Process for Adopting a New Governance Structure

for Advanced Environmental Decision Making

The Policy and Finance Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (July 6, 1999) from the Chair of the Environmental Task Force:

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)City Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer, in consultation with the Environmental Task Force, to report back in October 1999 to the Policy and Finance Committee on:

(a)the future of the environmental advisory groups, ensuring the adherence to the principles outlined in Section IX of the Environmental Task Force's July 6 report "The Proposed Governance Model for Advanced Environmental Decision Making for the City of Toronto" as part of the forthcoming report on "Existing Environmental Committees and the Environmental Task Force;" and

(b)the resource reallocation, staff reassignment and any additional resource implications of the political and administrative governance model outlined in the Environmental Task Force report.

and that the Policy and Finance Committee consider the report but defer a decision until the November 1999 meeting;

(2)any additional comments made by Standing Committees, Community Councils, staff and the community on the model below be submitted to the Environmental Task Force for information by October 1, 1999.

(3)the Environmental Task Force consider the Chief Administrative Officer report in Recommendation 1 and the comments that may arise from Recommendation 2 and submit a final report on the administrative and governance model to the Policy and Finance Committee meeting in November 1999.

(4)that the Policy and Finance Committee and City Council in November 1999 consider, with such amendments as Council considers appropriate, the reports requested in Recommendations 1 and 3 and target the implementation of the new governance structure by June 2000.

Background:

These recommendations establish a process which would result in the Policy and Finance Committee considering a new governance structure for advanced environmental decision making at its November 1999 meeting. The recommendations also call for a report by the Chief Administrative Officer on the resource implications of the proposed governance model.

The above recommendations were endorsed by the Planning and Transportation, Administration, Works, Community Services and Economic Development and Parks Committees in June with amendments asking for reports from the Auditor and the Commissioner of Economic Development and Parks.

(A copy of the Environmental Task Force's report dated July 6, 1999, entitled "The Proposed Governance Model for Advanced Environmental Decision Making for the City of Toronto" was forwarded to all Members of Council with the July 20, 1999, agenda of the Policy and Finance Committee and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)