The Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee met on June 19, 2003, at 9:02 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

Councillor I. Sinclair presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-1-2003:

That the agenda for the June 19, 2003, Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee meeting be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

4. REPORTS

a. Status Report - Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU)

Received

Councillor Sinclair requested an explanation for the delay in accumulating data from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for environmental mapping on the Oak Ridges Moraine. In response, Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research advised that staff have been working closely with MNR and with area municipal staff and that the issue of environmental mapping was back on track.

Councillor Sinclair further made reference to the shale resources study and a letter from the Niagara Escarpment Commission. He noted that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) had been requested to outline an official Provincial position and questioned the status of that referral. In response, Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning advised that he has spoken with staff at MMAH who advised that they were experiencing difficulty in obtaining input from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. He stated that a response from the Province was expected within the next week or two.

Councillor Sinclair noted that the Town of Caledon has been tasked with identifying and protecting a large tract of land around Cheltenham on the Niagara Escarpment as a shale resource. He suggested that there may need to be larger scale consideration of this resource. On that issue, Councillor Palleschi noted that the City of Brampton has requested that the Province conduct a detailed shale resource mapping study as the current mapping being used is incorrect. He noted that Brampton will protect shale resources once they have been properly identified.

Councillor Palleschi made reference to the financial study and expressed concern about information that had been passed on to him resulting from a meeting held on June 18, 2003. He was informed that a Region of Peel staff member advised others at the meeting that the Region would be conducting an independent financial study and further, this staff person stated that he did not have any direction to share the terms of reference of that study with others at the meeting. Councillor Palleschi noted that it was his understanding that a joint study would be conducted to avoid duplication. He requested an explanation for what occurred at the June 18th meeting.

In response, Chairman Kolb noted that he was not at the meeting but assured Councillor Palleschi that the City and the Region would work together on the financial study. Roger Maloney, Chief Administrative Officer added that he had recently written to Mr. McCool at the City putting forth a proposal on how the Region could work together with the City to proceed with the joint study.

Also in response, Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning advised that he, too, was not at the meeting but stated that it appears there was a misunderstanding by the individual involved. He noted that the Region proposed working with the City of Brampton on one financial study. He noted, however, that there has been some resistance from Brampton in areas concerning social issues and soft services. He further advised that the Regional Official Plan requires that a financial impact model be developed which would be applicable to more than Northwest Brampton. This has not yet been developed and it was their intent to use this opportunity to develop that model. He emphasized the need to establish a senior coordinating committee to give direction in regard to the study.

William Winterhalt, Director, Planning Policy and Research, City of Brampton, advised that he had participated in the June 18th meeting and expressed disappointment that more was not accomplished at that time. He advised of the Regional staff persons' lack of direction or uncertainty about whether the terms of reference could be shared. He noted that the conclusion of their discussions was that the staff representative would seek further clarification from the Region about how to proceed.

Councillor Palleschi agreed that a senior management coordinating committee should be established and requested that this be done by the end of the month. He emphasized that he expected only one study to be conducted, using one consultant and including components for both the Region and the municipality.

Chairman Kolb made a commitment to convene a meeting of senior staff at the Region and the City of Brampton to clarify positions and ensure that the proper directions are conveyed to staff. In addition, Roger Maloney, Chief Administrative Officer noted that the Region had initiated a meeting with Lorne McCool of the City of Brampton and his senior staff about two months ago. Coordination at the higher level was discussed at that time and the communication to Mr. McCool he noted earlier was a follow-up to those discussions in reference to working together.

Councillor Sinclair noted that it has been over three months since the Region had received draft terms of reference. He further questioned why the Region did not already have a financial impact model in place if it was a requirement of the Official Plan that was enacted five years ago. He questioned how much time would be required to develop the Region's financial impact model and what the cost would be. He requested that a report be brought to the July 10, 2003 meeting of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee and suggested that Northwest Brampton could be used as case study in developing the Region's financial model.

Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning advised that staff intend to bring the report on Northwest Brampton to the July 10th meeting of Council and noted that he was awaiting comments from Brampton which were urgently needed if the report deadline was to be met. In this regard, Councillor Palleschi committed to following up with City staff to ensure that comments are provided forthwith.

Councillor Sinclair stated that he did not want the financial impact study issue to get wrapped into the Northwest Brampton report. He noted that the development of the Regional financial model should proceed separately and he felt it was critical that this model be developed jointly with Brampton and not delayed by the Northwest Brampton issue.

Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning noted that Regional staff would be reviewing the development of the financial model and, after further consultation with staff from the Finance Department, would decide the best approach to take. He suggested that it may appropriate to include it as part of the report on Northwest Brampton.

Councillor Palleschi suggested that the report of the Commissioner of Planning, dated May 29, 2003, titled "Status Report - Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU) be received and noted the direction to staff to conduct a joint financial study in conjunction with the City of Brampton.

b. Study on Transportation for Persons with Disabilities (Oral)

Presentation by Tom AppaRao, Director of Transportation Planning and Bill O'Brien, Vice President, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited

Referred to the July 10, 2003 Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee meeting

5. COMMUNICATIONS

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS

7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting date of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee is scheduled for Thursday, July 10, 2003 at 8:30 a.m., Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

Please forward regrets to Elizabeth Corazzola, Legislative Co-ordinator, 905-791-7800, extension 4502.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:28 a.m.