STAFF REPORT

November 12, 1999

To: Planning and Transportation Committee

From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject: Council of Toronto Watersheds

All Wards

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to comment on two funding proposals related to watershed planning in the new Toronto. One involves the creation of a Council of Toronto Watersheds. The second involves the staging of a Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups. This report was requested at the April 16, 1999 meeting of the City's Budget Committee.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The findings of this report do not have financial implications.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) The proposals for a Council of Toronto Watersheds and a Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups be referred to the Environmental Task Force;

(2) The Environmental Task Force forward comments on the proposed Council of Toronto Watersheds and Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups to the December 7, 1999 meeting of Policy and Finance, where the Committee is expected to consider a number of reports on environmental governance; and,

(3) The appropriate City Officials be authorised and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

The City has received two funding proposals related to watershed planning in the new Toronto. Both proposals are from Dalton Shipway, a representative of an organisation called Watersheds United.

The first proposal, involving the creation of a Council of Toronto Watersheds, was presented to the Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of March 30, 1999, and the Urban Environment and Development Committee, at its meeting of March 31, 1999. A report on the proposal was written for the April 16, 1999 Budget Committee meeting. In its final report on the 1999 Operating Budget, the Budget Committee requested that Urban Planning and Development Services report further on the matter to Urban Environment and Development Committee (now Planning and Transportation).

The second proposal, involving the staging of a Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups, was submitted to the Environmental Task Force at its meeting of June 28, 1999. The Task Force referred this proposal to the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services for consideration during the preparation of the report (described above) on the creation of a Council of Toronto Watersheds.

Comments:

Watersheds United is seeking City funding to establish an arms-length organisation to engage local watershed groups in watershed planning activities. This proposal involves a request for $123,760 per year for coordination and administration, including a pro-rated 1999 request. The source of funds for the request has not been identified.

Watersheds United is also seeking City funding to stage a Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups. This proposal involves a request for $8,000 for coordination and administration. The funds were identified as potentially coming from the Environmental Task Force and the Commissioners of Urban Planning and Development Services, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, and Works and Emergency Services.

The two Watersheds United proposals identify the ongoing need to support local community groups with their efforts to undertake environmental restoration work in Toronto's watersheds. The proposals also recognise the demand for a strong role for the City in watershed planning, within the regional context and in partnership with the relevant agencies, including the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

The two Watersheds United proposals need to be considered within the context of decisions related to environmental governance. The Environmental Task Force has presented recommendations to Council on adjustments to the City's governance structure that would make the Corporation more responsive to environmental issues and sustainability planning. The Chief Administrative Officer is to report back on the Task Force's proposed environmental governance model at an upcoming Policy and Finance Committee meeting. Concurrently, the CAO is preparing a report on the future of the City's 40 environmental advisory committees which existed under the former municipalities. The above-mentioned reports are expected by the end of 1999. Decisions on the two Watersheds United proposals are premature in advance of Council decisions on the Task Force's environmental governance model and fate of the numerous environmental advisory committees.

The Environmental Task Force is best suited to recommend whether the Council of Watershed Initiatives and/or Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups are needed to augment the watershed planning structures and programs of City departments and agencies. Given that it has recently undertaken a number of strategic planning and priority-setting exercises related to environmental issues in the new City of Toronto, including its review of environmental governance, the Task Force is well suited to judge whether a Council of Toronto Watersheds would be necessary. Also, the Task Force is well positioned to recommend whether a Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups is needed given that staff of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the TRCA are working towards the implementation of the Task Force's stewardship forum and interactive stewardship website "quick start" action.

When the Environmental Task Force considers the Council and Forum proposals, it will need more detail from the proponent. While the proposals provide some information with respect to objectives and budget, more details will be needed with respect to audience, mandate, responsibilities, relationship to City structures, relationship to other watershed agencies/organisations, budget and resource needs, etc. This detail will be necessary to determine if the Council and/or Forum would duplicate the watershed planning work of City Departments and agencies or be the most effective way to engage communities involved with watershed planning issues.

Conclusions:

The Environmental Task Force is best suited for considering the two proposals from Watersheds United given that it has recently undertaken a number of strategic planning and priority-setting exercises related to environmental issues in the new City of Toronto.

This report has been prepared in consultation with the Chair of the Environmental Task Force, the CAO, staff of Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, as well as staff of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Contact:

David Stonehouse

Planner

Phone: 392-1255

Fax: 397-4080

dstoneho@toronto.ca

Paul J. Bedford James Ridge

Executive Director and Chief Planner Acting Commissioner

City Planning Urban Planning and Development Services

List of Attachments:

Council of Toronto Watersheds Proposal

A Forum of Grassroots Community-led Watershed Groups Proposal