Item - 2023.EC6.6

That:

1. City Council establish a Zero Emissions Grant Program, starting January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2029, that is:

 
a. funded through Municipal Licensing and Standards' operating budget to a maximum of $10 million, or such lesser amount set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, at their sole discretion, based on their view of Municipal Licensing and Standards' budgetary requirements;

b. disbursed to taxicab and limousine owners who register a Zero-Emissions Vehicle at the time of application for a corresponding license or its renewal, to be applied against fees owed to Municipal Licensing and Standards; and

C. includes a provision to disburse periodically to private transportation companies (PTC) for each trip completed on their platforms using a Zero-Emissions Vehicle, for remittance to the private transportation company drivers who delivered such trips subject to prior approval by City Council of plans submitted by private transportation companies describing how Zero Emission Grants will be remitted to private transportation company drivers.
 

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to receive submissions from any private transportation company interested in participating in the program describing how it will remit the Zero Emissions Grant to private transportation company drivers operating a Zero-Emission Vehicle on its platform and report to City Council an assessment of submitted plans for City Council approval alongside the comprehensive framework for the Vehicle-for-Hire industry from the City Manager, by no later than the fourth quarter of 2024.
 

3. City Council direct that, once approved, licensed private transportation companies shall submit their plans to Municipal Licensing and Standards every year following on December 1, up to and including December 1, 2028; and

 
a. Municipal Licensing and Standards will post the private transportation company's grant remittance plans on the City’s website in a manner determined by the Executive Director;
 
b. private transportation companies hall share their grant remittance plans directly with private transportation company drivers on their platforms on an annual basis; and

c. any new private transportation companies licensed in that year shall make a submission to Municipal Licensing and Standards describing how it will remit the Zero Emissions Grant, for approval by City Council.

4. City Council amend Chapter 546 to require private transportation companies to maintain business records of:

 
a. trips that specify whether or not the trip was completed in a Zero-Emission Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or internal combustion engine vehicle;

b. the total amount of Zero Emissions Grants remitted to PTC drivers on a monthly basis; and

c. the make and model of each vehicle for trips completed in a Zero-Emission Vehicle or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
 

5. City Council set the following minimum criteria for a taxicab or limousine owner to be eligible to receive the Zero Emissions Grant. They must:

 
a. be granted a taxicab or limousine owner license, or its renewal, by Municipal Licensing and Standards;

b. register a Zero-Emission Vehicle with Municipal Licensing and Standards for use as a taxicab or limousine at the time of application for a taxicab or limousine owner license, or its renewal; and

c. provide such declaration or other proof satisfactory to Municipal Licensing and Standards that these eligibility criteria, or other criteria set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, have been met.

6. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards or designate, at their sole discretion, to amend the amount of, or suspend disbursement of, the Zero Emissions Grant (“the Grant”) to achieve the following:

a. Distribute funding as best as possible throughout the term of the Grant, within the overall funding maximum set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing Standards.

7. City Council set the following minimum criteria for a private transportation company to be eligible to receive the Zero Emissions Grant. They must:

 
a. be licensed as a private transportation company under Chapter 546;

b. provide complete and accurate trip records and data to Municipal Licensing and Standards, as required by Chapter 546;

c. remit the Zero Emissions Grant to private transportation company drivers in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 546; and

d. provide such declaration or other proof satisfactory to Municipal Licensing and Standards that these eligibility criteria, or other criteria set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, have been met.
 

8. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to refuse or cancel a Zero Emissions Grant if the recipient does not meet or no longer meets the eligibility criteria; if a Grant was made by Municipal Licensing and Standards due to an administrative or technical error, or if the recipient has not provided complete or accurate information or data to Municipal Licensing and Standards.

9. City Council require the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, if they are considering refusing or cancelling a Grant, to provide the recipient with written notice and an opportunity to respond in writing within 10 days, and to subsequently provide the recipient with written notice of Municipal Licensing and Standards' final decision regarding the Grant.

10. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to recover any Grant disbursed by Municipal Licensing and Standards in error or based on incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the recipient, and to require that the recipient repay the Grant as a condition of future license renewal.

11. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to fund, using licensing fee revenues held in the Vehicle-for-Hire Reserve Fund, one temporary full-time staff position for up to seven years, and to renew the position for one additional term, to undertake compliance and auditing work required to help ensure Grant recipients meet eligibility criteria."

That:

1. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to explore the reduction of the licence fee for Standard and Toronto Taxicab Owner License and Limousine Owner License to a minimal administrative fee when no vehicle is assigned or the vehicle is not operational that year (“on the shelf” licenses reserved for future use) until such time as the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards report back on a comprehensive framework for the Vehicles-for-Hire industry, to inform the development of the Zero Emissions Grant proposal.

2. City Council allow the owners of Standard Taxicab Owner Licenses and Toronto Taxicab Owner Licenses cancelled or revoked during the global Covid pandemic from March 15, 2020 to reactivate their licenses upon payment of annual licensing fees until December 31, 2024.

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to review the alignment of certain vehicle for hire licenses fees with fees charged to Brokerages and other small businesses requiring annual licensing and inspections in the City of Toronto by capping annual renewal Licence and Permit Issuance fees for Standard Taxicab Owner Licenses and Toronto Taxicab Owner Licenses at the rate currently set for Licence and Permit issuance; Permit Issuance for Taxicab Brokers ($312.24).

4. City Council request that the provincial audit team assigned to the City of Toronto include an audit of the Vehicle-for-Hire Licensing in 2022 to determine the amount of staff time and resources spent on licensing and enforcement activities and the cost associated with these resources; such audit shall also review the 2022 number of active Licensed taxis and limousines (i.e., licenses associated with a vehicle plate), non-active Licensed taxis and limousines (licenses without associated vehicle plates) and active PTCs (PTCs contributing per-trip license fees in the calendar year), and the total license fees received from each in 2022, as well as funds withdrawn and contributed annually to the Vehicle for Hire Reserve Fund for the years 2019 to 2023 YTD.

That:

1. In order to manage current levels of greenhouse gas emissions in Vehicle-for-Hire industry, City Council implement a policy to maintain the net total of vehicle-for-hire and private transportation company driver's licenses at no greater than current levels, as of October 12, 2023, with the exception of zero-emission vehicles, until such time as the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, reports back on a comprehensive framework, including emissions, congestion and transit impacts, for the Vehicle-for-Hire industry and the appropriate licensing levels for taxicabs and  limousine, as well as private transportation company vehicles, including consultation with the industry on fleet composition, by no later than fourth quarter of 2024.

That the Motion 3 by Councillor Colle be amended by inserting the words "owned, but not leased," so that it now reads as follows:

1. In order to manage current levels of greenhouse gas emissions in Vehicle-for-Hire industry, City Council implement a policy to maintain the net total of vehicle-for-hire and private transportation company driver's licenses at no greater than current levels, as of October 12, 2023, with the exception of owned, but not leased, zero-emission vehicles, until such time as the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, reports back on a comprehensive framework, including emissions, congestion and transit impacts, for the Vehicle-for-Hire industry and the appropriate licensing levels for taxicabs and  limousine, as well as private transportation company vehicles, including consultation with the industry on fleet composition, by no later than fourth quarter of 2024

That:

1. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report back on the number of licences for vehicle-for-hire and private transportation companies, including an assessment of:

a. the numbers and limits imposed in other municipalities and a jurisdictional scan on regulations;

b. limits based on total licence numbers versus the total number on the road at any given time;

c. impacts of vehicle-for-hire and private transportation companies on traffic congestion and uptake of public transportation; and

d. potential equity impacts of limiting the number of licences on areas without higher order transit.

That:

1. City Council, despite the provisions of Chapter 546, for vehicles that were licenced as taxicabs prior to the pandemic and but were not in active use during the pandemic, permit

a. 2013 model year vehicles to be replaced by March 31, 2024, and 

b. 2014 and 2015 model year vehicles to be replaced by March 31, 2025, and 

c. 2016, 2017 and 2018 model year vehicles to be replaced by March 31, 2026, 

wherein vehicles not previously licensed as taxicabs (new vehicle registrations) are not eligible for this extension.

That the item be received for information.

That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council reconsider the vote on motion 6 by Councillor Holyday.

Councillor Carroll, rising on a Point of Order, stated that she would be asking for a ruling by the Speaker on whether or not motions are in order, and Motion 2 seems to be not a report back but ordering staff to allow something that she has no background on, and it's not in tackled in the report before Council.

Councillor Carroll, rising on a Point of Order, stated that she would request a ruling by the Speaker on whether or not Motion 5 by Councillor Perruzza was in order. Councillor Carroll further stated that Council had a recommendation about one year, but she had no way to check on the impact of the rest of the motion because it is not covered in the report before Council.

Councillor Holyday, rising on a Point of Order, stated that he would like the Speaker to rule as to whether or not Motion 1 by Councillor Bravo is in order, based on the following concern: the original recommendations were separated at Committee and only part of them came to Council—the establishment of a rule concerning zero-emission vehicles—while the recommendations that were removed had to do with the grants program and the reestablishment of the discounted fees that were paid out by the various drivers. Councillor Holyday further stated that the motion by Councillor Bravo reinstates the grants program, but it doesn't describe how it's going to be paid for, other than that it will be from the Municipal Licensing and Standards budget.  

Councillor Holyday further stated that in order for it to be in order, and not amending the Mayor's budget, the money has to be described where it's coming from, and those recommendations were removed, and he needs to know if this is the standard by which Members will be governed in Council with respect to identifying budget.

That:

1. The Economic and Community Development Committee refer Recommendations 3 to 11, below, to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards until such time as the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards report back on a comprehensive framework for the Vehicles-for-Hire industry, so that the the Zero Emissions Grant proposal is considered at the same time.

"Providing Zero Emissions Grant to Taxicab and Limousine owners operating with a Zero-Emission Vehicle and PTCs for trips taken in a Zero-Emission Vehicle

3. City Council establish a Zero Emissions Grant Program, starting January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2029, that is: 

a. Funded through Municipal Licensing and Standards' (MLS) operating budget to a maximum of $10 million, or such lesser amount set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, at their sole discretion, based on their view of MLS’ budgetary requirements; 

b. Disbursed to taxicab and limousine owners who register a Zero-Emissions Vehicle at the time of application for a corresponding license or its renewal, to be applied against fees owed to MLS; and 

c. Disbursed periodically to private transportation companies (PTC) for each trip completed on their platforms using a Zero-Emissions Vehicle, for remittance to the PTC drivers who delivered such trips. 

1. A PTC shall submit a plan to MLS describing how it will remit the Zero Emissions Grant to PTC drivers operating a Zero-Emission Vehicle on its platform in a format prescribed or approved by the Executive Director.

2. Licensed PTCs shall submit their plans to MLS by March 1, 2024, December 1, 2024 and every year following on December 1, up to and including December 1, 2028.

3. MLS may post the PTC’s grant remittance plans on the City’s website in a manner determined by the Executive Director.

4. PTCs shall share their grant remittance plans directly with PTC drivers on their platforms on an annual basis.

4. City Council amend Chapter 546 to require private transportation companies (PTC) to maintain business records of:

a. Trips that specify whether or not the trip was completed in a Zero-Emission Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or internal combustion engine vehicle;

b. The total amount of Zero Emissions Grants remitted to PTC drivers on a monthly basis; and

c. The make and model of each vehicle for trips completed in a Zero-Emission Vehicle or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

5. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards or designate, at their sole discretion, to set or amend the amount of, or suspend disbursement of, the Zero Emissions Grant (“the Grant”), and to set or amend eligibility criteria for the Grant, to achieve one or more of the following goals:

a. Distribute funding as best as possible throughout the term of the Grant, within the overall funding maximum set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing Standards; 

b. Incentivize the early adoption and use of Zero-Emission Vehicles by the vehicle-for-hire industry; and  

c. Ensure the Grant is distributed equitably among various classes of the vehicle-for-hire industry.  

6. City Council set the following minimum criteria for a taxicab or limousine owner to be eligible to receive the Zero Emissions Grant. They must:

a. Be granted a taxicab or limousine owner license, or its renewal, by Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS); 

b. Register a Zero-Emission Vehicle with MLS for use as a taxicab or limousine at the time of application for a taxicab or limousine owner license, or its renewal; and

c. Provide such declaration or other proof satisfactory to MLS that these eligibility criteria, or other criteria set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, have been met.  

7. City Council set the following minimum criteria for a private transportation company (PTC) to be eligible to receive the Zero Emissions Grant. They must:

a. Be licensed as a PTC under Chapter 546;

b. Provide complete and accurate trip records and data to Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), as required by Chapter 546;

c. Remit the Zero Emissions Grant to PTC Drivers in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 546; and

d. Provide such declaration or other proof satisfactory to MLS that these eligibility criteria, or other criteria set by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, have been met.

8. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to refuse or cancel a Zero Emissions Grant if the recipient does not meet or no longer meets the eligibility criteria; if a Grant was made by Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) due to an administrative or technical error, or if the recipient has not provided complete or accurate information or data to MLS.

9. City Council require the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, if they are considering refusing or cancelling a Grant, to provide the recipient with written notice and an opportunity to respond in writing within 10 days, and to subsequently provide the recipient with written notice of Municipal Licensing and Standards' final decision regarding the Grant.

10. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to recover any Grant disbursed by Municipal Licensing and Standards in error or based on incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the recipient, and to require that the recipient repay the Grant as a condition of future license renewal.

11.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to fund, using licensing fee revenues held in the Vehicle-for-Hire Reserve Fund, one temporary full-time staff position for up to seven years, and to renew the position for one additional term, to undertake compliance and auditing work required to help ensure Grant recipients meet eligibility criteria."

2.  The Economic and Community Development Committee refer Recommendation 17, below, to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards until such time as the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards report back on a comprehensive framework for the Vehicles-for-Hire industry, so that the changes to City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441 are considered at the same time.

"Ending the temporary 50% reduction of renewal fees for certain vehicle-for-hire licensees

17. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to undo the temporary 50 percent reduction of renewal fees adopted by City Council on February 18, 2021 (EX21.2 - 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets) as a COVID-19 financial relief measure for certain vehicle-for-hire licensees, and return the fees to their 100 percent rates beginning on January 1, 2025, substantially in accordance with Table 1 below.

Table 1: Fees to return to 100 percent Fee Rate beginning January 1, 2025

That:

1. The Economic and Community Development Committee delete Recommendation 12 and replace it with the following:

"12. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment and Climate, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, The Atmospheric Fund, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back by the fourth quarter of 2024 with the City’s plan to support the capacity and infrastructure needs of the electrification of the Vehicle-for-Hire sector; and the plan should:

a. Identify the type, number and location of public chargers needed to meet the needs of the Vehicle-for-Hire sector over time;

b. Identify the respective roles and contributions needed for a Toronto-wide public charging solution for the Vehicle-for-Hire sector, and develop a plan for the Toronto context;

c. Outline any necessary City resources and/or actions needed to meet the identified public charging and electric grid capacity needs of Toronto’s Vehicle-for-Hire sector by year;

d. Identify electric grid capacity needs for electrification of Vehicles-for-Hire fleet by 2030;

e. Assess adequate consumer supply of zero-emission vehicles for electrification of the Vehicles-for-Hire fleet by 2030; and

f. Report on an annual basis from 2025 to 2029 including ongoing assessment of requisite infrastructure and capacity in the charging network, electric grid, consumer supply and other identified resources and/or actions for the sector to meet the 2030 electrification requirement."

2. City Council request the Government of Ontario reintroduce consumer incentive programs to encourage the purchase and improve affordability of zero emissions vehicles.