Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Contract No. T-42-98: Don Valley Parkway Resurfacing at Two Locations

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having referred the transmittal letter (April 22, 1998) from the Urban Environment and Development Committee to the Budget Committee with the request that it report back to Council with its report on the $9.1 million Capital Project:

 (April 22, 1998) from the Urban Environment and Development Committee recommending adoption of recommendations regarding Contract No. T-42-98 for the resurfacing of the Don Valley Parkway at two locations.

 (b)Auditor's Report and Financial Statements of the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitors Association for the year ended December 31, 1997

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having received the Auditor's Report and Financial Statements of the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitors Association for the year ended December 31, 1997:

 (April 2, 1998) from the City Auditor forwarding the Auditor's Report and Financial Statements of the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitors Association for the year ended December 31, 1998, copies of which were forwarded to all Members of Council with the Agenda of the Audit Committee meeting held on April 21, 1998.

 (c)Property Tax Rebates for Charitable and Similar Organizations

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having received the following communications with respect to Property Tax Rebates for Charitable and Similar Organizations, since this matter was dealt with by City Council at its meeting held on May 1, 1998:

 (i)(April 22, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force;

 (ii)(April 8, 1998) from Gowling, Strathy & Henderson, Barristers & Solicitors;

 (iii)(April 27, 1998) from Brian Bowes, CMA, Manager of Finance, Writers Guild of Canada; (iv)(April 27, 1998) from Ellen Anderson, Creative Spirit Art Centre;

 (v)(April 27, 1998) from Esther Vise, Toronto Women=s Bookstore;

 (vi)(April 23, 1998) from Peter Clutterbuck, Co-Director, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and Chair, Community Voices of Support; and

 (vii)(April 27, 1998) from Nigel F. Byars, Chartered Accountants of Canada.

 (d)Phase-In Policy Respecting the Residential Property Class

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having referred the transmittal letter (April 22, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force as amended by its further letter (May 4, 1998) to a special meeting of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee being scheduled in June, 1998, to deal with tax policy and tax rate matters:

 (a)(April 22, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force, advising that on April 20, 1998, it:

 (i)recommended that the Provincial Government be requested, when implementing Current Value Assessment to use a moving average of assessed value ultimately using three different years of assessment; and

 (ii)requested the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to report on (1) providing the figures and impact of allowing the decreases and phasing in the increases; (2) immediate implementation of Current Value Assessment instead of phase-in for those low-income seniors and disabled persons whose property tax decrease; and (3) the effect of establishing a threshold of $333.00 for the implementations of either increases or decreases.

 (b)(May 4, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force advising that on May 4, 1998, that it was amending its letter (April 22, 1998) to submit the Phase-In policy respecting the Residential Property Class, without recommendation.

 (e)Impact of Current Value Assessment on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having referred the request set out in the communication (March 27, 1998) from Vincent Rodo, General Secretary of the Toronto Transit Commission:

 that the City of Toronto petition the Province of Ontario to exempt TTC properties from realty assessment when used for transit functions,

to the Commissioner of Finance and Treasurer for a report back to the next meeting of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and request that she look at all options, including how Hydro properties are valued:

 (April 22, 1998) from the Assessment and Tax Policy Task Force, advising that on April 20, 1998, it recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee that the communication (March 27, 1998) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission be received.

 (f)Coat of Arms for the City Of Toronto

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having:

 (1)referred the report (April 28, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer back to staff and requested the City Clerk to co-operate with the Chief Herald's Office to facilitate input from Members of Council and eventually the public via the Community Council Chairs; and

 (2)directed that the new Coat of Arms for the new City of Toronto contain a component of each of the former municipalities, if possible, and that a large component include recognition the City's aboriginal heritage.

 (April 28, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer proposing a Coat of Arms for the City of Toronto prepared by the Chief Herald of Canada.

 (g)Comments on Proposed New Municipal Act Provisions

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having received the report (April 27, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the report (May 1, 1998) from the City Solicitor and Chief Administrative Officer, regarding modifications to the proposed new Municipal Act, in view of the position taken by City Council when it considered Clause 13 of Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee Report No. 4, on May 1, 1998.

 (i)(April 27, 1998) from the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism commenting on the proposed new Municipal Act from an economic development perspective; and

 (ii)(May 1, 1998) from the City Solicitor and the Chief Administrative Officer, setting out further modifications to the new Municipal Act.

 (h)Cement Lining of Cast Iron Pipe Within the City Of Etobicoke - Fer-Pal Construction Ltd.

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having considered matters relating to the award of Contracts Nos. EB9801WS and EB9802WS referred in Clause 4 of Report No. 4 of the Works Utilities Committee and reports having:

 (1)received the communication (April 29, 1998) from Councillor Disero forwarding correspondence (April 29, 1998) from Fer-Pal Construction Ltd.;

 (2)received the transmittal letter (April 30, 1998) from the Works and Utilities Committee advising that in Clause 4 of its Report No. 4 it is recommending to Council on May 13 and 14, 1998, the award of Contracts Nos. EB9801WS and EB9802WS; and

 (3)requested the Commissioner of Corporate Services, in consultation with the appropriate staff, to review the tendering process and documentation used throughout the Corporation with a view to providing for a more open process in the future.

 (i)(April 29, 1998) from Councillor Disero, referring the correspondence (April 27, 1998) from the President and Vice-President, Fer-Pal Construction Ltd. respecting the decision of the Works and Utilities Committee with respect to tenders.

 (ii)(April 30, 1998) from the City Clerk advising of the action taken by the Works and Utilities Committee in the award of Contracts Nos. EB9801WS and EB9802WS for watermain cleaning and cement lining at various locations in the Etobicoke District.

Mr. Shaun McKaigue of Fer-Pal Construction Ltd. appeared before the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee at its meeting held on May 5, 1998.

 (Refer to Clause 4 of Report No. 4 of the Works and Utilities Committee.)

(i)Service Levels and User Fees

 The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee reports having requested the Chief Administrative Officer to report to its next meeting as to the process and timetable for the establishment of service levels and user fees.

  Respectfully submitted,

MAYOR MEL LASTMAN,

Chair

 Toronto, May 5, 1998

Christine Dodds

Tel. (416) 392-7031