Report to: General Committee Report Date: January 7, 2008

SUBJECT: Deputation from December 10, 2007 General Committee Meeting Concerning Existing By-law to Charge Fees for Services Provided by Markham Fire & Emergency Services

PREPARED BY: Bill Snowball, Deputy Fire Chief

Ext. 5982

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report titled “Deputation from December 10, 2007 General Committee meeting concerning the existing by-law to charge fees for services provided by Markham Fire & Emergency Services be received;

And that By-law 111-98, as amended be further amended so as to permit the fees imposed by this by-law to be waived or reduced where circumstances warrant with approval of the Town of Markham Fire Chief;

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Based on the revised criteria recommended to the by-law there is minimal impact on the 2008 Operating Budget.

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide information to Council related to the Deputation from the December 10^th General Committee Meeting.

BACKGROUND:

In June 1998 the Corporation of the Town of Markham enacted By-Law 111-98 a “By-law to charge fees for services provided by Fire and Emergency Services for Emergency and Non-emergency Incidents.” This By-law was enacted to assist Fire and Emergency Services in the recovery of costs for responses to emergency and non-emergency incidents as outlined in the By-law. The By-law was in addition to By-law 37-96 “A By-law to Charge Fees for Administrative Services” and By-law 307-97 a By-law “For the Registration of Two – Unit Residential Occupancies” which was also enacted to recover costs associated with Fire Service Activities.

Section 2 of By-law 111-98 waived the fees, for residents, who would otherwise be charged for these responses.

The 2002 Core Services Review Final Report recommended that the Town prepare a corporate revenue strategy that, among other matters, would implement activity based costing to better align forecasted costs with required revenues. A revision to the Fire and Emergency Services fee by- law was proposed that was consistent with the recommendations moving toward full cost recovery. As a result, in a report to Council in August 2002, By-law 111-98 was amended with By-law 2002-181. The By-law as amended, removed Section 2 from By-law 111-98, there-by allowing the Fire and Emergency Services Department to include residents when charging for response to motor vehicle incidents.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

See attached Addendum “A” for tables outlining the invoicing for 2006 and 2007 up to December 1, 2007.

At the December 10, 2007 General Committee meeting Ms. Scavuzzo, a Thornhill resident appeared as a delegation, to take issue with receiving an invoice for $742.00 for services provided by Markham Fire & Emergency Services. The invoice related to Markham Fire responding with two fire vehicles to an incident involving Ms. Scavuzzo in September 2006. As per By-law 111-98, fees were assessed for attending this motor vehicle accident and providing emergency services.

The deputation was referred to staff for a report back to General Committee.

The Town invoiced for the provision of services under the current by-law, which offsets the costs of responding to these motor vehicle incidents. Addendum “A” summarizes the amount of the invoicing for the last two years, which totals $440,719.42. Of this amount, $202,818.79 pertains to Markham residents. If the Town had not been invoicing Markham residents for 2006 & 2007 the lost revenue would be in excess of $202,000 as some of the non-residential fees would not be paid if the incident involved a Markham resident who was at fault.

In terms of the practice of other municipalities there are varied results from the municipalities surveyed. Addendum “B” attached indicates what neighboring and comparable municipalities charge for attendance at motor vehicle incidents. As can be seen from the chart, Vaughan and Richmond Hill charge residents and all municipalities except for Vaughan use the Ministry of Transport rate as a base for their fees.

Considering the limited number of concerns that have been raised by residents on this by-law and the loss of revenue, in respect of cost recovery that would occur, staff recommends that fees charged in the by-law remain. Staff are recommending, however, a minor amendment to the by-law which will permit the fees imposed by this by-law to be waived or reduced where circumstances warrant, with the approval of the Town of Markham Fire Chief, thereby further reducing the number of concerns raised by residents. (See attached Addendum “C”). Criteria for the Fire Chief to waive or reduce the fees imposed would include:

· In attendance at an incident over the ten minute prescribed in the By-Law, but only for the reason to await the arrival of another agency.

· When one truck would have been sufficient to provide services but another truck was dispatched and was at the site for more than ten minutes but never performed any fire related services.

Fees would not be waived or reduced when Markham Fire and Emergency Services attend an incident, perform a service and the vehicle owner opts not inform their insurance company.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Legal

Finance

RECOMMENDED BY:

______________________ ________________________

Bill Snowball, Allan Seabrooke, Deputy Fire Chief Commission Lead,

Community & Fire Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Addendum A – 2006 & 2007 Invoicing By-law 111-98

Addendum B – Municipal Scan – By-law to Charge Fees for Services

Addendum C – Recommended Draft By-law Amendment