The Government Management Committee held a statutory public meeting on February 5, 2010, and notice was given in accordance with the City of Toronto Act, 2006.  No one addressed the Committee.

This report deals with tax appeal applications made to the Treasurer pursuant to sections 323 and 325 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 (COTA).  Section 323 permits Council to cancel, reduce or refund taxes in cases when, during the year, a property undergoes changes such as when it is destroyed by fire or demolished, becomes exempt from taxation, or is reclassified due to a change in its use.  Under section 325 of the COTA, taxpayers can request a cancellation, reduction or refund of taxes when an error in the assessment roll is identified which results in an overcharge.

The legislation requires Council to hold a public meeting where applicants may make a submission in defence of their position.  Council has delegated authority to hold such public meetings to the Government Management Committee.

Staff have mailed Notices of Hearing to affected taxpayers advising of the upcoming hearing before Government Management Committee.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the apportionment of property taxes in the amounts identified in Appendix A and Appendix B of the report (January 21, 2010) from the Treasurer under the columns entitled “Apportioned Tax” and “Apportioned Phase In/Capping”.

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

The Government Management Committee held a statutory public meeting on February 5, 2010, and notice was given in accordance with the City of Toronto Act, 2006.  No one addressed the Committee.

This report deals with 29 tax apportionment applications made by the Treasurer or to the Treasurer by an owner of land pursuant to section 322 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, for the properties listed in Appendices A and B (attached).

The legislation requires Council to hold a public meeting at which the applicants and / or property owners may make representations.  Council has delegated authority to hold such public meetings to the Government Management Committee. 

Staff have mailed Notices of Hearing to affected taxpayers advising of the upcoming hearing before the Government Management Committee.

The purpose of this report is to seek authority for the City to acquire the property municipally known as 330 Progress Avenue from Sanmina-Sci Systems (Canada) Inc. This property is required by the Toronto Police Service to meet its evidence management space requirements for the next 25 years.

Negotiations with the owner of this property have been ongoing since September 2009. Prior to this report going to Council, the owner will have signed an irrevocable Offer to Sell their property to the City. Proposed terms of the offer are set out in Appendix “A” and confidential Attachments “1”. The terms are considered to be fair and reasonable.

In 2008, RioCan PS Inc. purchased a closed lane at the rear of 585 Queen Street West from the City for $1,000,000.00, of which $700,000.00 has been paid to the City to date.  The purpose of this report is: (a) to obtain approval for the City to elect to receive payment of the outstanding balance of $300,000.00 by the conveyance to the City of two store front condominium units, which are valued at $300,000.00, rather than by certified cheque; (b) to obtain approval for the City to enter into a Below-Market Rent Lease Agreement with the Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation for the use of the condominium units; and (c) to obtain approval for the City to enter into an agreement with the Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation governing TAC’s mandate to operate the condominium units for artistic purposes.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

 1.        City Council delegate authority to the General Manager of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation to enter into an agreement with Toronto Star Newspapers Limited for a three (3) year and six (6) week term commencing February 26, 2010, and expiring on April 9, 2013, with a possible two (2) year extension at the sole option of the General Manager, to distribute Toronto Star newspapers in Parks, Forestry and Recreation facilities, and to coordinate free promotional space in the Toronto Star, all in a form and content satisfactory to the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to request Toronto City Council authority to enter into an agreement between the City of Toronto and Toronto Star Newspapers Limited for a term of three (3) years and six (6) weeks with a possible two (2) year extension, commencing February 26, 2010.

This agreement, once approved, will provide for the continued distribution of free Toronto Star newspapers at facilities operated by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation division without interruption.  The agreement will provide the additional benefit of promotional space in the Toronto Star daily newspaper in an effort to increase awareness and usage of Parks, Forestry and Recreation services available to the public.

The Government Management Committee requested the Director, 311 Toronto to:

1.         provide quarterly reports to the Government Management Committee on the progress of the 311 Project Management Office and 311 Contact Centre operations in 2010 and annual reports each year thereafter.

2.         post 311 Contact Centre performance measures on the City of Toronto’s Intranet site on a regular basis.

3.         include the following, in the next report to the Government Management Committee on the progress of the 311 Operations:

a.         a timeline of information/report improvements; and

b..        a timeline of when other divisions, such as Municipal Licensing and Standards and Forestry Services, will be added to the 311 operations.

This report is for the information of Government Management Committee as requested during its meeting of January 13, 2010 when considering item GM27.19 “Status of 311 Operations”. Deputy City Manager Sue Corke, was requested to submit a progress report on 311 Project Office operations to the next meeting of the Government Management Committee on February 5, 2010.

The Government Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the incorporation of the portion of the Jolly Miller property shown as Part 1 on Sketch No. PS-2009-116 attached to the report (February 1, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, into the abutting parkland/valley open space system to be operated and managed by Parks, Forestry and Recreation (“PF&R”) and the long-term operation of a public parking lot on Part 2 on said Sketch No. PS-2009-116, as a municipal parking facility to be operated and managed by  the Toronto Parking Authority (“TPA”) in accordance with Chapter 179 of the Toronto Municipal Code in exchange for a fair market value (“FMV”) contribution of $525,000.

2.         City Council exempt the 3885 Yonge Street property from the City Real Estate policies set out in the Proceeds from Sale of Surplus City-Owned Real Property (the “Proceeds Policy”) and the Principles of a City Real Estate Strategy, so that  $425,000 of the FMV contribution amount by TPA for Part 2 on Sketch No. PS-2009-116 attached to the report (February 1, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, be allocated to PF&R for capital improvements on Part 1 on the said Sketch rather than being deposited in the Land Acquisition Reserve Fund (“LARF”), and the remaining $100,000 of the FMV contribution amount by TPA, subject to TPA Board approval be deposited into LARF.

3.         City Council authorize the TPA to design and manage the construction of the park located on Part 1 shown on Sketch No. PS-2009-116 attached to the report (February 1, 2010) from the Chief Corporate Officer, to the satisfaction of the General Manager of PF&R at a total cost of $425,000 funded from the TPA 2010 approved Capital Budget CPK144-01 Jolly Miller.

4.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City Officials to take the necessary action to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in City Council of any bills necessary to give effect thereto.

In 1997, the former City of North York Council approved the acquisition of the Jolly Miller property located at 3885 Yonge Street and the development of the northern portion of this property as a municipal parking lot in order to generate revenue to aid in recovering the acquisition costs.  Once such costs were recouped, City Council was to reconsider the appropriateness of the parking use.

The purpose of this report is to provide the final statement of recovery of the original acquisition of the Jolly Miller property and to seek Council authority on the disposition of the existing parking lot.

The Government Management Committee granted authority to the Chief Corporate Officer and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, to amend Purchase Order No. 6023920 for Tender Call 195-2007 to 373044 Ontario Limited o/a Trans-Canada Construction in the amount of $182,237.40 net of GST, for Phase II Renovation at 519 Church Street Community Centre for a new total amount of $4,070,645.90 net of GST.

The purpose of this report is to request authority to amend Purchase Order No. 6023920 to 373044 Ontario Limited o/a Trans-Canada Construction for the supply of all labour, equipment and materials for the Phase II Renovations at 519 Church Street Community Centre in accordance with specifications as required by Facilities Management Division.

Initial design established that hydro service into 519 Church Street was inadequate and required upgrading from 600 Amps to 800 Amps.  Toronto Hydro was unable to provide the additional service at the start of the project as Toronto Hydro’s power distribution services in the ground required upgrading for the area. The upgrades have now been done to the underground infrastructure and Toronto Hydro can now provide the upgraded electrical service required for the new renovation at 519 Church Street.

In addition, tile underlay was required on top of the new wood sub-floors for the installation of the new tile floors. Fire separations were required for the second floor ceilings, new footings were required in front of the existing building and additional asbestos removal was required on the second floor.

The purpose of this report is to seek amendments to the conditions of a property acquisition previously approved by Council.  City Council approved the acquisition of 3495 Lake Shore Boulevard West at its meeting held on August 5 and 6, 2009.  This property is currently leased by the City from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and is operated by Children’s Services as the Thomas Berry child care centre. 

Negotiations with the Toronto Land Corporation (TLC), the agent for TDSB and the staff report approved by Council were based on the property having an area of 2,024 m² (0.50 acres).  However, when the draft reference plan for the property was completed it was discovered the property had an area of 2,969 m² (0.73 acres) and that access easements needed to be secured.  The additional land area and access easement have resulted in an increased value of the property which exceeds the original amount approved by Council for this acquisition.  The Toronto District School Board cannot sell its assets at less than fair market value.  As such, in order for this transaction to be completed, additional funding for this transaction must be approved by Council. 

Proposed terms of the offer are set out in Appendix “A”.  The terms are considered to be fair and reasonable.