February 3, 1998

To: Scarborough Community Council

From: Michael A. Price, Commissioner, Scarborough Works & Environment

Subject: Rouge Park Alliance - Matters Raised in Briefing to Community Council January 21, 1998, Scarborough Highland Creek, Ward 16 and Scarborough Malvern, Ward 18

Purpose:

This report responds to Community Council=s request that the former Acting City Manager report to the next meeting of Community Council with respect to Rouge Park Alliance matters raised in his briefing on January 21, 1998.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial or funding implications from matters raised in this report.

Recommendations:

That the draft Partnership Memorandum sent by Rouge Park Alliance staff be referred to Virginia West, Executive Commissioner, Urban Environment and Development Services, for a report after provincial Cabinet recommends the new Rouge Park structure.

Background:

Rouge Park was created in 1994 by the Province of Ontario. In 1995 David Crombie prepared an organization structure and funding report recommending that Rouge Park be created as a partnership park managed by a Board of Directors made up of federal, provincial and municipal agencies and one non-governmental group, Save the Rouge Valley System Inc. (SRVS). The Board of Directors have subsequently called themselves, the Rouge Park Alliance.

Provincial Cabinet endorsed Mr. Crombie=s report to create the Rouge Park Alliance but only for a period of three years to allow time to get the partnership working. Last fall, the Rouge Park Alliance recommended a new structure and submitted their preferred option for Cabinet approval. It is expected that Cabinet will deal with this matter in March. The three year partnership comes to an end on March 31, 1998.

Discussion:

In January 1998, Rouge Park Alliance staff wrote to the Toronto Clerk requesting appointments to the Rouge Park Alliance. The letter was referred to the Mayor=s office to consider who will be appointed to represent Toronto. Last year the Rouge Park Alliance partner representatives have been:

MTRCA - Member Councillor Raymond Cho, alternate Mr. Brian Denny

Metro Toronto - Member Councillor Dick O=Brien, alternate Mr. Ray Biggart

Scarborough - Member Mayor Frank Faubert, alternate Councillor Edith Montgomery

Metro Zoo - Member Mr. Calvin White, alternate Ms. Susan Gunton

In the interim, Councillor Frank Faubert /alternate Edith Montgomery and Councillor Dick O=Brien / alternate Raymond Biggart continue to attend the Rouge Park Alliance meetings on behalf of the City of Toronto and Councillor Raymond Cho / alternate Mr. Brian Denny will continue on behalf of TRCA until there are the new appointments. Metro Zoo recently appointed Councillor Doug Mahood, alternate Mr. Cal White.

Rouge Park staff also wrote to the Scarborough and Metro Toronto Clerks in December 1997 requesting staff to review a draft >partnership memorandum=. This document was prepared to clarify the role of Rouge Park partners on >implementing the Rouge Park Management Plan through the land development process=. Rouge Park was not staffed to comment on planning applications so the memorandum was drafted to clarify who will comment on planning applications on behalf of the Park. The Planning and Land Use Subcommittee of the Rouge Park Alliance concluded that as this is a partnership park, each municipal partner together with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority have a role to ensure that comments on applications will implement the Rouge Park Management Plan. The Partnership memorandum was created to confirm this process.

Conclusion:

We suggest that this matter also be referred to Virginia West, Executive Commissioner, Urban Environment and Development Services for consideration. The Rouge Park Alliance mandate will be considered by Cabinet by the end of March 1998. Once it is clear how Rouge Park will operate in the future it will be clearer whether the draft partnership memorandum is appropriate.

Contact Name:

Ann Rexe, RPP

Assistant Director

Environmental Services

Scarborough Works and Environment

Telephone 396-7156

Fax 396-5681

E-Mail rexe@city.scarborough.on.ca

Michael A. Price, P. Eng., FICE

Commissioner, Scarborough Works & Environment

AR/