Item - 2013.BU51.1

The Budget Committee:

1.         Deferred consideration of the item until the January 8, 2014 meeting of the Budget Committee, along with the following motions:

            Motion 1 by Councillor Moeser:

“That the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Operating Budget be increased by $1 million for minor capital projects, to be shared equally across all wards in the City.”

Motion 3 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That:

1.         City Council approve the revenue target reduction of $0.229 million in the 2014 Parks, Forestry and Recreation Operating Budget to restore the property tax funding source for the High Park Zoo.

2.         City Council offset the resultant property tax increase of $0.229 million in Parks, Forestry and Recreation's 2014 Operating Budget by new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 4 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That:

1.         City Council approve an adjustment to the 2014 – 2023 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services reflecting revised annual cash flows for the Six Points Interchange Redevelopment project of $2.5 million in 2014; $9.5 million in 2015; $9.5 million in 2016; $8.5 million in 2017; and $10.548 million in 2018.  This adjustment to annual cash flows to not change either the total project cost or annual debt funding for this project as adjustments will be accommodated through acceleration of existing available reserve funding dedicated to this capital project.”

Motion 5 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That the request from the Office of the Ombudsman for $89.2 thousand for an additional staff position, not be approved.”

Motion 6 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve an adjustment to the proposed Tax Levy by reducing it to 1.75% from 2% while retaining the .5% special levy for the Scarborough Subway Extension approved by City Council, and that the additional funding for the Adjustment to the Tax Levy be offset by increasing 2014 Municipal Land Transfer Tax revenue budget by $6 million subject to the 2013 Land Transfer Tax actual revenue exceeding $335 million, to be determined in January 2014.”

Motion 7 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That:

1.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to enter into agreement(s) with Metrolinx, other levels of government, and other entities to receive funding and use the funding to select, administer, manage and oversee the placement, installation and maintenance of graffiti art or art murals on various properties including the properties of Metrolinx, other levels of government, and any other entities.

2.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, as part of an agreement made under Recommendation 1, to collect, receive and use those funds to select, place, install and maintain the graffiti art or art murals, to direct funding to a special reserve for that purpose and to recover a portion of the cost of the provision of this service.

3.         City Council authorize City staff to create any necessary reserve fund(s) to implement Recommendations 1 and 2 and take any additional action necessary to allow for the execution of such agreements.”

Motion 9 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council direct the City Manager to convey to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General a request from the City of Toronto to amend pertinent provincial legislation to permit the use of Toronto Parking Enforcement and Toronto Police Service written evidence during court hearings rather than requiring the physical presence of such staff in order to assist in the reduction of costs and the better allocation of resources to enforcement of relevant by-laws and provincial offences.”

Motion 10 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve the use of existing and approved funds from the Transportation Services Division Public Realm Section for murals under the StART (Street Art) program.”

Motion 11 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve a zero net adjustment to the 2014 Operating Budget for Transportation Services reflecting an increase to the Road and Sidewalk Management Service Budget of $0.350 million gross and $0 net for the StART (StreetARToronto) Program to focus on improving underpasses with art murals, fully funded by contributions from the Public Realm Reserve Fund.”

Motion 12 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve the recommendation of Toronto Public Health requesting $214.1 thousand for the economic increase in the cost of food for the Student Nutrition Program, and that the additional funding for the Student Nutrition Program – Economic Increase in the Cost of Food be offset by new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 13 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve a study of priorities and objectives in terms of capital and operating costs for the Toronto Public Library resulting in reinvestment opportunities for the Toronto Public Library for the next 10 years (2014-2024) with the exact parameters of the study to be confirmed by the Toronto Public Library Board in consultation with major stakeholders including the Toronto Public Library Workers Union.”

Motion 14 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That City Council approve $260,000 for the Toronto Public Library to standardize hours by adding a total of 34.5 additional hours per week for a total of 1,794 hours per year across seven district branches and in so doing, standardize hours at all District and Research and Reference (R&R) Branches at 69 hours/week, including Sundays, ensuring equity of access across the City, and that the additional funding for the Library Standardizing Hours of Operation be offset by new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 15 by Councillor Nunziata:

“That City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, as part of the user fee review, to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee on the feasibility of charging re-inspection fees for licensed business establishments.”

Motion 16 by Councillor Nunziata:

“That the Municipal Licensing and Standards Operating Budget be adjusted by adding $380,000 for 4 new by-law officers to improve the multi-residential apartment buildings program (MRAB) re-inspection rate to increase compliance of the 10,500 outstanding deficiencies on 817 orders, and other property standards orders, and that the increase be funded from new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 17 by Councillor Ford:

“That:

1.         City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to consider eliminating the $0.05 fare increase and the $5.25 metropass increase in 2014.”

Motion 18 by Councillor Crawford:

“That:

1.         City Council approve the following 4 year phase in of the $25 per capita arts funding increase ( in millions):

2.         City Council approve the following revised increases by category in 2014 as part of the $25 per capita arts and culture spending phase-in plan:

-           Toronto Arts Council Grants Program - $1.8 million

-           Toronto Arts Council Operations - $0.200 million

-           Major Cultural Organizations Grants - $0.500 million

-           Local Arts Services Organizations - $0.500 million.

3.         City Council allocate the additional $1.5 million required to fund these 2014 increases by advancing the draws from the Sign Tax funds, bringing the total draw for 2014 to $7.5 million.”

Motion 19 by Councillor Crawford:

“That City Council add $0.390 million gross and net to reflect the 2.2% economic factor increase requested for Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP) in Social Development, Finance and Administration, with the offset to come from new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 20 by Councillor Pasternak:

“That

1.         City Council approve the implementation of 10 new youth spaces based on the St. Stephen's Community House Model as referenced in the report (November 20, 2013) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to be phased in over three years (4 locations in 2014, 3 locations in 2015 and 3 locations in 2016) to begin operation in July 2014 and include the Net Expenditure increases in the recommended operating budgets for Parks, Forestry and Recreation as follows, with the offset to come from new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth:

-           $0.378 thousand in 2014;

-           $0.875 thousand in 2015, subject to the 2015 budget process; and

-           $0.537 thousand in 2016, subject to the 2016 budget process.”

Motion 21 by Councillor Pasternak:

“That City Council approve an 8 site expansion of the After-School Recreation and Care (ARC) Program and that necessary resources be included in the operating budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation as follows, with the offset to come from new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth:

-           $409.1 thousand Gross Expenditures and $375.0 thousand Net Expenditures in 2014; and

-           $408.6 thousand Gross Expenditures and $357.8 thousand Net Expenditures in 2015, subject to the 2015 budget process.”

Motion 22 by Councillor Pasternak:

“That City Council request the City Manager to report to the Budget Committee on a potential pilot project for implementing a community participatory budgeting program as part of the 2015 Toronto Budget process, such a pilot would allocate a specific amount of the 2015 budget process to participating wards.”

Motion 23 by Councillor Pasternak:

“That City Council approve the recommendation of Toronto Public Health requesting $394.3 thousand gross and net to expand student nutrition programs into 27 additional schools in which there has been identified the need in their student population for a program, with the additional funding for the Student Nutrition Program - Expansion of Locations to be offset by new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth.”

Motion 24 by Councillor Crawford:

“That City Council add $75,000 to the Outreach and Organizing Program to support tenants, with the offset to come from an adjustment to interest on investment earnings (Non-program revenue).”

Motion 25 by Councillor Berardinetti:

“That the Operating Budget for Toronto Fire Services be adjusted by adding $1.311 million in 2014 and an incremental impact of $1.185 million for 2015 (subject to the 2015 budget process), to maintain the current pumper truck and firefighters at Station 224 - Woodbine, and add new resources to new Fire Station "D" (Midland and Eglinton) funded by new revenues from additional 2013 assessment growth or non-program revenues.”

Motion 26 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That the Budget Committee recommend that:

1.         The increase of $3.4 million in additional assessment growth for the 2014 taxation year be applied to reduce the tax levy for 2014.”

Motion 27 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That the Budget Committee recommend:

1.         A reduction of the Municipal Land Transfer Tax equivalent to 0.75% of the residential tax levy or $18 million, by implementing the following changes to the properties containing at least one, and not more than two, single family residences, with other rates not mentioned to remain unchanged:

a.         Reduce the tax rate on the value of consideration up to and including $55,000.00 from 0.5% to zero;

b.         Reduce the tax rate on the value of consideration from $55,000.01 to $250,000.00 from 1% to 0.1%;

c.         Eliminate the City of Toronto's rebate for first time homebuyers.”

Motion 28 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That the Budget Committee recommend that:

1.         In the event that a reduction in the Municipal Land Transfer Tax is not reduced by an equivalent of 0.75% of the residential tax levy, then the residential tax levy be limited to a maximum increase of 2.25%., by:

a.         applying $3.4 million in new revenue from additional assessment growth to reduce the tax levy; and

b.         reducing the "New/Enhanced" budget items by $2.6 million with such items to be identified by the Budget Committee.”

Motion 29 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“In accordance with Recommendation 3 in EX35.4 "A Ten-Year Capital Financing Plan for Toronto Community Housing", approved by City Council on November 18, 2013, it is recommended that the 2014 Recommended Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration be increased by $5.000 million gross and $0 net to fund Toronto Community Housing Company's capital repair backlog, with funding to be provided from the Development Charge Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing (XR2116).”

Motion 30 by Councillor Di Giorgio:

“That City Council delegate authority to the Chief, Emergency Medical Services to enter into annual funding agreements with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, subject to the City's budget process.”

The Toronto Youth Equity Strategy will be considered at the January 21, 2014 Community Development and Recreation Committee. The Strategy is focused on youth who are at highest risk of involvement in serious violence or crime. The Strategy takes this focus because these youth are being missed by our anti-violence programs and strategies.

Since June 2013, an interdivisional staff committee comprising staff from 9 divisions, agencies, and corporations have worked with an external advisory panel of youth and youth-serving community agency staff to develop the Strategy. Staff are building the Strategy upon the foundation of the Roots of Youth Violence report, incorporating promising practices identified in research and consultation with community groups and other orders of government. Finally, the Strategy is being developed to reflect youth’s experiences.

A modest investment of resources in the 2014 operating budget would ensure that the first phase of work can begin immediately upon Council’s approval of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy. Resources to implement both prevention and intervention initiatives will help to reduce instances of youth violence.

The following initiatives have been identified as key opportunities to carry the work of the Strategy forward into 2014. These criminal justice and social development activities allow for cross-corporate engagement in priority areas of mental health, skills development & economic opportunity, justice & community safety, and accountability. In total, they can be achieved for a combined 2014 investment of $494,000.00.

City Council on July 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2013, in adopting Item EX33.29, approved the review of divisional service levels and activities for City Programs at appropriate Standing Committees in September 2013 (http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?Item=2013.EX33.29)

Staff made presentations to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the following:

-           Engineering and Construction Services

-           Policy, Planning, Finance and Administration (Major Capital Infrastructure Co-ordination only)

-           Solid Waste Management Services

-           Toronto Water

-           Transportation Services 

In 2012, the Board of Health endorsed a five-year plan to stabilize and expand student nutrition programs in Toronto.  City Council approved a funding enhancement to the Student Nutrition Program for the first year of the plan in 2013.

This report provides a progress update on the first year of the plan and outlines a request to increase the 2014 Operating Budget for the second year by $1,771,460 aimed at covering inflationary increases, incrementally increasing the City's investment to 14% of total program costs, and funding for 27 new programs in schools serving higher need communities.  The report also outlines the mechanisms in place which form the accountability framework providing oversight of the City's investment in the program, and proposes that a review of options for strengthening program governance be undertaken to strategically position the Student Nutrition Program for future investment and expansion.

Student nutrition programs are currently supported through a cost-shared partnership funding model between parents/community, municipal, provincial, and private sectors.  An increase in the municipal investment demonstrates the City's commitment to the nutritional health of children and youth and clearly signals a call to action to other sectors and levels of government.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed its funding for Toronto Public Health (TPH) to complete food strategy projects focussed on procurement, healthy food retail and social finance to be initiated in 2013 and completed in 2015. TPH's Food Strategy team works collaboratively with diverse partners to implement food initiatives that support healthy eating, disease prevention, healthier communities and local, diverse economic development.

A one-time 2014 TPH Operating Budget increase of $232,335 gross and $0 net is requested in this report with 100 percent of the funding provided by PHAC. A one-time budget adjustment of $50,125 gross and $0 net will be included for consideration with the TPH 2015 Operating Budget Request.