Item - 2021.PA22.4

The Board of Directors of Toronto Parking Authority:

1.  Authorized the President, Toronto Parking Authority, to enter into and execute, on behalf of Toronto Parking Authority, an amendment to the existing contract with Garda Canada Security Corporation for the expansion of mobile and static security guard services in the amount of $1,100,000 net of all taxes and charges on terms and conditions consistent with the existing contract.

2.  Directed that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (March 15, 2021) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority remain confidential in its entirety, as it involves the security of property belonging to the City or one of its agencies or corporations.

At its meeting of December 12, 2019 (Item PA11.6), the Board of Directors, Toronto Parking Authority, granted management the authority to award a two-year contract to Garda Canada for the security of its off-street parking facilities effective January 1, 2020 for a sum not to exceed $4,074,260 including contingencies.

However, throughout the course of 2020 and Q1 2021, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of reported acts of vandalism, drug use, fire alarms, biologic contamination, car damage and customer/staff harassment across our facilities - particularly in the downtown core. These incidents have driven a marked increase in customer complaints over the past twelve (12) months; moreover, Toronto Parking Authority staff have expressed similar concerns to Management about the health and safety of their colleagues and facilities.

In light of this current operating environment, exacerbated largely by the unexpected length of the pandemic and continued challenges of the homeless tragedy, management has been obligated to increase its spending on security by an unplanned $305,000 in 2020 and an incremental $795,000 in 2021 in order to ensure the health and safety of its staff, customer and facilities. These changes represent an increase of $1,100,000 to the current contract with Garda Canada, which in turn drives the request for a contract amendment requiring Board authorization.