(Report dated May 20, 1998, addressed to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, from the City Clerk)

Subject:Status and Reconfirmation of Storm Water Group

Recommendation:

The Works and Utilities Committee on May 20, 1998, referred the following motion to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee:

"That the City Clerk be requested to provide clarification of the role of the Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team and other Committees with respect to the appointments process."

The Works and Utilities Committee reports, for the information of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, having:

(1)recommended to Council the adoption of:

(I)Recommendation No. (1) of the report dated May 5, 1998, from the Interim Functional Lead for Water and Wastewater, viz:

"(1)the Storm Water Group, established by the former City of Toronto for the purpose of developing new and innovative methods of diverting storm water runoff from the sewer system, continue their work on an interim basis with the Terms of Reference as approved by the former Council of the City of Toronto and with current membership and staff support as required until the review process and rationalization of the existing Environmental Committees and Environmental Task Force have been completed;"

and further recommended that the membership of the group be expanded to include representatives from elsewhere in the City, and that Members of Council be invited to suggest names of citizens who could participate; and

(II)Recommendation No. (3) embodied in the communication dated April 21, 1998, from the City of Toronto Storm Water Group, viz:

"(3)the Storm Water Group meet with and coordinate planning and information with the (former Metro) Wet Weather Master Planning process and report back to the Works and Utilities Committee."; and

(2)recommended to the Striking Committee that Councillors Layton and Saundercook be appointed as the interim Co-Chairs of the Storm Water Group.

Background:

The Works and Utilities Committee on May 20, 1998, had before it a revised communication (April 21, 1998) from Ms. Joyce McLean, City of Toronto Storm Water Group, respecting the background and status of the Storm Water Group, formed as an advisory group to the former City of Toronto in October 1996, pursuant to an Exemption Order issued by the Minister of Environment and Energy for the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel Environmental Assessment; and recommending that:

(1)City Council adopt the Committee Report and its recommendations as previously adopted by Toronto City Council in the July 14, 1997 minutes;

(2)City Council reinstate the Storm Water Group as the City's primary advisory Committee on stormwater management with:

-the appointment of one or more City Councillors as chair(s);

-the reappointment of current members, and additional members to be considered to reflect the wider constituency of the new city; and

-staff resources, including administration services, from Parks and Recreation, Works and Emergency Services, and Urban Development and Planning, to be allocated to the Committee; and

(3)the Storm Water Group meet with and coordinate planning and information with the (former Metro) Wet Weather Master Planning process and report back to the Works and Utilities Committee.

The Committee also had before it a report (May 5, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead for Water and Wastewater recommending that:

(1)the Storm Water Group, established by the former City of Toronto for the purpose of developing new and innovative methods of diverting storm water runoff from the sewer system, continue their work on an interim basis with the Terms of Reference as approved by the former Council of the City of Toronto and with current membership and staff support as required until the review process and rationalization of the existing Environmental Committees and Environmental Task Force have been completed; and

(2)one or two City Councillors be appointed as interim Chair/Co-Chairs of the Storm Water Group.

The following persons appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Joyce McLean, City of Toronto Storm Water Group; and

-Councillor David Miller, High Park.