January 13, 1999
To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee
From:Environmental Task Force
Subject:Environmental Task Force Budget for 1999
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to request approval from City Council for the 1999 budget for the
Environmental Task Force.
Source of Funds:
The source of funds identified in this report should be determined in consultation with the
Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.
Recommendations:
(1)That an Environmental Task Force operating budget of $93,000 for 1999 as described in
this report be approved.
(2)That the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Works and Emergency
Services, as co-chairs of the Toronto Interdepartmental Environment (TIE) team, ensure that
the approved funds for the Environmental Task Force budget are included in the appropriate
1999 operating budget requests.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The Environmental Task Force was established by City Council at its meeting on March 4, 5
and 6, 1998. The terms of reference for the Task Force estimated an eighteen month time
frame. The first meeting of the Task Force was held in April, 1998. One of the primary roles
of the Task Force is to bring stakeholders together to develop an Environmental Plan for the
City. This work is underway and the Task Force will be releasing a draft Environmental Plan
report for review in the summer of 1999 and reporting to the Strategic Policies and Priorities
Committee in the fall of 1999.
Background:
The terms of reference for the Environmental Task Force which were approved by City
Council in March 1998 included a budget request for $65,000. That request was referred to
the Commissioners of Urban Planning and Development Services and Works and Emergency
Services for a further report to the Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the
Toronto Transition Team.
Comments:
At its meeting on December 18, 1998 the Environmental Task Force reviewed its operating
budget requirements for 1999 and requested that this report be submitted to the Strategic
Policies and Priorities Committee.
Since its inception, the Environmental Task Force has spent $21,072.91. The funds were
provided through existing accounts within Works and Emergency Services, City Clerks and
Public Health. The funds supported a range of activities including: a one and a half day Vision
and Priority Setting Workshop (September, 1998) for over one hundred participants including
members of Council, senior city staff, and stakeholders; collaborative research projects
through a graduate and senior undergraduate program at the University of Toronto; public
opinion research report; meeting expenses and printing.
The Environmental Task Force has determined its budget requirements for 1999 to be
$93,000. A breakdown of the proposed budget is presented in Attachment A. The majority of
the budget requested for 1999 is for communication related activities including writing,
editing, printing and distribution of reports and newsletters. A smaller amount is requested for
Task Force activities, including $2,500 for Task Force and work group meeting expenses and
$17,000 to support the work of the four workgroups that have been established by the Task
Force on sustainable transportation, sustainable energy use, green economic development and
education/communication/awareness. In addition to the small amount of funds requested here
for work group research, Task Force staff will be working with City staff and Task Force
members to identify opportunities and develop proposals for external funding where
appropriate.
The total amount spent in 1998 and funds requested for 1999 would bring the total budget for
the Task Force to $114,072.91 over an 18 month time frame, not including "in kind" staff
support from City departments. This total budget is similar to or less than that allocated to two
other City Task Forces in 1998.
In addition to the funds spent in 1998, the Task Force has received generous 'in-kind' staff
support from a number of department/divisions within the City. During 1998, the level of staff
support was equivalent to approximately 3.5 full time equivalents (FTE's). The staff resources
that will be provided to the Task Force during 1999 are currently being examined by City
departments in the context of budget and operating requirements. In order for the Task Force
to complete its planned work within the 18 month time frame, Task Force staff have estimated
the need for a level of staff support equivalent to approximately 4.5 FTE's during 1999. This
level of staff support is comparable to that provided to one other Task Force during 1998.
Conclusions:
The 1999 budget requested in this report will assist the Environmental Task Force in carrying
out its important task of developing and recommending the first Environmental Plan for
Toronto.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Jane Weninger
Project Manager
Environmental Task Force
Phone (416) 392-6788
Fax (416) 392-7418
Jack Layton
Chair, Environmental Task Force
ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE
1999 DRAFT BUDGET
Communication Activities $73,500
Photocopying (e.g., workgroup materials)1,000
Graphic Design2,000
Printing Vision report (1,000 copies)2,000
Printing Work Group Fact Sheets (4) (1,000 copies)1,000
Printing draft Work Group reports (4) (1,000 copies)5,000
Printing draft Environmental Plan (10,000 copies) 10,500
Printing draft Environmental Plan summary (10,000 copies) 1000
Writing/Editing Environmental Plan 10,000
Printing final Env. Plan report and summary (10,000 copies) 25,000
Printing Newsletter (1 issue - 8500 copies) 5,000
Printing Newsletter (11 issues - 2500 copies) 10,000
Postage 1,000
Task Force Activities $19,500
Workgroup meeting expenses 500
Task Force meeting expenses2,000
Task Force/Workgroup Research 17,000
1999 TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST $93,000
