Exhibition Place
The full agenda, as filed
All 4 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
EP6.1adopted
2024 Proposed Capital Works Budget as Part of Ten-Year (2024 - 2033) Program
Toronto, being North America's 4th largest City is home to Exhibition Place. The site currently hosts 1,260 events annually with approximately 5.5 million visitors per year for exhibitions, conventions, events, and entertainment, and we are moving towards becoming a 365-day destination for an impressive range of activities. It is important to note that Exhibition Place is pedestrian friendly, and we are visited by our neighbours to the north, from across the country and around the world. Exhibition Place vision is to become Canada's premier destination for conventions, exhibitions, events, and entertainment. We are a unique site in North America, and our goal is to transform Exhibition Place into an intimate space that facilitates unimpeded movement of people. On August 28, 2023, the City's Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer provided supplementary instructions for all City Divisions and Agencies with the preparation of the 2024 Capital Works Budget as Part of Ten-Year Submission with a firm submission deadline of September 15, 2023. Exhibition Place Managed Projects Supporting the City objective of minimizing debt funding, Exhibition Place staff have worked towards minimizing debt funding for Exhibition Place new projects, also taking into consideration inflationary pressures, and supporting our vision. The change from 2023 to 2024 10-year Capital Plan excluding carry-forward is a year-over-year change of $10.4 million over the 10 years. Third Party Projects In early 2023, the City entered into agreement with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) for activities in support of Toronto's hosting of FIFA World Cup 2026. This includes, but not limited to major upgrades to the City-owned soccer stadium at BMO Field. Given that this City project is on the Exhibition Place grounds, it was agreed by MLSE and the City that the financial process /cash flow would flow through Exhibition Place's 10-Year Capital Plan. This will be a significant project as the annual cash flow funding requirement for the capital infrastructure needs to bring the stadium to FIFA operational standards as reported over the period 2023-2026 will be approximately $72.7 million in project cost. The City is working with Province as well as Federal government regarding their financial commitments to share costs. Overview Overall, our 10-year Capital Plan for Exhibition Place before 3rd Party managed projects is $179.290 million. Throughout the budget process Exhibition Place staff worked closely with City's Financial Planning Division (FPD) in developing the budget. The City practice for 2024 allocation of funds is still based on the Board capacity to spend but is linked more closely to the City's ability to fund the projects with debt. Annually, staff review the 10-year capital plan; this annual review procedure allows Exhibition Place to adjust its current State of Goods Repair (SOGR) program each subsequent year based on changing and operational needs, building/audit assessments, legislative changes, mandates, and priorities. Exhibition Place staff will submit the 2024 Capital Works Budget to City FPD to meet the City Manager September 15, 2023, deadline; however, due to the budget submission schedule, City FPD understands that the budget is subject to Board approval and that the Board therefore reserves the right to make changes to the Capital Works Budget content. Exhibition Place staff will notify the City of any changes or directions made by the Board. In accordance with City guidelines for capacity to spend, the City's ability to fund, building assessments and SOGR priority, a total of $32.567 million net program is recommended for 2024 Capital budget. This includes: 1. New Projects for a total amount of $17.180 million cash flow in 2024 (Section B in Appendix A) as follows: a. $0.900 million for Food Building projects ($0.800 million for lighting upgrades and $0.100 million for fire alarm system upgrade); 50 percent of which are to be funded by Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA) as per Board's Master Agreement sharing provisions with CNEA. b. $2.500 million cash flow in 2024 for high voltage priority feeder cable replacement. (This project has a three-year budget approval request of $7.500 with a cash flow of $2.500M for 2024, $3.000M for 2025, and $2.000M for 2026). c. $13,780 million for various upgrades within existing buildings, parking lots and roads grounds wide, all funded by debt. 2. Previously Approved cash flow of $5.300 million in 2024 (Partial Section A in the Appendix A) as follows: a. ($0.500) million reduction - of previously approved 2024 cash flow of $0.500 million, resulting in zero cash flow in 2024 for New Brunswick Way Improvement/Road Widening project. b. $1.100 million previously approved 2024 cash flow for Emergency Generators Upgrades at various buildings (cash flow for 2025 is $0.550 million). c. $1.800 million previously approved 2024 cash flow for substation consolidation and upgrades (cash flow for 2025 is $0.625 million). d. $2.400 million Partial Cash Flow Carry Forward to 2025 for the Soil Remediation at Lot 851 due to delay in Phase 2 Hotel and Performance Venue delays. In summary, the total budget cash flow for Above the Line Capital Program 2024 (Sections A and B in Appendix A) including New Projects, Previously Approved and Carry Forward is $22.480 million. Even with the additional funding being recommended, the Net Accumulated SOGR Backlog at the end of 2024 for Exhibition Place stands at $70.580 million. 3. The 2024 capital cash flow for Non-Exhibition Place managed projects (Section C) include FIFA 2026 capital project of $16.713 million which includes $4.226 million 2023 carry-forward. Capital Needs Constraints In addition to the $249.345 million required for the 10-year above the line capital works program, there exists $112.0 million of capital projects that are below the line. The term 'below the line' refers to not approved projects that have capital needs or more specifically projects that their capital needs cannot be accommodated within the City capital plan the Board have the capacity to deliver. The projects under these constraints for Exhibition Place in the 10-year plan consist of $12 million for the Festival Plaza Development, $75 million for the Industry Building renovation, $11 million for the restoration of the Enercare Centre roof, and $14 million required for the Wastewater Renewable Energy Project initiated by the City.
The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place: 1. Approved the Proposed 2024 Above the Line Capital Works State-of-Good Repair Budget (Sections A and B of Appendix A) of $22.480 million with $22.030 million funded by debt and $0.450 million funded by recoveries from Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), as part of the ten year (2024-2033) proposed program submission to the City of Toronto. 2. Approved the Proposed 2024 FIFA 2026 non-Exhibition Place managed project in the amount of $16.713 million funded by City of Toronto reserve funds. 3. Directed the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place to submit the 2024 Budget and any changes or directions by the Board to the City Financial Planning Division as part of the 2024 Budget Process.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place recommends that: 1. The Board approve the Proposed 2024 Above the Line Capital Works State-of-Good Repair Budget (Sections A and B of Appendix A) of $22.480 million with $22.030 million funded by debt and $0.450 million funded by recoveries from Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), as part of the ten year (2024-2033) proposed program submission to the City of Toronto. 2. The Board approve the Proposed 2024 FIFA 2026 non-Exhibition Place managed project in the amount of $16.713 million funded by City of Toronto reserve funds. 3. The Board direct the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place to submit the 2024 Budget and any changes or directions by the Board to the City Financial Planning Division as part of the 2024 Budget Process.
EP6.2adopted
Toronto, being North America's 4th largest City is home to Exhibition Place. Our site currently hosts 1,260 events with approximately 5.5 million visitors per year for exhibitions, conventions, events, and entertainment, and we are moving towards becoming a 365-day destination for an impressive range of activities. The Exhibition Place vision is to become Canada's premier destination for conventions, exhibitions, events, and entertainment. We are a unique site in North America, and our goal is to transform Exhibition Place into an intimate space that facilitates unimpeded movement of people. 2024 Budget On August 28, 2023, the City's Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer provided supplementary instructions for all City Divisions and Agencies for 2024. City Financial Planning directed ABC's to prepare a more realistic 2024 Operating Budget and to make every effort to eliminate or reduce 2024 incremental base budget pressures, and continue to provide viable offsets towards base budget increases through annual budget review activities. All sustained COVID-19 impacts should be phased out or costs absorbed into the 2024 Base Budget if required. As shown in Schedule A below, the 2023 year-end forecasted is a deficit of ($0.800) million which is favourable by $1.400 million to the 2023 approved budget deficit of ($2.200) million. With respects to the Exhibition Place Conference Centre Reserve Fund, the balance at the end of 2023 is forecasted to be $3.910 million. This reserve is a source of funding for both state of good repair, as well as, for the City loan repayment of the renovated Beanfield Centre in 2009. 2023 being the first full year of operations without interruptions after the pandemic, staff have worked closely with industry insiders in developing our 2023 Operating Budget. Despite all the challenges from bouncing back after the pandemic, staff are cautiously optimistic projecting the recovery of our operation is progressing well towards pre-pandemic levels, following same trends as other businesses in the same industry. The latest findings from the Global Exhibition Barometer research concluded in July 2023 by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, show that trade shows and exhibitions are remarkably bouncing back after the pandemic shut down, with companies from most global markets achieving revenues close to their 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The latest results also show that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business is now one of the least pressing issues. 2023 revenue for North American market is expected to reach 90 - 94 percent of comparable 2019 levels. The industry is evolving both on digital products and services and on sustainability. New technologies like generative artificial intelligence applications are being explored, while staffing and changing in customers expectation remains key concerns for most: https://www.ufi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/31st_UFI_Global_Barometer_July_2023.pdf
The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place: 1. Approved the 2024 Operating Budget attached as Appendix A to the report (October 13, 2023) from the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place. 2. Directed the Chief Executive Officer to submit the 2024 Operating Budget to the City Financial Planning Division as part of the 2024 Budget Process.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place recommends that: 1. The Board approve the 2024 Operating Budget attached as Appendix A. 2. The Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to submit the 2024 Operating Budget to the City Financial Planning Division as part of the 2024 Budget Process.
EP6.3adopted
Occupational Health and Safety Report - Second Quarter of 2023
This report provides information on the status of the Exhibition Place health and safety system, specifically on activities, priorities, and performance during the second quarter of 2023. There were zero (0) lost time injuries and three (3) medical aid injuries in the second quarter of 2023 relative to four (4) medical aid injuries in the second quarter of 2022. During the second quarter of 2023 there were successful denials of three (3) WSIB claims. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) invoiced costs for the second quarter of 2023 were approximately 49 percent higher than those in the second quarter of 2022. This is mainly attributable to an increase in Long Term Disability costs and an increase in overall WSIB claim costs.
The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place: 1. Received the report (October 13, 2023) from the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer recommends that: 1. The Board receives this report for information.
EP6.4amended
Preliminary Feasibility Assessment of Siting the Therme Facility at Exhibition Place
Members of the Board of Governors, I am writing to update you on a recommendation I have submitted to the City's Executive Committee to request a City staff report on the feasibility of siting the Therme water spa facility proposed for Ontario Place on the Exhibition Place grounds. The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place has consistently supported a collaborative and coordinated approach with Ontario Place for the planning, enhancement and development of these important public spaces. Exhibition Place's vision as an inclusive and accessible parkland and business destination for conventions, exhibitions, entertainment, recreation and sporting events and public celebrations is fundamentally connected to the future of Ontario Place, a treasured green space and site of international heritage significance. Infrastructure Ontario, on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, is currently leading a development application process with the City of Toronto that includes a proposed water spa by Therme for the West Island. Through the public engagement process and feedback for the development application, alternative sites for this proposal have been suggested, including Exhibition Place. Exhibition Place may benefit from and provide an improved location for this use due to factors such as proximity to transit, hotel accommodations, parking, existing servicing and other infrastructure. I have sent the following recommendation to the City's Executive Committee: That Executive Committee request the City Manager, in consultation with the CEO of Exhibition Place, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and other relevant civic officials, agencies and boards, to report back to the December 5, 2023 meeting of Executive Committee on a preliminary feasibility assessment on the siting of the proposed Therme facility at Exhibition Place, including within the Better Living Centre site. Any consideration of siting the Therme water spa facility at Exhibition Place would need to comment on alignment with key Exhibition Place plans (such as the Strategic Plan and the Phase 1 Proposals Report), the core uses of Exhibition Place and the operations of key tenants and event organizers of Exhibition Place, including the CNE. A preliminary feasibility assessment will allow further feedback to be provided by City Council and the Exhibition Place Board of Governors, and to help determine any further steps, including public engagement. I will keep the Board informed of this process. I am recommending that the Board endorse the report request I am making to the Executive Committee.
The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place: 1. Endorsed the Board Chair's recommendation for the Executive Committee to request for a staff report from the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, other relevant civic officials, agencies and boards, and the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), to be brought forward at the December 5, 2023 meeting of the Executive Committee on a preliminary feasibility assessment on the siting of the proposed Therme facility at Exhibition Place, including within the Better Living Centre site.
Staff recommendation as filed
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, Chair, Board of Governors of Exhibition Place recommends that: 1. The Board endorse the request to the City's Executive Committee for a staff report from the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and other relevant civic officials, agencies and boards to be brought forward at the December 5, 2023 meeting of the Executive Committee on a preliminary feasibility assessment on the siting of the proposed Therme facility at Exhibition Place, including within the Better Living Centre site.