Board Meeting - September 12, 2007

A. Giambrone (Chair), J. Mihevc (Vice-Chair), B. Saundercook, G. De Baeremaeker, M. Thompson, S. Bussin and A. Perruzza (Commissioners), G. Webster (Chief General Manager), V. Rodo (General Manager – Executive & General Secretary), R. Cornacchia (General Manager – Operations), J. Sepulis (General Manager – Engineering & Construction), S. Blakey (Executive Director - Human Resources), A. Chocorlan (Manager – Materials & Procurement), M. Stambler (Manager – Service Planning), M. Anders (Marketing Research Director), M. Roche (Chief Financial Officer), W. Buffett (Assistant General Secretary) and F. Stanois (Coordinator – Secretariat Services) were  present.

A. Giambrone was in the Chair.

H. Wax, Chair, TTC Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation was also present.

Prior to commencing with the agenda, Vice-Chair Mihevc moved that the Commission excuse the absence of Commissioner Hall who was unable to be present at the meeting due to other commitments.

The motion by Vice-Chair Mihevc carried.

Commissioner Thompson moved that the Commission excuse the absence of Commissioner Milczyn who was unable to be present at the meeting due to other commitments.

The motion by Commissioner Thompson carried.

Nil

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• Commissioner Thompson submitted petitions regarding the possible elimination of the 67 Pharmacy bus route.

The Commission received the petitions.

a) Resolution – Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 19, 2007

Commissioner Bussin moved that the Commission meet as the Committee of the Whole at 10:00 a.m., or later, on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 to deal with litigation or potential litigation matters, labour relations or employee negotiations and to receive advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

The motion by Commissioner Bussin carried.

1. TTC Response to City Budget Crisis

G. Webster, Chief General Manager gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled, “TTC Actions in Response to the City’s 2007/2008 Budget Crisis.”

The Commission received the presentation.

Chair Giambrone moved that the Commission waive section 13a of its procedural by-law in order that public presentations could be made by those individuals who did not meet the registration deadline of 12:00 noon the day prior to the meeting.
The motion by Chair Giambrone carried, with two-thirds of the members present voting in favour.

The Commission heard public presentations from the following individuals:

Steve Munro

Brendan Cahill

Peter Lambert

Judy Duncan
Acorn

Sandra Melville
On behalf of Warren Park Ratepayers)
(Submitted Petition)

Andrew MacKinnon

David Fisher

Julian Heller
NDP Candidate – St. Paul’s

Katrina Miller, Campaign Director
Toronto Environmental Alliance

John Cartwright, President
Toronto & York Region Labour Council

Sam Savona

Bev Salmon

Mary Wahl

Garnett Martin

David Topping

The Commission received the public presentations.

Chair Giambrone moved that the Commission receive recommendation nos. 1 and 2 contained in the report.

Chair Giambrone moved that the Commission adopt recommendation nos. 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 contained in the report.
Chair Giambrone moved that recommendation no. 6 contained in the report be amended to read as follows:

“6. Implement an across-the-board 15-cent fare increase (15 cents on adult ticket/token fares and prorated for most others) in November 2007, and implement an additional change to monthly Metropasses equivalent to the cost of one additional ticket/token fare (about two dollars per monthly pass) to generate about $34 million in net extra revenue; and
 that appendix b of this report be amended accordingly.”

Chair Giambrone moved that recommendation no. 7 contained in the report be amended to read as follows:

“7. Continue the other cost containment initiatives approved by the commission on July 20, 2007, until further notice, and direct staff to continue, during the 2008 budget process, to consider action which will reduce our 2008 expenses and/or increase 2008 revenues, and that this work include a review of our commuter parking lot strategy.”

Chair Giambrone moved that recommendation no. 8 be amended by replacing the number “$55” with “$60” so that such recommendation reads as follows:

“8. Note that the effect of all of the previous recommendations is to have reduced the TTC’S 2008 budget shortfall from the previous $104 million to $60 million, if the RGS initiatives are operated and Mount Dennis Garage is opened, or to $35 million if they are not.”

Commissioner Perruzza moved that the Spadina Subway Extension Project, which is moving ahead, will not be affected by Commission approval of recommendation no. 7 contained in the report or as amended by Chair Giambrone.

Commissioner Thompson moved that if at the scheduled city council meeting on October 22, 2007 or at any earlier regular meeting/special meeting of city council at which the land transfer and vehicle registration taxes are implemented, the TTC will immediately rescind the recommended fare increase, if approved.

Chair Giambrone called for a vote on Commissioner Thompson’s motion.

Commissioner Saundercook requested a recorded vote.

For:  Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner Saundercook

Against: Chair Giambrone, Vice-Chair Mihevc, Commissioner De Baeremaeker, Commissioner Bussin, and Commissioner Perruzza

The motion lost by a majority of 3.

Chair Giambrone called for a vote on Commissioner Perruzza’s motion.

Vice-Chair Mihevc requested a recorded vote.

For:  Chair Giambrone, Vice-Chair Mihevc, Commissioner De Baeremaeker, Commissioner Bussin, Commissioner Perruzza, Commissioner Thompson, and Commissioner Saundercook

Against: Nil

The motion by Commissioner Perruzza carried on a unanimous vote.

Chair Giambrone called for a vote on his motions.

Vice-Chair Mihevc called for a recorded vote.

For:  Chair Giambrone, Vice-Chair Mihevc, Commissioner De Baeremaeker, Commissioner Bussin, Commissioner Perruzza, Commissioner Thompson, and Commissioner Saundercook

Against: Nil

The motions by Chair Giambrone carried on a unanimous vote.

The Commission approved the report, as amended.

Vice-Chair Mihevc moved the following motions:

1. that staff be requested to report on TTC worker salaries compared to public and private sector like jobs.

2. that staff be requested to report on independent audits done in the last five years on TTC performance and efficiency.

3. that TTC staff be requested to meet with Toronto social services staff to develop a fare mitigation strategy for social assistance and Ontario disability support program recipients, and further to develop a report for presentation to the city’s budget committee.

4. that the October 17, 2007 meeting of the Commission be deferred until after the October 22, 2007 council meeting to consider TTC budget implications.

5. that TTC staff be requested, as part of the 2008 operating budget process, to report separately on efficiencies and savings achieved, and entrepreneurial opportunities to be seized.
6. that the offer to university students for the u-pass remain at $60.00 a month for student associations, such an offer holding only until may 2008.

7. forward to council for its meeting on October 22, 2007 a report on TTC budget progress, and the implications and policy options available if the tax tools are not passed.

The motions by Vice-Chair Mihevc carried.

2. Commission’s Workforce History: 1997-2007

The Commission receive this report for information.

Received

3. Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension - Impact of Postponing the Project

It is recommended that the Commission receive this report for discussion of the positive impacts of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project (TYSSE) and provide the necessary direction regarding the postponement of the TYSSE project.

Received

Commissioner Perruzza moved that the Toronto York Spadina Subway Extension Project not be held up, and that staff undertake the necessary action to continue implementation of the project in a timely manner.

The motion by Commissioner Perruzza carried.

4. Update – 2008 Bio-Diesel Fuel Pricing

It is recommended that the Commission receive this report for information.

Received

Nil

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C-1 Hamish Wilson, dated September 10, 2007, forwarding comments regarding TTC report entitled, “TTC Response to City Budget Crisis.”

The Commission received the communication.

C-2 Andy Manahan, Brian Shifman, Jennifer Niece, Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan, dated September 10, 2007, forwarding comments regarding TTC service issues.

The Commission received the communication.

C-3 David Hutcheon, dated September 10, 2007, forwarding comments regarding discontinuance of the 30 Lambton and 55 Warren Park bus routes.

The Commission received the communication.

C-4 Amy Brown, dated September 11, 2007, forwarding comments regarding the recent TTC survey.

The Commission received the communication.

C-5 Madeleine McDowell, dated September 12, 2007, forwarding comments regarding the proposed service cuts.

The Commission received the communication.

C-6 Dina Moyal, dated September 10, 2007, forwarding comments regarding the discontinuance of the 109 Ranee bus route.

The Commission received the communication.

C-7 Commissioner Michael Thompson, dated September 12, 2007, forwarding a summary of public comments concerning proposed service cuts, route closures and fare increases, which were gathered at a public meeting convened on September 10, 2007 at the Scarborough Civic Centre.

The Commission received the communication.

The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

Nil

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