Library Facility Master Plan identified the need for a community centre in the east end of Markham. The need for the East Community Centre has been reinforced during the 2003/ 2004 Parks, Recreation, Culture and Library Facility Master Plan process. Providing this facility is a high priority. The population east of McCowan Road and north of Highway 407 is projected to be 53,000 by 2006 and will grow another 35% to over 71,000 by 2016.

DISCUSSION

A) Opportunity to Partner with Markham Stouffville Hospital

In June 2004 the Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Grace Hospital of York Region began a master program and site master plan for the Markham Stouffville hospital site. The planning process will integrate an expanded Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Grace Hospital of York Region (a geriatric focused facility). The expanded Markham Stouffville Hospital includes the construction of a new Health and Wellness Centre that will house many of the hospital’s high volume ambulatory services and those with a wellness focus. In addition, the master site plan will consider how best to support transit and will consider the possibility of integrating a transit terminal into the site plan.

Over the last few months there have been informal discussions between Markham Stouffville Hospital staff and Town of Markham staff about the possibility of integrating the proposed East Community Centre into the Markham Stouffville Hospital campus. The Markham Stouffville Hospital has forwarded correspondence (see attached Appendix A) requesting that the Town enter into formal discussions and negotiations to determine how the Town of Markham and the Markham Stouffville Hospital could integrate their services within the proposed Health and Wellness Centre.

The opportunity assessment and perception mapping (see Appendix B attached) completed by Strategic Services indicates a high potential that the partnership will assist the Town in achieving its objectives with a low risk. The organizations share many common goals and an integrated Community Centre/ Health and Wellness building represents an innovative model of service provision.

B) Proposed Building

The Town of Markham master plan proposes building a multi-purpose community centre that includes the following components:

· Indoor pool

· Library

· Program/ Meeting rooms including older adult and youth space

· Gymnasium

· Fitness Centre

· Arenas (2)

The Markham Stouffville Hospital is proposing the construction of a Health and Wellness building that would include clinical services (such as asthma and diabetes clinics, outpatient rehabilitation programs, chiropractic services, homeopathy, podiatry and physician offices) and health services like massage therapy, personal health programs (weight management, smoking cessation), yoga and seniors care. In addition, the Health and Wellness Centre might include retail services for hearing aids, medical equipment, eyeglasses, a pharmacy and orthotics.

C) Benefits of the Proposed Partnership

Town staff, Town of Markham Library staff and Hospital staff support the integrated facility concept. The inter-relationship of the buildings can create a synergy and represents a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to access a wide variety of health and wellness services in one location. Health and wellness practitioners will have the opportunity to direct their client out of their office location into a facility that can provide many of the programs they seek.

· Regular physical activity is one of the very best methods of health insurance for individuals. Relaxation, rest and revitalization through the opportunity for leisure (library and recreation) are essential to stress management in today’s busy and demanding world. A physically active and fit senior citizen is able to remain in the community longer, caring for himself/herself. These opportunities and complementary services will be presented in one building.

· The Town and the Hospital will provide an improved package of services to their customer base.

· An integrated facility will require less land than a stand-alone community centre - a capital cost saving to the Town.

· The area to the south and east of the hospital is planned to be developed into a mixed-use centre known as “Downtown Cornell” which will accommodate the major retail, service and office uses serving Cornell and the surrounding region. A community centre at this location will contribute to the planned function of this area.

· York Region Transit is proposing to develop a transit terminal either on or in the immediate vicinity of the proposed facility, making this site highly accessible to transit users.

· An integrated facility displays Markham’s foresight and leadership in the areas of infrastructure planning, partnerships and transportation. These three items are key components in the recently released Province of Ontario discussion paper “A Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe”.

· The size and scope of this campus make it an excellent site for applying green infrastructure and building principles. Higher capital cost would be offset by long-term energy costs and conservation efforts will reduce operating costs. It will represent a great opportunity for green municipal funding.

· It offers public agencies the opportunity to maximize efficiencies by capturing target markets in one building and building an income stream through retail and food services.

D) Financial Agreement

The Town would be able to use Development Charge funding to pay for the Town’s share of the capital costs for the building, land and furnishings for the library and recreation facilities within the Health and Wellness building. The provision of land and the financial support provided by the Town of Markham toward the Health and Wellness facility would be subject to further discussion to determine the cost allocation between the partner organizations. These discussions will advance pending Council endorsement of Town participation in this project.

E) Next Steps

Staff are recommending that the next steps in this process be:

· Staff bring forward a report that outlines the approximate size of the integrated Health and Wellness/ Community Centre and provide a concept as to how it could “fit” on the Markham Stouffville Hospital site. Staff are seeking Committee and Council approval to continue with the project.

· Subject to Council endorsement of the building concept, the Town participate in the site master plan process with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and the Toronto Grace Hospital with the intent of completing a final master site plan for Council approval. There will be costs involved in participating in the Site Master Plan Program. These costs will have to be negotiated directly with consultant retained to conduct the Site Master Plan process (Zeidler Partnership and Montgomery Sisam) for the hospital. The Town’s share of these costs can be charged against the Development Charge account.

· Continue discussions with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital to develop the parameters of a formal partnership agreement between the Town and Hospital.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

If Council endorses the Health and Wellness building concept plan, Town participation in the site master plan process with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and the Grace Hospital of York Region should proceed. An initial cost estimate for the Town to participate in the process is $74,000. The cost will need to be negotiated with the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and Zeidler Partnership and Montgomery Sisam who have been retained by the hospital. The agreed to cost will be funded from the Development Charge account (90%) with the remainder funded from the 2005 General Capital Reserve (10%).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There will be opportunities to consider environmentally friendly elements to the site and building design as the project progresses to the design stage.

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

The building will be designed for accessibility.

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The project is aligned to our community vision, mission and key strategic goals.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Recreation and Culture Services

Town of Markham Public Libraries

Development Service Commission

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A Letter from Markham Stouffville Hospital

Appendix B Opportunity Analysis Perceptual Mapping

Appendix C Memorandum of Understanding

Stuart Taylor Director, Strategic Services Scott Heaslip Senior Planner East District

Jim Sales Commissioner, Community and Fire Services Jim Baird, Commissioner, Development Services

Q:\Strategic Services\Shared Data\Reports\Marketing & Partnerships\Hospital Facility Sept 02 04.doc