The Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee met on Thursday, April 26, at 9:35 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

J. Ireland, Legislative Specialist presided.

1. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-1-2007:

That Councillor Paterak be appointed Chair of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for the term ending November 30, 2010, or until a successor is appointed;

And further, that Councillor Parrish be appointed Vice-Chair of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for the term ending November 30, 2010, or until a successor is appointed.

2. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-2-2007:

That the agenda for the April 26, 2007, Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee meeting be approved.

4. DELEGATIONS - Nil

5. REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Updated Terms of Reference for the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee (IMPSC)
Presentation by Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning

Received

See also Item 5b

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-3-2007:

That the updated terms of reference for the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee, as outlined in Appendix I of the joint report of the Commissioner of Planning and the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, dated April 5, 2007, titled "Updated Terms of Reference for the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee (IMPSC)", be approved;

And further, that the terms of reference be amended, if required, following the report of the consultant on the review of the Planning Department.

Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning, briefly outlined the history of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee (IMPSC). He advised that when the Subcommittee was established in 1996, it had a broad scope to provide guidance on a number of issues, particularly the development and review of the Regional Official Plan. He advised that the proposed revision to the mandate would allow the Subcommittee to fulfill it's duties as assigned by Regional Council with respect to the planning review, as well as to provide direction on the current review of the Official Plan.

Dan Kennaley, Manager, Planning Policy, Town of Caledon, suggested that the mandate should be narrow in scope to ensure that the Subcommittee considers only those issues delegated by Regional Council, and does not preclude other members of Regional Council from becoming involved in important discussions on planning issues.

Chair Kolb questioned whether or not members of staff from the area municipalities felt that the Subcommittee should not deal with issues which are delegated to it by Regional Council. He noted that a number of issues have risen regarding planning in the Region over the last several years which have not been resolved, and he suggested that the best way to resolve those issues is to discuss them in an informal forum, and for the politicians to provide specific direction to staff in order to provide solutions to problems and disagreements. Chair Kolb further noted that the development of an Official Plan for the Region in 1996 was made possible in large part due to the creation of the IMPSC, which provided oversight and guidance to the process.

Councillor Parrish suggested that the role of the Subcommittee be expanded to include a review of the Planning Department functions. Councillor Paterak further proposed that the Subcommittee role remain within the terms as outlined in the staff report.

Councillor Paterak suggested that the Subcommittee mandate could be approved as printed, provided that the Subcommittee is vigilent in ensuring that matters delegated to the Subcommittee are appropriate to the mandate and direction set out by Regional Council. Councillor Moore suggested that the IMPSC is a helpful forum for informally discussing concerns and disagreements between the area municipalities and the Region.

Councillor Parrish suggested that the recommendation be approved as presented by staff.

b) Review of the Roles of the Regional and Area Municipal Councils in Relation to Planning in Peel

Referred to Planning staff to consult with staff from the area municipalities
to finalize the terms of reference for the consultant, and report back to a future meeting.

See also Item 5a

Nick Tunnacliffe advised that Regional Council, at its Budget meeting held on March 8, 2007, passed a resolution which commenced a review of the planning functions for the Region and area municipalities and appointed the IMPSC as the steering committee for that review. He advised that staff from the Region and the area municpalities had reached a consensus on the matrix of planning responsiblities in the fall of 2006, but that further revisions may be required based on the review of the planning functions of the Region and the area municpalities.

John Calvert, Director, Policy Planning, City of Mississauga, suggested that the terms of reference for the consultant for the review of the Regional and area municipal councils in relation to planning in Peel should clearly identify the issues to be addressed by the consultant, as well as the deliverables expected at the end of the study. He further suggested that staff from the area municipalities, as well as the Region, be involved in the interviewing and hiring of the consultant, contrary to the suggestion in the staff report that the Regional Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) would provide administrative oversight to the review by the consultant. He further suggested that Regional staff should have established a critiera for selecting the consultant, and the proposed cost of the review, at the outset of the process.

Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning, advised that a previous review of Regional planning functions had taken place in 1999. He noted that the cost of that study was approximately $40,000, but cautioned that with inflation, the cost for the study currently under discussion may be more expensive. He advised that staff opted not to provide a proposed cost in the staff report, and will review the financial implications of the planning review once the RFP process is completed. Nick Tunnacliffe suggested that the type of individual that might be best suited to be the consultant for this project would be someone with previous senior provincial experience, who has an association with municipal government in general, and an appreciation of the challenges and requirements of a two-tier system. He noted that the intent of Regional staff and Council is to include the area municpalities throughout the process.

Councillor Parrish suggested that members of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee be responsible for assisting in interviewing short-listed candidates for the consultant position. Councillor Paterak suggested that the requirement for the Subcommittee to interview candidates could be decided on once the credentials of the candidates have been provided. He noted that interviewing each candidate could take a great deal of time and may not be the best use of the Subcommittee's time.

John Calvert advised that staff from the City of Mississauga had developed some revised wording and suggested amendments to the staff report, which he distributed to the members of IMPSC and staff.

Councillor Moore suggested that the staff report and terms of reference lacked sufficient detail for the Subcommittee to approve them. She suggested that Regional staff meet with staff from the area municipalities to review the terms of reference. Nick Tunnacliffe advised that Regional staff had received comments from staff at the City of Brampton, and that those comments had been incorporated into the report which was printed with the agenda. He advised that Regional staff would continue to work with area municipal staff to determine further suggestions and concerns regarding the terms of reference for the consultant, and for the planning review.

c) Assignment of Responsiblities to Mississauga
Presentation by Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning

Received

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-4-2007:

That staff be directed to provide a draft recommendation for consideration at the May 3, 2007 General Committee meeting, in consultation with area municipal planning staff.

Nick Tunnacliffe noted that the Places to Grow Growth Plan assigns four specific responsiblities to upper-tier municipalities, which are outlined in Section 5.4.2.2. of the Growth Plan. He advised that a request had been received from the City of Mississauga to delegate those responsiblties to the City, and he suggested that to do so prior to the review of the consultant would be premature.

Members of the Subcommittee discussed which aspects of Section 5.4.2.2. could be delegated to the City of Mississauga at this point, and which should be deferred until the report of the consultant on the planning review is received and acted upon.

Councillor Parrish suggested that sections a) and d) of Section 5.4.2.2. should be deferred until the report from the consultant is received and acted upon, and she noted that section c) would likely be addressed by the Province. She requested that section b), the identification of the "density targets for urban growth centres where applicable" be delegated to the City of Mississauga at this time. She noted that section b) has two parts to it, the intensification target of 40 per cent, and the urban growth centre requirement for 200 people and jobs per hectare. The latter could be delegated as it does not affect the other municipalties.

Nick Tunnaclifffe noted that delegation of section c), "the identification of density targets for the designated greenfield areas of the lower-tier municipalities, to achieve the density target for the designated greenfield areas," may not apply to the City of Mississauga. He advised that, depending on the definition of the built boundary by the Province, the City of Mississauga may be completely within the built boundary, which would mean that the city would not include any greenfield areas, and section c) would not apply to the City of Mississauga. He further noted that staff from the Region and the City concur that all of the City of Mississauga should be within the built boundary. He advised that staff would report back to the Subcommittee on the status of section
c) once a decision on the built boundary is received from the Province.

Dan Kennaley suggested that the delegation of responsiblities under the Places to Grow Plan be reviewed by the consultant to be hired for the review of the area municipal and regional planning functions.

Councillor Paterak advised that he did not see the two studies as compatible; that the study by the consultant would be academic in nature and would review the structure of the planning functions, and not political implications of issues currently under review by the Region.

Councillor Parrish suggested that once the review of the planning functions is complete, that the same consultant could possibly be retained once again following the first report to provide further analysis on the delegation of responsiblties under the Growth Plan.

Adrian Smith, Director, Planning and Land Development Services, City of Brampton, advised that the delegation of section b) to the City of Mississauga could create potential spillover effects for the other area municipalities. He noted that the intesification targets that will be set out in the Growth Plan do not account for the additional 30,000 people allocated by the Growth Plan to the Region of Peel, and if the location for that intensification is not properly identified, it could create challenges for Brampton and Caledon.

Councillor Parrish suggested that 30,000 people in the context of a total population forecast of 1.64 million was minimal, and should not be considered a priority at this time. Councillor Parrish further suggested that the Region has provided adequate water, wastewater and roads services to accommodate 30,000 additional residents.

Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research, advised members of the Subcommittee that the intensification targets of 40 per cent were not minumum requirements, and that more intense development could take place. He advised that the figure of 30,000 residents was developed by adding together the population projections for the area municipalities, and comparing that figure to the population figure provided by the Province in the Places to Grow Plan of 1.64 million residents. Arvin suggested that more than 30,000 additional residents could be accomodated in the Region, if required.

Councillor Moore asked if the additional 30,000 people included in the growth forecasts has currently been assigned to one specific municipality. Nick Tunnacliffe responded that the population projected for the Region would be allocated under Section 5.4.2.2. a) of the Growth Plan, which the Region does not recommend delegating to the City of Mississauga.

Chair Kolb noted that the location of the additional 30,000 residents within the Region of Peel could have an effect on Regional services, and the forecasted growth and changes to those services should be considered in the context of the Growth Plan and the allocation of residents and intensification targets.

Members of the Subcommittee discussed the possibility of rewriting the recommendation contained within the staff report through discussion by conference call following the meeting. Councillor Parrish suggested that some additional clauses to explain the background for the recommendation should be included.

Members of the Subcommittee requested that a revised recommendation be brought forward to General Committee for consideration on May 3, 2007, based on the comments provided during the Subcommittee meeting, and in consultation with staff of the area municipalities.

6. UPDATES - Nil

7. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

8. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Item - Item 9a:

a) Addition of Councillor Thompson to the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee (Oral)

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-5-2007:

That Councillor Thompson be appointed to the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for the term ending November 30, 2010, or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.

Councillor Thompson expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Subcommittee. Staff from the Clerk's Division advised that the membership of the Subcommittee is not restricted to a certain number of members, and as such, the Subcommittee could recommend that Councillor Thompson be included in the membership.

10. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 9:30 a.m., Regional Administrative Headquarters, Council Chamber, 5th floor, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Julie Ireland, Legislative Specialist, 905-791-7800, extension 4502 or at julie.ireland@peelregion.ca.

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m.