The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council direct that credit balances on all property tax accounts, equal to or less than five hundred dollars ($500), be applied as a credit to the tax account of the current assessed owner of the property, and where requested in writing or required in order to meet legislated refund timelines, credit amounts between fifteen ($15) and $500 be refunded directly to the current assessed owner by way of a cheque, therein updating and amending the previously approved dollar threshold of one hundred ($100) dollars for automated refunds of credit balances.

2.        City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The purpose of this report is to seek the necessary authority to amend the existing one hundred dollar ($100) threshold for automated transfers of credit balances to property tax bills to five hundred dollars ($500).

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council direct that Property taxes, fees and interest as set out in Table 1 of the report  (February 23, 2010) from the Treasurer, representing a total estimated amount of $1.65 million as at February 28, 2010, be deemed uncollectible and written off.

2.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council consent to provide an exemption from property taxes under paragraph 16 of subsection 3(1) of the Assessment Act for the premises occupied by the Canadian Air and Space Museum.

2.         City Council, in consideration of the fact that as a tenant of the Federal Government the Canadian Air and Space Museum is separately assessed and directly liable to taxation as if it were an owner, waive the requirement for a 99 year (or longer) lease or ownership identified in Attachment 1 of the report (February 24, 2010) from the Treasurer, as a condition for providing a property tax exemption, as long as the space is occupied by the Canadian Air and Space Museum.

3.        City Council write off the property taxes and interest that have accrued against the premises occupied by the Canadian Air and Space Museum for the period from March 1, 1997, to December 31, 2009.

4.         City Council request the City Clerk to inform the Canadian Air and Space Museum and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation of Council’s decision with respect to Recommendation 1 above.

5.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City Officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

 This report requests authority to increase the value of Contract No. 47012152 with Compugen Inc. for the supply and delivery of desktop and notebook computers, printers and related hardware, software and services in the amount not to exceed $3,240,000.00 net of GST.    The increase will allow the various City Divisions to continue to purchase desktop-related equipment and services and allow the Information and Technology Division (I&T) to continue desktop sustainment service until the new Request for Quotation (RFQ) is released and a new contract is awarded in June 2010.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to enter into an agreement with The Oxford Group for the provision and maintenance of internet-enabled computers in Toronto Community Housing and in Parks, Forestry and Recreation venues at no cost to the City.

The purpose of this report is to advise on the results of Request for Proposal No. 9155-10-7008, issued to invite counter proposals to the unsolicited proposal received from The Oxford Group for the provision and maintenance of internet-ready computers in City facilities, and to request authority to enter into an agreement with The Oxford Group.

The Government Management Committee considered the following recommendation contained in the report (February 22, 2010) from the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Director of Purchasing and Materials Management:

1.         City Council grant authority to enter into a Licence Agreement with the Ontario Volleyball Association in relation to professional services for the operation of beach volleyball in Ashbridge’s Bay Park and Woodbine Beach Park for a term of five years, during the period from May 1st to September 30th in each years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, with an option to renew at the sole discretion of the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation (the "General Manager") for an additional five-year term.  Should the option be exercised, the General Manager will request the Director of Purchasing and Materials Management Division to provide the necessary contract renewal for the May 1, 2015 to September 30, 2019 term under the terms and conditions outlined in this report, and satisfactory in form and content to the General Manager and the City Solicitor.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to enter into lease agreements (the "Agreements") between the City of Toronto, as landlord, and sixty-five (65) tenants, as outlined in “Appendix A” of the report (February 25, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, in the building known municipally as 91, 93 and 95 Front Street East (St. Lawrence Market South) substantially on the terms and conditions as set out in “Appendix B” attached to the report (February 25, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, in  and on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Chief Corporate Officer, or his or her designate, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to administer and manage the Agreements including the provision of any consents, approvals, notices and notices of termination provided that the Chief Corporate Officer may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters (including their content) to City Council for its determination and direction.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize entering into a Lease Renewal Agreement with 3052690 Nova Scotia Limited for a five (5) year term commencing May 01, 2010, and expiring on May 31, 2015, including an option to renew for another five (5) year term and an option to acquire additional space, based substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix “A”,  to the report (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, and other terms and conditions approved by the Chief Corporate Office, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to administer and manage the lease agreements to include the provision for any consents, approvals,  notices and notices of termination provided that the Chief Corporate Officer may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters (including their content) to City Council for its determination and direction.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize a new Below Market Rent lease agreement with The Theatre Centre, for a ten (10) year term plus two (2) renewal options of 5-years each, based on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix “A” to the report (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and on such other terms and conditions acceptable to the Chief Corporate Officer, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to administer and manage the lease agreement, including the provision of any consents, approvals, notices and notices of termination provided that the Chief Corporate Officer may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters (including their content) to City Council for its determination and direction.

3.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the lease, deliver any notices, pay expenses and amend the commencement and other dates to such earlier or later date(s), on such terms and conditions, as she may, from time to time, determine.

4.         City Council grant an exemption to the Below Market Rent Policy to allow The Theatre Centre to become a tenant at 1115 Queen Street West without the need to solicit a request for proposals as required by the Below Market Rent Policy.

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council authority to enter into a new Below Market Rent lease agreement with The Theatre Centre for approximately 9,300 square feet of space located at 1115 Queen Street West.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the City to accept the Offer to Purchase from Akram Bousaleh to purchase 11 Spadina Road, being part of PCL 9-1, Section M2, designated as Parts 3 and 4 on Plan 66R-23383, subject to the retention of an easement in Part 3 for transit purposes (the “Property”), in the amount of $761,100.00, substantially on the terms and conditions outlined in Appendix “A” to the report (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer.

2.         City Council authorize each of the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director of Real Estate Services severally to accept the Offer to Purchase on behalf of the City.

3.         City Council authorize a portion of the proceeds of closing be directed to fund the outstanding expenses related to the Property and the completion of the sale transaction.

4.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the transaction on behalf of the City, including paying any necessary expenses, amending the closing, due diligence and other dates, and amending and waiving terms and conditions, on such terms as she considers reasonable.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council grant authority to the Director of Real Estate to negotiate to acquire, and if unsuccessful, to initiate expropriation proceedings, if necessary, for the Required Property for the purposes of constructing the Line from west of Birchmount Road to east of McCowan Road.

2.         City Council grant authority to the Director of Real Estate to serve and publish Notices of Application for Approval to Expropriate the Required Property, to forward to the Chief Inquiry Officer any requests for hearing that are received, to attend the hearing to present the City’s position and to report the Inquiry Officer’s recommendations to City Council for its consideration.

3.         City Council authorize the amendment to the property requirement, as set out in Appendix “B1” of the report (March 1, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, for which authority to initiate expropriation proceedings was previously approved by Council.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the Director of Real Estate to negotiate to acquire the identified property interest from 1270 Finch Avenue West for the purpose of widening Tangiers Road where it intersects with Finch Avenue West, in connection with the construction of a portion of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, and to initiate expropriation proceedings, if necessary.

2.         City Council authorize the Director of Real Estate to serve and publish Notices of Application for Approval to Expropriate the identified property interest from 1270 Finch Avenue West, to forward any requests for hearing that are received to the Chief Inquiry Officer, to attend the hearing in order to present the City’s position, and to report the Chief Inquiry Officer’s recommendations back to City Council for its consideration.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council, as the Approving Authority, approve the expropriation of 3933 Keele Street, 3941 Keele Street and 3955 Keele Street for the purpose of constructing the Finch West subway station and all works ancillary thereto, in connection with the construction of a portion of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension.

2.         City Council grant leave for introduction of the necessary Bill in Council to give effect thereto.

3.         City Council authorize City staff to take all necessary steps to comply with the Expropriations Act, including but not limited to, the preparation and registration of an Expropriation Plan and the service of Notices of Expropriation, Notices of Election as to a Date for Compensation and Notices of Possession, for these  three properties.

4.         City Council further authorize City staff to obtain appraisal reports to value these three properties, updated to the date of expropriation; and to prepare and serve offers of compensation on all registered owners, at the appraised values, all in accordance with the requirements in the Expropriations Act.

5.          City Council authorize the Director of Real Estate or his designate to sign the Notices of Expropriation, Notices of Possession and the Offers of Compensation on behalf of the City for these three properties.

6.         City Council authorize the public release of the confidential information contained in Attachment 1 to the report (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, once there has been a final determination of the compensation payable to the Owners by arbitration, appeal or settlement to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council, as Approving Authority under the Expropriations Act, consider the report of the Inquiry Officer as detailed in Appendix A attached to the report (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, and approve the expropriation of 4080 Sheppard Avenue East for the purpose of constructing a grade separation on Sheppard Avenue East at the Agincourt GO Station in connection with the Sheppard East LRT Project for the reasons outlined in the (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, and based on the recommendations of David R. Vine Q.C., Inquiry Officer.

2.         City Council authorize payment of $200.00 in costs to PACIFIC Inc., the owner of 4080 Sheppard Avenue, in accordance with the provisions of the Expropriations Act.

3.         City Council, as expropriating authority under the Expropriations Act, authorize all necessary steps to comply with the Expropriations Act, including but not limited to the preparation and registration of an Expropriation Plan, service of Notices of Expropriation, Notices of Election as to a  Date for Compensation and Notices of Possession.

4.         City Council authorize the Director of Real Estate to sign the Notices of Expropriation and Notices of Possession on behalf of the City.

5.         City Council direct that leave be granted to introduce the necessary Bill in Council to give effect thereto.

6.         City Council authorize the public release of the confidential information contained in Attachment 1 of the (February 24, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, once there has been a final determination of the compensation payable for the subject property by arbitration, appeal or settlement to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.

The Toronto Parking Authority (the “TPA”) proposes to purchase 250 Manning Avenue (the “Property”) from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (the “TCDSB”) in order to establish a municipal parking facility with approximately 40 spaces (see attached Site Location Map and Aerial Photo and Assessment Parcel Map for 250 Manning Avenue).  Since the size of the Property exceeds TPA’s requirements, the TPA issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) in order to sell the northern portion of the Property (the “Development Lands”).  Proposals have been submitted, and a successful bidder is expected to be selected shortly. The TPA will enter into a conditional Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) with the successful proponent (the "Purchaser").

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council’s approval to purchase 250 Manning Avenue, for the City to retain the southern portion of the Property (the “Retained Lands”) which will be redeveloped by the TPA to provide a new municipal parking facility, and approval in principle to sell the Development Lands to the Purchaser.  Once the PSA is signed, a supplementary report will be submitted with more information about the Purchaser and proposed deal.

This acquisition will help alleviate a shortfall in public parking within the area and continue to service the short term parking needs of the community.

In a report to Government Management Committee dated February 24^th, 2010, the Toronto Parking Authority (the “TPA”) requested City Council to approve in principle the sale of the northern portion of the Property at 250 Manning Avenue, being the Development Lands declared surplus to the City's needs, for fair market value, provided that the TPA submits a supplementary report identifying the Purchaser and key business terms of the proposed sale.

Since the size of the Property exceeds TPA’s requirements, the TPA issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) in order to sell the northern portion of the Property (the “Development Lands”).  This supplementary report seeks Council approval of the proposed sale to the successful bidder, Protolog Developments Ltd. (“Protolog”), and is in support of the previous TPA report seeking approval of both the acquisition and partial disposition of 250 Manning Avenue.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the acquisition of 457 Spadina Road (the “Property”) from Sharon Green and Fred Green (the “Vendor”) for a purchase price of $898,000 plus the expenditure of an additional $255,000 for construction and associated costs such as land transfer tax, survey, environmental studies, legal and brokerage fees for a total acquisition cost of $1,153,000.

2.         City Council direct that upon acquisition, the purchased lands be designated for municipal parking purposes, to be managed by the TPA.

3.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the purchase transaction, deliver any notices, pay any expenses and amend the closing and other dates to such earlier or later date(s), on such terms and conditions, as she may, from time to time, determine.

4.         City Council authorize the appropriate City Officials to take the actions necessary to give effect thereto.

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council’s approval to purchase 457 Spadina Road (the “Property”) (see attached Site Location Map) in order to expand the adjacent Municipal Carpark 164 (453 Spadina Road) located at Thelma Avenue and Spadina Road from 43 spaces to 54 surface spaces.  This acquisition will help alleviate a shortfall in public parking while continuing to service the short term parking needs of the surrounding Forest Hill Village community

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize rental agreements for the property(s) referred to and on terms and conditions outlined in, Confidential Attachment 1 of the report (March 10, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, and on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with the Director, Real Estate Services and Toronto Police Service, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to approve any other short term rental agreements to be entered into by the City, for other premises required by Toronto Police Service (TPS), such leases not to exceed four (4) months, where such additional premises are deemed necessary by TPS and the G8/G20 Planning Team for security operations of the G8/G20 Summits, upon terms satisfactory to the Director, Real Estate Services, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and provided such leasing costs are funded in accordance with Council’s Decision CC46.3 adopted on February 22 and 23, 2010.

3.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to administer and manage the rental agreements, including the provision of any consents, approvals, notices and notices of termination provided that the Chief Corporate Officer may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters (including their content) to City Council for its determination and direction.

4.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the transaction(s) on behalf of the City, including making payment of any necessary expenses and amending any relevant dates to such earlier or later date(s) and on such terms and conditions that the City Solicitor may from time to time consider reasonable.

5.         City Council authorize the public release of the confidential information contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 of  the report (March 10, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, following the conclusion of the 2010 G8/G20 Summit.

On September 30, 2009, Toronto City Council approved a report entitled Reserved on-street parking for use by car share vehicles – Pilot Program in Downtown Area (Sustainable Transportation Initiative) – PW26.3.  The report concluded that the car share industry “has the potential to reduce transportation costs by reducing the dependency on private vehicle ownership”, thereby increasing the use of public transit, cycling and walking.  The report also confirmed, among other details that the support of the City of Toronto for the car share industry:

1.         has the potential to reduce air pollution from vehicle emissions thereby contributing towards the City achieving the goals of the “Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan” approved by City Council;

2.         has the potential to reduce the number of cars in private ownership and on the road, thereby reducing demands on parking and wear-and-tear on/maintenance costs of road infrastructure;

3.         addresses one of the Sustainable Transportation Initiative: Short-term Proposals adopted by City Council;

The report described the car-share concept as “a program that offers vehicles for short-term rental to registered members of a car-share organization/company. Vehicles are located geographically throughout the City to serve members and are rented on an hourly basis. All vehicle costs (gas, maintenance, insurance, etc.) are included in the rental fee. Vehicles are assigned by the company to a specific location, checked out by the member for a specified time period, and returned to the same location at the end of the rental period.”

The City of Toronto currently owns and operates over 2,000 cars and trucks across several divisions.  Opportunities exist for the City of Toronto to utilize the technology and services of the Car Share industry to maximize fleet efficiency, reduce the number of fleet vehicles required, and supplement a smaller, more efficient city fleet with car sharing solutions.

(Submitted to the Government Management Committee March 11, 2010)