Item - 2017.BU34.6

The Budget Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the extension of six temporary positions for a duration of eight months from July 2017 to February 2018, for a temporary initiative to address the increase in complaints under the Municipal Tree Protection By-Laws and adjust the Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation to include associated expenditure increase of $0.394 million gross and $0 net, to be fully recovered by contravention inspection fees generated under the by-laws for this purpose.

2.  City Council refer the creation of seven permanent full-time positions to address the need for tree protection enforcement under the Municipal Tree Protection By-Laws to the Budget Committee for consideration in the 2018 Operating Budget Process.

The purpose of this report is to increase the Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation to accommodate the cost of extending six temporary positions for eight months, from July 2017 to February 2018, to address the volume of complaints regarding by-law infractions under the Street Tree and Private Tree By-laws (City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 813, Trees, Articles II and III) and Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law (City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 658, Ravine and Natural Feature Protection).

In order to maintain the service levels realized through the temporary program and provide an opportunity for further improvement Parks, Forestry and Recreation will be including a request in the 2018 Operating Budget submission to create seven permanent full-time positions to address the ongoing need for tree protection enforcement.

The cost of both the temporary response and the permanent program for tree protection enforcement are expected to be funded by contravention inspection fees generated under the by-laws for this purpose.