|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
|
City of Toronto Council and Committees |
| |
|
All Council and Committee documents are available from the City of Toronto Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@toronto.ca.
|
| |
|
THE CITY OF TORONTO
Clerk's Department
Minutes of the Economic Development Committee
Meeting No. 3
Thursday, February 18, 1999.
The Economic Development Committee met on Thursday, February 18, 1999, in
Committee Room 1, 2nd Floor, City Hall, Toronto, commencing at 10:15 a.m.
Members Present:
Councillor Brian Ashton, Chair
Councillor Raymond Cho
Councillor Rob Davis
Councillor Mario Giansante
Councillor Douglas Holyday
Councillor Norman Kelly
Councillor Joan King
Councillor Jane Pitfield
Councillor Mario Silva
Councillor Mike Tzekas
No Declarations of Interest pursuant to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
were declared.
3.1 Harmonization of User Fees
The Economic Development Committee had before it the report (February 10, 1999)
from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, recommending:
(1) that the Economic Development Committee provide direction on a preferred
option for a new harmonization user fee policy as outlined in this staff
report;
(2) that this report be forwarded to the Budget Committee with the Economic
Development Committee recommendations for their consideration in the 1999
Budget Process; and
(3) that the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture & Tourism, be
authorized to implement harmonized rates in keeping with the Council
decision on this matter.
The Economic Development Committee also had before it the following
reports/communications:
- (November 25, 1998) from the City Clerk, forwarding to the Economic
Development Committee the action of the User Fee Committee on November 24,
1998, with recommendations;
- (December 10, 1998) from Anne Dubas, President, CUPE Local 79;
- (December 10, 1998) from the City Clerk, North York Community Council,
forwarding the action taken by the North York Community Council at its
meeting on December 10, 1998;
- (January 12, 1999) from Maureen Boulter, Chairperson, Lakeshore Area Multi-
Services Project Inc. (LAMP);
- (January 12, 1999) from Jasmin Earle, Chair, The Etobicoke Brighter Futures
Coalition;
- (January 15, 1999) from Hordofa Guysa, President, Oromo Canadian Community
Association in Ontario;
- (February 2, 1999) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Chair, Youth Subcommittee
of the Children and Youth Action Committee;
- (February 10, 1999) from Cal Lorimer, Toronto;
- (February 11, 1999) from Councillor Tom Jakobek, Chair, Budget Committee,
and Councillor George Mammoliti, Chair, User Fee Committee;
- (February 11, 1999) from Councillor Norm Kelly, Scarborough Wexford;
- (February 12, 1999) from Anne Dubas, President, CUPE Local 79;
- (February 12, 1999) from Joy Connelly, Toronto;
- (February 12, 1999) from Maureen P. Boulter, Lakeshore Area Multi-Services
Project Inc. (LAMP);
- presentation material (February 12, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture & Tourism;
- (February 12, 1999) from Bill Worrell, on behalf of Karen Savage;
- (February 10, 1999) from Deany Peters, Community Health Worker, Regent Park
Community Health Centre;
- (February 12, 1999) from Doreen Lalor, Toronto;
- (February 7, 1999) from Mandy Mack on behalf of Lincoln Lopez, York
Hispanic Centre, Toronto;
- (Undated) from Mandy Mack, York Hispanic Centre, Toronto;
- (February 12, 1999) from Doug Hum, Children s Aid Society of Toronto;
- (February 12, 1999) from Donald J. Stewart, Toronto;
- (February 12, 1999) from Myra Lewis, Toronto;
- (February 12, 1999) from Karen Wirsig, Community Social Planning Council of
Toronto;
- (February 17, 1999) from Darlene Varaleau; and
- (February 18, 1999) from Councillor McConnell.
The following persons addressed the Economic Development Committee in connection
with the foregoing matter:
- Councillor Chow;
- Councillor Jones;
- Councillor Korwin-Kuczynski;
- Councillor Mammoliti; and
- Councillor Nunziata.
The Economic Development Committee forwarded the matter of selecting a
preferred option for a new harmonization user fee policy to the Budget
Committee without recommendation for consideration in the 1999 budget
process, and:
A. Councillor Kelly moved that:
recommendations (1), (3), (4) and (5) of the User Fee
Committee contained in the communication (November 25, 1998)
from the City Clerk be adopted, viz:
(1) (a) Policy Principles
- Recreation programs are important
municipal services which contribute
significant personal, social,
economic and environmental benefits
which enhance the well-being of
Toronto citizens, their
neighbourhoods and the local economy;
- the City of Toronto shall ensure all
residents year-round accessibility to
high quality community recreation and
leisure programs regardless of their
ability to pay;
- the City of Toronto shall ensure
equity and fairness to taxpayers and
contribute to the long term vitality
of public recreation services
provided by the City and the
voluntary and not-for-profit sectors;
and
- the City of Toronto shall encourage
maximum opportunity for the
enjoyable, healthful, satisfying and
creative use of leisure time;
(b) Policy Elements
- Client and taxpayers at the forefront
of pricing decisions ;
- consistency City-wide;
- quality service standards not
influenced by user fees;
- accessibility strategies;
- price based on benefits to user,
benefits to community and operating
costs; and
- accountability;
(c) Implementation Guidelines
- Establish list of services which do
not charge a user fee and are
available universally;
- where a user fee is to be charged,
fees to be based on different levels
of cost recovery (10% to over 100%)
- harmonize January 1999, followed by
stable price strategy to ensure
future adjustments are gradual;
- establish effective measures to
provide access to low income
individuals and high need
communities;
- monitor and adjust fees on an annual
basis prior to the submission of the
annual budget; and
- utilize a variety of effective user
fee methods, including current
technologies to enhance customer
service (e.g. access smart card and
improved registration system);
(3) that the surcharge for programs and activities for
participants outside the City of Toronto area be
retained;
(4) that high needs communities be exempt from paying
user fees for specialized programs;
(5) that an access policy be considered that would
ensure low income families and individuals are not
penalized;
Councillor Silva voted in opposition to the adoption of the above
recommendations (1), (3), (4) and (5) of the User Fee Committee
contained in the communication (November 25, 1998) from the City
Clerk.
B. Councillor King moved that:
recommendation (8) of the User Fee Committee be deleted and
replaced with:
`(8) the Commissioner of Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism report to the Economic
Development Committee on a process and means
respecting recreational permits.
C. Councillor King moved that:
that the following motion placed by Councillor Silva be
referred to the Commissioner for incorporation into the
above-noted report:
`that the Commissioner of Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism examine the permit granting
system to ensure that:
(a) all users are primarily residents of
the City of Toronto;
(b) users from outside the City of
Toronto pay higher fees to ensure
that Toronto taxpayers are not
subsidizing residents in the 905
area; and
(c) permit holders not operating on a
strictly non-profit basis pay a
higher fee;
(d) additional revenues that can be
gleaned from charging more money for
out-of-town permit users, or for-
profit permit users, be used to
enhance the range of free programs in
the City s recreation centres;
(e) alternative sources of funding,
including sponsorships, are sought
and that the revenues derived from
those sources be applied to reducing
user fees.
D. Councillor Kelly moved that:
recommendation (6) of the User Fee Committee be deleted and
replaced with the following:
`(6) that net revenues accruing from user fees be
placed in the department s budget for Parks
and Recreation Division.
E. Councillor King moved that the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to report to the
Economic Development Committee on:
(a) a review at the end of the first year of all the
changes in demands and their impact on the capital
and operating budget of his department as a
consequence of harmonizing user fees.
F. Councillor Davis moved that the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism report to the Economic Development
Committee on:
(b) a review after the first year on the implementation
of the program;
(b) the best practice delivery system for delivering
services to high needs; and
(c) all costs associated with the elimination of user
fees for youth and seniors, such report to focus on
increased demand and capital costs.
G. Councillor King moved that the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to submit to Council
when this matter is being considered, a chart showing actual fees
for some specific introductory instructional programs related to
Option E .
Councillor Kelly s motions (A) and (D) carried.
Councillor King s motions (B), (C), (E) and (G), carried.
Councillor Davis s motion (F) carried.
Councillor Silva made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Option A and Recommendations (2) and (3) of the report
(February 10, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism be adopted .
Yeas: Councillor Silva -1
Nays: Councillors Ashton, Cho, Davis, Giansante, Holyday, Kelly, King,
Tzekas - 8
Councillor Davis made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Option B and Recommendations (2) and (3) of the report
(February 10, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism be adopted .
Yeas: Councillors Ashton, Davis, Tzekas - 3
Nays: Councillors Cho, Giansante, Holyday, Kelly, King, Silva - 6
Councillor Holyday made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Option C of the report (February 10, 1999) from the
Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be
adopted .
Yeas: Councillor Holyday - 1
Nays: Councillors Ashton, Cho, Davis, Giansante, Kelly, King, Silva,
Tzekas - 8
Councillor Cho made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Option D of the report (February 10, 1999) from the
Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
be adopted .
Yeas: Councillor Cho - 1
Nays: Councillors Ashton, Davis, Giansante, Holyday, Kelly, King, Silva,
Tzekas - 8
Councillor Giansante made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That the Alternate 2 - Revenue Neutral Option E be adopted, and
Recommendations (2) and (3) of the report (February 10, 1999) from
the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be
adopted .
Yeas: Councillors Giansante, Holyday, Kelly, King - 4
Nays: Councillors Ashton, Cho, Davis, Silva, Tzekas - 5
Councillor Kelly made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Option E be adopted subject to amending the Seniors
Program to that provided by the former City of Scarborough .
Yeas: Councillor Kelly - 1
Nays: Councillors Ashton, Cho, Davis, Giansante, Holyday, King, Silva,
Tzekas - 8
Councillor Holyday made the following motion which was deemed redundant:
That the Commissioner of Economic Devleopment, Culture and Tourism
report to the Economic Development Committee on a phase-in of user
fees to the areas that currently are not paying user fees .
Councillor Cho made the following motion which was deemed redundant:
That the monies saved be put into capital reserves for expenditure
on creating recreational facilities in high needs communities .
The Chair ruled the following motion by Councillor Cho out of order:
That the budget for recreational services not be reduced in 1999".
Councillor Silva made the following motion which lost:
That Option B and Recommendations (2) and (3) of the report
(February 10, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism be adopted subject to amending Option B by:
(a) eliminating user fees for adult drop-in programs;
(b) raising the fees for user pay programs under this Option by
the necessary amount to offset the cost of free adult drop-
in programs .
Councillor Silva made the following motion which lost on the following
division of votes:
That Council adopt the objective of eliminating all
user fees by the year 2005".
Yeas: Councillors Ashton, Davis, Silva, Tzekas - 4
Nays: Councillor Cho, Giansante, Holyday, Kelly, King - 5
(Budget Committee; cc: Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism;
Cocuncillor Ashton, Chair, Economic Development Committee - February 19, 1999)
(Report No. 4 1(a))
Councillor Holyday moved that Subsection 11(1) of the Procedure By-law
respecting adjournment from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. be waived to enable the
Committee to conclude its business.
Councillor Holyday s motion lost.
Councillor Kelly moved that Subsection 11(1) of the Procedure By-law
respecting adjournment from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., be waived to permit
the Committee to adjourn at 12:30 p.m. and reconvene its meeting at 1:30
p.m.
Councillor Kelly s motion carried.
The Economic Development Committee adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
The Economic Development Committee reconvened at 1:45 p.m.
Members Present:
Councillor Brian Ashton, Chair
Councillor Raymond Cho
Councillor Rob Davis
Councillor Mario Giansante
Councillor Douglas Holyday
Councillor Norman Kelly
Councillor Joan King
Councillor Mario Silva
Councillor Mike Tzekas
The Committee adjourned its meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Chair.
|
| |
|
Please note that council and committee documents are provided electronically for information only and do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from the City Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@toronto.ca. |
|
