Item - 2021.EP17.7

The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place:

1.  Approved a Letter Agreement with City Transportation Services for a Term of up to five (5) years commencing from the date the Agreement is executed by the Parties to implement and operate a Transportation Flagship Innovation Zone at Exhibition Place in accordance with the principles of the City Digital Infrastructure Plan. 

2.  Waived any participation and/or rental fees for all enterprises requesting (a) Challenge-Based Calls for Application, and for (b) Open Calls for Application, as and when requested by City Transportation Services for up to five (5) years from the date the Agreement is executed by the Parties.

The Board of Governors at its meeting on June 24, 2020, considered a report from the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place on the City Transportation initiative adopted by City Council, and directed staff to continue working with City Transportation staff on the development of a Transportation Flagship Innovation Zone partnership at Exhibition Place, and further directed the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place to provide a progress update on this initiative in the first quarter of 2021.

This progress report back to the Board recommends the Board enter into a Letter Agreement with the City Transportation Services for a Term of up to five (5) years, and recommends waiver of any participation and/or rental fees for all enterprises requesting (a) Challenge-Based Calls for Application, and for (b) Open Calls for Application as requested by the City. All opportunities for applicants must be uniform across the board.  Rental fees are not appropriate to this project, as this project is designed as an innovation test-bed.

For Challenge-Based Calls for Application at Exhibition Place, the City will charge a cost-recovery application fee to all applicants. It is recommended that the Board will waive any additional participation fees to small and medium-sized enterprises.

For Open Calls for Application at Exhibition Place, the City will charge a cost-recovery application fee to all applicants. It is recommended that the Board will waive any participation fees where participants are small and medium-sized enterprises.