Environmental Task Force Budget for 1999

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the Recommendation embodied in the report (January 21, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair of the Environmental Task Force, viz:

"It is recommended that the Environmental Task Force be allocated $16,000.00 for its activities until May, 1999, and that these funds be provided on a prior approval basis.".

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports, for the information of Council, having referred the report (January 8, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair of the Environmental Task Force, entitled "Environmental Task Force Budget for 1999", to the Budget Committee for report thereon to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee.

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee submits the following report (January 8, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair, Environmental Task Force:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to request approval from City Council for the 1999 budget for the Environmental Task Force.

Source of Funds:

The source of funds identified in this report should be determined in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)an Environmental Task Force Operating Budget of $93,000.00 for 1999 as described in this report be approved; and

(2)the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, as co-chairs of the Toronto Interdepartmental Environment (TIE) team, ensure that the approved funds for the Environmental Task Force budget are included in the appropriate 1999 operating budget requests.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Environmental Task Force was established by City Council at its meeting on March 4, 5 and6, 1998. The terms of reference for the Task Force estimated an eighteen month time frame. The first meeting of the Task Force was held in April, 1998. One of the primary roles of the Task Force is to bring stakeholders together to develop an Environmental Plan for the City. This work is underway and the Task Force will be releasing a draft Environmental Plan report for review in the summer of 1999 and reporting to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee in the fall of 1999.

Background:

The terms of reference for the Environmental Task Force which were approved by City Council in March 1998, included a budget request for $65,000.00. That request was referred to the Commissioners of Urban Planning and Development Services and Works and Emergency Services for a further report to the Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team.

Comments:

At its meeting on December 18, 1998, the Environmental Task Force reviewed its Operating Budget requirements for 1999 and requested that this report be submitted to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee.

Since its inception, the Environmental Task Force has spent $21,072.91. The funds were provided through existing accounts within Works and Emergency Services, City Clerk's and Public Health. The funds supported a range of activities including: a one and a half day Vision and Priority Setting Workshop (September, 1998) for over one hundred participants including members of Council, senior city staff, and stakeholders; collaborative research projects through a graduate and senior undergraduate program at the University of Toronto; public opinion research report; meeting expenses and printing.

The Environmental Task Force has determined its budget requirements for 1999 to be $93,000.00. A breakdown of the proposed budget is presented in Attachment A. The majority of the budget requested for 1999 is for communication related activities including writing, editing, printing and distribution of reports and newsletters. A smaller amount is requested for Task Force activities, including $2,500.00 for Task Force and work group meeting expenses and $17,000.00 to support the work of the four workgroups that have been established by the Task Force on sustainable transportation, sustainable energy use, green economic development and education/communication/awareness. In addition to the small amount of funds requested here for work group research, Task Force staff will be working with City staff and Task Force members to identify opportunities and develop proposals for external funding where appropriate.

The total amount spent in 1998 and funds requested for 1999 would bring the total budget for the Task Force to $114,072.91 over an 18 month time frame, not including "in kind" staff support from City departments. This total budget is similar to or less than that allocated to two other City Task Forces in 1998.

In addition to the funds spent in 1998, the Task Force has received generous 'in kind' staff support from a number of department/divisions within the City. During 1998, the level of staff support was equivalent to approximately 3.5 full time equivalents (FTE's). The staff resources that will be provided to the Task Force during 1999 are currently being examined by City departments in the context of budget and operating requirements. In order for the Task Force to complete its planned work within the 18 month time frame, Task Force staff have estimated the need for a level of staff support equivalent to approximately 4.5 FTE's during 1999. This level of staff support is comparable to that provided to one other Task Force during 1998.

Conclusions:

The 1999 budget requested in this report will assist the Environmental Task Force in carrying out its important task of developing and recommending the first Environmental Plan for Toronto.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Jane Weninger, Project Manager, Environmental Task Force, Phone (416) 392-6788;

Fax (416) 392-7418.

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Attachment A

Environmental Task Force - 1999 Draft Budget

Communication Activities$73,500.00

Photocopying (e.g., workgroup materials)1,000.00

Graphic Design2,000.00

Printing Vision report (1,000 copies)2,000.00

Printing Work Group Fact Sheets (4) (1,000 copies)1,000.00

Printing draft Work Group reports (4) (1,000 copies)5,000.00

Printing draft Environmental Plan (10,000 copies)10,500.00

Printing draft Environmental Plan summary (10,000 copies)1,000.00

Writing/Editing Environmental Plan10,000.00

Printing final Env. Plan report and summary (10,000 copies)25,000.00

Printing Newsletter (1 issue - 8500 copies)5,000.00

Printing Newsletter (11 issues - 2500 copies)10,000.00

Postage1,000.00

Task Force Activities$19,500.00

Workgroup meeting expenses500.00

Task Force meeting expenses2,000.00

Task Force/Workgroup Research17,000.00

1999 Total Budget Request$93,000.00

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee also submits the following report (January 21, 1999) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair, Environmental Task Force:

This is to clarify that the Environmental Task Force (ETF) Budget request that is before the Committee is not for prior approval of $93,000.00. This is a request for consideration of our budget through the normal processes of the Budget Committee and Council.

The Environmental Task Force does require approximately $16,000.00 to meet needs within the first four months of this year and would request prior approval of funds at this time.

$

Visit of Professor William Rees (Ecological Footprint)1,000.00

Printing the Vision Report1,000.00

Writing and Editing the Environmental Plan2,500.00

Workgroup Research8,500.00

Printing two newsletters2,500.00

Workgroup Meeting Expenses 500.00

Total16,000.00

Recommendation:

That the ETF be allocated $16,000.00 for its activities until May 1999 and that these funds be provided on a prior approval basis.

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Councillor Jack Layton, Don River, appeared before the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.