Item - 2021.EC20.2

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council adopt and certify the 2021 recommended Operating Budgets and Levy requirements of the following Business Improvement Areas:

2.  City Council adopt and certify the 2021 recommended Operating Budget and Levy requirement for Wychwood Heights Business Improvement Area, subject to approval by the Business Improvement Area's General Membership at its Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 23, 2021:

This report brings forward Business Improvement Area (BIA) annual Operating Budgets for approval by City Council as required by the City of Toronto Act, 2006. City Council approval is required to permit the City to collect funds through a special tax levy on the commercial and industrial properties within the respective BIA boundaries.

There are currently 85 established BIAs in the City of Toronto. The approval by City Council of the 2021 Operating Budgets for all BIAs takes multiple phases. City Council previously approved the 2021 Operating Budgets for 44 BIAs through Reports 1 and 2 at its meetings on December 16-18, 2020 (Item 2020.EC18.11) and February 2, 3 and 5, 2021 (Item 2021.EC19.2) and one BIA, Historic Queen East, is inactive. Included in this Report 3 is the 2021 Operating Budget for 40 BIAs for City Council approval.

Recommendation 1 in this report reflects the Board-adopted 2021 Operating Budgets by the respective BIAs' Boards of Management and General Membership. Complete budgets and supporting documentation have been reviewed by City staff to ensure that the 2021 Operating Budgets for BIAs reflect Council's approved policies and practices.

It is noted that the 2021 recommended Operating Budget for the Wychwood Heights BIA is yet to be adopted by the General Membership. The Annual General Membership meeting is scheduled for April 23, 2021. In the event that the General Membership disagrees, City staff will bring forward a final report at the next opportunity to seek City Council approval of the 2021 Operating Budget for this particular BIA.

Two common COVID-19 related themes continue to emerge in these budget submissions: a number of BIAs are specifically attempting to reduce financial demands on their memberships and a number of BIAs are exercising caution by postponing festivals and events.