Item - 2011.EX1.5
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on December 16, 2010 without amendments.
- This item was considered by Executive Committee on December 9, 2010 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on December 16, 2010.
EX1.5 - Councillor Office Expenses Budget
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
City Council Decision
City Council on December 16, 2010, adopted the following:
1. City Council approve the reduction of the annual individual Councillor Office Expenses Budget from $50,445 to $30,000, effective January 1, 2011.
2. City Council direct the City Clerk to resubmit to Financial Planning the 2011 operating budget for City Council at $899,580 lower to reflect the reduction in the councillor office expenses budget.
3. City Council request the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk to review the Councillor Expense Policy in consultation with Members of Council and report back to City Council via Executive Committee in April 2011.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-34115.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/comm/communicationfile-18610.pdf
(December 8, 2010) E-mail from Councillor Lindsay Luby (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/comm/communicationfile-18687.pdf
(December 8, 2010) E-mail from Mr. Philip Stoop, President, Corktown Residents and Business Association (EX.New.EX1.5.1)
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council amend Recommendation 1 of the Executive Committee to now read as follows:
1. City Council approve the reduction of the annual individual Councillor Office Expenses Budget from $50,445 to $40,000, which represents a 20% reduction on par with the reduction of the Mayor's Office budget, effective January 1, 2011.
2. City Council amend Recommendation 2 of the Executive Committee by deleting the figure "$899,580" and inserting instead the figure "$459,580", so that Recommendation 2 now reads as follows:
2. City Council direct the City Clerk to resubmit to Financial Planning the 2011 Operating Budget for City Council at $459,580 lower to reflect the reduction in the Councillor Office Expenses Budget.
Vote (Amend Item) Dec-16-2010 5:00 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - EX1.5 - Moeser Motion 1a |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 17 | Members that voted Yes are Maria Augimeri, Josh Colle, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Gord Perks, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 27 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Mike Del Grande, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Anthony Perruzza |
In the event motion 1A by Councillor Moeser fails:
That:
1. City Council defer consideration of Recommendations 1 and 2 of the Executive Committee until such time as the Budget Committee has considered the report requested in Part 2 below.
2. City Council request the City Clerk and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to report to the Budget Committee as part of the 2011 Operating Budget process, on alternative budget models for Councillor expenses which would allow for the utilization of funds from the staffing budget to pay for costs of a Constituency office.
Vote (Amend Item) Dec-16-2010 5:02 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - EX1.5 Moeser - Motion 1B |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 12 | Members that voted Yes are Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Ron Moeser, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 32 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Mike Del Grande, Sarah Doucette, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Anthony Perruzza |
That the previously approved policy by Council be amended by deleting the word "and" and replacing it with "or", so that the policy now reads as follows:
"Until such time as the policy is considered by City Council the City Manager be authorized to provide one additional staff member at the constituency assistant level for any ward which exceeds the median by more than 50 percent in both population or households, to be funded through the Council General Expenses Budget."
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Dec-16-2010 5:03 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - EX1.5 - Vaughan - Motion 2 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 15 | Members that voted Yes are Josh Colle, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 30 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Mike Del Grande, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
Vote (Adopt Item) Dec-16-2010 5:03 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX1.5 - Adopt the item |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 40 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Sarah Doucette, Paula Fletcher, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 5 | Members that voted No are Frank Di Giorgio, John Filion, Pam McConnell, Ron Moeser, Gord Perks |
| Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
That City Council end the debate on Item EX1.5 and take the vote immediately.
Vote (End Debate) Dec-16-2010 4:53 PM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - EX1.5 - Palacio - End debate |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 31 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Mike Del Grande, Sarah Doucette, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 12 | Members that voted No are Josh Colle, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, John Filion, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Doug Holyday, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Ron Moeser, John Parker |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Paula Fletcher, Anthony Perruzza |
EX1.5 - Councillor Office Expenses Budget
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council approve the reduction of the annual individual Councillor Office Expenses Budget from $50,445 to $30,000, effective January 1, 2011;
2. City Council direct the City Clerk to resubmit to Financial Planning the 2011 operating budget for City Council at $899,580 lower to reflect the reduction in the councillor office expenses budget;
3. City Council request the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk to review the Councillor Expense Policy in consultation with Members of Council and report back to City Council via Executive Committee in April 2011.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Executive Committee referred the following motions to the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk for consideration as part of their review of the Councillor Expense Policy:
By Councillor Del Grande:
"That Councillor Office Expense Budgets be adjusted each year to reflect Consumer Price Index increases."
By Councillor Milczyn:
"That the City Manager and City Clerk report to the Executive Committee, as part of the review of the Councillor Expense Policy, on a policy and funding which City Councillors may access in order to communicate to their Ward residents in emergency or extraordinary situations."
By Councillor Shiner:
"That the City Manager, in consultation with the Mayor's Office, include in the new Councillor Expense Policy a recommendation which would faciliate Members of Council having a constituency office in Toronto Civic Centres or other City or Agencies, Boards and Commissions facilities, subject to those properties being able to accommodate a constituency office, without the use of the space impacting the Councillors' office budget."
By Councillor Mammoliti:
1. "That the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk, as part of their review of the Councillor Expense Policy, give consideration as to how the provincial model might be applied to the Councillor Office Expense budget."
2. "City Council request the Federal Government to consider a no-charge policy for postage for constituency mailings by Members of Council."
The Executive Committee consented to the withdrawal of the letter (December 6, 2010) from Councillor Lindsay Luby ( Item EX1.5a).
Origin
Summary
During my campaign, I promised to reduce the Councillor Expense Budget and to tighten up the rules on what are considered eligible expenses. While the actual savings are not huge, this reduction is highly symbolic of the will of Toronto City Council to listen to the voice of the public and demonstrate leadership in fiscal restraint and respect for the taxpayer.
I am hereby requesting that City Council vote to reduce the Councillor Office Expenses Budget, effective January 1, 2011, from the current annual budget level of $50,445 to $30,000.
This will result in a reduction in the 2011 operating budget requirements for City Council in the amount of $899,580. I am therefore, also requesting the City Clerk to resubmit to Financial Planning staff the 2011 Operating Budget for City Council to reflect this reduction.
The new 2011 City Council Operating Budget submission will be considered, along with all other city budgets, during the City's 2011 operating budget process.
At the same time, the Councillor Expense Policy needs to be reviewed with a view of clarifying and tightening the categories of eligible expenses. I am requesting that the Deputy Mayor and the City Clerk undertake this review, consult with Members of Council and report back to Council via Executive Committee in April 2011
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-34115.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/comm/communicationfile-18610.pdf
(December 8, 2010) E-mail from Councillor Lindsay Luby (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/ex/comm/communicationfile-18687.pdf
(December 8, 2010) E-mail from Mr. Philip Stoop, President, Corktown Residents and Business Association (EX.New.EX1.5.1)
Speakers
Councillor Pam McConnell
Councillor Joe Mihevc
Councillor Frances Nunziata
Councillor Adam Vaughan
Motions
That the motions from Councillors Del Grande, Mammoliti, Shiner and Milczyn, be referred to the Deputy Mayor and the City Clerk for consideration as part of their review of the Councillor Expense Policy.
Vote (Refer Motion) Dec-09-2010
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - Refer all Motions from Councillors Del Grande, Mammoliti, Shiner and Milczyn |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 12 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Mike Del Grande, Rob Ford (Chair), Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Michael Thompson |
Vote (Adopt Item) Dec-09-2010
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX1.5 - Councillor Office Expenses Budget |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 12 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Mike Del Grande, Rob Ford (Chair), Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Michael Thompson |
That the Executive Committee consent to the withdrawal of the letter (December 6, 2010) from Councillor Lindsay Luby (Item EX1.5a).
That the City Manager and the City Clerk be requested to submit a report to the Executive Committee, as part of the review on the expense policy, on a policy and funding that City Councillors may access to communicate to their Ward residents in emergency or extraordinary situations.
That Councillor Office Expense Budgets be adjusted each year to reflect Consumer Price Index increases.
That the City Manager, in consultation with the Mayor's Office, include in the new Councillors Expense Policy a recommendation which would faciliate Members of Council having a constituency office in Toronto Civic Centres or other City or Agencies, Boards and Commissions facilities, subject to those properties being able to accommodate a constituency office, without the use of the space impacting the Councillors' office budget.
That the Deputy Mayor and City Clerk, as part of their review of the Councillor Expense Policy, give consideration as to how the provincial model might be applied to the Councillor Office Expenses Budget.
That City Council request the Federal Government to consider a no-charge policy for postage for constituency mailings by Members of Council.