October 7, 1998

TO:Toronto Emergency & Protective Services Committee

FROM:Norman Gardner, Chairman

Toronto Police Services Board

SUBJECT:PARKING TAG ISSUANCE & REQUEST TO DISCONTINUE REPORTS

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

1.the Emergency & Protective Services Committee receive the parking tag issuance results for the months April 1998 to June 1998; and

2.the Committee discontinue the requirement that quarterly parking enforcement reports be submitted by the Police Services Board, as more timely statistics are prepared by City Finance Department staff.

Council Reference/Background History:

At its meeting on September 24, 1998, the Toronto Police Services Board was in receipt of the following report August 28, 1998 from David J. Boothby, Chief of Police:

"SUBJECT:Parking Tag Issuance, April-June 1998

RECOMMENDATION:THAT the Board receive this information and that a copy of this report be forwarded to the City of Toronto Emergency and Protective Services Committee

That the Emergency and Protective Services Committee be requested to discontinue the requirement that quarterly parking enforcement reports be submitted by the Police Services Board, as more timely statistics are prepared by City Finance Department staff

BACKGROUND:

This report presents parking tag issuance for the second quarter of 1998. The number of parking tags issued is reported separately for Parking Enforcement Officers, police constables and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers.

Parking enforcement projections are only provided for Parking Enforcement staff managed by the Parking Enforcement Unit. The 1998 projection of 2,300,000 remains unchanged from the previous year.

Issuance by police constables and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers (MLEO) was estimated based on factors likely to affect their work environment. MLEO issuance is subject to fluctuation and the estimate was maintained at 221,000 marginally below 1997 actuals. Issuance estimates for police constables has been maintained at 40,000, based on actual 1996 and 1997 levels.

Issuance Reporting and the new City

Parking Enforcement staff have been in discussion with city officals regarding the value of maintaining the present reports. The current reports originated in 1992 in response to Metropolitan Toronto's concerns regarding issuance stability and its effect on corporate revenue. A similar report containing issuance as well as processing/collection information was also requested from the former Metro Finance Department. Both reports were reviewed by the Metro Corporate Administration Committee. In 1997 when issuance stabilized, the Parking Enforcement Unit began submitting quarterly reports. The Finance Department continued to submit monthly reports.

The new city structure raised further questions regarding the benefits of continuing the reports.

First, under the new City structure the City Finance Department reports to the Corporate Services Committee, Parking Enforcement reports to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee which does not have a corporate financial management mandate.

Second, the Corporate Services Committtee, which oversees city revenues, receives more frequent (monthly) and more comprehensive ticket/revenue information from its finance department than contained in the Parking Enforcement Unit's quarterly report.

Discussions with the two Committee Chairmen indicated that the City Finance Department's report satisfied their needs on a more timely basis than the quarterly report from the Police Services Board. It is therefore recommended that the Emergency and Protective Services Committe be requested to discontinue the requirement that quarterly parking enforcement issuance reports be submitted by the Police Services Board.

Monthly Issuance

Total Parking Tag Issuance

(Source all tables - Parking Tag Operations, City of Toronto Finance)

Second quarter issuance shows a decline by two percent compared with the same period last year, largely due to less issuance by police officers and Parking Enforcement staff. Year to date issuance however remains marginally ahead of 1997. A more detailed break-down of issuance follows. It should be noted that the individual group totals will not reconcile with the above totals due to factors encountered during processing .

Parking Enforcement Issuance

(Source all tables- Parking Tags Operations, City of Toronto Finance)

The Parking Enforcement Unit lost some of the gains made in the first quarter largely due to lower than expected issuance in April and May. This has resulted due to a decline in Parking Enforcement Officer productivity. At this point staff feel that, with the induction of additional staff in September, the Unit will be able to achieve full expected performance by year end.

Police Constable Issuance

Second quarter issuance has declined approximately 38 per cent compared with the same period last year. Although constable issuance stablized since 1996, it shows a continuous decline in 1998. There are no immediate reasons known for this change and staff will continue to monitor the trend.

Municipal Law Officer Issuance

Municipal Law Enforcement officer issuance is marginally ahead of 1997 exclusively due to above average issuance in March and June.

It is recommended that this report be received and forwarded to the City of Toronto Emergency and Protective Services Committee for its information.

Superintendent Gary Beamish will be present at the Board meeting to answer any questions."

Conclusions:

The Board approved the foregoing.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Charles Barnes, Parking Enforcement Unit, (416) 808-6617.

Respectfully submitted,

Norman Gardner

Chairman

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