April 9, 1999
To:Budget Committee
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Proposal for a Council of Toronto Watersheds
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to comment on the proposal for a Council of Toronto
Watersheds. This report was requested for the April 16, 1999 meeting of the Budget
Committee at the last meeting of the Toronto Community Council.
Source of Funds:
The Council of Toronto Watersheds proposal involves a request for $123,760 per year,
including a pro-rated 1999 request (September to December) for $41,253. The source of funds
for this request has not been identified.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the proposal for a Council of Toronto Watersheds be referred to the
Environmental Task Force.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting of March 30 and 31, 1999, the Toronto Community Council considered the
City's proposed 1999 Operating Budget. The Community Council requested staff of Urban
Planning and Development Services, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the
Environmental Task Force, to report to the April 16, 1999 Budget Committee meeting on a
communication from Dalton Shipway proposing the establishment of a Council of Toronto
Watersheds and an associated budget envelop. A similar request for a report was made at the
March 31 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee.
Comments:
The Council of Toronto Watersheds proposal identifies the ongoing need to support local
community groups with their efforts to undertake environmental restoration work in Toronto's
watersheds. The proposal also recognizes the demand for a strong City of Toronto role in
watershed restoration, within the regional context and in partnership with the relevant
agencies. Some interesting and relevant ideas are raised by Mr. Shipway's proposal.
The City's Environmental Task Force is in the process of developing proposals for
governance structures that respond to environmental issues. This review process is examining
political and departmental structures as well as processes for encouraging community
involvement in environmental decision-making. The review will also result in
recommendations on the continued role of existing City of Toronto environmental advisory
groups, some of which are involved with watershed issues; each (28 in total) provided
submissions to the CAO and the Environmental Task Force regarding their mandates and the
larger question of environmental governance in the fall of 1998. The Environmental Task
Force is several months away from completing its governance review and making
recommendations to Council.
A decision on the Council of Toronto Watersheds proposal, or any similar proposed structure,
is premature in advance of the Environmental Task Force's recommendations on
environmental governance. The proposal could be of interest to the Environmental Task Force
as it considers structures to encourage community involvement in environmental
decision-making. While the proposal provides some information with respect to mandate and
budget, more details will be needed with respect to membership, mandate, responsibilities,
relationship to City structures, relationship to other watershed agencies/organizations, budget
and resource needs, etc.
This report has been prepared in consultation with the Chair of the Environmental Task Force
and staff of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
Conclusions:
Given that the Environmental Task Force is deliberating on governance structures that
respond to environmental issues, a decision on the Council of Toronto Watersheds proposal is
premature. Further, the Environmental Task Force is likely the best venue for the
consideration of this proposal in the context of the Task Force's review of governance
proposals, including the submissions of existing environmental advisory groups.
Contact Name:
David Stonehouse, Planner
392-1255
Reviewed by:
Paul J. BedfordVirginia M. West
Executive Director and Chief PlannerCommissioner of
City Planning DivisionUrban Planning and Development Services
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