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Review of Corporate Fleet and Garage Operations

The Administration Committee recommends:

(A) the adoption of the report (June 30, 1999) from the Chief Administrative Officer subject to:

(i) amending Recommendation No. (2) to read as follows:

"(2) (a) Council approve the closure of the five garages by December 31, 1999: (1) Merton; (2) Emery; (3) Murray Road (4) Bermondsey; and (5) Symes; and

(b) Council approve the closure of the Eastern Groundskeeping Garage subject to the relocation of Fire Services, currently located at 843 Eastern Avenue, to another facility;";

(ii) adding to Recommendation No. (5) after the words "identified by KPMG", the words "Option No. 3", so that Recommendation No. (5) shall now read as follows:

"(5) the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism report by September 30, 2000, on the feasibility of adopting the four garage model as identified by KPMG, Option 3;";

(iii) adding to Recommendation No. (6) after the word "Services", the words "in consultation with the City Auditor", and adding to the end thereof the words "and no action be taken to implement any of the strategies until the report is brought back to the Administration Committee", so that Recommendation No. (6) shall now read as follows:

"(6) the Commissioner of Corporate Services, in consultation with the City Auditor, report to the Administration Committee by March 31, 2000, on a strategy for closing fuels sites, including recommendations on sites that are to close, and those that should remain open for operational reasons, timelines, cost implications of decommissioning tanks, and options for alternative fuel supply, and no action be taken to implement any of the strategies until the report is brought back to the Administration Committee;";

(iv) adding to Recommendation No. (8) after the words "requirements of Fire and Ambulance Services", the words "Toronto Police, Exhibition Place, Library Boards, other ABC’s and Toronto Hydro", so that Recommendation No. (8) now reads as follows:

"(8) the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report to the Administration Committee by September 30, 2000, on the garage facilities requirements of Fire and Ambulance Services, Toronto Police, Exhibition Place, Library Boards, other ABC’s and Toronto Hydro, taking into consideration the findings of the KPMG Fleet Review, the KPMG Fire and Ambulance Services Facilities Study, and the final model adopted for garage consolidation for the City of Toronto;";

(v) adding thereto the following new Recommendation No. (13).

"(13) that the implementation Team and the staff Advisory Committee include a representative from the City Auditor’s Department;" and

(vi) renumbering Recommendation No. (13) as Recommendation No. (14), so that the Recommendations embodied in the aforementioned report now read as follows:

"(1) Council adopt, in principle, the recommendations of the KPMG Fleet Review outlined in Appendix One of this report;

(2) (a) Council approve the closure of the five garages by December 31, 1999: (1) Merton; (2) Emery; (3) Murray Road (4) Bermondsey; and (5) Symes; and

(b) Council approve the closure of the Eastern Groundskeeping Garage subject to the relocation of Fire Services, currently located at 843 Eastern Avenue, to another facility;

(3) Fleet Management Services jointly with the Commissioners of Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism report by December, 31, 1999, on the findings and recommendations of the fleet zero base review;

(4) the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism jointly report by June 30, 2000, on the findings of the yards rationalization study and where appropriate, recommend additional garages and yards for closure;

(5) the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism report by September 30, 2000, on the feasibility of adopting the four garage model as identified by KPMG, Option 3;

(6) the Commissioner of Corporate Services, in consultation with the City Auditor, report to the Administration Committee by March 31, 2000, on a strategy for closing fuels sites, including recommendations on sites that are to close, and those that should remain open for operational reasons, timelines, cost implications of decommissioning tanks, and options for alternative fuel supply, and no action be taken to implement any of the strategies until the report is brought back to the Administration Committee;

(7) the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report by September 30, 2000, on the efficiencies of further consolidation between emergency services fleet and corporate fleet in relation to fleet management, maintenance and garage facilities;

(8) the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report to the Administration Committee by September 30, 2000, on the garage facilities requirements of Fire and Ambulance Services, Toronto Police, Exhibition Place, Library Boards, other ABC’s and Toronto Hydro, taking into consideration the findings of the KPMG Fleet Review, the KPMG Fire and Ambulance Services Facilities Study, and the final model adopted for garage consolidation for the City of Toronto;

(9) the City adopt the M4 fleet systems (formerly used in North York), as the corporate wide fleet information system including maintenance and performance standards;

(10) Fleet Management Services achieve by December 31, 2000, a 5 per cent efficiency gain in labour hours productivity, to make it consistent with the industry benchmark of 75 per cent;

(11) effective January 1, 2000, Fleet Management Services establish and communicate to users standard labour hours for fleet maintenance, flat rate job rates, and hourly garage rates that are consistent with industry standards and full cost recovery;

(12) effective January 1, 2000, FMS establish appropriate systems to enable the monitoring of productivity and effective charge cost rate for each garage based on standard labour hours output and work orders in relation to total available hours;

(13) that the implementation Team and the staff Advisory Committee include a representative from the City Auditor’s Department; and

(14) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.";

(B) that the Recommendations embodied in the aforementioned report be implemented, and following implementation, the appropriate staff be requested to review the actual cost to operate the fleet services and compare these costs with other municipalities and organizations; and

(C) that the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report further to the Administration Committee as quickly as possible, outlining an implementation plan and providing information on the fleet reserves of the former municipalities and how they are being utilized at this time.

The Administration Committee reports, for the information of Council, having referred the following motion to the Chief Administrative Officer for report thereon to the Administration Committee for its meeting scheduled to be held on September 7, 1999:

Moved by Councillor Bussin on behalf of Councillor Pitfield:

"(1) that the City Auditor be requested to complete a checklist showing the extent to which the deliverables have been received by the City;

(2) the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report to the Administration Committee by September, 1999, that there are sufficient staff and data to complete the zero base review;

(3) that the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report to the Administration Committee by September, 1999, that there is a methodology, data and resources to complete the Yards Rationalization Study;

(4) that the Commissioner of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to report by October, 1999, on the plan for adopting the four garage model as identified by KPMG and the implementation of that model by December, 2000;

(5) that the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report to the Administration Committee, by September, 1999, and confirm the adoption of the M4 fleet systems by the City to enable tracking of monthly expenditures, maintenance, parts, and fuel; to track monthly garage output, to issue invoices to each client department and link the financial data to the City’s SAP accounting system;

(6) that Fleet Management Services achieve a five percent efficiency gain based on standard hours by December, 1999, and the resulting savings be reflected in the year 2000 budget for garage operations;

(7) that the attached tables for year 1997 and year 1999, entitled "City of Toronto - Financial Summary of Fleet Operations - Table 1 and 2", be used to summarize garage operations; and

(8) that the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report to the Administration Committee by September, 1999, on the financial summary of fleet and garage operations for 1997 and 1999 and establish the estimated savings of $2.6 million identified in this report."

The Administration Committee submits the following report (June 30, 1999) from the Chief Administrative Officer:

Purpose:

This report provides a summary of the findings of the KPMG review of fleet and garage operations including the rationalization of garage facilities, performance improvement and efficiencies. This report also responds to the directives of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee in relation to fleet reduction, zero base review, cost recovery and costing systems approved by Council on April 26, 1999.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) Council adopt, in principle, the recommendations of the KPMG Fleet Review outlined in Appendix One of this report;

(2) Council approve the closure of the following six garages by December 31, 1999: (1) Merton; (2) Emery; (3) Murray Road; (4) Bermondsey; (5) Symes; and (6) Eastern Grounds Keeping Garage;

(3) Fleet Management Services jointly with the Commissioners of Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report by December, 31, 1999, on the findings and recommendations of the fleet zero base review;

(4) the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism jointly report by June 30, 2000, on the findings of the yards rationalization study and where appropriate, recommend additional garages and yards for closure;

(5) the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report by September 30, 2000, on the feasibility of adopting the four garage model as identified by KPMG;

(6) the Commissioner of Corporate Services report to the Administration Committee by March 31, 2000, on a strategy for closing fuels sites, including recommendations on sites that are to close, and those that should remain open for operational reasons, timelines, cost implications of decommissioning tanks, and options for alternative fuel supply;

(7) the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report by September 30, 2000, on the efficiencies of further consolidation between emergency services fleet and corporate fleet in relation to fleet management, maintenance and garage facilities;

(8) the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report to the Administration Committee by September 30, 2000, on the garage facilities requirements of Fire and Ambulance Services, taking into consideration the findings of the KPMG Fleet Review, the KPMG Fire and Ambulance Services Facilities Study, and the final model adopted for garage consolidation for the City of Toronto;

(9) the City adopt the M4 fleet systems (formerly used in North York), as the corporate wide fleet information system including maintenance and performance standards;

(10) Fleet Management Services achieve by December 31, 2000, a 5 per cent efficiency gain in labour hours productivity, to make it consistent with the industry benchmark of 75 per cent;

(11) effective January 1, 2000, Fleet Management Services establish and communicate to users standard labour hours for fleet maintenance, flat rate job rates, and hourly garage rates that are consistent with industry standards and full cost recovery;

(12) effective January 1, 2000, FMS establish appropriate systems to enable the monitoring of productivity and effective charge cost rate for each garage based on standard labour hours output and work orders in relation to total available hours; and

(13) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

In June of 1998, KPMG was engaged to undertake a review of the various fleet operations of the former municipalities. The selection of KPMG was made by an evaluation team through a structured two stage evaluation process: (a) initial assessment of RFP’s and (b) detailed assessment through interviews and presentations by consultants.

1.0 Study Objectives:

The primary goal of the study was to integrate the fleet organizations of the seven former municipalities as a result of amalgamation, and to consolidate the fleet management and garage operations in an efficient and effective manner. Specifically, the study identified the following objectives: (a) identification of a framework and a recommended approach for the establishment of a centralized fleet management function; (b) determination and assessment of the revised fleet requirements for the new City; (c) determination of appropriate fleet maintenance standards and requirements; (d) identification of garage operations and fueling stations that are to continue and estimation of potential savings; (e) determination of an appropriate organizational structure for fleet management and garage operations from the perspective of the new City of Toronto; and (f) determination of appropriate management control processes.

2.0 Study Approach:

Project direction was provided by the Fleet Management Steering Committee which included the Commissioner of Corporate Services, the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, and representatives from the CAO’s Office and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism. Project management was provided by Fleet Management Services. A User Committee, including representatives from Fleet Management Services and user departments, worked on data collection and were consulted at key phases of the study. Consultations were also conducted with the senior management teams in the user departments and CUPE Locals 416 and 79 as well as COTAPSAI.

3.0 Study Scope:

The KPMG study assessed fleet maintenance activity for 1997, to ensure a full twelve months of fleet maintenance activity in the analysis. The study excluded Fire and Ambulance Services and the agencies, boards and commissions.

Fleet assets were defined in two classes: (1) vehicles and major equipment with wheels and axles having a replacement value over $5000; and (2) small equipment with a replacement value of less than $5000.

For the purposes of this report, fleet management refers to the management of fleet assets through their life cycle from specifications development to replacement planning and disposal; tracking costs and fleet utilization; insurance, licensing, and registration; fleet safety training and monitoring. Fleet maintenance refers to those activities involved in the preventative maintenance and breakdown repairs, both in-sourced and out-sourced.

Due to data limitations and other extenuating factors, KPMG did not address some key initiatives, such as assessing the fleet size, assessing fleet maintenance standards and defining the standard labour hours required etc. These initiatives are being addressed by Fleet Management Services (FMS) as part of the next steps outlined in section 7.0.

4.0 Study Findings:

Appendix 1 provides a summary of the study’s recommendations. The key findings follow:

4.1 Excess Garage Capacity:

KPMG has concluded that the City has a significant over capacity of fleet maintenance facilities. The current 20 garages, with a total of 220 bays, were not located or designed for a single City. The City’s fleet maintenance requirements can be met utilizing fewer than 80 bays. This can be accommodated in four main garages: 843 Eastern Avenue, Alness, Disco Road, and Ellesmere. The study recommends a phased-in approach over three years commencing with the immediate closure of six garages.

4.2 Lack of Effective Management and Information Systems to Manage Fleet Operations:

The former municipalities did not provide extensive management support for their fleet operations, and comprehensive financial analysis was lacking in relation to fleet management and maintenance decision making. They employed little in the way of performance measures relative to fleet. Subsequently, poor data and weak information systems restrict effective decision making. This deficiency will be addressed through the implementation of the former North York Fleet System effective September 1999.

4.3 Core Competency:

Fleet management and maintenance is a $43 million dollar business (excluding capital costs) and due to the high degree of interdependence between some high profile programs such as solid waste and snow removal, fleet management and in some cases fleet maintenance should be a core competency for the City. Some aspects of maintenance can be out-sourced if the economics and service quality merit it. However, maintenance services will need to be provided in-house to support critical public services. The City currently out-sources about $7 million in fleet maintenance and FMS staff make daily out-sourcing decisions based on price, quality and availability. KPMG does not believe it is appropriate to substantially change the current practices until better cost information is available, and an assessment has been made as to what services should be procured externally.

4.4 Staff Productivity and Best Practices:

Level of staff productivity has not been systematically managed, and use of best practices has not been consistent at the various garage locations in the city.

4.5 Other Findings:

A zero base review of the corporate fleet be carried out.

Fleet rationalization is tied to program responsibility and therefore requires collaboration between user departments and FMS, taking into consideration program delivery requirements. FMS’s role is to assist the process of determining fleet size through appropriate standards, policies and analysis.

FMS needs a clear mandate and span of control, relative to User Departments. The current approach with respect to budget and operational jurisdiction needs to be improved.

The combined City fleet is large, diverse and very complex comprised of 3098 licensed vehicles and 1787 off-road vehicles and equipment (refer to Appendix 2 for fleet composition by program).

The cost savings of bulk fuel purchasing probably do not off-set the true costs of internal fuel distribution; costs such as construction, installation and remediation of tanks and soil, piping, pressure testing, etc.

Fleet leasing should be considered as a strategy for fleet replacement.

A more business-like approach is required to make fleet operations more competitive in relation to fleet acquisitions, business processes, technology and management of human resources.

Fire and Ambulance Services should adopt the City-wide fleet information system, maintenance standards, and performance standards.

4.6 Savings:

Using a four garage model with mobile units, KPMG has identified potential savings of $5.9 million, comprised of $3.0 million in salaries and $2.9 million in facilities. Operational costs to user departments must be taken into consideration in order to determine net savings to the Corporation. Of these savings, approximately half are amalgamation related, and the other half are related to efficiency improvements. KPMG estimates a one time capital cost investment of $2.1 million.

These savings are based on 1997 expenditure and staffing levels. To date, staffing has been reduced within FMS by 27 positions, and the Fleet Management Services budget reduced by $2.6 million. This leaves a balance of $3.3 million in savings to be accomplished from garage rationalization (approximately $2.3 million) and productivity improvements (approximately $1.0 million).

This estimate of $3.3 million operating savings does not include any one time savings from the sale of surplus facilities. One time costs for soil remediation caused by in-ground fuel tanks will also be incurred.

The net savings do not include long-term savings to be realized from reducing the fleet size, fleet standardization, and reduced maintenance expenditures.

5.0 Current Situation Assessment:

5.1 Fleet Management:

The management structure for Fleet Management Services was approved by the CAO and implemented in January 1999. This model is consistent with the four garage model discussed in the report.

FMS is currently implementing the North York (M4) Fleet Management Information System which will provide the necessary platform for the management control systems and support key initiatives recommended by the KPMG study: full charge back system and billing, employee and garage productivity, monitoring, standard time monitoring, fleet utilization reporting, maintenance scheduling, etc. The adoption of the M4 Fleet Management Information System and performance standards city-wide will facilitate the implementation of a common information base for all of the City’s fleet operations, and allow for comparisons, reporting and monitoring the costs of fleet operations.

The charge back system, standard times and flat rates job costing is under development, and will be discussed with user departments as recommended by the Strategic Policies and Planning Committee. Policy development and harmonization has begun. Upon approval of the recommendations, FMS will complete the staffing of its supervisory levels and consolidate its locations.

5.2 Cost of Fleet Operations:

FMS 1999 budget is $22.5 million with approximately 50 per cent of city wide fleet related costs still within User Department budgets. The breakdown of the Fleet costs by program based on 1997 actual expenditures is presented in the following Table:

Estimated 1997 Fleet Costs by User Departments and FMS (based on KPMG data)

 

Item

Salaries and Benefits

Parts and Contracted Services

Fuels

Licensing

Overhead*

Utilities % Notional Rent

Totals

Works Support Services

104,131

         

104,131

Solid Waste

1,790,038

5,730,368

2,049,432

174,372

461,543

 

10,205,753

Transportation

389,608

1,378,891

1,679,553

193,966

169,817

 

3,811,835

Parks and Recreation

151,060

710,762

821,294

98,426

88,483

 

1,870,025

Other Departments

73,006

352,951

353,321

45,931

25,919

2,851,082***

3,702,210

Fleet Management Services**

11,985,200

6,109,315

3,204,751

260,112

2,045,811

 

23,605,189

Total

14,493,043

14,282,287

8,108,351

772,807

2,791,573

2,851,082

43,299,143

 

* Overhead consists of garage supplies such as bulk lubricants, nuts and bolts, hand cleaners and other garage maintenance and cleaning office supplies related to fleet activities.

** Fleet Management Services costs contain the FTE and operating costs for 18 of the 20 garages. Within FMS, fleet management is estimated at $2.2 million.

*** Estimates for facilities maintenance portion for garages in Facilities and Real Estate Division costs.

5.3 Fleet Performance and Competitiveness:

Labour Utilization:

KPMG identifies a benchmark of 75 per cent labour utilization as a best practice standard in the industry. The City’s FMS has a current rate of 70 per cent based on work order hours. This report recommends that the labour productivity be increased to the benchmark of 75 per cent based on standard hours.

Garage Charge Out Rate:

The second indicator, garage charge out rate, is the hourly cost of labour and shop overhead, excluding parts. KPMG reported a 1997 rate of $74 per hour. Fleet Management Service’s average current rate is $68 per hour, excluding corporate overheads. Fleet Management Services rate is a single rate, developed to average out the lower costs of car and truck maintenance with the higher cost of heavy truck and specialized equipment. Industry standards are on average between $65 and $100 per hour, depending on the type of vehicle/equipment being serviced. FMS is currently developing garage rates by vehicle class.

Garage Utilization:

The third performance measure is garage utilization. Garage utilization measures the efficiency of using the fixed assets of garages. The current rate is about 15 per cent. Best practices are around 38 per cent utilization, representing two shifts, five days per week. In order to achieve best practice ratio in garage utilization, additional garage facilities would have to be closed.

In addition to these performance measures, FMS needs to monitor and continuously improve turn around times of vehicle repair, and reduce downtime due to waiting for parts. Other service performance measures will be identified as FMS develops Service Level Agreements with its clients, the first of which will be developed September, 1999.

5.4 Current Assessment by Program:

FMS provides fleet management and maintenance services to most programs. FMS also provides maintenance services for small equipment such as chain saws, smaller mowers, etc. Seventy-five percent of all fleet maintenance is provided to the Works and Emergency Services Department. Not all fleet maintenance and management is currently consolidated within FMS. Fleet management and maintenance is provided by the Works and Emergency Services Department at the Keele Valley landfill and by Parks and Recreation at their Kipling yard.

Four of the six former municipalities fire vehicles and equipment are serviced by Fleet Management Services to varying degrees. In the former City of Toronto and Scarborough, fleet undertook preventative maintenance, and repairs to the body and chassis. In East York and York all components of the equipment were serviced by fleet staff, while in North York and Etobicoke, Fire Services maintained a separate fleet management and maintenance operations. This is an amalgamation issue addressed by the KPMG recommendations.

User needs and concerns were identified during the course of the review. They included: sufficient fleet replacement funds, reduced turnaround maintenance times to reduce surplus vehicles, reliable and on-site running repairs services, expedited procurement of vehicles.

5.5 Garage Options Assessment:

The following principles were applied by KPMG to assess options for the consolidation of garage facilities: minimize fleet maintenance costs through centralization; minimize incremental capital expenditures; maximize current sites and minimize the use of other City-owned facilities; create potential opportunities for implementing best practices and ensurance of adequate geographic distribution. Garages were also assessed on their physical attributes, ease of upgrade, location and utilization. (Appendix 3 presents a summary of the garage sites with favourable and unfavourable characteristics).

The following table summarizes the options considered by KPMG:

Garage Options Summary (based on KPMG data)

 

 

 

 

Base at December 31, 1997

 

Option One: Close two garages

 

Option Two: Close six garages

Option 3 Four central garages with mobile units

 

FTE’s

 

254 (city wide)

 

227

 

219

 

201

 

Bays

 

220

 

206

 

183

 

106

 

Bridge Cranes

 

50

 

47

 

40

 

19

 

Annual savings (in thousands)

Staff savings

Facilities savings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$1,517

314

 

 

 

$1,973

745

 

 

 

$3,012

2,900

 

Total savings

 

 

 

 

$1,831

 

$2,718

 

$5,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One time expenditures (000’s)

 

 

 

 

$ 100

 

$ 145

 

$ 2,115

As noted by KPMG the net savings to the City through garage consolidation will only be realized when the former garage properties are disposed of. Sixteen of the twenty garages covered by the review are located within user department yards and seventeen of the twenty have in-ground gas tanks that will require remediation before sale. Some of the sites are located on former dump sites and are not likely to be saleable.

In order to reduce over capacity and to concentrate maintenance operations in fewer locations, KPMG has recommended the closure of six garages immediately, i.e., Merton, Eastern Grounds Keeping, Northline, Emery and two of: Symes or Castlefield or Ingram. The specific garages recommended by staff for immediate closure in this report are based on the principles outlined, consultations with user departments on anticipated changes to the use of yards and the maximum resale potential for the City. The changes in garage closures do not impact the net savings estimates. Over the long term, KPMG believes that the City’s fleet maintenance could be carried out of four large district facilities where there is sufficient capacity to meet the City’s future requirements i.e., Eastern, Allness, Ellesmere, and Disco. It is therefore recommended that the Commissioners of Corporate Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism jointly report by September 30, 2000 on the feasibility of adopting the four garage model.

6.0 Corporate Fleet Management:

6.1 The Mandate and Role of FMS:

Fleet Management Services is responsible for the stewardship and maintenance of all vehicles covered under the City’s Commercial Vehicle Owner’s Registration (CVOR) and all vehicles and equipment with a replacement value of more than $5000, with wheels and axles.

Stewardship encompasses: Fleet inventory management; life cycle management; procurement management; cost tracking and reporting; insurance, registrations and licensing; fleet replacement/disposal planning; fleet assignment.

Maintenance encompasses: Preventative maintenance and breakdown repairs, both in-sourced and out-sourced, for assets under its trusteeship.

Fleet Management Services role is to act as an operational partner with user departments to provide fleet management and maintenance at a competitive level through the setting of maintenance standards and quality control measures, and to provide operating departments with support, service and expertise in fleet utilization, specifications development, cost saving programs, decisions on in-house and external provisions of repair and other fleet services.

7.0 Next Steps:

Fleet Management Services will work with an Implementation Team and Fleet Advisory Committee, including representatives from User Departments, Finance and the CAO’s office. A project manager will be accountable for the implementation of the major initiatives, garage closures and deliverables outlined in Appendix 4 "Implementation Timeframe".

7.1 Garage Closures:

It is recommended that a staggered three phased implementation approach of garage closures be undertaken should the City migrate toward the four garage model.

Phase One: closure of six garages in 1999, to allow for the implementation of mobile running repairs and needed capital improvements (i.e., 145K for mobile repair units) to mitigate the impact of the garage closure on users departments.

Phase Two: garage closures resulting from yards rationalization and further implementation of the mobile running repairs services. Until decisions are made on the consolidation and closure of yards, capital improvement requirements, if any, cannot be determined for the remaining locations. It is therefore recommended that a yards consolidation plan be developed in consultation with the user departments by June 30, 2000 with a garage and yard closure timetable and be reported to the Administration Committee.

Phase Three: additional garages may be closed after taking into consideration the findings of the yards rationalization study, operational requirements and associated incremental costs and net savings from a corporate and departmental perspective.

7.2 Fleet Cost Control Initiatives:

An effective cost control mechanism for the City’s fleet services is to pass through all fleet management and maintenance costs to the users of those services, placing them on a fee for service basis under a contract for services arrangement. This approach will provide financial incentives for users to control their fleet size, gain maximum utilization of the fleet, and ensure proper care in the use of the City fleet. It will also provide user departments with information on their true fleet costs and the added value and competitiveness of the services they acquire from Fleet Management Services on a cost recovery basis. Costs will be further controlled by requiring internal fleet maintenance services be competitive with private sector providers of the same services (provided quality is constant). As a result, Departments will be able to assess and monitor the true costs of in-house services in relation to those provided by the private sector.

Initiatives planned to support this objective are: (a) develop a full charge back system for all fleet management, maintenance and fuels; (b) develop and communicate to users garage charge out rates by vehicle and equipment class that are competitive with industry standards; (c) develop and communicate to users flat rate job rates based on standard labour hours; (d) implement a costing system to support in-source/out-source decision making; and (e) re-engineer practices and procedures to reduce time and costs.

7.3 Development of Fleet Information Systems:

The implementation of the M4 Fleet Management Information System will provide a comprehensive information base to track fleet costs and performance. This system is expected to be rolled out by September 30, 1999. Management controls are also being implemented which include garage performance standards and performance management. Appropriate reports will be provided to users effective February 2000.

7.4 Zero Base Review:

FMS has begun the development of the Zero Base Review criteria and process and will begin consultations with user departments in August. FMS will report, in consultation with user departments, to Council, the findings of the zero base review by December 31, 1999, consistent with Council’s directive. The objectives of the review are to: identify under-utilized vehicles and equipment for disposal or reassignment; identify potential for sharing of vehicles and equipment; identify alternatives to meet the service needs of departments, such as short-term leasing or rental. The review will assess appropriate use of fleet assets by considering utilization, need for appropriate equipment, and compliance with the fleet assignment policy.

7.5 Fleet Performance Improvement:

FMS will implement a number of performance improvement initiatives focusing on improved customer satisfaction and reducing the costs of fleet operations. These include: (a) monitoring performance in relation to benchmarks on standard labour hours, garage utilization, garage charge out rate, labour productivity, and cost of flat rate services; (b) setting targets for reduced turn around times with departments as part of the Service Level Alignment; and (c) identifying and monitoring additional fleet performance indicators with user departments such as cost per kilometer, fleet utilization levels, etc.

7.6 Amalgamation of FMS:

Amalgamation initiatives were deferred, pending the outcome of the KPMG study findings. The following initiatives will be completed: (a) staffing and location consolidation of the Division; (b) policy harmonization and development; and )c) budget disentanglement and integration; (d) service disentanglement.

7.7 Fleet Management Policies:

Fleet Management Services will be harmonizing and developing polices, including the best practices policy directions identified by KPMG. These include: feet assignment; fleet acquisition, fleet planning, fleet disposal/replacement; fleet replacement reserve; driver safety and training; management information systems; parts inventory and control; performance monitoring and maintenance.

7.8 Fuel Management:

A fuel exit strategy will be developed by Fleet Management Services and user departments to reduce the City’s use of bulk fuels through the development of a retail fuels supply contract for the City. Fuel tanks closures will be assessed based on user department needs, emergency and off-hour fuel supply needs, alternative fuels needs, age and location of tanks, yards rationalization and garage closures. Fuels will be fully charged back to users.

7.9 Customer Service to Other Departments:

Improved customer service and satisfaction is a key goal for FMS. Many of the cost savings initiatives will benefit FMS customers by reducing their overall fleet costs. Additional customer service initiatives will include: (a) regular assessments of customer satisfaction; (b) development of Service Level Agreements with targets for turnaround time and downtime reductions; (c) improved process for vehicle procurement and specifications; and (d) development of additional performance indicators to support departmental decisions making.

8.0 Human Resource Considerations:

Due to the downsizing already completed by Fleet Management Services, phase one garage closures will not result in staff layoff. Staff at garages slated for closure will be transferred to other locations.

There will be a need to develop new key roles for fleet management in cost accounting, performance improvement and benchmarking, and contract management. These needs will be accommodated without impacting the staff reduction targets set out in the KPMG plan.

9.0 Other Fleet Issues:

Neither the Fleet Study nor the Fire and Ambulance Facilities Study assessed or analyzed the fleet maintenance operations of Fire and Ambulance. In the Fire and Ambulance Facilities Study, KPMG concluded that Fire and Ambulance fleet maintenance and repairs be undertaken in specialized facilities. In the Fleet Study, KPMG further recommends, that these facilities adopt the City-wide fleet information system, maintenance standards and performance standards. Potential for further efficiencies between emergency services fleet and corporate fleet will be reported to the Administration Committee by September 30, 2000.

The CFO is currently in the process of submitting a report to the Policy and Finance Committee concerning fleet replacements for 1999.

Conclusion:

The KPMG report has identified key directions for a corporate fleet management program, and the appropriate framework to achieve it. It is recommended that a phased-in approach to garage rationalization be undertaken in close consultation with user departments which will focus on enhancing net-benefit potential to the City, incorporating yards rationalization with garage closures, and migrating to the four garage model.

The KPMG study has determined that there is significant excess garage capacity, effective fleet management systems for decision making are weak or absent, staff productivity is not systematically managed and the use of best practices is limited. FMS has already commenced addressing the major deficiencies identified by KPMG, through the phased implementation of productivity improvements and cost control measures. The study is recommending that six garages be closed immediately, further garage closures be considered upon completion of the yards rationalization study; over the longer term (three years), after assessing impact on key programs, the City consider proceeding towards the concept of establishing four central garages. It is therefore recommended that six garages be closed by December 31, 1999, the findings of the yards rationalization study be reported by June 30, 2000, the zero base review of corporate fleet be completed by December 31, 1999, and the feasibility of adopting the model of four central garages be reported to the Administration Committee by September 30, 2000.

Contact Persons:

Firoz Kara 392-8678 Stan Burrows 392-7791

Strategic and Corporate Policy Division Effie Ginzberg 392-7791

Fleet Management Services

————

Appendix 1

Summary of KPMG Recommendations

The KPMG report makes recommendations under four categories: People, infrastructure, technology, policy and operational requirements

People Recommendations:

(1) Reduce the management to staff FTE ratio to 1:10 over time as the fleet management information system becomes operational, work processes are reengineered, and garages rationalized.

(2) Continue to proportionally reduce FTE’s as the number of work order hours is reduced through fleet rationalization.

Infrastructure Recommendations:

(3) Reduce the excess garage capacity by closing six garages as soon as possible. Close Merton, Eastern (Grounds-keeping) and Emery. Through a consultative process, close one of Northline and Bermondsey; and close two of Castlefield, Symes and Ingram.

(4) Through the Yards Rationalization Study, consider garage closures in assessing yards for rationalization.

(5) In consultation with User Departments, develop maintenance practices and procedures to mitigate additional cost and service impacts to allow for additional garage closures in yards that are not rationalized. Migrate progressively toward the four-garage configuration over time.

(6) Strategically exit the fuel business over time. The City should maintain some emergency fuel supply capacity to deal with weather emergencies and alternative fuels supply capacity where commercial availability is not extensive.

Technology:

(7) Capture consistent and accurate fleet data which is used for analysis to support effective decision-making and performance measurement.

Policy and Operational Recommendations:

(8) Adopt a corporate fleet management model for the fleet assets included within the scope of this study. The City should redefine the roles and responsibilities of FMS to include: trusteeship; and repair and maintenance of:

(i) all fleet assets requiring CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operating Registration) certification; and

(ii) anything with a replacement cost of over $5,000 with wheels and axles.

(9) Responsibility for garage operations at the Keele Valley (Works) yard and the Kipling (Parks and Recreation) yard should be transferred to FMS, consistent with FMS’s capacity to provide the service required by the User Departments.

(10) Implement a charge-back system to recover the full cost of the fleet management and maintenance from User Departments. FMS should operate on a break-even basis. The charge-back will need to have four components:

(i) Fleet Management: We recommend that all fleet management costs be pro-rata allocated to User Departments based on the number of vehicles in the respective department.

(ii) Fleet Maintenance: We recommend User Departments be charged for labour and reasonable overheads associated with fleet maintenance based on standard work order hours for completing the required servicing.

(iii) Parts: We recommend that parts used to service vehicles be charged at cost plus any direct purchasing and handling costs.

(iv) Capital Costs: We recommend that this charge can be in the form of either a replacement reserve contribution or an internal monthly lease payment to cover the capital cost of the vehicles and large equipment.

(11) Flow fuel costs through to User Departments based on a usage.

(12) Investigate leasing as an alternative to purchasing vehicles.

(13) If the City implements a system of replacement reserve contributions from User Departments, use the department’s contribution for its own specific fleet replacement needs. This system should be established and monitored by the City’s Finance department.

(14) Transfer the trusteeship; and responsibility for, repair and maintenance of all small equipment to User Departments. Specifically, small equipment currently maintained by FMS should be moved to User Departments’ responsibility and care. FMS may still maintain certain equipment as part of a service agreement, but the capital aspects of this small equipment inventory are best dealt with by User Departments.

(15) Provide FMS with the operational control and budgetary responsibility for all fleet-related activities within its new span of control. Provide User Departments with the operational and budgetary control over their small equipment units. This disentaglement must include the identification and migration of budgetary allocations, staff and equipment.

(16) Develop Service Level Agreements with User Departments that focus on the delivery of quality services at a competitive price.

(17) Implement a customer service strategy to strengthen the relationship between FMS and User Departments.

(18) Using the Policy Framework provided in section IV(D) of this report, develop detailed policies and procedures for City-wide implementation.

(19) Conduct a zero-based vehicle and equipment review and dispose of or reassign, surplus fleet assets. This review should demonstrate the business case for each vehicle or piece of equipment.

(20) Specialized F & A facilities should adopt City-wide fleet information systems, maintenance standards and performance standards.

————

Appendix 4

Implementation Timeframe

 

 

 

Deliverable

Completed by

Garage Closures

Phase One – Closure of 6 garages

December 31, 1999

 

Phase Two – Additional garage closures assessment and implementation plan developed through Yards Rationalization Study.

June 30, 2000

 

Phase Three – Feasibility assessment of the four garage model and recommending additional garage closures.

September 30, 2000

Zero Based Review

Zero based review completed in consultation with user departments identifying fleet rationalization opportunities.

December 31, 1999

Controlling Fleet Costs

Full charge back system developed.

October 31, 1999

 

Service Level Agreements developed.

December 31, 1999

 

Garage charge out rates developed.

October 31, 1999

 

Flat rates based on standard labour hours developed.

August 31, 1999

 

Activity based costing fully implemented.

December 31, 2002

 

Major practices and procedures reengineered.

March 31, 2000

 

Assessment of estimated costs of M4 implementation City-wide.

January 31, 2000

Development of Fleet Information Systems

M4 information system for FMS implemented.

September 30, 1999

Fleet Performance Improvement

5% gains in labour productivity realized.

December 31, 2000

 

Turn around times and down times reduced for User Departments.

September 30, 2000

 

Additional performance indicators developed.

December 31, 1999

 

Systems and practices monitoring bench marks implemented: standard labour hours, garage utilization, labour productivity.

December 31, 1999

Amalgamation of FMS

Supervisory staffing completed and locations consolidated.

December 31, 1999

 

Remaining staffing completed (dependent upon collective agreement progress).

May 31, 2000

 

Budgets disentangled and reallocated.

January 1, 2000

 

Assessment of Fire and Ambulance facilities and fleet maintenance and management.

September 30, 2000

 

Fleet maintenance disentanglement with User Departments.

September 30, 2000

Fuels Management

Assessment - fuel exit strategy and recommended site closures.

March 31, 1999

________

The Administration Committee reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it a communication (July 12, 1999) from Ms. Anne Dubas, President, CUPE Local 79, advising that she is pleased that no job loss will result from the six garage closures recommended for the Fleet Management Services Division; that Local 79 believes that the Division will find it economical and wise to bring most of the fleet maintenance work that is currently contracted out to the private sector back in house; and expressing disappointment with the recommendation in the KPMG report that foreperson positions be eliminated and replaced with a new "work unit structure" made up of supervisors, lead hands, mechanics and helpers.

The Chief Administrative Officer, and Mr. Richard Harris, Representative of KPMG, gave a presentation to the Administration Committee in connection with the foregoing matter and filed a copy of their presentation material.

The following persons appeared before the Administration Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Mr. Fred Taylor, Executive Board Member, CUPE Local 79; and

- Councillor Jane Pitfield, East York.

(A copy of the document entitled "Review of Existing Fleet and Garage Operations", prepared by KPMG,and Appendices 2 and 3, referred to in the foregoing Clause, was forwarded to all Members of Council with the July 13, 1999, agenda of the Administration Committee and copies thereof are also on file in the office of the City Clerk. The tables for year 1997 and year 1999, entitled "City of Toronto - Financial Summary of Fleet Operations - Table 1 and 2", submitted by Councillor Jane Pitfield, are also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

 

   
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