City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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Council Highlights - Toronto City Council meeting of November 13, 14, 15 and
18, and special meetings of November 15 and 18, 2013
Council Highlights is an informal summary of decisions
made by Toronto City Council. The City Clerk provides the formal documentation
at http://www.toronto.ca/council.
Investing in Toronto Community Housing
Council adopted reports on steps to transform Toronto
Community Housing (TCH) into a landlord of excellence. The City will provide
$864 million in capital funding for TCH repairs over the next 10 years, and is
asking the federal and provincial governments to contribute $864 million each
toward TCH repair costs over that period. Council also endorsed a Federation of
Canadian Municipalities resolution urging the federal government to take
measures to address Canada's affordable housing crunch.
Preparedness for emergency response
As a followup to the July 8 storm and flooding in
Toronto, Council approved several actions involving the City's preparedness for
emergency response. The actions include improved co-ordination among 311
Toronto, Toronto Hydro, Hydro One and Toronto Water that would assist 311
Toronto in responding to residents' questions during major emergencies. Council
also asked for a review of the City's rescue capabilities.
Protection from second-hand smoke
Council approved restrictions on smoking at sports
fields, beaches, public squares and within nine metres of the entrances of
public buildings in Toronto. About 60 Ontario municipalities have enacted
bylaws that make outdoor areas such as workplace entrances, restaurant patios
and public squares smoke-free.
Casa Loma
Council voted to enter into a 20-year agreement with a
company controlled by Liberty Entertainment Group for the improvement and
operation of the main house and grounds of Casa Loma. Council directed that the
net proceeds from the lease go into a fund for the restoration and state of
good repair of the Casa Loma complex.
Continuing Toronto's bike-share program
Council authorized the termination of the current
agreement between BIXI Toronto Inc. and the City, and authorized the transfer
of BIXI Toronto assets to the Toronto Parking Authority for the purpose of
continuing the bike-share program. The parking authority will take responsibility
for operating the bike-share program on behalf of the City. In addition,
Council approved motions that address bike-sharing stations as part of the
City's planning approval process and support the expansion of bicycle sharing
across the city.
Study of a Bloor-Dupont bikeway
Council directed Transportation Services to undertake a
Bloor Street-Dupont Street bikeway environmental assessment study in 2014.
Combining the two corridors for the environmental assessment was recommended
because changes to one of the two parallel streets will affect the other. A
Dupont Street assessment was already scheduled to begin in 2014.
Pilot project for affordable housing in Bayside
Council gave its approval in principle for capital
funding for the construction of an affordable rental pilot project consisting
of about 70 affordable rental homes in a Bayside condominium development.
Bayside is one of the first new neighbourhoods to be developed in the East
Bayfront area. The secondary and precinct plans call for 20 per cent of the
residential units to be affordable rental housing.
City services benefit card
Council authorized the issuance of a Request for
Proposals for the introduction of a drug benefit card as the next phase of the
City Services Benefit Card that the Toronto Employment and Social Services
division provides to its Ontario Works clients. A permanent, plastic drug
benefit eligibility card will replace the paper card that is now issued
monthly. Pharmacists will be able to check clients' eligibility online. Council
also wants staff to look into other possible uses of the benefit card for City
services, including services provided by Shelter, Support and Housing
Administration and Toronto Public Health.
After-school recreation care
Council approved a 16-site expansion of the After-School
Recreation and Care (ARC) program. The ARC model was established in 2005 to
address the child care and recreational needs of children six to 12 years of
age who live in vulnerable communities. Council's decision was informed by a
report from Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Children's Services addressing
options for a phased-in expansion of ARC beyond Toronto's designated priority
neighbourhoods.
Funding of water/wastewater infrastructure
Council directed staff to study, consult and report on
ways to generate additional revenue to pay for the City's infrastructure
requirements for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. Among the options
are water rate increases, a separate stormwater charge on the water bill, and
debenture financing for major projects.
Managing biosolids – Highland Creek plant Council
approved the preparation of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment
examining alternatives for managing biosolids generated at the Highland Creek
Wastewater Treatment Plant, and provided direction on public consultation.
Biosolids are a nutrient-rich organic product formed from stabilized municipal
sludge in the wastewater treatment process.
Consolidation of parking meter bylaws
Council approved the consolidation of parking meter
bylaws and codes of the seven former (pre-amalgamation) municipalities as part
of the continuing process of consolidating Toronto's bylaws and municipal codes
dealing with traffic and parking. Consolidation will streamline administration
and enforcement, and help to clarify the regulations for the public.
Firefighter training and recruitment
Council directed Toronto Fire Services management to
update and finalize a Fire Master Plan that addresses firefighter training and
recruitment issues. The issues are identified in a recent audit of the
division's administration of recruitment and training. Among Council's specific
directives, for example, is a review of the program for training recruits – with
the goal of identifying operational efficiencies that can yield cost savings
while supporting Fire Services' diversity goals.
Gaming site at Woodbine Racetrack
Council authorized City officials to enter into a
municipal contribution agreement with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming
Corporation (OLG) for the City's receipt of a share of the gaming revenue
generated at the OLG gaming site at Woodbine Racetrack. Council's approval of
the new agreement was needed in order to preserve revenue sharing for the
existing slots. It does not alter Council's position against the expansion of
the Woodbine gaming site, nor does it affect the ban on live table games at
Woodbine.
Support for agriculture in Toronto
Council approved a Toronto Agricultural Program
consisting of a steering committee, a working group and a work plan in support
of urban agriculture. In recent years, communities across Toronto have
expressed interest in the production, sale and consumption of locally-grown
food. A 2012 study showed that agricultural activity within Toronto could
supply 10 per cent of the city's commercial demand for fresh vegetables.
Response to devastation in the Philippines
Council endorsed a motion to support the efforts of the
federal and provincial governments in providing financial and other emergency
and rebuilding support to the Philippines as it struggles to recover from
Typhoon Haiyan on November 8. The motion adopted also calls on the City of
Toronto to consider any formal request to provide technical assistance to the
devastated city of Tacloban.
Arena board governance
Council adopted the recommendations of the City
Ombudsman's report entitled Skating on Thin Ice: An Investigation into
Governance at an Arena Board. Among the recommendations is a request that the
City Manager examine governance models and service delivery mechanisms for
arena boards and present the findings for Council’s consideration.
Protecting the Great Lakes
Council supported a motion expressing opposition to an
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) proposal to dispose of radioactive waste in a
deep geologic repository in Lake Huron. OPG wants to dispose of lower and
intermediate level nuclear waste from its Bruce, Pickering and Darlington
facilities in limestone rock below Lake Huron. The location is about a
kilometre offshore from Kincardine. Many communities in Ontario, Michigan and
Ohio have passed resolutions opposing the plan because of concerns about
possible future contamination of the Great Lakes water supply.
Recent events at the City
Council adopted a motion requesting that Mayor Ford
respond and apologize with respect to matters specified in the motion, that he
co-operate with Toronto police in their related investigation, and that he take
a temporary leave of absence to address his personal issues. Council also voted
to ask the City's Integrity Commissioner to report back to Council on these
matters with regard to the Code of Conduct for Members of Council.
Special meetings of Council on November 15 and 18, 2013
Delegation of powers/responsibilities
Over the course of three special meetings held on
November 15 and 18, Council made a number of decisions that affect the
non-statutory powers of the Mayor and delegate some responsibilities to the
Deputy Mayor. Council also re-assumed other non-statutory powers. Details are
provided in a City of Toronto news release dated November 18, available at http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf.
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Council Highlights, a summary of selected decisions made
by Toronto City Council, is produced by Strategic Communications.
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