Minutes Confirmed on April 18, 2016

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council adopt the Local Appeal Body Governance Structure in Attachment 1 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the City Manager.

2.  City Council direct that a separate Toronto Municipal Code Chapter be established for the Local Appeal Body substantially as provided for in Attachment 2 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the City Manager and authorize the City Solicitor to bring forward a By-law implementing the Local Appeal Body once the following activities have been completed to the satisfaction of the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor:

a.  the Local Appeal Body Members including a Chair have been appointed by City Council;

b.  appropriate space has been secured, equipped and furnished, to accommodate the Local Appeal Body;

c.  orientation and training of Members and staff has been completed; and

d.  a draft Procedural By-law and draft policies, practices and procedures have been prepared for the Local Appeal Body's consideration.

3.  City Council approve a $500 appeal fee per appellant per hearing, to appeal a minor variance and/or consent decision of the Committee of Adjustment to the Local Appeal Body, and the City Solicitor be authorized to amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges concurrently with a By-law implementing the Local Appeal Body.

4.  City Council approve a Lease between the City of Toronto (as Tenant) and the Toronto Public Library Board (as Landlord) for premises at 40 Orchard View Boulevard, for use by the Local Appeal Body, substantially on the terms and conditions as set out in Attachment 3 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the City Manager, and on such other additional or revised terms and conditions as may be mutually agreeable to the Chief Corporate Officer and the City Librarian, in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor, with the Chief Corporate Officer administering and managing the Lease on behalf of the City, including the provisions of any consents, approvals, waivers and notices, including notice of termination, provided that the Chief Corporate Officer may, at any time, refer consideration of such matter to City Council for its determination and direction, and the Lease be subject to Toronto Public Library Board approval.

5.  City Council authorize the Court Services Division to provide administrative support to the Local Appeal Body and coordinate its implementation.

6.  City Council approve the transfer of the 2016 Operating Budget from the Non Program Account for the implementation of the Local Appeal Body of $1.536 million gross and $1.479 million net to the Court Services Operating Budget, as well as an increase in the Court Services approved staff complement by 6 permanent positions, increasing the complement from 282 to 288 positions.

7.  City Council approve the creation of a capital project entitled Local Appeal Body Facility Renovations with a total project cost of $1.577 million as part of the Court Services Capital Program with annual cash flows of $1.0 million in 2016 and $0.577 million in 2017; funded from a contribution to capital of $0.391 million and a contribution of $1.186 million from the Capital Financing Reserve.

8.  City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor and the Director, Court Services, to prepare the necessary draft policies, practices and procedures to enable Local Appeal Body hearings for consideration by the Local Appeal Body prior to the commencement of its first hearing.

9.  City Council establish a Local Appeal Body Nominating Panel, composed of three citizen members appointed by City Council on recommendation of the Civic Appointment Committee, to short-list, interview and recommend candidates directly to City Council for appointment to the Local Appeal Body.

10.  City Council approve a one-year Mediation Pilot Project on a City-wide basis with respect to minor variance and consent applications and request the City Manager, in consultation with the Director of Court Services, to report to the Executive Committee one year after the implementation of the Mediation Pilot Project with an evaluation.

11.  City Council approve the transfer from the Non Program Account of the 2016 Operating Budget for the Mediation Pilot Project of $200,000 gross and net to Court Services Operating Budget.

At its meeting of June 30, 2015, Executive Committee considered a report from the City Manager, Implementation of a Local Appeal Body (LAB) for Toronto.  The Committee referred the report to the City Manager to report further on a number of additional matters including a review and consultation on establishing a mediation program related to Committee of Adjustment decisions prior to an appeal being heard by the appeal authority as well as an update on related legislative initiatives.  This report responds to Executive Committee's request.

Mediation Program

City staff undertook research and consultation with key stakeholders related to a mediation program for land use planning disputes related to minor variance and consent applications.  While research shows limited experience with using mediation for land use planning disputes, in general, mediation has been demonstrated to be an effective tool for resolving disputes between parties outside of the formal legal or adjudicative process.

Given the general benefits of mediation as a means of resolving disputes, a pilot program to test the impact of mediation with respect to appeals of Committee of Adjustment decisions is recommended.

Update on Legislative Initiatives

The Province of Ontario recently approved amendments to the Development Charges Act and the Planning Act through Bill 73: Smart Growth for Our Communities Act, 2015, including changes intended to improve the decision-making and effectiveness of Committees of Adjustment.  The Province has not yet announced an in-force date for these changes.

City Council requested a range of legislative amendments to the City of Toronto Act, 2006 that will impact the Local Appeal Body including authority for the City to dissolve or change a Local Appeal Body and recover the costs of a Local Appeal Body through the application planning process.  It is anticipated that legislative amendments to the City of Toronto Act (COTA) will be introduced in spring 2016.  It is unknown whether the Province will make the changes requested by City Council. 

Implementing a Local Appeal Body for Toronto

City Council at its June 2014 meeting, approved the establishment of a Local Appeal Body for Toronto to adjudicate Toronto-based appeals of Committee of Adjustment decisions pursuant to section 45 of the Planning Act (related to minor variances) and section 53 of the Planning Act (related to consents). The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) would remain responsible for conducting hearings on appeals related to Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments, site plan applications and decisions related to subdivisions.  If there are related appeals with the Ontario Municipal Board and the Local Appeal Body, the Ontario Municipal Board rather than the Local Appeal Body has jurisdiction to hear all matters.

As instructed by City Council, this report recommends the governance structure, administrative structure, office space requirements, as well as an appeal fee, needed to move forward with the implementation of Local Appeal Body.  The governance and associated implementation details are substantively the same as provided in the report to Executive Committee in June 2015 with the exception of the appeal fee.  City staff reviewed the appeal fee and recommend an appeal fee of $500 rather than $1000 to ensure reasonable access to persons seeking adjudication.

The implementation of the Local Appeal Body requires one-time operating costs ($0.561 million in start-up costs to equip and fit-out office space), $1.689 million gross and $1.517 million net in ongoing annual operating costs to operate the Local Appeal Body, as well as $1.577 million in capital costs for the construction of the office space and hearing rooms. 

In addition to the above costs, an additional $0.050 million will be required for a Mediation Pilot Project in the North York District that will address disputes on minor variance and consent applications.

Upon adoption of this report, implementation will commence including:

-  recruiting and appointing members and a chair to the Local Appeal Body;

-  securing and readying space for the Local Appeal Body to operate;

-  drafting required by-laws and policies for the Local Appeal Body's consideration; and

-  training and orientation of administrative staff and Local Appeal Body members.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council enact amendments to Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 140, Lobbying, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 23, 2016) from the City Manager, that will:

a.  require that consultant lobbyists disclose their ultimate client.

b.  enable the Lobbyist Registrar to impose conditions for registration, continued registration or renewal of registration against a lobbyist who has been found in breach of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 140, Lobbying, as permitted by section 166 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

c.  enable the Lobbyist Registrar to impose a temporary ban against a lobbyist who has been found in breach of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 140, Lobbying from communicating with public office holders for a specified period of time, as permitted by section 166 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

This report responds to Executive Committee's request to undertake consultation on proposed amendments to the City’s Lobbying By-law and report further including results from jurisdictional research.  Executive Committee also asked for clarification of whether requests for meetings with Councillors or their staff resulted in actual meetings or phone calls.

The proposed amendments to the Lobbying By-law include:

-  Require lobbyists to disclose their ultimate client;

-  Enable the Lobbyist Registrar to impose conditions for registration pursuant to the City of Toronto

Act, 2006 after a breach of the Lobbying By-law; and

-  Enable the Lobbyist Registrar to impose a temporary ban on lobbying activities pursuant to the City of Toronto Act, 2006 after a breach of the Lobbying By-law.

The City Manager's Office, in consultation with the Lobbyist Registrar, completed research on twelve Canadian jurisdictions and implemented a public consultation process on the proposed amendments including an online survey, direct email and a public meeting.  The results of the jurisdictional research and public consultation were considered in the preparation of this report.

Disclosure of Ultimate Client

This report recommends that the City’s Lobbying By-law be amended to require lobbyists to disclose their ultimate client.  Notwithstanding that the jurisdictions reviewed do not require this disclosure in their lobbying legislation; it is appropriate in Toronto’s complex lobbying context.

The Federal Lobbyist Registry and Toronto Lobbyist Registry have both identified a recent trend of lobbying firms sub-contracting consultant lobbyists to undertake lobbying for a specific client.  This trend undermines the fundamental purpose of a lobbying regime, which is that lobbying is a legitimate activity but must be transparent in order that the public knows who is lobbying whom.  A requirement for consultant lobbyists to disclose their ultimate client will address this issue; and enhance transparency and accountability.

Enhanced Tools to Enforce the City's Lobbying By-law

This report recommends amendments to the Lobbying By-law to enable the Lobbyist Registrar to impose conditions for registration and a temporary ban on a lobbyist who has breached the Lobbying By-law.  These amendments provide a fair, escalating continuum of tools to the Lobbyist Registrar to enforce the City's Lobbying By-law.  This continuum provides preventative measures such as training and compliance plans for minor, incidental infractions of the by-law to more punitive measures (escalating temporary ban) for serious, repetitive and egregious breaches. 

Conditions for Registration

This amendment will formalize the tools (including training and compliance plans) the Lobbyist Registrar uses to encourage compliance after a minor or incidental breach of the by-law and enable their enforcement.  The City of Toronto Act, 2006 enables the Lobbyist Registrar to impose conditions on a registration. Toronto will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to include this authority in its lobbying legislation.

Temporary Ban

Many jurisdictions in Canada enable their Lobbyist Registrars/Commissioners to impose a temporary ban on lobbying for breaches to their lobbying legislation.  The time lines for a temporary ban proposed for Toronto are generally consistent with other jurisdictions. The public consultation process identified concerns about procedural fairness with respect to temporary ban.  A process for procedural fairness when the Lobbyist Registrar imposes a temporary ban on lobbying has been included in the recommended by-law amendment.

Legislative Changes

City Council recently requested amendments to the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to extend the time line for the Lobbyist Registrar to pursue charges under the Provincial Offences Act for breaches of the Lobbying By-law from 6 months to two-years and provide authority to the Lobbyist Registrar to impose administrative monetary penalties (AMPs).  These legislative changes will also provide the Lobbyist Registrar with a range of tools within an escalating regulatory regime based on the facts of the case and seriousness of the breach.

Clarification of Registration for Requests to Meet

The Lobbyist Registry is currently not able to distinguish whether a request for a meeting with a Councillor or their staff actually occurred.  The Lobbyist Registrar has included this request for consideration in the business analysis of its 2016 Information Technology State of Good Repair (SOGR) project to update and improve the lobbyist registry system.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve up to $1.25 million from the Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing (XR2116) for up to 50 down payment assistance loans to eligible purchasers of housing to be developed on the property currently known as 36 Tippett Road, in the form of a grant by way of forgivable loan under the terms of the City's Home Ownership Assistance Program.

2.  City Council approve up to $1.0 million from the Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing (XR2116) to provide capital assistance to Shiplake Properties Limited, the Rocket Tippett Inc. or a related corporation, towards the development of 50 affordable rental units on the property currently known as 36 Tippett Road, in the form of a grant by way of forgivable loan.

3.  City Council authorize the Director, Revenue Services, to recommend an exemption from taxation for municipal and school purposes to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation for the 50 affordable rental units to be developed on the property currently known as 36 Tippett Road for the period of 25 years.

4.  City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to approve the waiving of all the development charges and planning fees for the affordable rental units to be developed on the property known as 36 Tippett Road.

5.  City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office, to negotiate enter into and execute, on behalf of the City, all affordable housing funding agreements, municipal housing facility agreements and any security, financing or other documents required with Build Toronto, the affordable housing developers, and any other party deemed necessary to facilitate the funding and incentives detailed in this report, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

6.  City Council grant authority to the City Solicitor to execute, postpone, confirm the status of, and discharge any City security documents registered as required by normal business practices.

This report recommends affordable housing program funding and incentives for 50 new affordable rental homes and 50 affordable ownership homes at 36 Tippett Road in Ward 10 York Centre. The affordable housing plan for 36 Tippett Road was developed in collaboration with Build Toronto and the developer, Shiplake Properties (developing the property as the Rocket Tippett Inc.), which has acquired the site from Build Toronto.

Financial contributions for the 100 affordable homes are proposed from Build Toronto, the Federal and Provincial Governments, and the City. It is proposed the City make an allocation from the Federal/Provincial Investment in Affordable Housing Program, and provide funds from the City's Home Ownership Assistance Program and Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing.

City Council adopted the Tippett Road Area Regeneration Study in July 2015, and directed the Director, Affordable Housing Office, to work with Build Toronto and the Regeneration Area property owners to deliver affordable rental and ownership homes.

The Tippet Road Regeneration Area is bounded by Wilson Heights Boulevard, Wilson Avenue, Champlain Boulevard, Highway 401 and Allen Road in Ward 10 – York Centre.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council advise Metrolinx of the following list and ranking of public realm improvements along Finch Avenue West that should be obtained using the Public Realm Amount allocated to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, and which will be incorporated in the project-specific output specifications as mandatory elements of the LRT project:

a.  provision of three traffic lanes in each direction under the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge east of Weston Road (rather than a reduction to two lanes in each direction), together with the provision of a box culvert tunnel through the embankment of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) rail line, on the south side of Finch Avenue, as in Attachment 2 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to accommodate a multi-use path at least 3.5 metres in width, the design of which is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services and Canadian Pacific Railway.

b.  provision of a continuous multi-use path having a width of at least 3.5 metres, to be located on the south side of Finch Avenue between Weston Road and Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road, as in Attachment 3 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, the design of which is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services, and will include:

i.  a grade-separated crossing, in a tunnel at least 3.5 metres in width, of the eastbound to southbound Highway 400 on-ramp (Attachment 3);

 ii.  an at-grade crossing of the eastbound to northbound Highway 400 on-ramp, including relocation of this ramp to be adjacent to the northbound off-ramp from Highway 400 (Attachment 3), provided that such a relocation is approved by the Ministry of Transportation;

iii.  a signalized crossing of the northbound off-ramp from Highway 400 at Finch Avenue (Attachment 3);

iv.  a signalized crossing of Signet Drive/Arrow Road on the south approach only (Attachment 3);

v.  signalized crossings of Weston Road and Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road on all four approaches of both intersections (Attachment 3); and

vi.  a physical barrier between the multi-use path and traffic lanes where the multi-use path is immediately adjacent to traffic lanes.

         c.  provision of bicycle lanes separated from vehicular traffic on both sides of Finch Avenue between Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road and Tangiers Road, and between Weston Road and Highway 27, in a manner that is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Fire Chief and General Manager, Fire Services. The separation will be accomplished through the construction of an elevated and curb-protected cycle track, either at the same elevation as the adjoining sidewalk or at an intermediate level between the roadway and sidewalk using a mountable curb, as may be deemed appropriate at each location.

2.  City Council advise Metrolinx of the following list and ranking of public realm improvements along Finch Avenue West that should be obtained using the Public Realm Amount allocated to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, and which will be identified in the Request for Proposals as discretionary elements of the LRT project.

a.  provision of the following multi-use paths and trail connections, all of which are to be acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as warranted in each circumstance.

i.  between two existing multi-use paths in the Black Creek Ravine on the north and south sides of Finch Avenue, construct a box culvert under Finch Avenue that will provide a direct trail connection, or provide an extension of the multi-use path on the south side of Finch Avenue with a minimum width of 3.5 metres along its entire length to an existing signalized intersection across Finch Avenue, as in Attachment 4 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B;

ii.  between Finch Avenue and the existing multi-use path in the hydro corridor to the north, located along Norfinch Drive boulevard and the western boundary of the Finch West LRT Maintenance and Storage Facility, as in Attachment 5 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, and

iii.  connections where feasible to potential new bike trails running south from Finch Avenue, east and west of Weston Road.

b.  provision of streetscape and public realm enhancements identified in the Finch West Streetscape Plan (currently being undertaken by Metrolinx and the City) and streetscape guidelines developed jointly by the City and the Emery Village and Duke Heights business improvement areas that exceed current City standards, and all of which are to be acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in the following priority ranking:

 i.  tree planting infrastructure;

ii.  street lighting poles and fixtures;

iii.  street furniture;

iv.  pavement and markings that contribute to the identity of business improvement areas;

 v.  aesthetic enhancements to the multi-use path tunnels under the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge and the eastbound to southbound Highway 400 on-ramp;

vi.  aesthetic enhancements to the Highway 400 Bridge, provided such improvements are acceptable to the Ministry of Transportation; and

vii.  aesthetic enhancements to the vehicular portion of the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge.

3.  City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, in consultation with the Director, Major Capital Infrastructure Coordination:

a.  to determine whether the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount submission is fair and reasonable, and provides good value to the City for the Public Realm Amount, and on that basis to determine whether to accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal; and

b.  if the determination is made to not accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal, to negotiate alternative public realm improvements with Metrolinx that are consistent with the recommendations of the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B.

4.  If the determination is made to accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal, City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to negotiate and enter into any agreements, amendments and renewals with Metrolinx as may be necessary, in accordance with the Master Agreement and the recommendations of the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, in respect of the use of the Public Realm Amount in accordance with the winning bidder's submission.

5.  City Council authorize and direct the Toronto Parking Authority, in support of the Public Realm Amount strategy set out in this report, to acquire a property located at the southeast corner of Finch Avenue West and Arrow Road (near Highway 400) for municipal parking and ancillary uses including proposed Bike Share Toronto infrastructure, and to permit construction of a possible gateway feature for the Emery Village Business Improvement Area. Acquisition will be on terms and conditions to be negotiated by the President of the Toronto Parking Authority, at fair market value plus associated costs such as land transfer tax, title insurance and other fees, and approved by the Toronto Parking Authority Board. The City Solicitor is authorized to complete the purchase transaction, deliver any notices, pay any expenses and amend the closing and other dates, on such terms and conditions as the City Solicitor may determine.

6.  City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Director, Major Capital Infrastructure Coordination to report to City Council on a priority list of Public Realm Amount candidate projects for the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit (LRT) project once Metrolinx advises the City of the procurement schedule for that project.

This report seeks authority for the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to inform Metrolinx of the City's preferences for investment of the Public Realm Amount allocated by Metrolinx to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

This report seeks authority for City divisions and the Toronto Parking Authority to implement a number of complementary measures that will improve the streetscape and public realm along Finch Avenue West concurrently with the introduction of the Finch West LRT project.

The Master Agreement between the City, Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx (executed in November 2012) prescribes the role of each party to plan, design and construct the Metrolinx Rapid Transit Program (the "LRT Program") which includes the Finch West LRT. The Master Agreement states that a Public Realm Amount (the "PRA") will be provided by Metrolinx to plan, design and construct capital improvements on the City's property and right-of-way that will be impacted by construction of the LRT Program. The improvements must be requested by the City and meet eligibility requirements prescribed by Metrolinx.

The Master Agreement states that the value of the Public Realm Amount is 1.5 percent of the construction cost of the LRT Program as defined by Metrolinx. In May 2014, City Council determined that it was appropriate to allocate the Public Realm Amount proportionally between the LRT projects that were planned on Eglinton, Finch and Sheppard based on the length of each transit corridor. Accordingly, the value of the Public Realm Amount for the Finch West LRT is approximately $18 million ($2012).

Proposed uses of the Public Realm Amount on Finch Avenue West represent streetscape and public realm enhancements that will address specific needs and opportunities determined by City staff, and include in order of preference:

a.  Right-of-way improvements to preserve six traffic lanes under the CP Rail Bridge west of Highway 400, rather than a reduction to four lanes as shown in the approved Environmental Project Report (the "EPR");

b.  Right-of-way improvements for enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure through the Highway 400/Finch Avenue interchange between Norfinch Drive and Weston Road;

c.  Right-of-way improvements for enhanced cycling infrastructure on both sides of  Finch Avenue between Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road and Tangiers Road, and between Highway 27 and Weston Road;

d.  Improved pedestrian and cycling connections to existing multi-use paths that run north and south from Finch Avenue West at Black Creek Ravine, and between Finch Avenue West and the existing multi-use path in the hydro corridor to the north through the Metrolinx Maintenance and Storage Facility; and

e.  Enhanced streetscape details and aesthetic improvements along the corridor, which may include upgraded Business Improvement Area infrastructure.

Metrolinx intends to issue a request for proposals early in 2016 for a private consortium to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT project. With reference to that process and schedule, this report seeks authority from City Council to prescribe the foregoing list and ranking of Public Realm Amount candidate projects for inclusion in the Metrolinx procurement documents.

Following the precedent that was established in prescribing the City's preferred uses of the Public Realm Amount for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, some of the preceding objectives will be mandated by Metrolinx to be incorporated in the proposals of all bidders. This condition applies to some of the Public Realm Amount requests by the City that have significant design implications (to be discussed below). The balance of the City's preferred uses of the Public Realm Amount will be presented to bidders as discretionary elements of their bids.

The recommended uses of the Public Realm Amount cited above (and to be provided by Metrolinx) do not preclude: (i) the City; (ii) related organizations including the Toronto Parking Authority; and (iii) business improvement areas, from making other investments to improve the streetscape and public realm to mitigate impacts of the LRT project or enhance utilization of the new transit infrastructure. This report sets out several opportunities that are being implemented by the City and others.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to enter into an extension to the amending agreement as in Amendment 1 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, with PRISM Partners Inc. to extend the term and continuum of project management services. subject to the following conditions:

            a.  that the agreement include an extension term of March 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016;

b.  that the continuum of services, as in Amendment 1 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, which can be performed within the timeframe indicated in 1a above, be added to the current agreement upon such other terms and conditions as satisfactory to the Chief Corporate Officer;

c.  that the total cost of the continuum of services for March 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, as in Amendment 2 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, is $508,750 (net of HST recoveries), increasing the value of the approved contract from $877,623 to $1,386,373 (net of HST recoveries); and

d.   that the agreement be on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Corporate Office and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2.  City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to enter into an extension to the amending agreement as in Amendment 1 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, with Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc. to extend the term and continuum of architectural services, subject to the following conditions:

a.  that the agreement include an extension term of March 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016;

b.   that the continuum of services, as in Amendment 1 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, which can be performed within the timeframe indicated above, be added to the current agreement upon such other terms and conditions as satisfactory to the Chief Corporate Officer;

c.  that the total cost of the continuum of services for March 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 as in Amendment 2 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, is $1,322,750 (net of HST recoveries), increasing the total value of the contract from $1,623,733 to $2,946,483 (net of HST recoveries); and

d.  that the agreement be on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Corporate Office and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3.  City Council amend the 2016 Approved Capital Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration by reallocating funds in the amount of $1.232 million from the George Street Redevelopment – Phase 2 project to the Shelter Development/Redevelopment 2016 project to extend the existing contracts with PRISM Partners Inc. and Montgomery Sisam Architects until December 31, 2016 with no gross and debt impact.

On November 3, 2015, City Council adopted a report, "George Street Revitalization – Recommended Scope and Approach" (EX9.6). The report outlined progress in regard to due diligence in the areas of scope, schedule, cost, stakeholder engagement, development of a transition plan, and acquiring of adjacent properties for the George Street Revitalization ("GSR").  The revitalization will include the demolition of the Seaton House men's shelter to allow for the co-location of a long-term care home, a new emergency shelter, an assisted living program and affordable housing in addition to a community service hub in a new facility.

The November 2015 report authorized the extension of contract terms to February 29, 2016 for two project consultants: PRISM Partners Inc. ("PRISM") and Montgomery Sisam Architects ("MSA").  As a result, Amendment No. 1 was granted for the period of October 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016 for both PRISM Partners Inc. and Montgomery Sisam Architects.  Amendment No. 1 was based upon available funding within the 2015 Shelter, Support and Housing Administration ("SSHA") Capital Budget.

This report seeks to amend both contracts to extend to December 31, 2016, to allow continuation of the work undertaken to date as directed by the November 2015 report and outlined further in Attachment 1. The 2016 Approved Capital Budget includes sufficient funding for the recommended contract extensions.

In line with City Council's direction, this work will ensure ongoing George Street Revitalization progress.  A staff report to Executive Committee in June 2016 will recommend a project procurement and delivery model that could coincide with the 2017 Capital Budget process, subject to City Council approval.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Executive Committee with the Toronto Police Services Board's ("Board") response to City Council Motion "Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy."

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve a lease renewal agreement for the Guildwood Branch at 123 Guildwood Parkway with Revenue Properties Company Limited for:

a.  a two-year term to commence on December 1, 2016 on the existing 3,010 square feet at a base annual rental rate of $15.00 per square foot, excluding Harmonized Sales Tax (HST); and

b.  a further 10-year term to commence on December 1, 2018 for an expanded 4,577 square feet at a base annual rental rate of:

i.  $17.50 for the first five years; and

ii.  $18.50 for the second five years.

2.  City Council authorize and direct staff to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council approval for a lease extension for two years on the existing space and an additional 10 years on an expanded branch, for the premises occupied by the Guildwood Branch.  The branch currently occupies 3,010 square feet, and the proposed expansion would add 1,567 square feet of new space at the end of 2018 for a total of 4,577 square feet.

A capital project, starting in 2018, with a value of approximately $0.800 million to renovate the branch would be funded by a $0.100 million landlord contribution, $0.396 million of development charges and $0.304 million of debt.  This new project would replace the existing capital project for the Guildwood Branch that proposes to increase the size of the branch at a cost of $7.210 million gross ($2.373 million debt) with planning starting in 2019.

The local councillor has been consulted and is in support of the proposed lease and improvements for the Guildwood Branch.

The proposed lease requires Council approval.

As directed by City Council, this report provides a progress update on the 2015-2016 interagency staff workplan for the City-School Boards Advisory Committee.  The workplan, which focuses on shared city-school board concerns related to the use of school lands and capital funding for school infrastructure, has an aggressive completion timeline. A number of short-term projects have been completed to date and longer-term projects have been initiated on time. The preponderance of work will be completed, as scheduled, during 2016. Currently the Interagency Staff Team has no concerns to report that may delay completion of the workplan. The shared City-School Boards workplan has created a focus for effective interagency staff communication and coordination.

At its meeting of February 11, 2016, the City-School Boards Advisory Committee considered a presentation from the Associate Director, Finance and Operations, Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, City of Toronto,  on capital budget issues facing the City-School Boards partners.

This presentation comes in response to a request from TDSB Trustees for an update on TDSB's capital funding situation. The presentation includes a short profile of the capital funding pressures experienced by each of the school boards and the City, respectively, and concludes by describing the shared public infrastructure challenge - and opportunity - that we face together in Toronto.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.   City Council request the Province of Ontario to report on the outcomes of 2015 stakeholder consultations on Ontario Regulation 444/98.

2.   City Council request the Province of Ontario to implement the following reforms to Ontario Regulation 444/98 as soon as possible:

a.   to extend the preliminary circulation period to 180 days, inclusive of 90 days for expressions of interest and 90 days for formal offers;

b.   to include ministerial approvals within the circulation period;

c.   to broaden the public sector circulation list to increase opportunities to acquire a surplus school property for public sector use;

d.   to ensure that coterminous school boards continue to have priority access to acquire a viable surplus school property for use as a school.

3.   City Council request the Province of Ontario to commence consultations on exemptions to fair market value pricing on surplus school properties and conditional on funding tools to keep school boards "whole", as described in Community Hubs in Ontario: A Strategic Framework and Action Plan and to include the City of Toronto and Toronto School Boards as stakeholders during these consultations.

4.   City Council forward the report (February 2, 2016) from the Executive Director, Finance and Administration to the four School Boards operating in Toronto, and if approved, to the Government of Ontario.

This report summarizes the City of Toronto and the Toronto school boards' response to recent provincial consultations on Ontario Regulation 444/98. The City and school boards generally agree with proposed reforms to the regulation; however they also agree that barriers to cooperation will persist in Toronto because the Province's proposed reforms do not address school capital funding, exemptions on fair market value pricing on surplus properties, or alternative funding tools to keep school boards "whole". The Province's Community Hubs Secretariat has encouraged the City-School Boards Advisory Committee to offer ideas for resolving these challenges.

At its meeting of February 11, 2016, the City-School Boards Advisory Committee considered TO Prosperity: Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy as outlined in Attachment A to the report (October 9, 2015) from the City Manager, the Deputy City Manager Cluster A, the Deputy City Manager Cluster B, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer [Item EX9.5].

The Executive Committee deferred the item indefinitely.

As City council has the authority to set advanced voting days before every general municipal election. It would be beneficial to prepare for additional advanced voting days during the 2018 municipal election.

During the 2014 municipal election advanced voting days were set from Tuesday, October 14, 2014 to Sunday, October 19, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with one voting place in each of the City's 44 wards, and City Hall on weekdays where any voter cast a ballot regardless of where they lived in the City. Voter turnout did increase by 4.12 percent.

The Municipal Election - voter turnout statistics posted on our City of Toronto Website at http://www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/85/101000040385.html: