August 28, 1998
TO: Emergency and Protective Services Committee
FROM: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
SUBJECT:FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A FIRST APPEARANCE FACILITY AT
THE ETOBICOKE CIVIC CENTRE
Purpose:
To respond to a request from the Committee regarding the feasibility of establishing a First
Appearance Facility at the Etobicoke Civic Centre.
Funding Sources:
Not Applicable
Recommendations:
It is recommended that this report be received for information purposes.
Background:
At its meeting on April 21, 1998 the Emergency and Protective Services Committee
requested a report on the feasibility of establishing a First Appearance Facility (FAF) at the
Etobicoke Civic Centre. This request came as a result of a joint presentation from the
Parking Enforcement Unit, Toronto Police Service and Parking Tag Operations, Toronto
Finance.
Comments:
The Parking Tag Operations Unit of Toronto Finance currently operates three First
Appearance Facility sites within the City. Persons wishing to contest a parking tag may
appear in person at the FAF to dispute the ticket, request a trial or pay the fine amount
indicated. Payments may also be made at banks, by mail, at ATM machines, at Service
Ontario Kiosks or by telephone. Disputes for certain types of offences, such as those relating
to disability or parking permits may also be resolved using the telephone.
The three FAF sties are located at:
a)West, 970 Lawrence Ave West at Dufferin;
b)East, 1500 Don Mills Rd at York Mills; and
c)Central, Metro Hall, 55 John St.
The East and West sites were originally operated by the Parking Enforcement Unit of
Toronto Police Service. At its meeting on May 22, 1996, Metro Council approved Clause
No. 5 of Report No. 14 of the Financial Priorities Committee regarding the restructuring of
the First Appearance Facilities Program. This transferred the responsibilities for operating
and staffing the facilities to the Parking Tag Operations of Toronto Finance. During the time
when the above report and the resulting recommendations were made, a number of options
were examined, including expanding the number of FAF sites. At that time, it was
determined, that the process which offered the greatest accessibility and operational
improvements was expanding access to telephone and mail based reviews.
Toronto Finance is in the process of developing an organisational structure for delivery of
its services to both internal clients and to the public. Part of that process includes the
delivery and location of FAF services. As well, the enactment of Bill 108, the Streamlining
of Administration of Provincial Offences Act, 1997 will transfer from the Province to the
City the responsibilities for courts administration and court support, including the
maintenance and provision of court houses and court rooms for offences under Parts I and
III of the Provincial Offences Act and certain offences under the Contraventions Act
(Canada). City staff are currently discussing the proposed transfer with provincial officials.
The results of this transfer will affect the provision of existing FAF services to the public
including the locations and numbers of the FAF sites.
Conclusions:
The organisation and location of service delivery for the Parking Tag Operations Unit is
currently under review and will be greatly affected by the transfer of court administration
and court support responsibilities from the province to the City. As a result, to increase in
the number of FAF locations without considering the changes occurring in the near future
should be considered in conjunction with the implementation of Bill 108.
Contact Name:
Bryan Kerr
Phone No. 392-5880 / Fax No. 397-9577
E-mail address: bryan_a._kerr@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
W. A. Liczyk
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
