Terms of Reference - User Fee Committee

 The Economic Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (July 2, 1998) from the City Clerk:

 Recommendation:

 The User Fee Committee on July 2, 1998, recommended to the Economic Development Committee, and Council, the adoption of the following Terms of Reference for the User Fee Committee:

 Terms Of Reference

 User Fee Committee

(Review of User Fees Recreation Programs)

 (1)Mandate

 The mandate of the User Fee Committee is to provide guidance to the process of the harmonization of user fees for recreation programs and to propose a generic consultation process for the harmonization of other user fees.

(2)Duration

 The User Fee Committee will report to the Economic Development Committee and will present their findings and recommendations to the Economic Development Committee by October, 1998. The User Fee Committee will meet at least monthly.

 (3)Process

 Initially the focus of the User Fee Committee will be to develop a generic process based on the parks and recreation strategy that has been launched. At various levels during the process, as outlined in the report from the Chief Administrative Officer, stakeholder input is necessary to ensure a commitment to the recommended user fee policy options. The User Fee Committee will work in close consultation with the Community Councils, staff from the Parks and Recreation Division, community groups and Council members.

 (4)Goals and Objectives

 The User Fee Committee will need to ensure that a comprehensive process is undertaken for the evaluation of policy options and a thorough public consultation for the harmonization of user fees for recreation programs provided in the former municipalities.

 In particular, the User Fee Committee will identify the necessary priorities from the City's perspective and ensure that the following factors are taken into consideration:

 (a)accessibility by City residents;

(b)compliance with Council priorities;

(c)specific needs of individual communities, special demands, socio-economic factors;

(d)responsiveness to community needs;

(e)economies of scale;

(f)a balanced perspective of City priorities in relation to different service requirements; and

(g)whether user fees should be based on partial or full cost recovery or market value of services.

 The User Fee Committee will also propose to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee a generic consultation process for the harmonization of user fees by August, 1998.

 (5)Staff Support

 The User Fee Committee will receive secretariat support from the Clerk's Division and policy support from Parks and Recreation, CAO, Transportation, Works and Community Services staff.

 Background:

 The User Fee Committee had before it a communication from the City Clerk (June 8, 1998) advising that City Council, at its meeting held on June 3, 4 and 5. 1998, struck out and referred Clause 6, embodied in Report No. 9 of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, headed "Harmonization of User Fees for Recreation Programs", together with all rendered motions, to the User Fee Committee with a request that the User Fees Committee meet as soon as possible to determine how to proceed.

 The User Fee Committee also had before it the following communications:

 (a)(June 30, 1998) from Councillor Olivia Chow, headed "Consultations with Youth - User Fees"; and

 (b)(June 30, 1998) from Mr. Vince Pagano, Chair, Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre advising of their concern about the impact user fees will have on the community.

 Councillor Sandra Bussin, East Toronto and Councillor Howard Moscoe, North York Spadina, appeared before the User Fee Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

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 (Copies of the communications referred to in the foregoing report are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)