Item - 2020.CC23.3

City Council on July 28 and 29, 2020, adopted the following:

1. City Council continue to advocate for $1.350 billion in COVID-19 funding support from the Federal and Provincial Governments to fund the anticipated remaining 2020 COVID-19 financial impacts to the City's tax supported programs following offset generated by the City primarily through cost mitigation strategies; advocate for further funding support to fund impacts to City programs that are not directly supported through the property tax base; as well as funding support for ongoing City-wide COVID-19 related financial impacts anticipated in 2021 and future years.

2. City Council direct the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to continue to engage with their Federal and Provincial counterparts to obtain funding support for municipalities to offset projected deficits resulting from COVID-19 related financial impacts and to report to City Council in September 2020 on the results of these discussions, noting any full or partial offsets to the projected year-end deficit.

3. City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to take actions as required to preserve the City's ability to secure intergovernmental funding opportunities that may arise, including entering into any necessary agreements with other levels of government, to receive such funding during the period from the completion of the July 28 and 29, 2020 meeting of City Council to the start of the September 30 and October 1, 2020 meeting of City Council.

4. City Council direct the City Manager to report to City Council in September 2020 on any commitments of financial support received from the Federal and Provincial Governments to the City; to continue to explore opportunities to achieve greater 2020 budget efficiencies or offsets; and to provide recommendation in the September 2020 report on any further mitigation options needed to address any remaining 2020 COVID-19 financial impacts.

5. City Council request the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, as part of the report back to the September 30 and October 1, 2020 meeting of City Council on COVID-related budget challenges, to include cost implications of, and potential savings, that can be found for all capital projects in excess of $500 million in the current capital plan. 

6.  City Council, despite Municipal Code Chapter 223, Section 1.1:

a.  rescind the annual cost of living adjustment salary increase received by Members of Council from January 1, 2020; and

b.  set the annual salary increase for Members of Council at zero (0) percent for the year 2020;

and City Council request the Director, Pension, Payroll and Employee Benefits to make the necessary adjustments to Members’ pay to give effect to City Council’s decision.

7. City Council approve general annual salary range increases, representing cost of living adjustments for Accountability Officers, and Management/Non-union employees in the Toronto Public Service for 2020 as 0 percent effective January 1, 2020.

8. City Council authorize the City Manager to cancel the Pay for Performance program effective immediately, such that there will be no Pay for Performance increases or re-earnable performance-based lump-sum payments effective January 1, 2021 (based on 2020 performance).

9. City Council approve the implementation of a Voluntary Separation Program for permanent bargaining unit, non-union exempt and management staff who are eligible to retire with an unreduced pension; the program will provide for a lump sum payment of up to three (3) months' salary to eligible employees and will be subject to the terms set out in the program guidelines.

10. City Council approve the City funding the Voluntary Separation Program (for City divisions) and any subsequent separations, including any ancillary payments for vacation and sick leave, from the savings to be generated from either holding the positions that become vacant as a result of this program vacant for a minimum of six months and/or permanently eliminating vacated positions, where feasible.

11. City Council direct that the Employees who wish to be considered for participation in the Voluntary Separation Program be required to complete and submit an application to the People and Equity Division no later than Monday, August 31, 2020; all Employee departures under this program must take place by December 31 2020.

12. City Council request Boards of the City's Agencies and Corporations as appropriate to approve and apply the changes set out in Parts 7 and 8 above to their staff.

13. City Council request that should any Agency or Corporation Board approve a voluntary separation program for their staff, such program be similar to the provisions of the City's proposed Voluntary Separation Program and that Agency Boards submit a report to the Executive Committee through the Budget Committee regarding such proposed program.

14. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, to add temporary provisions requiring the operators of establishments that serve food or drink in either indoor or outdoor areas, to implement additional measures necessary to decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission, as set out in Appendix A to the supplementary report (July 28, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health and the City Solicitor, such licensed establishments to include: Eating or Drinking Establishments (includes restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs with eat-in or take-out food), Entertainment Establishments/Nightclubs, Adult Entertainment Clubs, Places of Amusement (includes bowling alleys), and Billiard Halls.

15. City Council enact a temporary By-law requiring the owners or operators of apartment buildings and condominium corporations to have a policy to ensure masks or face coverings be worn by individuals in the enclosed common spaces, such as lobbies, elevators and laundry rooms, of their apartment building or condominium building respectively, subject to appropriate exemptions for individuals who are unable to wear a mask or face covering for medical reasons, children under two years old, and other reasonable accommodations; the policy shall include corresponding signage and training for staff on the requirements of the By-law.

16. City Council direct that the amendments and By-law in Parts 14 and 15 above come into force one week after being enacted, and expire at 12:01 a.m. on the first day after the completion of the first Council meeting after the summer recess (currently scheduled for September 30 and October 1, 2020), unless extended by Council.

17. City Council amend Physical Distancing By-laws 322-2020 and 323-2020, making minor modifications to align with updated provincial orders and guidance, and City Council authorize a further extension of the By-laws to provide that they remain in effect until the end of the first Council meeting after the summer recess (currently scheduled for September 30 and October 1, 2020), unless extended by Council.

18. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills and apply for set fines to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, or technical amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, in order to give best effect to the Medical Officer of Health's recommendations for the protection of the public as described in the supplementary report (July 28, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health and the City Solicitor.

19.  City Council request the City Manager and the Chief People Officer, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to report back to the September 30 and October 1, 2020 City Council meeting on a possible change to the ratio of full-time to part-time paramedics so that more paramedics have paid sick days to decrease the likelihood of paramedics working in other positions that may expose them to greater risk.

20. City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to ensure that in reports to City Council with a Financial Impact section that the proposal be clearly identified as discretionary, critical, priority or essential, as contemplated in the Mitigation Strategies and Budget Offsets section of the report (July 22, 2020) from the City Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Chief People Officer.

21.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to ensure in every report to City Council with a Financial Impact section, that proposals which augment, replicate or co-operate with any Federal or Provincial program, service or funding stream be clearly indicated as such.