Public Commons

Part of 2013 Budget Documents Committee Deliberations Pertaining to Parks and Community Centres

Extracts regarding Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

(Capital Budget)

Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

1. City Council approve the 2013 Recommended Capital Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation with a total project cost of $75.082 million, and 2013 cash flow of $154.397 million and future year commitments of $32.035 million comprised of the following:

a. New Cash Flow Funding for:

i. 90 new / change in scope sub-projects with a 2013 total project cost of $75.082 million that requires cash flow of $62.637 million in 2013 and a future year cash flow commitment of $7.920 million in 2014; $2.550 million in 2015; $1.4 million in 2016; and $0.575 million in 2017;

ii. 22 previously approved sub-projects with a 2013 cash flow of $36.409 million; and a future year cash flow commitment of $19.290 million in 2014; and $0.300 million in 2015;

iii. 35 sub-projects from previously approved projects with carry forward funding from 2011 and prior years requiring 2013 cash flow of $11.264 million which forms part of the affordability target that requires City Council to reaffirm its commitment; and

b. 2012 approved cash flow for 57 previously approved sub-projects with carry forward funding from 2012 into 2013 totaling $44.087 million.

(Operating Budget)

Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

1. City Council approve the 2013 Recommended Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation of $391.652 million gross and $271.737 million net, comprised of the following services:

2. City Council approve Parks, Forestry and Recreation's services and 2013 proposed service levels, as outlined on page 6-9 of the 2013 Recommended Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the associated staff complements totalling 4,224.5.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review all future impacts of capital projects on operating budgets and consider strategies, including alternative models for service delivery, to mitigate future operating budget impacts.

4. City Council establish a discretionary reserve called "Ferry Replacement Reserve" to provide funding for the replacement of the aging ferry fleet servicing the Toronto Islands with the following criteria:

a. The Account to be located within Schedule No. 1, Chapter 227 – Corporate Reserves within the Vehicle and Equipment Reserve Group;

b. The Reserve to be used to provide a source of funding for the replacement of the island ferries as needed;

c. General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation shall have primary responsibility for this reserve;

d. There shall be an initial contribution of $0.500 million;

e. New revenues generated from advertising and sponsorships associated with the ferry, as well as user fee increases attributed to capital replacement will be contributed to the reserve;

f. Funds may be withdrawn by General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation should the need to replace a ferry arise.

g. The account will be reviewed every five years through the budget process. Contributions and draws from the reserve will be approved by City Council through the annual budget process.

5. City Council direct that Parks, Forestry and Recreation undertake a full cost recovery analysis of ferry services to include both direct and indirect costs of Ferry Operations and capital replacement costs into future ferry user fees, such that the portion of the user fee attributed to capital replacement be contributed to the Ferry Reserve as part of the annual contribution.

(CAPITAL AND CORPORATE FINANCING/NON-PROGRAM)

Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

n. The General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation - briefing note to the Budget Wrap-up on the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation and its work.

o. That the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation provide a briefing note on which waterfront Parks are being considered for contracting out of maintenance work.

p. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation - briefing note on the impact of Section 37 on Parks, Forestry and Recreation's ability to accommodate growth and state of good repair in transit node areas.

q. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation - briefing note on turf maintenance standards for parks and sports fields and the number of staff allocated, by district, to achieve these standards.

1a Lawn Bowling Clubs and Park Permit Fees (Item PE15.4)

Origin
(September 14, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee
Recommendations
The Parks and Environment Committee, among other things:

1. Referred consideration of current lawn bowling club and park permit fees to the 2013 budgetary process for review.
Summary
Forwarding the Parks and Environment Committee's recommendations at its meeting on September 14, 2012.
Background Information
(September 14, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee on Lawn Bowling Cubs and Park Permit Fees (Item PE15.4)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53606.pdf)\\ (May 24, 2012) Letter from Councillor Wong-Tam on Lawn Bowling Clubs and Park Permit Fees (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53605.pdf)

1b Toronto Botanical Garden - Request for Funding (Item PE16.1)

Origin
(October 15, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee
Recommendations
The Parks and Environment Committee referred the request from the Toronto Botanical Garden for an annual grant of $160,000 per annum to the Budget Committee for consideration during the 2013 budget process.
Summary
The Parks and Environment Committee on October 15, 2012, considered a presentation from the Executive Director, Toronto Botanical Garden, on their request for funding.
Background Information
(October 15, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee on Toronto Botanical Garden - Request for Funding (Item PE16.1)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53711.pdf)\\ (October 1, 2012) Presentation from the Executive Director, Toronto Botanical Garden -Toronto Botanical Garden - Request for Funding
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53710.pdf)

1c Core Service Review - Revising the Timeframe to achieve the City's Tree Canopy Goals (Item PE17.1)

Origin
(November 9, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee
Recommendations
The Parks and Environment Committee referred the proposed Consolidated Funding Plan outlined in the report (September 28, 2012) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to the 2013 operating budget process for consideration.
Summary
The purpose of this report is to respond to City Council's request that a review of the Urban Forestry Service Plan be conducted and that a report with recommended changes to extend the timeframe to achieve the City's tree canopy goals be submitted to the Parks and Environment Committee. This report presents a revised financial strategy which when implemented, will contribute to the achievement of a healthy, diverse and sustainable urban forest.

The consolidated funding proposed takes into consideration the financial pressures resulting from the management of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), and will extend the timeframe to implement the Service Plan by seven (7) years, from 2016 to 2023. From 2013 to 2019 resources will be diverted to manage EAB. Focus on implementing the Service Plan will begin in 2017 as EAB subsides. This funding strategy will enable Urban Forestry to maintain the 2011 service levels for the next four years while providing Urban Forestry with the resources to implement the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) strategy.

This report also responds to Parks and Environment Committee's request that staff report back on replenishing or adding money to the Environment Protection Reserve Fund – Tree Canopy Allocation XR1718. The Environment Protection Reserve Fund was established to provide one-time funding only, towards enhancement and protection of the City's tree canopy. Urban Forestry does not have the means to replenish the Environment Protection Reserve Fund.
Financial Impact
See table in the staff report for financial information.

The Consolidated Funding Plan is a combination of the EAB funding plan and the revised Service Plan. The Consolidated Funding Plan requires $7.2 million less in funding from 2013 onwards when compared to the original Service Plan approved by Council in 2008 ($231.1 million vs. $238.3 million).

The Consolidated Funding Plan, as outlined in Figure 1 below, includes $48 million in reserve funding from the Environment Protection Reserve Fund (XR1718) approved in 2008 and $61.3 million in one-time funding for which the funding source is yet to be identified. The Consolidated Funding Plan also requires $152.4 million in base budget property tax funding and results in an incremental increase in property tax funding of $17.6 million phased in over 10 years reaching the total additional base funding requirement of $22 million in 2023.
Background Information
(November 9, 2012) Letter from the Parks and Environment Committee on Core Service Review – Revising the Timeframe to achieve the City’s Tree Canopy Goals (Item PE17.1)
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53713.pdf)\\ (September 28, 2012) Report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation on Core Service Review - Revising the timeframe to achieve the City's tree canopy goals
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53712.pdf)

1ad Financial Strategy to Re-establish Original Time Lines for the Urban Forestry Service Plan

Origin
(December 10, 2012) Report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary
This report responds to City Council's request that a report be submitted to Budget Committee as part of the 2013 budget process to outline the financial requirements and resources required to re-establish the original time lines of the Urban Forestry Service Plan adopted in 2008 for tree maintenance and planting, as well as maintaining the planned capacity to manage the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation.

This report presents the financial plan that is required to build the necessary resources, both internal and external, to meet the tree canopy target timelines as set out in the Original Service Plan while managing the EAB infestation. This financial plan is referred to in this report as the "Re-established Service Plan."
Financial Impact
The Re-established Consolidated Funding Plan is a combination of the 2013 recommended EAB Funding Plan and the Re-established Service Plan. Re-establishing the Original Service Plan time lines will require $39.0 million more in property tax funding (from 2013-2023) than the approved Consolidated Funding Plan that was adopted by Council in November 2012, which extends the time frame to achieve the City's tree canopy goals by seven years (to 2023).

The Re-established Consolidated Funding Plan, as outlined in Figure 1 below, includes $48 million in reserve funding from the Environment Protection Reserve Fund (XR1718) approved in 2008 and $61.3 million in one-time funding (between 2013-2023) for which the funding source is yet to be identified. A cumulative total of $181.3 million in property taxes is required between 2013 and 2023.

The financial impact of the Re-established Consolidated Funding Plan (Figure 1) compared to the approved Consolidated Funding Plan over the next 5 years is as follows:

• 2013 – no change
• 2014 – total incremental increase of $2.0 million
• property tax funding increase of $2.0 million
• 2015 – total incremental increase of $5.4 million
• property tax funding increase of $5.0 million
• reserve fund increase of $0.4 million
• 2016 –total incremental increase of $9.7 million
• property tax funding increase of $9.1 million
• reserve fund increase of $0.6 million
• 2017 – total incremental increase of $10.1 million
• property tax funding increase of $8.2 million
• reserve fund increase of $1.9 million

(See Figure 1: Plan Comparison (Consolidated Funding Plan vs. Re-established Consolidated Funding Plan) under the Financial Impact of the report dated December 10, 2012, from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division)

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.
Background Information
(December 10, 2012) Report with Attachment 1, from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation on Financial Strategy to Re-establish Original Time Lines for the Urban Forestry Service Plan
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-53776.pdf)

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