Item - 2018.EX32.6

The Executive Committee:

1.  Received the report (February 8, 2018) from the City Manager for information.

This report provides an update on a new Tripartite Agreement between the City of Toronto, Toronto Zoo and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).  The Tripartite Agreement grants permission for the Zoo to use lands for its operations, portions of which are owned by either the City or Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The Toronto Zoo Board of Management approved the updated Tripartite Agreement at its October 25, 2017 meeting, and requested it be forwarded by the City Manager to Executive Committee for consideration.

In 2013, City Council recommended a review of the existing 1978 Tripartite Agreement to better support the ongoing and future needs of the Zoo, the City and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.  City Council subsequently authorized the City to enter into a new Tripartite Agreement as a condition of a 2014 Memorandum of Agreement between Parks Canada, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and regional municipalities to assemble and transfer lands required to create the Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP). 

The Zoo's 2015-2020 Strategic Plan and 2016 Master Plan advance its objectives of good governance, wildlife conservation activities and collaboration to support the Rouge National Urban Park. The proposed new Tripartite Agreement advances these objectives through boundary changes that will better support the Zoo's current and future operations and the continued establishment of the Rouge National Urban Park.