Authorized Vehicles in City Parks - Review of Operating Procedures and Policies

In response to City Council direction (2024.IE15.7), this report reviews the City's policies, procedures, and training related to the authorized use of motor vehicles outside of formal road systems in City parks with a focus on the following: a. limiting vehicle use; b. safe driving; c. use of guides on foot to accompany vehicles; d. access for emergency vehicles; e. turf and tree protection; and f. reducing emissions. This report also provides a progress update on the use of alternative vehicle types for park operations and the forthcoming Parks Electrification Pilot Project. All the materials reviewed address safety and provide basic instruction to limit unnecessary vehicle use in parks. The Fleet Safety Policy and Procedures, which apply to all City fleet operators, not including emergency services, and focuses on safe operating practices. Parks and Recreation, and Urban Forestry procedures and training reinforce these safe operating practices and in addition, provide focused guidance on the protection of turf, trees, and natural areas when operating a vehicle in a park. Up until now, this focus on protecting natural assets in parks has not been required of all City fleet operators. Toronto Police, Toronto Fire, and Toronto Paramedic Services have their own regulations, procedures, and training for vehicle operation. Staff have drawn upon these various documents to develop updated, consolidated guidance that will apply to all authorized motor vehicle use in parks. The intention of this consolidated and updated guidance document is to ensure that everyone who is driving a vehicle in a park for an authorized purpose be subject to consistent, rigorous standards, with emphasis on safety and the protection of natural assets in parks. This guidance will be used to update all of the policies, procedures, and training materials reviewed and will be provided to emergency services and City agencies. Future agreements with third parties will also be updated to align with the updated guidance. Additionally, going forward, informed by Parks and Recreation / Urban Forestry training materials, all City fleet operators will receive instruction in specific considerations for driving in parks. City fleet operators who do not follow procedures may face a range of enforcement measures, as well as retraining, depending on the severity of the incidence. Issues related to third-party vehicle operation in parks are monitored and enforced in multiple ways. This would include follow up to ensure compliance through education, additional requirements for future use, and / or seeking damages. Staff will report on implementation progress in the fourth quarter 2025.

develop and implement a public education campaign about the authorized use of vehicles in parks, precautions taken to protect people and park assets, and how to report a problem. 2. City Council request the General Manager of Parks and Recreation, working with the General Manager of Fleet Services and the Executive Director of Customer Service Experience, to identify opportunities for enhanced reporting of damage caused by vehicles in parks, as part of future work on the Parks / 311 Integration. 3. City Council request the General Manager of Fleet Services, in consultation with the General Manager of Parks and Recreation to: a. develop, by the end of the third quarter 2025, an enhanced supplementary training module on vehicle operation in parks to reflect the Consolidated and Updated Guidance found in Attachment 1 to this report; b. integrate the enhanced module on vehicle operations in parks into standard vehicle training and testing required of all new and incoming City fleet operators, beginning in the fourth quarter 2025; c. deliver staff education campaign focused on vehicles in parks beginning in the fourth quarter 2025; and d. require all current City fleet operators to complete the enhanced supplementary training module on vehicle operation in parks by first quarter 2026. 4. City Council direct the General Manager, Fleet Services Division, and the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the fourth quarter 2025 on implementation progress.