BUDGET COMMITTEE

  A G E N D A

 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PURSUANT TO

THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT.

  COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS.

 1.PROPOSED CAPITAL FINANCING MANAGEMENT PLAN AND OTHER CAPITAL FUNDING ISSUES

 Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

April 16, 1998

 Recommending that:

 (1)as a guideline, Council adopt future capital programs which would limit average borrowing to a maximum of $110 million for tax supported programs, excluding the impact of TTC downloading and borrowing for the Sheppard Subway;

 (2)a Capital Financing Stabilization Reserve be established to minimize fluctuations in future operating budgets due to changes in debt charges and that seed funding be provided from the consolidation of like reserves of the former municipalities;

 (3)the base level of capital from current be increased by a minimum of $15 million in 1998 (as contained in the operating budget currently being considered) and that Council approve, in principle, further increases of $25 million in each of 1999 and 2000, $35 million in 2001 and $40 million in each of 2002 and 2003 to offset the impact of Provincial downloading on the capital program of the TTC, estimated at a total of $180 million annually;

 (4)the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer review, and bring forward for Council=s consideration as appropriate, potential offsets against future capital from current increases contained in recommendation (3); and

 (5)proceeds from major asset sales be applied to reduce borrowing each year, unless Council specifies that a portion of these proceeds be used to fund major rehabilitation and maintenance projects.

 2.1998 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE WATER AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS AND HARMONIZATION OF WATER AND SEWER RATES

 Scarborough Community Council

(April 9, 1998)

 Advising that Scarborough Community Council:

 (a)supports the water rates in Toronto, East York and York remaining at a constant level for this year versus last year, and that the additional revenue be used to accelerate the metre program; and

 (b)recommends that the water harmonization fees in Scarborough be deferred until harmonization of all fees and service levels in the City is reviewed and reported to Committees and Council.

 3.1998 PRELIMINARY TRANSITION PROJECT REQUESTS - CONSOLIDATED LISTING

 Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(April 3, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)the preliminary transition project request listing be received for information; and

 (2)a detailed status report on all transition project requests by program area be presented with full details and justification to the next meeting of the Budget Committee.

3(a)TRANSITIONAL PROJECT - RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

 The Emergency and Protective Services Committee

March 24, 1998

 Recommending that:

 (1)transitional funding in the amount of $26 million be approved for a radio communications system; and

 (2)the City of Toronto Fire Services proceed with the implementation of a fully integrated 800 MHZ radio communications system.

 3(b)TRANSITIONAL PROJECT - SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

 Fire Chief

(April 2, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)the funding in the amount of $2,000,000 be approved as part of the Transition Funding; and

 (2)the City of Toronto Fire Services proceed to review the different types of self contained breathing apparatus available and select one type for purchase.

 3(c)TRAINING TRANSITION INVESTMENT COSTS 1998

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES

 Fire Chief

(April 6, 1998)

 Recommending that:

 (1)transitional funding in the amount of $570,000 be approved; and

 (2)the City of Toronto Fire Services proceed to purchase the necessary training materials; and

 (3)the City of Toronto Fire Services proceed to arrange with Human Resources for a facilitator for management, media relations and conflict resolution sessions.

 4.FUNDING COST OF FILLING 2,000 LICENSED CHILD CARE SPACES

 Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

April 15, 1998

 Advising that the total costs of funding 2,000 additional child care subsidies at a per space cost of up to $7,500.00 would be approximately $15 million and if provincial cost sharing approval for such an expansion was obtained, under the normal cost sharing formula, the City's share would be $3 million and the provincial share would be $12 million, assuming that these spaces would be used to support the child care needs of Ontario Works participants and, there, would not include user revenue; and recommending that this report be received for information.

    4(a)1998 OPERATING BUDGET - COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES - CHILDREN'S SERVICES/CHILDREN'S ACTION COMMITTEE

 Children's Action Committee

April 16, 1998

 Recommending that funding be provided to fill the 2,000 licensed daycare spaces currently vacant, and, further, that Council be advised that the Children's Action Committee reiterated point no. (1) of its previous recommendation to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, viz:

 AThat the following principles be considered during the 1998 budget process:

 (1)that there be expansion of child care subsidies to ensure that the 2,000 vacancies in the licensed child care system for filled;...@

5.AN EVICTION PREVENTION STRATEGY FOR THE CITY OF TORONTO

 City Solicitor

April 14, 1998

 Advising as to what actions the City may take with respect to landlords who are abusing the process; that there is no legal action which the City can take against landlords with respect to tenancy agreements to which it is not a party; in such cases, only the tenant will be able to seek recourse for a wrongful eviction or other breach of tenancy agreement and recommending that the report be received for information.

6.LEAF PICK-UP PROGRAM IN WARD 16

 Interim Functional Lead, Solid Waste Management

April 16, 1998

 Recommending that no changes be made in 1998 to the service level or method of collecting leaves throughout the City of Toronto.

7.1998 CAPITAL BUDGET

 Councillor Joanne Flint

April 1, 1998

 Requesting funds in the amount of $40,000.00 be included in the 1998 Capital Budget, for the design work in preparation for the reconstruction of York Mills Road between Hedgewood and York Ridge Road in 1999.

8.REQUEST FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTINGENCY FUND FOR GRANTS PROGRAMS

 The Municipal Grants Review Committee

April 14, 1998

Recommending that a contingency fund be established for the grants programs, in order to allow for the review of requests for emergency and special requests outside of the regular grants process.

9.TTC FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL SUBSIDY AGREEMENT

PREPAYMENT OF SUBSIDY IN EXCHANGE FOR RELEASE

 Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

April 20, 1998

 Recommending that:

 (i)in exchange for prepayment to the City by the Province of an amount of $828,200,100 adjusted as necessary for changes in the prevailing interest rates and any undue delays in the receipt of payment:

 (a)the City, TTC and the Province execute a mutual release from the Five-year Capital Subsidy Agreement;

 (b)a by-law be introduced to create two interest bearing Reserve Funds entitled AThe TTC Capital Subsidy Reserve Fund@ and AThe Sheppard Subway Project Capital Reserve Fund@ to be established with the proceeds of the prepayment, to be expended solely for the purposes of funding TTC capital projects in accordance with the subsidy assumptions in the 1998 capital program;

 (c)the TTC report entitled AProvincial/Municipal/TTC Capital Subsidy Agreement@ be received for information; and

 (ii)appropriate staff be authorized to undertake any necessary actions to implement these initiatives.

 10.PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAX POLICY SYSTEM RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

 Councillor John Adams, Chair, The Assessment and Tax Policy and Task Force

April 8, 1998

 Recommending that the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer report on the impact (if any) on the 1998 Operating Budget of Council's policy choices regarding tax relief for seniors, physically handicapped persons, and businesses in special cases as announced by the Ontario Minister of Finance.

 NOTE:The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has advised that the following reports will also be considered on April 20, 1998 and will be distributed under separate cover.

11.PROVINCIAL DOWN LOADING - UPDATED NUMBERS

12.PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BUT UNSTARTED CAPITAL PROJECTS - FURTHER REPORTS

13.RECOMMENDED 1998 CAPITAL BUDGET AND FINANCING AUTHORIZATION

14.CITY RESERVE FUNDS

15.TORONTO ATMOSPHERIC FUND

16.1998 OPERATING BUDGET WITH 1997 PRELIMINARY OPERATING RESULTS

17.PAYMENT OF ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF ONTARIO - 1998 MEMBERSHIP FEE

18.SENIORS TAX RELIEF PROGRAM

19.CHARITABLE AND SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS

20.PUBLIC DEPUTATIONS - OUTSTANDING ISSUES

21.WORKERS' COMPENSATION TRANSFER OF THE TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FROM SCHEDULE I TO SCHEDULE II

22.TAX OPTIONS - 1998 - 2000

ANY OTHER MATTERS

[Agenda index]