Agenda

The purpose of this report is to seek approval from City Council to accept an in-kind donation and to enter into a construction agreement with The Canadian Society for Yad Vashem to renovate and improve the Holocaust Memorial in Earl Bales Park, in accordance with the terms and conditions described in this report.

The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that City Council:

1.         Authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to implement a pilot program for hosting commercial/private special events at the ten (10) park locations, including Guild Park and Gardens, listed in Appendix 1 to this report, for the 2014 operating season, and to report back in early 2015 on the success of the pilot program for the 2014 operating season.

2.         Approve implementation of the proposed commercial permit fee rates as noted in Appendix 2 to this report.

3.         Amend Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges to include the new Commercial Permit Fee rates, as appropriate.

4.         Limit the number of commercial/private special events to a maximum of six (6) (excluding sampling) per park location per season.

5.         Direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to analyze the revenues generated by the pilot project and report back in early 2015 on ways to reinvest these funds in park maintenance and on the impact of the Reduction in Permit Fees Policy for not for profit and community events held in 2014.

The pilot project for commercial/private special events in City parks will have a positive revenue impact once the full implementation has occurred.  It is expected that the impact of the first pilot year will be small.  The division is forecasting revenues of $60,000.00 in 2014 with the potential of achieving $170,000.00 in future years.

The proposed fees are market based and constitute approximately 90 percent of full costs.  Any additional costs such as clean up and equipment requests will be billed on a full cost recovery basis.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that:

1.         City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to implement the procedure for pumpkin parades in parks, and waive fees for non-profit groups that commit to obtaining a permit and cleaning the park afterwards.

This report responds to six Committee and Council requests following the 2013-2017 Parks Plan's adoption. It contains updates on discussions with CUPE Local 416 around enabling volunteers in parks, updates on bake ovens and fire pits, and various issues regarding solid waste collection in parks. Finally, it recommends a new procedure for responding to pumpkin parade requests.

There are no financial impacts resulting from the adoption of this report. Any adjustment to user fees proposed in this report are expected to have little or no financial impact overall.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with this financial impact statement.

The purpose of this report is to provide Toronto City Council, via the Parks and Environment Committee, with the Toronto Police Services Board’s (Board) response to a Toronto City Council Motion with respect to the 2-13-2017 Parks Plan.

There are no financial implications related to the recommendations contained in this report.

This report responds to a Member Motion adopted as amended by City Council at its meeting of July 11, 12 and 13, 2012 entitled, "Assessing the viability of 'Zip-Lining' through Earl Bales Park" (Item MM25.26). In adopting the item, City Council requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to work with others to develop a long-term, sustainable ravine management, education, and recreation program at Earl Bales Park; identify conflicts, and propose by-law amendments aimed at the adoption and development of a ravine education and protection program at the park; and report on a strategic path with recommendations to consider a "zip-lining" opportunity at Earl Bales Park.

This report outlines the existing long-term, sustainable ravine management and education program and summarizes the relevant policies and by-laws. The report also confirms that there are no conflicts or impediments to the development of a ravine education and protection program at the park, and that the current process for reviewing proposals, such as the zip-line activity proposal in Earl Bales Park, is appropriate.

There are no financial implications resulting from the receipt of this report.

The purpose of this report is to provide information as requested by the Parks and Environment Committee, on the experience of the United States in dealing with Emerald Ash Borer and what Urban Forestry is doing to educate residents of Toronto about this pest.

There are no financial implications resulting from the receipt of this report.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

The Chief Corporate Officer recommends that:

1.         City Council delegate authority to the Chief Corporate Officer to negotiate, enter into and execute on behalf of the City agreements with Toronto Hydro Electric System Limited and the Ontario Power Authority in respect of the photovoltaic solar program and Feed in Tariff Program on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Corporate Officer, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2.         City Council amend the approved 2013 Capital Budget and 2014 - 2022 Capital Plan for the Sustainable Energy Plan by creating two new Solar Photovoltaic Projects, the Solar PV Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) project and the Solar PV microFIT project, and re-allocating the remaining $4.8 million from the existing Solar PV Program, funded through the Energy Conservation Reserve Fund.  Annual capital budget requirement for the two new projects will be $3.200 million in 2014 and $1.200 million in 2015 for the FIT project and $0.300 million in 2013 and $0.100 million in 2014 for the microFIT project.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for revisions to the City's partnership program with Toronto Hydro Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro), underway since 2010, to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on City facilities.  The program is carried out via the provincial Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program, through which the electricity generated by the installations is sold under contract to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).  The installations will generate revenue for the City throughout the 20 year life of the OPA contract, and will pay back the City's original investment in approximately eight years.  Council has approved $8 Million for the City's portion of the program, of which $3.2 Million has been spent or committed to date.

Recent changes to FIT will improve the likelihood that City projects will receive contracts from the OPA, but will require adjustments to the business arrangement between the City and Toronto Hydro.  Under the current agreement, the City can own a maximum of 49 percent of the new installations. Under the amended agreement, the City will become the majority (51 percent) owner. 

The report also seeks authority to reallocate $4.4 Million from the original program to the new program, and $400,000.00 to finance the installation of six small solar installations on City facilities under the OPA microFIT program.  These installations will take place outside of the Toronto Hydro partnership program, and will be 100 percent owned by the City.  Funding reallocation is required at this time to ensure timelines imposed by the microFIT program are adhered to.

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon recommends to the Parks and Environment Committee that:

1.         The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation be requested to report back to Parks and Environment Committee before the end of January 2014 with a training, communication and enforcement plan regarding vehicle use in parks.

2.         Information on existing policies regarding vehicle use in parks be immediately circulated to any and all groups which operate vehicles in parks.

Motorized vehicles should only enter Toronto's parks when absolutely necessary, and when operating in parklands must respect the public's enjoyment of our shared space. Irresponsible use of cars, trucks and other motorized vehicles in parks can destroy the natural environment, threaten public safety and reflect poorly on City of Toronto staff.

Complaints of speeding, reckless driving and simply unnecessary vehicle use in Toronto's parks are common. Current policies regarding vehicle use in parks are adequately stringent, however too often they are ignored.

Friends of High Park Zoo (FHPZ), a non- profit organization, was formed in the spring of 2012 to protest the 2012 city budget decision to revoke funding for the zoo. The group wanted to raise public awareness about the zoo and to raise funds to keep it open. FHPZ entered into an agreement with the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation to collect monies for the zoo and issue Tax Receipts to donors. A core group of volunteers continue to raise funds through grass roots campaigns at the zoo itself, for example volunteers are at the llama pens in the zoo on weekends and holidays, from March to October, where they receive donations to feed the llamas. To date FHPZ have successfully raised the funds required to keep the zoo operational from July 1st, 2012 to the present day

The Board of Friends of High Park Zoo have put together a comprehensive business plan and have worked on governance for the group. The Board and the volunteers are working together to ensure that there will always a be free community zoo in High Park and they plan to enhance the zoo for the benefit of all visitors by leading activities that engage the community, while promoting awareness and fundraising for the Zoo

The Friends of High Park Zoo embodies the principles set out by the City of Toronto to better our communities through volunteers. I would like to commend the Friends of High Park Zoo for their work in saving the High Park Zoo from closure and recommend that their efforts be recognized by the Parks and Environment Committee.

1.         Authority be granted to the General Manager of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division to accept a donation in the amount of $74,500.00 from Scarborough Baseball Association from a grant received from the Toronto Blue Jays, Jays Care Foundation, and to spend the donation for the purpose of refurbishing diamond #2 at Neilson Park in compliance with the Policy on Donations to the City for Community Benefits.

2.         Authority be granted to the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to negotiate and enter into an Agreement with the Jays Care Foundation that defines the terms and conditions of use for the donated funds at Neilson Park, all in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Authority is being sought to enter into an agreement to accept a $74,500.00 donation from Scarborough Baseball Association from a grant received from the Toronto Blue Jays, Jays Care Foundation towards the refurbishment of baseball diamond number two at Neilson Park in Ward 42.

Scarborough Baseball Association was awarded a grant from the Toronto Blue Jays, Jays Care Foundation after the successful submission of a proposal to the Jays Care Field of Dreams program that was prepared in conjunction with Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff.

The final project cost will not be greater than the actual total of the donations received.  There will be no additional financial impact resulting from the acceptance of this donation. The proposed refurbishment updates an existing baseball diamond in Neilson Park. No additional City resources are required as the estimated annual maintenance cost of the diamond is already included in Parks, Forestry and Recreation's 2013 Operating Base Budget.