City Council — January 2014
January 29 + 30, 2014
324 posts
Here's the live stream for today's council budget debate. It probably won't get super exciting until after lunch. https://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=16&sid=1030&lve=54815
Counter-offer: use property taxes to arrange screenings of Frozen.
MT @paulmoloney4
Mammoliti says property taxes should be frozen.
Someone should propose a property tax increase of negative 80 percent. Just to see if Ford votes for it.
Perks has 7,000 signatures demanding return of funding for the High Park Zoo. One of the weirdest battles of the term.
(It's a 100-year-old zoo in a great park. It costs very little to maintain. Why did it even get cut in the first place?)
Sarah Doucette has a petition signed by 10,600 re: the High Park Zoo. People like the zoo.
Deputy Mayor moves for council to approve the tax rates before the budget debates. Some concern about this approach being limiting.
"Number seem to be all over the map," says Budget Chief Frank Di Giorgio. He's great at this.
Councillor Shiner also speaks out against Kelly's motion to debate tax rates before the budget itself. Mayor backs him up.
So it looks like council will be debating the budget, then confirming the property tax rates. Makes sense.
Now Rob Ford is yelling. The gavel comes out. Nunziata threatens to boot him from the chamber. And we're just getting started.
"How rude! Jesus," says Councillor Ron Moeser on the Ford outburst.
OCAP Protestors interjecting. They're not happy with cuts to Housing Stabilization Fund. A $4.3-million cut. Nunziata calls recess.
"No cuts to the HSF! No more homeless deaths! No cuts to the HSF! No more homeless deaths!" They're not backing down.
Here's Social Planning Toronto's take on the $4.3-million cut to the Housing Stabilization Fund. https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/news/over-1300-residents-urge-council-to-stop-major-cut-to-homeless-prevention-program/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+SocialPlanningToronto+(Social+Planning+Toronto)
Councillor Colle points out that at last three budgets council has approved tax rates before debating the budget.
Mammoliti says he thinks council should debate the budget before setting the tax rates because otherwise his ideas might be out-of-order.
Milczyn says councillors should only vote against Kelly's motion if they want "pandaemonium." I kind of want pandaemonium.
Minnan-Wong says he's concerned that if council doesn't set the tax rate now some "progressive councillors" might try to increase spending.
Doug Ford says things. Adam Vaughan tries to call the question and end this debate. Nunziata doesn't let him. McConnell calls the question.
Motion to end debate on the order of the other debates fails 25-17. Needed 2/3rds to pass. http://t.co/lQF8r89Zhx
Raymond Cho says he won't support Norm Kelly's motion to set the tax rates first because he wants to save all the fire trucks.
Added confusion this year because important things like the residential property tax increase weren't decided in committee. A mess.
Now voting on motion to debate the tax rates before the budget. It PASSES 36-8. That was a good use of time. http://t.co/taObqCv8XY
The play here will be to squash Ford's 1.75% property tax thing early, so it doesn't dominate the next two days.
City Manager going through budget presentation. Will take about 40 minutes. Follow along here if you're a super nerd: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-66318.pdf?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=
City Manager says staff do not support increasing land transfer tax revenue projection to reduce property taxes.
Pennachetti says council this term has approved property tax increases at about half the rate of inflation.
Pennachetti says TO's low residential property tax rate has been driven by higher taxes on businesses and apartments.
Pennachetti says city has found efficiencies over last ten years, but efficiencies are about capped out. Further cuts will impact services.
Candid City Manager says council in 2015 and beyond will likely have to consider residential property tax increases in excess of inflation.
Toronto is close to having more condominiums than single family detached homes. Would like to graph the trend. http://t.co/4DP3xdytgd
Ford Man / Fighter of the Tax Man / Champion of the Sun
RT @reporterdonpeat
"I'm a tax fighter" Mayor Rob Ford #TOpoli
At City Hall, @Marythynes stands outside, getting passersby to sign a petition in support of higher taxes.
Meanwhile, in front of old city hall, a young guy stands alone in the cold, holding a giant SEARS CLOSING SALE sign.
Councillor Moeser wants to give fire department more trucks and "wouldn't mind taking another run at the land transfer tax."
It's kind of fun that councillors who were once all "grr, we hate the land transfer tax" are now like, "hey, this tax can pay for things!"
Matlow questioning staff on the Scarborough subway. He asks if we know what it'll cost to operating the subway. CFO says nope.
Matlow points out due to city debt limit the Scarborough subway plan leaves city with very little room for other capital projects, i.e. DRL.
City CFO says city has likely hit a plateau in terms of land transfer tax revenue. But executive committee projection is highest ever.
City CFO: "If the real estate market tanks -- as it has in the past -- we could be facing a year with a sizeable deficit."
Now Councillor Shiner is exploring the idea of reducing the operating budget by eliminating vacant positions.
City Manager points out Shiner's plan would create a giant budget gap when vacant positions are filled. But Shiner pushes back.
City Manager to Shiner: "If you do that, you are artificially reducing the tax rate that will then have to increase in 2015."
Shiner: "If you wouldn't cut me off—" Then he gets cut off.
City CFO says 2015 will be a "particularly bad year" for the city budget. Yeah, but that'll be a new council's problem.
Pasternak is asking about the city's voluntary tax payment program. Not a lot of takers. "Not exactly a stampede to pay higher taxes."
Doug Ford up now. He asks if raising LTT projections is like gambling. CFO says he doesn't recommend it. Hate when I agree with Doug.
Norm Kelly moves a 2.23% residential property tax revenue increase, including the subway. 2.71% with policy shift/CVA.
That's up from the executive committee recommendation of 1.75% incl. subway, or 2.23% with policy/CVA shift.
Kelly also has a motion to separate out the subway taxes on the property tax bill. Sure, why not.
Kelly points out the difference between the exec committee recommendations and his motion today is $12 per household per year.
Kelly points out that increasing taxes a bit means more investment in services. Like he's reading straight out of the Communist Manifesto.
Ford sure is getting up to talk to his law-talking guy a whole lot.
Kelly: "The City of Toronto is underfunded." Says city needs to sit down with other orders of government and talk about that.
Doug Ford is rambling away about gambling and stock markets and so on and so forth. Just imagine it in your head. Odds are it'll be accurate
Rob Ford now asking questions of the deputy mayor. He wants to know if Kelly has any ideas on how to save money.
Kelly points out that this 2014 budget comes in at a residential tax increase of 1.75%, whereas Ford's 2013 budget came in at 2%.
Ford again asks Kelly if he has found any savings or efficiencies Kelly again points out the budgetary tax increase is lower than 2013.
Kelly missed an opportunity when he answered Ford's question re: savings. The correct answer was, "Well, I reduced your office budget."
Mammoliti asks Kelly if he thinks there could be more savings. Kelly says maybe, but such ideas should have been presented at committee.
I feel like I'll be typing "jailhouse assault" a lot over the next few days and I am not really very happy about that.
And the media storms down to surround Ford's lawyer in the gallery. Same as it ever was.
Incredible example of how Ford distracts from city hall business. Councillors discussing $9.6-billion. Nobody listening because Ford.
Rob Ford set to speak on the budget. Things have gone a bit pear-shaped.
Ford moves that council approve a 1.75% residential property tax increase, including the 0.5% for the subway.
He gives the same speech he always gives. You know the script.
Ford says he can't support a budget that people can't afford. He says people can't afford a 2.25% residential tax increase.
And now Ford is back to talking about the gravy train. Such a long, strange trip and we ended up right back where we started from.
"Let me tell you what gravy is..." starts Ford. "Hiring heritage people! Putting a splash pad in at Exhibition Place!"
Councillors now trying to convince Ford that the 2014 budget does in fact remove fire trucks. Ford doesn't believe it.
And now Mammoliti is up. He moves a 0% property tax increase for 2014. He's being very Mammoliti.
And here goes the stampede. Presumably Ford just went somewhere?
Nunziata: "Can I ask security to remove the media from the council chamber?" I think all the reporters left already.
Nunziata: "They're all gone, councillor. You can speak now."
Security guys wandering about speaking into their wrists and using code words.
Oh, that's where everybody went.
RT @reporterdonpeat
Now waiting in front of Mayor Rob Ford's office for his lawyer to speak #TOpoli
Mammoliti suggests Adam Vaughan should dive into an empty pool.
Mammoliti invites Adam Vaughan to "get up here and show me what stones you actually got." He says people in Ward 7 hate Adam Vaughan.
"Give us something in Ward 7! We have NOTHING!" Not even the WORLD'S TALLEST FLAGPOLE. Not even the world's SECOND TALLEST!
Speaker points out some children are here to learn about local government. And jailhouse assault, I guess.
Matlow up speaking now. He moves that the 0.5% increase for the subway be taken as a separate vote. Wants councillors to vote against it.
Matlow says city has significant budget pressures and many costs related to Scarborough subway remain unknown.
Matlow lists unknowns: cancellation costs, operating costs, maintenance costs, station costs. City is on hook for all of 'em with subway.
Matlow asks council to "vote against a 0.5% property tax and debt hike that we're going to have to pay for for decades to come."
Doug Ford speaking now. He has slides. Like, PowerPoint slides.
"We should be ashamed of ourselves down here," says Doug Ford. Adding context would ruin it.
Doug Ford now going on about roaming charges and councillors spending money on chairs.
Doug Ford wants to cut "top-heavy management out by 1%" through attrition. He's like that dude in that "Ha Ha! Business!" meme.
Gord Perks: "Everyone knows there never was such a thing as the gravy train." Well, almost everyone.
Councillor Shiner has a motion: 0.5% residential property tax increase, including subway. He wants to eliminate vacant positions from budget
There were 2,872 vacant positions at the city in 2013. Shiner argues council is charging residents for services not provided.
Frank Di Giorgio also has a motion. 1.25% plus 0.5% for the subway, plus 0.5% for CVA/policy shift. 2.25% all in.
Ex-Budget Chief Mike Del Grande is asking questions of current Budget Chief Di Giorgio. I'm surprised Del Grande's head hasn't exploded
Budget Chief Frank Di GIorgio: "That land transfer tax is the lifeblood of a city like Toronto." Says it will never be eliminated.
Councillor Leon points out this is his first budget. Minnan-Wong: "Question is, is it going to be your last budget?"
Councillor Leon says he'll support Norm Kelly's motion on the budget. My sense is that it'll have enough votes.
Layton: "The mayor is not willing to pay for the subway he promised." He points at the mayor's chair when he says it, but it's empty.
Layton is the first person to bring up the housing stabilization reserve in a while. He also points out that the 2015 budget looks rough.
De Baeremaeker is trying to show the demand for the Scarborough subway. It's the debate that will not end. It goes on and on my friends.
Councillor Thompson says motion to delay subway funding is about "moving money away from Scarborough."
Robinson,Mammoliti & Parker appear to be opposed to subway funding. @Ward18AnaBailao appears to be deciding vote.
Chair rules that the Scarborough subway can't be voted on separately from the tax rate motion. Fails 23-22. So close. http://t.co/63hmAHx6Tv
Norm Kelly motion to set res property tax rate at 2.23%, including subway, passes 32-13. http://t.co/Wr3yc68XuS
So after all that, residential tax rate is locked in at 2.23%, including subway. 2.71 with CVA/policy shift.
Day two of council's budget debate. Here's your live stream: https://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=16&sid=1030&lve=54816
Expect to see motions from councillors today that take the 0.5% earmarked for the Scarborough subway and use it for other services.
In other words, the subway fight isn't over. Subway money could go toward replenishing extreme weather reserve.
Councillor Moeser reveals he just bought a Blackberry Z10. Going down with the ship.
Councillors asking a ton of questions about fire services. Cuts to emergency services are political kryptonite.
And we get our first "shut up" of the day as Mammoliti tells Mihevc to, yes, shut up.
Andy Byford reminds council that it wasn't the TTC that opened the Scarborough subway debate. They were cool with the LRT.
Now City Solicitor says councillors would be opening themselves up to a legal challenge if they reallocate the subway tax revenue.
With questions to TTC CEO, @JoshColle points out that TTC subsidy is still below 2010 levels while ridership has grown by 18-million.
Norm Kelly moves to increase the TTC subsidy by $3-million, but also to cancel 10 new youth spaces.
Kelly also wants to cancel planned fare increases for the Toronto Island ferry.
Kelly's motions still use some increased land transfer revenue projection, but dials the total back and puts a cap on it.
Doug Ford yelling about stuff.
Rob Ford now asking questions to the deputy mayor. Wants to know why LTT surpluses shouldn't be returned to taxpayers.
Every Ford-era budget has made use of increasing amounts of LTT revenue for programs. But Ford's acting like that isn't true.
Ford now speaking on his supposed $60-million in savings in motions. He wants to eliminate plans to plant trees.
Ford Motions: 1) Plant fewer trees. 2) Find sponsors for Pan Am Games. 3) Eliminate splash pad at Ex Place.
Ford Motions: 5) Charge people for taking advantage of city's free Welcome policy for Parks & Rec programs.
Ford Motions: 6) Ask province to allow city to tack library fines onto property tax bill. Dunno how that'd work for renters.
(Also don't know how it would reduce this year's operating budget. But whatever.)
Ford Motions: 7) Get rid of security guards at libraries. Doesn't see why security guards are needed for the six-year-olds who use libraries
Ford Motions: 8) Fire a bunch of managers from Shelter, Support & Housing department.
Ford Motions: 9) Fire some managers at Toronto Employment & Social Services.
Ford Motions: 10) Heritage is stupid. Stop spending money on it. (Paraphrased.)
Ford Motions: 11) Get rid of councillor general expense budget and travel budget.
Ford runs out of time to present his motions. "Of course you don't want to hear it!"
Councillor McMahon has questions for Ford. She asks if Ford is "aware of the benefits of a tree."
Ford says he was "here every day during the ice storm." Then accuses McMahon of being "missing in action."
(@mary_margaret32's ward was incredibly hard hit by storm, with long power outages. She was absolutely present for all of it.)
Ford says spending $7-million on trees is unnecessary. "If you want to go and plant trees, knock yourself out."
Ford says security guards aren't needed at libraries because murder could happen anywhere. Says we have police for that.
Someone should ask Ford if he'd support getting rid of city hall security.
Ford: "If there's a problem, you call the police!" Ford "can't comprehend how McMahon thinks sometimes." McMahon: "Right back atcha, ditto."
Mammoliti asks Ford to read more of his motions.
Now procedural questions about whether Ford's motions are in order considering he didn't introduce all of them in the time he had allocated.
Should be noted that Ford would have no such constraint had he introduced these motions at committee.
Nunziata says council has options. Either they can give Ford more time, or another councillor can volunteer to introduce Ford's motions.
Ford could have circulated his motions in advance, the clerk says. That process was not used by Ford. To maintain secrecy, I guess.
Nunziata: "Councillor Mammoliti, we're not going to amend the procedural bylaw right here on the floor of council." He's yelling.
Total speculation, but I'd bet Ford tried to get some of these motions in the budget in '12 and '13, but his staff convinced him to cool it.
And Nunziata calls lunch early. We'll figure this out at 2 p.m.
We're back at #tocouncil. Nunziata says Ford's extra motions have been circulated. She's going to give Ford extra time to introduce.
Now some councillors are objecting to Ford getting extra time. Nunziata says she's made a ruling. Vaughan challenges it.
Ford now yelling at Vaughan because Vaughan mentioned that Ford gave his motions to the Toronto Sun before the clerks.
Mammoliti yelling. Nunziata bangs the gravel. Perks has a point-of-order: is concerned giving Ford more speaking time might violate bylaws.
Nunziata asks the City Clerk to comment. She says bylaw sets out speaking time. But there was a 'miscommunication.' So Ford can have 5 mins.
And now Ford is finally speaking again. But Vaughan rises to say he has challenged Nunziata's motion.
So we're voting to uphold decision to allow Ford to speak some more. That passes 25-10. http://t.co/0gsZylLyiY
So Ford goes on. Eliminate council general expense budgets. Eliminate travel budgets. Cut councillor staff salary budget.
Ford wants to eliminate an employee engagement survey. He wants a report on accelerating something-or-other. No one's really listening.
Ford is holding up city newsletters he wants to get rid of. Again, why didn't he mention this in 2011 or 2012 or 2013?
Ford: "We don't need more people at Heritage. We could use less, not more!"
Minnan-Wong asks Ford how many of his savings are immediate. "No, it's for next year's budget," says Ford.
Minnan-Wong asks Ford about his motion to reduce councillor salary, bringing up Ford giving all his staff raises during crackgate.
Minnan-Wong again asks Ford about the raises he gave his staff. He wants to know what the increases were.
Now Minnan-Wong asks how much Ford's office spent on the Chicago and Austin trips. Ford says he and his brother paid for their own trips.
Moeser asks Ford if he's expecting councillors to lay off staff. Ford says he wants to force councillors to do what council forced him to do
(This is like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry returns a jacket for spite.)
Ford is upset that splash pads cost $500K. He thinks they should cost much less.
Berardinetti asks Ford how his library fine motion would apply to people who rent. Ford doesn't answer.
Councillor Grimes: "Mr Mayor, you know I love you." He says Ford approved a report on spending $19-million on the Pan Am Games in July.
Now Palacio is objecting to Ford's motion to cut councillor salary budgets. Ford now again saying it's fair because council cut his budget.
Now Palacio is objecting to Ford's motion to charge people for using the Welcome Policy.
Palacio: "Where's the compassion?" Ford: "It's called compassion for saving the taxpayers money."
Fun note. Ford wants to charge people about $12 to access the Welcome Policy. 0.5% property tax increase works out to $12 per household.
Shiner points out that none of Ford's motions will reduce the 2014 tax rates. Ford says council could re-open tax rate item with 2/3rds vote
Shiner asks if Ford's motion to cut 311 staffing levels wouldn't make service work. Ford says no, citing his office as an example.
Suggested amendment: reduce 311 operating budget to $0, route all 311 service requests to the mayor's office.
Doug Ford now ranting about how @TO2015 doesn't have enough private funding. Ford: "I don't think the effort has been put in."
Doug Ford says the United Way raises lots of money so why can't the Pan Am Games raise lots of money.
"Doug Ford would find $19-million in a year! I promise ya!" says Doug Ford.
.@cllrainslie invites people down to the rotunda to learn about the library's ebook and emagazine program. I've used it. It's awesome.
Mammoliti moves to refer the entire city budget back to staff so they can talk about consolidating the city's housing offices.
Mammoliti now moves to add "you must pay a land transfer tax" to the "Welcome to Toronto" signs on the city's borders.
Full text of Mammoliti's "Welcome to Toronto" sign motion. Might be a bit text-heavy for a highway sign. http://t.co/NJBZTtIo25
Nunziata rules Mammoliti's sign motion out of order. Mammoliti challenges the chair. Challenge fails 34-2. Mammo and Ford.
So Mammoliti moved to refer the entire budget. So council is voting on that. But first: Rob Ford is asking questions of Giorgio.
Now Doug Ford is asking questions about Mammoliti's referral motion. It would be incredibly irresponsible for anyone to support this motion.
Budget Chief rises to point out that referral the whole budget is a bad idea. Mammoliti says his ward doesn't have any transit lines.
We're voting now on the referral motion. It fails 40-4. Fords, Mammoliti, Milczyn. Milczyn pressed the wrong button. http://t.co/zHWI61Kcjh
Milczyn asks for a re-vote. It's granted 41-3. Re-vote on referral motion comes in at 3-42. Fords & Mammo. And we're moving on.
("Does that mean that we win?" asks Mammoliti. "The thumb has been retired," says Fletcher.)
Matlow moves that Scarborough subway money go into a reserve fund, with no money spent on subway until next year - after election.
Matlow says we don't know the subway operating costs or LRT cancellation costs and a bunch of other things, so waiting is prudent.
Moeser asks Matlow if there would be any cancellation fees associated with delaying subway spending. Matlow says no.
Matlow says he'd love the kill the Scarborough subway, but says his motion today doesn't do that.
I'd give Matlow's motion a decent chance of passing. I'd imagine @Ward18AnaBailao will again be a key vote.
Lee says Matlow is getting transit with Eglinton LRT. Why not Scarborough? Matlow: "Is it fair there isn't a CN Tower in Thunder Bay?"
Del Grande asks if Matlow thinks the nine Scarborough councillors who support the subway are dumb. Matlow denies that he does.
Doug Ford is questioning Matlow on his subway motion. He asks Matlow if he thinks the York U subway is a waste of money.
Matlow asks how Doug's question is relevant. Doug: "It's okay. I'll answer for you." Matlow: "I'd rather you not do that."
Doug asks Matlow if he thinks Scarborough deserves a subway. Matlow says he thinks every TO resident deserves best transit we can provide.
Doug says he's talked to Scarborough residents. Matlow: How many? Doug: Tens of thousands Matlow: Well I've spoken to hundreds of thousands!
("Maybe millions!" adds Matlow.)
Now veteran councillor Anthony Perruzza wants Matlow to explain to him what the relief line is.
Now Perruzza is saying looping the YUS subway along Sheppard could provide relief at Yonge-Bloor station. Somehow. I dunno.
Matlow points out city is subsidizing Sheppard subway every year because ridership estimates haven't materialized.
Councillor Berardinetti says the Scarborough LRT will be at capacity by 2031. That is not true.
Peak hour ridership of Scarborough LRT in 2031: 8K per hour. Capacity: 15K per hour. @JoshMatlow @CouncillorMB http://t.co/fIyulbKNQn
Karen Stintz is doing... something right now while questioning Matlow. Rhetoric questions and grandstanding. It was odd.
Nunziata: "I don't know why you just won't admit you want to kill the subway." Matlow: "Oh no, I do!"
Nunziata says Matlow has "something against Scarborough residents." Matlow says Scarborough residents are being underserved by subway.
Nunziata asks Matlow how many subway stops he has in his ward. Matlow says that isn't how we plan transit.
Councillor Del Grande says the last two days of budget debate are a "complete embarrassment."
Palacio again says that this year's budget spends less than last year's budget. It is not true. I do not know why he keeps saying this.
(It's like he wrote a speech in 2012 and just keeps delivering it every year, to hell with facts.)
Councillor Vaughan: "We have to start accepting the fact that climate change has happened." Aw, but I don't wanna.
Vaughan says Ford's move to charge people who want to apply for the Welcome policy is an "attack on poor children."
Councillor Wong-Tam has the annual long-hope motions asking the feds and province to help fund housing.
Wong-Tam, in a good speech, says city should invest in both housing *and* transit.
Councillor McMahon moves to transfer the library security guard from Rob Ford's local branch to Main Street branch. She's the best.
Councillor Lindsay Luby rises to say Richview Library actually needs its security guard. McMahon withdraws the motion. Government!
Raymond Cho moves to add $7.786-million to the budget for the fire department. Behold, the power of matching red t-shirts.
Nunziata snaps at Cho: "I don't know how long you've been on council, but you still don't know how to answer a question."
Ainslie moves to take subway funding out of the budget and instead build, among other things, an outdoor skating rink in Scarborough.
So there are three competing motions that kill or delay the Scarborough subway so far. Votes will be interesting.
Full text of @cllrainslie's motion. Recommendation 160 is the subway funding. http://t.co/qjiq4gqwAW
Berardinetti asks Ainslie if he's worried his motion might open the city up to lawsuits. Ainslie says he'll take the risk.
(City legal staff did say reallocating the subway money could open the city up to lawsuits. But I'm not sure who would bring the suits.)
Stintz says that if these subway-killing motions pass the province will build a two-stop Scarborough subway all by themselves.
"The Scarborough subway is going to get built with or without us," says Stintz. So... why not let 'em build it without us?
Stintz getting a bit campaign-y with her speech. "We will do this city an incredible disservice if we continue this debate into next term!"
Stintz: "This isn't about politics! This is about people's lives!" It is about whether to build a subway or an LRT.
De Baeremaeker raises the spectre of de-amalgamation. Says Scarborough has paid for subways to Vaughan. Now it's their turn.
De Baeremeaker: "You think you know better than us! You think that you're smarter than us!" Says other councillors are surrounded by subways
De Baeremaeker: "No honour are in these motions. These motions are a declaration of war!"
And De Baeremaeker ends with a big "SHAME ON YOU!"
Now David Shiner presents a "bullshit bag." It is labelled "bullshit bag." He puts Matlow's motion inside of it.
Now Doug Ford is moving motions. He wants to eliminate between 1% and 4% of managers at the city. And reduce the LTT by 5%.
Doug Ford says the employee-to-manager ratio at the city is 4:1. Recent report says it's at least double that.
Doug Ford wonders why the Eglinton LRT comes above ground when it hits Scarborough. Hmm, what is density?
Doug Ford endorses Perks as a guy who sticks with his principles. For some reason I don't think that'll end up on Perks' campaign website.
We're all doing it.
RT @larrylarry
I ought to start saying "Scar-bra" from now on.
Josh Colle on the Scarborough LRT: "That ship has sailed." But Scarborough deserves a ship.
Gord Perks: "We've managed to recover from a disaster and bring forth a budget that does some very good things."
Bailão gives a speech, sort of defends her subway support while also saying she understands we might need more information.
We're drawing close to the end of things. Three names left on the speaker list.
Motion to extend meeting to finish the agenda carries 40-3. Mammoliti, Pasternak, Fletcher.
Minnan-Wong says he won't vote to delay or kill subway. Worries that changing track now will lead to nothing getting built.
A bunch of competing motions on fire services on the floor. Carroll is supporting this one, by Crisanti. http://t.co/etxnLUyDMR
And we're done with speakers. 61 motions, all in an arbitrary order. This is where council accidentally votes for anarchy.
Nunziata rules all the subway-related motions out of order. Matlow rises to object and challenges the chair.
So they'll vote on the chair challenge first. Should council be able to delay/reallocate subway funding? Chair is UPHELD 23-22.
Perks is now objecting more generally to Nunziata's rulings. Says her rulings have been biased. Unpossible.
Now confusion over whether all subway votes have been subject to chair challenge or just one of the three. Procedural chaos, back again.
Tempers flaring. Nunziata says all subway-related motions are out of order. That's final. It is over.
So now the votes are less interesting. But still, you know, a budget must be passed.
Super-technology council has to get all their papers in the right order before we can vote on the budget.
Council votes to cap land transfer revenue 34-11. Vote to give the TTC $3-million passes 36-9.
Next up: should council increase the budget for Social Development to allow for new social needs grants? It passes 35-10.
(Fords are voting against all of these, of course.)
Council votes for a slightly tweaked user fee plan 39-6. And they vote to cancel the proposed island ferry fare increase, 36-9.
Motion to add $1.998-million to the Fire budget (using LTT revenue) passes 39-6.
Funding for Yorkville Avenue and Bellair Street streetscape greening passes 43-2. Yo holmes, to Bellair.
First Ford motion: should council eliminate $7-million budget for tree planting? It fails 7-38.
Next Ford hit: cancel the Pan Am splash pad at Exhibition Place. It costs $500K in capital funds. That fails 14-31.
Next up: should council eliminate positions for Heritage Studies, Strategic Initiatives, Avenue Studies? That fails 13-32.
Ford motion to eliminate council general expense budget and general travel budget FAILS 10-35.
Next Ford hit: should council eliminate the Employer Engagement Survey, which costs $250K? That PASSES 24-21. Ford wins one! Applause!
(Adam Vaughan voted for it!)
Next up: should city reduce grants by $5-million? That fails 7-38.
Eliminating Our Toronto and City Insider magazines? "Mary, it's a waste of trees!" Councillors yell. That carries 29-16. Ford wins again!
And another Ford motion: should council cut planned library budget by $260K? That fails 6-38.
Up next from Ford: should council cancel plans to add two new by-law officers to inspect apartment buildings? That fails 9-35.
And now a bunch of other Ford motions to cut planned services. They all fail 9-36.
Councillor Jaye Robinson, a little weirdly, is supporting a number of the Ford motions.
We're re-voting on the last Ford item: the one to cut a bunch of things. It fails again. 7-38.
We're also re-voting on Ford's motion to cut heritage studies position. It fails again, 12-33.
Now Crisanti wants ANOTHER re-vote. Somehow I feel like this is partially my fault.
So again: the vote on the Ford motion to cut a bunch of things, for the third time. It fails once more. 6-39.
Ford motion to reduce council staff salary budget. This will be ugly. It FAILS 5-40. Mammoliti, Del Grande, Nunziata, Fords.
Now we're on to a Matlow motion to add $75K to support tenants with the Outreach and Organizing Program. It PASSES 29-16.
Here's the 24-21 vote on Ford's motion to cut the Employee Engagement Survey. @YYZMarc. http://t.co/Imri8RfywX
We're on to the tiny motions now. Section 37 stuff.
Motions passed by the mayor total about $725K in savings. Or the equivalent of a 0.03% residential tax revenue increase.
Up now: Cho's motion to add $7.786-million to the fire budget, paid for with reserve funds. It FAILS 16-29.
Second part of Cho motion to expedite update of Fire Master Plan passes 42-3. Fords against, for some reason.
Fletcher motion to add $125K to support recovery of tree canopy PASSES 39-6. Ford votes against trees again.
Doug Ford motion to reduce the land transfer tax rates by 5%, paid for by reducing spending, FAILS multiple times. 7-35, 7-36, 5-39.
For those asking: Ford motion on library security still to come. We'll get there.
Crisanti motion to increase budget for Fire Dept by $566K for 25 fire prevention officers FAILS 22-23. So close.
Moeser motion to increase fire dept budget by about $2m to preserve a fire truck in his ward using LTT revenue FAILS 10-35.
Moeser motion to save the same fire truck but this time use a reserve fund also fails, 9-36.
Back to Ford motions. This one is about finding $19-million for Pan Am through private sector sponsors, something they're already doing.
Ford's motion re: Pan Am carries 27-18. For all the good it'll do.
Ford motion to look at charging a fee for Welcome Policy registrations is defeated. FAILS 6-39.
(Matlow voted for it, because it would have resulted in a report that committee could have just rejected.)
Ford motion to look at tacking library fines on the property tax bill FAILS 15-29.
Ford motion to look at eliminating security guards at library up now. @cllrainslie gives the thumbs down. It FAILS 6-38.
Next up: Ford's request for a report on reducing management at Shelter, Support & Housing. That fails 22-23.
Ford motion to look at eliminating mangers at Toronto Employment & Social Services fails 20-24. Was a report request.
Ford motion to look at reducing 311 staffing levels FAILS 15-29.
Ford motion to look at eliminating staffing levels at revenue services call centre fails on a tie. 22-22.
(Mammoliti was absent. "Where's Mammoliti when you need him?" cracks one councillor.)
Matlow motion to ask City Manager to provide sunk costs and cancellation costs associated with Scarborough LRT fails 18-26. Bummer.
Perks asks John Parker if he's a Davis Tory or a Harris Tory. "Oh, Mike Harris all the way," says Parker, kind of sarcastically.
Now Wong-Tam's motion asking for a report back in April on Housing Stabilization Fund utilization. It PASSES 39-5.
Wong-Tam motion to ask Harper and Flaherty for housing funding passes 42-2. Fords only ones against.
Next up: Wong-Tam motion to ask Wynne and Sousa to include housing money in 2014 provincial budget. That passes 42-2. Fords, again.
Davis motion to report on ways to support the Toronto Skateboard Association passes 40-4. Fords, Parker, Filion.
Seven things left to vote on. All report requests. Then the budget as a whole. We're going to get through this.
Fragedakis motion to report back on a sustainability strategy for the Design Exchange PASSES 40-4. Fords, Moeser, Del Grande.
Lindsay Luby motion to request a report on reducing the land transfer tax by 5% for next year's budget FAILS 18-25.
Shiner motion to look at expediting the filling of vacant positions in city departments passes 39-5.
Doug Ford motion to implement attrition program that'd reduce management staff by 1% in 2014 and up to 4% in subsequent years FAILS 16-27.
Robinson to look at getting private sector money to fund student nutrition programs PASSES 41-3.
And I think we're... done. All that's left is to vote on item as amended.
Budget as it relates to Municipal Licensing and Standards passes 40-3. Fords, Moeser against.
Budget as it relates to the Library passes 41-2. Just Fords opposed.
Budget as it relates to Toronto Police Services PASSES 42-1. Rob Ford votes for it.
Budget as amended PASSES 35-9. That's all, folks. http://t.co/2RgXt2PC5Z
