City of Toronto Logo Decision Letter

 



Budget Committee


Meeting No. 47   (Special)   Contact Kelly McCarthy, Committee Administrator
Meeting Date Tuesday, November 12, 2013
  Phone 416-392-4666
Start Time 9:30 AM
  E-mail buc@toronto.ca
Location Committee Room 1, City Hall
  Chair   Councillor Frank Di Giorgio  

BU47.2 

ACTION

Amended 

 

Ward:All 

2014 Rate Supported Budgets - Solid Waste Management Services and Recommended 2014 Solid Waste Rates
Committee Decision

The Budget Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that:

 

Rates and Fees

 

1.         City Council adopt the 2014 Solid Waste Rates as set out in Appendix A to the report (October 23, 2013) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, to become effective on January 1, 2014, as amended by Recommendation 3.

 

2.         City Council harmonize all rates for Agencies, Boards, Corporations, Divisions and School Boards to the Commercial rate with the increase to be phased in as follows:

 

a.         beginning January 1, 2014 by 25% of the difference between the Commercial  rates and the 2013 rates; beginning January 1, 2015 by 50% of the difference between the Commercial rates and the 2013 rates, beginning January 1, 2016 by 75% of the difference between the Commercial rates and the 2013 rates and beginning January 1, 2017 at 100% of the Commercial rates.

 

3.         City Council defer the introduction of new solid waste fees for charities scheduled for implementation in 2014 until 2015 so that more time can be given to transition strategies. 

 

4.         City Council request the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to consider a Grant Program for Charities, Institutions and Religious Organizations that demonstrate an inability to pay Solid Waste Management Services fees, and report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the first quarter of 2014; such report to include eligibility criteria, appeals process, communications strategy and implementation plan.

 

5.         City Council introduce Tip fees for the disposal of recyclable materials and tire loads by Agencies, Boards, Corporations and Divisions and Schools at City of Toronto Transfer Stations to be phased in as follows:

 

a.         beginning January 1, 2014 at 25% of the Commercial rates, beginning  January 1, 2015 at 50% of the Commercial rates, beginning January 1, 2016 at 75% of the Commercial rates and beginning January 1, 2017 at 100% of the Commercial rates.

 

6.         City Council amend the rate structure for Agencies, Boards, Corporations and Divisions and School Boards curbside bin rates to an annualized rate by frequency to mirror all other curbside rate structures.

 

7.         City Council amend the rate structure for Residential Units Above Commercial Weekly Bag Only fee to mirror all other Residential Bag Only Fees.

 

8.         City Council introduce a fee for Premium Organics collection for Agencies, Boards, Corporations and Divisions and School Boards that mirrors the current Premium Organics collection fee for Commercial Customers.

 

9.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, to negotiate and amend the Agreement between the City of Toronto and Rehrig Pacific Co., dated December 10, 2007 (in connection with Purchase Order No. 47013061) to allow for an additional $13 million for the supply and maintenance of garbage and recycling bins for residential and non-residential customers until November 30, 2017, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

 

10.       City Council to harmonize the “Gate Rate” Disposal Fees for Beneficial Materials, Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Waste (IC&I) and Municipal Solid Waste at Green Lane Landfill to mirror City Transfer Stations waste load fee.

 

11.       City Council increase various disposal fees at Green Lane Landfill as set out in Appendix A to the report (October 23, 2013) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

 

Capital Budget

 

12.       City Council approve the 2014 Recommended Capital Budget for Solid Waste Management Services with a total project cost of $49.521 million, and 2014 cash flow of $96.573 million and future year commitments of $252.009 million comprised of the following:

 

a.         New Cash Flow Funding for:

 

i.          33 new / change in scope sub-projects with a 2014 total project cost of $49.521 million that requires cash flow of $(25.355) million in 2014 and future year cash flow commitments of $39.612 million in 2015; $19.495 million in 2016; $9.770 million in 2017; $2.683 million in 2018; $0.117 million in 2019; $0.425 million in 2020; $0.009 million in 2021; $0.125 million in 2022 and $2.640 million in 2023;

 

ii.         35 previously approved sub-projects with a 2014 cash flow of $85.173 million; and future year cash flow commitments of $44.593 million in 2015; $33.391 million in 2016; $17.470 million in 2017; $18.137 million in 2018; $17.928 million in 2019; $16.591 million in 2020; $13.380 million in 2021 and $13.843 million in 2022;

 

iii.        13 sub-projects from previously approved projects with carry forward funding from 2012 and prior years requiring 2014 cash flow of $16.659 million which requires Council to reaffirm its commitment.

 

b.         2013 approved cash flow for 7 previously approved sub-projects with carry forward funding from 2013 into 2014 totaling $20.096 million; into 2015 totaling $0.900 million and into 2016 totaling $0.900 million.

 

13.       City Council approve new debt service costs of $0.738 million in 2014 and incremental debt costs of $5.334 million in 2015, $6.600 million in 2016; $5.047million in 2017; $6.296 million in 2018; $6.024 million in 2019; $5.347 million in 2020; $2.110 million in 2021; $1.807 million in 2022 and $1.828 million in 2023 resulting from the approval of the 2014 Recommended Capital Budget, to be included in the 2014 and future year operating budgets. 

 

14.       City Council approve the 2015-2023 Recommended Capital Plan for Solid Waste Management Services totaling $359.428 million in project estimates, comprised of $17.528 million in 2015; $17.831 million in 2016; $83.508 million in 2017; $83.752 million in 2018; $82.182 million in 2019; $17.496 million in 2020; $15.891 million in 2021; $14.290 million in 2022; and $27.220 million in 2023.

 

15.       City Council consider operating costs (savings) of $0.332 million net in 2014, $(2.784) million net in 2015; $(1.117) million net in 2016; $(0.513) million in 2017; $(0.103) million in 2018; $16.592 million in 2019; $(0.105) million in 2020; $(0.101) million in 2021; $(0.094) million in 2022; and $(0.098) million in 2023, emanating from the approval of the 2014 Recommended Capital Budget for inclusion in the 2014 and future year operating budgets.

 

16.       City Council reconfirm 9.5 temporary capital positions for the delivery of the previously approved capital subproject for the SSO Multi-Res Container Implementation project and that the duration for each temporary position not exceed the life and funding of its respective project / sub-project currently estimated to be 2015.

 

17.       City Council approve all sub-projects with third party financing conditionally, subject to the receipt of such funding in 2014 and/or future years.

 

18.       City Council request, pending completion of a capital asset condition assessment, the General Manager, Solid Waste Management, to consult with the Financial Planning Division to review the state of good repair of capital assets and report any changes as part of the 2015 Capital Budget process.

 

Operating Budget

 

19.       City Council approve the 2014 Recommended Operating Budget for Solid Waste Management Services of $354.236 million gross and $0 million net, comprised of the following services:

 

Service:

Gross

($000)

 

Net

($000)

City Beautification

32,893.5

 

31,500.3

Residual Management

90,324.1

 

47,176.4

Solid Waste Collection & Transfer

140,765.7

 

(136,497.6)

Solid Waste Education & Enforcement

6,275.3

 

6,260.1

Solid Waste Processing & Transport

83,977.9

 

51,560.8

Total Program Budget

354,236.4

 

0.0

 

20.       City Council approve Solid Waste Management Services' 2014 proposed service levels, as outlined on pages 7 to 16 of the 2014 Recommended Operating Budget (Analyst Notes) for Solid Waste Management Services, and the associated staff complement of 1,102.74.

 

21.       City Council request the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee prior to the 2015 budget process on the results of a study regarding price hedging agreements as a means of stabilizing, directly or indirectly, Solid Waste Management Services annual revenue from the sale of its recyclable materials.

 

22.       City Council direct the City Solicitor to submit the necessary bills to Council required to implement the above recommendations.

Origin
(October 23, 2013) Report from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer
Summary

This report outlines the recommended 2014 Solid Waste Rates arising from concurrent adoption of the 2014 Solid Waste Management Services Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets.  The recommended Rates include a 3% increase from the 2013 Rates as well as harmonizing all rates for Agencies, Boards, Corporations, Divisions, and Schools, to the Commercial rates, and recommending a slower phase in of fees for Charities, Institutions and Religious Organizations at 25% of the Commercial rates.

 

The expected revenue change from the recommended 3% increase on all Solid Waste Management rate fees is approximately $7.737 million.  The recommended 2014 Solid Waste Rates report balances fiscal constraints while maintaining critical progress on waste diversion initiatives, operational improvements and capital investments in state of good repair and new infrastructure.

Financial Impact

Solid Waste Management Services Operating Budget is fully funded from a combination of user fee revenue, reserve funds, sale of recyclables and industry stewardship funding.  The property tax budget is not impacted by adoption of the recommendations contained in this report.

 

The Recommended 2014 Residential Volume-Based Solid Waste Rates are expected to generate $252.170 million in revenue representing 71% of total revenues.  The other 29% of total revenues ($102.066 million) will be generated from the sale of recyclable materials, industry stewardship funding, tipping fees, paid commercial waste, and recoveries for waste collection from City agencies and programs.  The revenue change from the 3% increase on all Solid Waste Management rate fees is approximately $7.737 million where every 1% is equivalent to $2.579 million.  These revenues will provide funding to support Solid Waste Management Services’ operations, capital projects and initiatives to help achieve the 2014 projected waste diversion goal of 55% and achieve a target of 70% diversion by 2016.  For 2014, the recommended user fees represent a 3% change over 2013 approved user fees. The revenue to be generated from the recommended user fees is reflected in the 2014 Recommended Operating and Capital Budgets for Solid Waste Management Services.

 

The Capital Budget and Plan of Solid Waste Management Services are mainly funded by recoverable debt, reserve funds and industry stewardship funding.  The City issues debt on behalf of Solid Waste Management Services capital works and debt servicing costs are repaid by Solid Waste Management Services through its operating user fee revenues. 

 

In 2014, the Solid Waste Management Services Operating Budget includes $10.086 million to repay debt issued to fund capital infrastructure needs and $18.500 million to repay debt issued to fund the Green Lane Landfill acquisition.  The Program partially funds capital projects through operating contributions to the Waste Management Reserve Fund and the Perpetual Care of Landfills Reserve Fund. 

 

For the 2014 10-Year Capital Plan including one year carry forward, $289.681 million or 40.9% of all funding is provided by the Waste Management Reserve Fund ($173.2 million), Perpetual Care Reserve Fund ($91.2 million) and Green Lane Reserve Fund ($25.2 million).   The longer term goal is to fully fund the Solid Waste Management Services 10-Year Capital Plan through the Waste Management Reserve Fund, supported by annual operating contributions generated through user fees.  

 

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

Background Information
(October 23, 2013) Report from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer on Recommended 2014 Solid Waste Rates
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63576.pdf)

(October 23, 2013) Appendix A
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63579.pdf)

(October 23, 2013) Appendix B
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63581.pdf)

(October 23, 2013) Appendix C
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63582.pdf)

(October 30, 2013) Public Notice - 2014 Solid Waste Management Services Rates
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63577.pdf)

(October 30, 2013) Public Notice - Appendix A
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63578.pdf)

(November 1, 2013) 2014 Staff Recommended Capital Budget - Solid Waste Management (Analyst Notes)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63583.pdf)

(November 1, 2013) 2014 Staff Recommended Operating Budget - Solid Waste Management (Analyst Notes)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63580.pdf)

(November 12, 2013) Wrap-up Notes to Budget Commitee on 2014 - 2023 Recommended Capital Budget and Plan
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63678.pdf)

(November 12, 2013) Wrap-up Notes to Budget Committee on 2014 Recommended Operating Budget
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-63679.pdf)

Communications
(November 5, 2013) E-mail from Keiko Nakamura, Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario (BU.New.BU47.2.1)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/comm/communicationfile-40971.pdf)

(November 6, 2013) E-mail from Lois Griffin, Our Saviour Lutheran Church  (BU.New.BU47.2.2)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/comm/communicationfile-40969.pdf)

(November 6, 2013) Submission from John Campey, Social Planning Toronto (BU.New.BU47.2.3)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/bu/comm/communicationfile-40970.pdf)

Speakers

(November 6, 2013) Wrinder Singh, Nanaksar Gudwara Gursikh Temple
(November 6, 2013) Don Champ, Thistletown Baptist Church
(November 6, 2013) Ayman Mallah , Al-Huda Youth
(November 6, 2013) Jasmine  Novreddin , Social Planning Toronto  (Submission Filed)
(November 6, 2013) Linsey MacPhee, Toronto Drop-In Network
(November 6, 2013) Emily J. Alfred, Toronto Environmental Alliance
(November 6, 2013) Manjit Singh Sandhu
(November 6, 2013) Dave Hewitt, Local 416
(November 6, 2013) Councillor Shelley Carroll
(November 6, 2013) Councillor Peter Leon
(November 6, 2013) Councillor Janet Davis