Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)New Committee-Council Structure.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having:

(1)received the following presentation for information; and

(2)requested the Chief Administrative Officer to report back to the Policy and Finance Committee in January 2000, providing an evaluation of the ABC's reporting structure:

Mr. Peter Fay of the City Clerk's Division provided an overview presentation of the new Committee-Council Structure, outlining the mandates in areas of public service delivery and corporate operations, including:

-monitoring current program delivery, service levels and emerging issues;

-recommending policy and program changes; and

-providing a forum for public participation and for detailed discussion of the City's decision-making;

and filed a copy of his submission.

(b)ArtsVote.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having received the following communication and presentation; and having requested ArtsVote to provide a copy of their written submission to the Toronto Arts Council for information:

(June 24, 1999) from the ArtsVote Steering Committee, presenting to the Committee the significant impact that ArtsVote has in the community.

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Ms. Susan Serran, Co-Chair, ArtsVote Steering Committee, made a presentation respecting ArtsVote, a watershed in political and cultural activism within the Toronto Arts Community, developing a well-informed network of artists and arts professionals who consider arts advocacy part and parcel of daily life.

The following persons also appeared before the Economic Development and Parks Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Pat Bradley, PACT, Co-Chair, ArtsVote Steering Committee;

-Ms. Karin Eaton, Scarborough Arts Council; and

-Ms. Jenny Ginder, Canadian Opera Company.

(c)International Union of Local Authorities.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following communication to the September 13, 1999 meeting:

(undated) from the International Union of Local Authorities forwarding the International Union of Local Authorities Barcelona Congress Declaration within the spirit of their Congress theme, "Local Government Uniting in a Global Mission", for the information of the Economic Development and Parks Committee.

(d)High Five Program - Quality Assurance in Children's Recreation and Sport Programs - All Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having received the following report for information:

(June 2, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism advising that the Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) High Five Quality Assurance Program is a complete package designed to train part-time recreation staff in healthy child development as a basis for recreation programming for children 6 to 12 years of age and to provide full-time recreation staff with a reliable and valid recreation program assessment tool (QUEST Tool) that will eventually measure the quality of Toronto's children's recreation programs against provincial norms; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(e)Harmonization of Ice Rental Rates - Arena Boards of Management

- Ward 1 (East York); Ward 2 (Lakeshore-Queensway);

Ward 27 (York Humber); and all Former City of Toronto Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having deferred consideration of the following report to the September 13, 1999 meeting:

(June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism providing an outline identifying potential implementation options and financial effects of harmonizing ice rental rates and policies between City-owned, City-operated indoor arenas and City-owned, Board of Management or service agency operated arenas; and recommending that:

(1)the principle of harmonization of ice rental rates across the City be adopted;

(2)in addition to financial statements, the Arena Boards of Management and the two arenas leased by Lions Clubs, as well as city managed arenas, be required to report annually on the statistical usage by category of renters as set out in this report (Appendix "D");

(3)the Department staff continue to work co-operatively with the Arena Boards and Lions Clubs to review harmonization issues and opportunities for cooperative service initiatives;

(4)the ice rental category of "Community Youth" (local youth involved in ice activities) be harmonized effective September 1, 2000, at an annualized cost of $141,321.00;

OR

instead of the Departmental Recommendation No. (4), the Committee may wish to choose:

(5)no change occur at this time with respect to harmonization of ice rental rates at Board of Management or Agency operated arenas.

(f)City Tree Maintenance Backlog - All Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report (June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, subject to deleting the recommendation embodied therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"that the Economic Development and Parks Committee supports funding in the amount of $1 million to be made available in the 1999 Forestry Operating Budget and $1.7 million in 2000, to assist in reducing the City Tree Maintenance backlog, the said funding being designated as new funding added to the Operating Budget; and further that this report be referred to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration."; and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report back to the Committee, in consultation with the City's Tree Advocate, on the following:

(a)the feasibility and cost factor of providing a written communication to each new tree owner explaining the homeowners responsibilities with regard to the maintenance of new trees;

(b)an interim progress report on the tree maintenance program for the meeting of November 29, 1999;

(c)information as to how individual Councillors can apply for free tree planting for homeowners;

(d)options with respect to cost-sharing with homeowners to expedite tree trimming and pruning, etc., upon approval of the tree maintenance backlog program;

(e)options with respect to the tree planting program as a harmonization scenario;

(f)the status, regarding the Parks Division in particular, of the maintenance of municipal lawns and gardens to the Economic Development and Parks Committee meeting of November 29, 1999; and

(g)a harmonized service level for all parks for the Year 2000 and methods of implementing a maintenance service level with the hiring of more seasonal staff, hiring existing seasonal staff, and hiring of contractors and associated equipment.

(i)(June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism recommending that $1 million be made available in the 1999 Forestry capital budget and $1.7 million in 2000 for the purpose of hiring more seasonal staff, holding existing seasonal staff on longer and hiring contractors and associated equipment to aggressively reduce the forestry service backlog;

(ii)(July 5, 1999) from Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara, recommending that the report (June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be adopted; that the Budget Advisory Committee be requested to report directly to City Council, at its meeting scheduled to be held on July 27, 28 and 29, 1999, on the source of the required funds; and requesting that staff contact him in Committee Room 1 when this matter is being considered so that he may speak on the report and recommendations; and

(iii)(July 12, 1999) from Mr. Brian Cochrane, President, Toronto Civic Employees' Union - CUPE Local 416, in support of the request from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism for additional funds to clear up the forestry service backlog.

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The following Members of Council appeared before the Economic Development and Parks Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, High Park;

-Councillor Joe Mihevc, York Eglinton; and

-Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara.

(g)Penalties for Breach of City Tree By-law - All Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having received the following report for information:

(June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, responding to a request by the Economic Development and Parks Committee that the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, in consultation with the City Solicitor, be requested to report on the process for determination of penalties for breaches of the City tree by-law and the appropriate fines for each type of breach; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(h)International City to City Program - All Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council, the adoption of the following report (June 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism;

(2)requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report back to the September 13, 1999 meeting on:

(a)the inclusion of Athens in the mission to Europe in November/December, 1999 or prior to the summer of the year 2000, and extending the timeframe of these missions from 5 to 7 days to 14 to 15 days; and

(b)other twinning relationships, i.e. Sagamihara;

(3) directed that the concept of establishing a working group to deal with the International City to City program be referred to the Chair of Economic Development and Parks Committee for consideration; and

(4)received the communication (July 6, 1999) from Ming Pao (Daily) Newspaper:

(i)(June 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism providing a proposed policy and criteria for the support of and participation in inbound and outbound missions to selected world cities for economic development purposes, as directed by City Council; and recommending that:

(1)the policy framework for the International City to City Program and criteria for the support of and participation in, inbound and outbound missions outlined in Appendix "A" be approved; and

(2)the activities and budget for 1999 outlined in Appendix "B" be approved; and

(ii)(July 6, 1999) from Ming Pao (Daily) Newspaper respecting the Engagement of Sisterhood between Beijing and Taipei.

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The following Members of Council appeared before the Economic Development and Parks Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Councillor John Filion, North York Centre;

-Councillor Norman Kelly, Scarborough Wexford; and

-Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, High Park.

(i)Comparative Analysis of Celebrate Toronto Street Festival and Other Events of Similar Size - All Wards.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having received the following report for information:

(June 24, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism responding responding to a request by the Economic Development and Parks Committee requesting the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report, in the context of the City's Economic Development Strategy, to the Economic Development and Parks Committee on a comparative analysis of other events of similar size and outline the potential comparators which could be used; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(j)Review of Sub-Committees, Special Committees and Task Forces.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports having:

(1)approved the continuance of the following Sub-Committees:

(a)TEDCO (Sub-Committee to Review the Composition and Mandate of); and

(b)Greater Toronto Airports Authority (Sub-Committee to discuss the Airport Development Plan); and

(2)received for information the balance of Schedule 1 regarding special committees, advisory committees and task forces established by Council.

(June 28, 1999) from the City Clerk providing information on the newly-formed Standing Committees, a list of the various sub-committees, special committees, advisory committees and task forces, which were formed under the previous Council-Committee structure and are now grouped under each Standing Committee in accordance with the new Committee Structure; and recommending that the Standing Committees:

(1)determine whether the mandate and membership of those sub-committees listed under the column "Sub-Committees" in Schedule 1 should be continued; and

(2)receive for information the balance of Schedule 1 regarding special committees, advisory committees and task forces established by Council.

Respectfully submitted,

 COUNCILLOR BRIAN ASHTON,

Chair

Toronto, July 12, 1999

Betty Henderson

Tel. (416) 392-8088