Item - 2019.ST1.2

The Striking Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council approve the 2019 meeting schedule dates in Attachment 1 to the report (December 10, 2018) from the City Clerk and that the published schedule serve as notice for these meetings.

2.  City Council request the City Clerk to distribute the approved scheduled to the City's agencies and special purpose bodies with a request that they:

a. avoid scheduling meetings, whenever possible, that conflict with the approved schedule; and

b. avoid scheduling public meetings, forums, public consultations and large scale meetings on days of cultural or religious significance as noted in the approved schedule.

The purpose of this report is to establish the 2019 meeting schedule for City Council and its committees.

The purpose of this report is to provide to City Council an overview of the 2019 Budget process and schedule to review and approve the Tax and Rate Supported 2019 Operating Budget and 2019 – 2028 Capital Budget and Plan for the City of Toronto.

In compliance with the City of Toronto Act (CoTA) 2006, subsection 228(1), the 2019 Budget process and schedule fulfill the City's requirement to "prepare and adopt a budget including estimates of all sums required during the year for the purpose of operating the business of the City", and subsection 228(2) "a budget for a year immediately following a year in which a regular election is held may only be adopted in the year to which the budget applies". 

To account for the 2018 municipal election, the 2019 Budget process has been modified to enable both the Tax and Rate Supported 2019 Operating and 2019 - 2028 Capital Budget and Plan to be approved by March 7, 2019.   Every effort has been made to ensure sufficient time is dedicated to facilitate a transparent and accessible budget process that will provide the opportunities and relevant information necessary for the public to provide its input and for members of the Budget Committee, Executive Committee and City Council, to review, recommend and approve the allocation of resources to City services and capital investments that most cost-effectively meet the needs of the public and advance Council priorities and outcomes.

The 2019 Budget will be launched on January 28, 2019, with the month of February primarily dedicated to Budget Committee’s review and deliberations of the 2019 Budget. Two days are set aside for Budget Committee Program and Agency briefings, questions and any subsequent requests for information; two days and four locations are scheduled across the City for public input; two days are provided for Budget Committee deliberations: the first to review Budget Briefing Notes, reports and matters referred to the budget process and the latter to consider motions and its final recommendations to Executive Committee. Executive Committee’s consideration of the Budget Committee Recommended 2019 Budget will take place on March 4, 2019 followed by Council’s consideration and approval on March 7, 2019.