Toronto Council meets today! We’ll kick things off (after some housekeeping and agenda-setting) with a debate about dedicated bus lanes. It’s streaming live here. I’ll tweet a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIKd97OqGeM
If you missed it, this week’s @cityhallwatcher newsletter includes a preview of the agenda, plus lots of analysis of the police budget. https://graphicmatt.substack.com/p/arresting-questions-about-the-police
New item on the agenda: Councillor Ana Bailão wants staff to report on feasibility of the city leasing previous Airbnb units for longer-term affordable housing. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM23.25
Item about installing a Transportation Innovation Zone at Exhibition Place CARRIES 23-1, with only Councillor Gord Perks opposed.
Item granting final approvals for the modular affordable housing projects at 11 Macey and 150 Harrison CARRIES 23-1, with just Councillor Stephen Holyday opposed.
Item to install traffic lights at Davenport & Shaw CARRIES 22-2, with Holyday and Ford opposed.
Agenda is set. And now: a bus lane debate. The item authorizes the installation of dedicated bus lanes on Eglinton East this fall. Some people would really like to see the implementation of other planned bus lanes sped up. We might see some motions about that.
Design of these dedicated bus lanes should get some attention too. Will red paint and signs work to leave a clear path for buses? Staff report says physical separation will be considered “to aid compliance.”
Item authorizing construction of orbital moon-based space station carries on consent. Motion to report on security implications of exhaust port system FAILS, 8-16.
(Not really.)
Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong decries consultation process for this Eglinton East bus lane, saying that consultation was too focused on transit riders and not the broader community. But Minnan-Wong says he’ll support the report anyway.
Councillor Brad Bradford, wearing his signature salmon suit, speaks in favour of bus priority lanes.
No significant motions on the bus lane item. Authorization to install dedicated bus lanes on Eglinton East CARRIES via a show of hands.
There are 55 items left on the Council agenda. Three are about removing trees.
Council is on lunch until 2 p.m.
New report from City Solicitor and Medical Officer recommends Council impose additional rules for bars & restaurants as city heads toward Stage 3: requirements for customers to remain seated, businesses to keep logs, etc. Council will vote tomorrow. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-154114.pdf (PDF)
Tory asked the provincial government to impose these restrictions via provincial order on July 18, but province didn’t act. So Toronto is going forward on its own. (Tory’s letter also asked for earlier closure time - like midnight - but city doesn’t have authority to do that.)
Council will also consider a new bylaw tomorrow to require people to wear masks in apartment/condo lobbies, elevators and common areas, though report notes landlords and condo corps can’t refuse entry to residents who don’t wear masks so this is probably more of a symbolic thing.
“Members, we’ll be going live in 30 seconds,” announces Clerk staff on live stream that is clearly live already. Nobody did anything embarrassing!
Okay, now it’s official. Council is back from lunch. 53 items on the agenda. Live stream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIKd97OqGeM
Council now debating a Board of Health item that authorizes Medical Officer to enter into funding agreement with federal gov to establish voluntary isolation/quarantine site for people who can’t self-isolate at home. Fed funding still TBD, but looking likely.
Isolation site would offer single occupancy room and bathroom (duh), TV, Wifi and meals at no cost to quarantining person. Estimated to cost $4.2 million through end of the year, more if extended into 2021.
Quarantine site item CARRIES via show of hands. Next step: a federal funding commitment.
Council now debating whether to approve sole source deal with @payitgov for online payment of tax and utility bills etc. Some in the Toronto tech community have opposed this deal. Here’s @biancawylie’s column about it: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2020/07/27/why-is-city-of-toronto-sole-sourcing-key-digital-infrastructure/
Perks, Layton and now Wong-Tam asking very pointed questions about this deal and why it’s sole sourced. CTO says this deal is no upfront cost. Wong-Tam: “How do we know it’s the only option that’s no upfront cost?” CTO said they did market research.
Councillor Gord Perks says he’ll oppose the PayIt deal. He says this should have gone out to tender or similar competitive process. He’s also concerned about all the lobbying that led to this.
Perks: “I have two words that I want to conclude with to help councillors think through what can happen when you go to a sole source for an innovative technological service. The first word is ‘Presto. The second word ‘MFP.’” Fletcher interjects: “The third word is Google!”
Councillor Shelley Carroll says she’ll be moving to refer this back to the City Manager for more consideration.
Carroll’s referral motion doesn’t set a date for a report back. Just asks City Manager to consider the item some more.
Now that there’s a referral (delay) motion on the floor, all other debate stops and council debates whether it makes sense to refer it. After questions and speakers, they’ll vote on referral. If it loses, debate will resume on the item.
Mayor John Tory says he’ll vote in favour of referring this. Says he thinks this deal needs more time.
This is a bit of a surprise! Tory’s support for referral pretty much guarantees a PayIt deal will not be approved by Council today.
Motion to refer PayIt item to City Manager for more consideration CARRIES 23-1, with Holyday standing alone in opposition.
Councillor McKelvie scores high room rating for Star Wars lego. Others need to step up their game. More lego. https://x.com/ratemyskyperoom/status/1288188505856684032
This meeting has ground to a halt as councillors who are due to speak are not paying attention to the call, or dealing with technical issues.
We’ve landed on the e-scooter item! This is basically just a staff recommendation to delay approval of e-scooter regulations until the fall, with a potential pilot starting May 2021.
Councillor Gord Perks kicks off the e-scooter debate by asking about safety. Staff report includes stat from Calgary suggesting riding a shared e-scooter is 350 times more dangerous than riding a bike share bike on per km basis. That’s a lot.
To put that figure in context, though, Calgary saw 33 ER visits stemming from e-scooter crashes over 750,000 trips.
Staff came up with the 350x stat by comparing Calgary e-scooter numbers with Toronto Bike Share stats, which claim zero serious injuries across all of 2019. I’m not sure I fully buy that methodology: different cities, potential for unreported injuries, etc.
There are other cities that have also looked at e-scooter safety in comparison to other modes. Here’s a good chart from Baltimore’s study. Mostly just reminds me that driving is very dangerous. https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Pilot%20evaluation%20report%20FINAL.pdf (PDF)
Lots of lobbying on the e-scooter file. July has seen 143 lobbying communications from Bird reps Stewart Lyons, Chris Schafer and Amir Remtulla, reaching out to councillors, mayor’s office and staff. (More on this in next week’s @cityhallwatcher.)
Councillor Gord Perks moves to scrap this process and instead report on a by-law that would make e-scooters illegal in Toronto.
Perks’ argument cites safety, an inability to keep e-scooters off sidewalks and the aforementioned giant pile of lobbying tied to this file.
Perks also calls e-scooters “for-profit death machines” which is probably not a slogan the e-scooter companies will be using.
Councillor James Pasternak points out this item doesn’t actually commit Council to anything. Final decision will come later. He supports following the staff-recommended process.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to refer the e-scooter item back to staff, with a request for a report on the issues raised by the Accessibility Committee.
Fletcher’s motion to refer the e-scooter item back to staff to get a report on accessibility issues CARRIES 12-11. A nail-biter!
The e-scooter was already mostly a recommendation to punt on the decision, so this a punt on top of a punt. Puntier than planned. The e-scooter debate will return.
Council now debating an item about acquiring 2950 Lake Shore West for use as a homeless shelter. I believe this is the “Rogue Bi-Way” @torontomike and @1236 are always talking about. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.GL14.11
Former councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, now the board chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA, has written a letter opposing the shelter, playing all the old hits. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/comm/communicationfile-114468.pdf (PDF)
Councillor Mark Grimes, who reps the area, moves for some consultation before the acquisition of the property is completed.
Grimes’ motion for some more consultation on the Lake Shore west property acquisition for use as a shelter CARRIES 24-0.
And that’s it for Council today. They’ll get the band back together at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. There are 45 items left on the agenda. First up tomorrow will be a debate about the COVID-19 budget crunch and proposed additional rules for bars & restaurants, etc.
Council has started day two! There are 45 items left on the agenda. Streaming live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnSXFwhosDM
We start with a bundle of items about COVID-19 & City response. One recommendation up for debate is to cancel cost-of-living increases and performance pay for non-union employees. Association repping employees has written to Council in opposition: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/comm/communicationfile-114128.pdf (PDF)
City Manager Chris Murray has logged onto this meeting as “Chris Murrat.” He’s having some IT issues with the presentation he’s set to deliver.
City Manager presenting on the financial hole facing this city. Here’s a boxy chart I made showing the causes of the net $1.35 billion unfavourable budget variance Toronto faces for 2020.
This is not a one-time challenge for Toronto. In 2021, City is forecasting a $1.471 billion budget shortfall — bigger than the $1.35 billion shortfall they’re dealing with now. Report indicates City will likely need supports from feds/prov for years to come.
To mitigate these costs, staff are recommending measures like cancellation of cost-of-living adjustments/bonuses and a new voluntary buyout program. Buyout program would be structured such that any vacancies created through buyouts would need to be left open for at least 6 months
Depending on how many city workers take the buyout — it’s open to anyone eligible to retire with full pension and they’ll get lump sum of 3 months salary — a bunch of vacant positions will have a service impact. It’s beginning to look a lot like austerity.
Councillor Michael Ford is in a backyard. (Is it the famous FordFest backyard? I can’t tell.)
Notable part of this COVID-19 financial report is this section where staff explain why they don’t want Toronto given the power to run operating deficits. I didn’t know the Great Depression was the origin of the ban on municipal deficits.
Tory also moves to give staff authority to accept federal and provincial cash from now through the next Council meeting on Sept 30.
Councillors were paid salaries of $117,614 in 2019. Mayor got $198,075. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-148615.pdf (PDF)
Important clarification re: the “performance pay” program. I had used the word “bonus” in a few places as shorthand but it’s not that. https://x.com/dmrider/status/1288504183860101121
Councillor Mike Layton moves for a report on changing the ratio of full-time to part-time paramedics, with an eye toward making it so more paramedics have access to paid sick leave.
Unlike the mayor and some other councillors, Layton is NOT heaping praise on Ford and Trudeau for their bailout announcement.
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves a request that staff indicate whether proposals are “discretionary, critical, priority or essential” in their reports.
Mayor John Tory’s motion to freeze mayor and councillor salaries for 2020 CARRIES via a show of hands.
Tory’s motion to authorize staff to collect provincial and federal cash during the summer recess also carries via hands.
Tory’s motion to pass recommended temporary bylaws with additional restrictions on restaurants/bars during pandemic CARRIES via a showing of the hands.
Layton’s motion to report on ratio of full-time to part-time paramedics CARRIES via a show of hands.
Holyday’s motion to include in every report an identification of whether proposals are discretionary, critical, priority or essential CARRIES 12-11. Another nail-biter.
Item as amended carries. Council on lunch until 2 p.m. 45 items remaining, plus a few others being added. 30+ member motions. Three tree items.
Live stream is active as Councillors are chatting. Thompson, Ainslie and Crawford talking about how beautiful Scarborough ravines are. “I don’t even need a cottage,” says Thompson.
These councillors continue to disappoint me by not swearing up a storm and gossiping when they think the live stream is off.
Now they’re good-naturedly making fun of Stephen Holyday for being bald. The lights are glaring off his head. “Can I send you over some hair, Stephen?” jokes Councillor John Filion, who has very good hair. I’m enjoying this.
Councillor Joe Cressy ruined the fun by telling them they were live. A shame.
Council is officially back for the afternoon session. 50 items left on the agenda. Councillor Gord Perks tries to sneak in a quick vote on one of the tree items, but Holyday notices and blocks it. Live stream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnSXFwhosDM
“Madame Speaker, somebody’s lifting weights or something,” notes Councillor Holyday. There was definitely a repetitive clanking sound. It’s stopped now. 48 items left.
Councillor Mark Grimes introduces this motion on the item about expanding housing options in the yellow belt. Gord Perks doesn’t like it, so the item is held for debate sometime later in this meeting.
A Carroll motion to request a study on the enviro/health impacts of leaf blowers and other gas-powered garden equipment fails to make the agenda after a 15-9 vote. Needed two-thirds. It’ll go to Infrastructure & Environment Committee for consideration there.
Council votes via show of hands to accept a $200K donation for Riverdale Farm from the estate of Donald Henry Reid.
Bailao/Tory motion requesting a report on having the City lease vacant Airbnb units for use as affordable housing CARRIES 22-2, with Ford & Holyday opposed.
“Is someone cutting some steel? It sounds like someone is sawing steel,” wonders Nunziata. That’s a very specific identification of a type of sound.
Item from Councillor Wong-Tam asking for info about the lease agreement for 233 Carlton, a deal that involved the WE Charity, is added to the agenda. Minnan-Wong holds it for debate. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM23.28
@whoisjaren wrote about this 233 Carlton deal and the Kielburger family involvement for @CANADALAND here: https://www.canadalandshow.com/kielburger-family-real-estate-empire-and-recent-deal-with-city-of-toronto/
After dispensing with a pile of Member Motions, there are now just 15 items left on the agenda. I’d say that suggests this means the meeting will wrap up pretty quickly, but that’d jinx it.
Dig this painting of the Queen Street bridge over the Don Valley in the @ombudsmanTO’s office.
Vote to authorize immediate installation of temporary separated bike lanes (where possible) on Dundas East between Broadview & Kingston Road CARRIES 19-5, with Crawford, Ford, Holyday, Lai and Minnan-Wong opposed.
Vote to report on design for permanent upgrades to bike lanes on Dundas East also CARRIES, 24-0. Report due in October.
Council votes to refer this item about providing bollards and planter boxes to places of worship to improve pedestrian safety back to staff for more consideration. Vote was 19-5, with Colle, Matlow, Grimes, Wong-Tam and Pasternak opposed. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.IE14.15
Item about expanding housing options in the yellow belt CARRIES 23-1, with Holyday opposed. Next step is consultation process and further reports and studies.
Council is going into private session to consider this development item. Back soon to wrap things up. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.SC12.6
Council is back. After dispensing with some items discussed in private session, there are six items left on the agenda. They are now onto debating their response to the province’s Bill 184, which includes changes to the eviction process for landlords. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.PH15.10
Anyone know anything about this vintage-looking “Assured Housing for Ontario” poster in the Housing Secretariat office? Looks cool.
For background on this Bill 184 issue, here’s a piece from @jpags. There’d been talk of the city challenging the bill in court, but word is the City Solicitor has advised against it. (Her legal advice to council on this is confidential.) https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/07/28/citys-lawyer-tells-council-not-to-fight-bill-184-in-court-sources.html
Oops, that Bill 184 piece is by @jpags *and* @_VictoriaGibson. Didn’t mean to leave Victoria out!
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to request the province look at amending Bill 184 to be even friendlier to landlords.
Here we go. Councillor Gord Perks moves to have the City mount a legal challenge to Bill 184.
“The next tragedy will be the mass evictions that come when the moratorium on COVID-related evictions is lifted, and when Bill 184 comes in place,” says Perks.
In addition to wanting to avert human suffering that would result from mass evictions, Toronto has a financial stake in this — cost of sheltering people who are evicted would fall to the city.
Mayor John Tory says he’ll support Perks’ motion to launch a court challenge.
“You can’t win if you don’t try,” says Tory. He’s not optimistic about council’s ability to stop Bill 184, but court challenge is worth a shot, he says.
Tory is walking an odd line with Ford’s government these days. A few hours ago, he was effusive with praise for Ford re: getting federal funds for cities. Now he’s supporting a court challenge based on nation Ford gov legislation will evict thousands of people.
Holyday’s motion to ask province to look at ways to make Bill 184 better for landlords FAILS 6-17. Grimes, Ford, Holyday, Lai, Minnan-Wong, Pasternak in favour.
Perks’ motion to launch a legal challenge to Bill 184 CARRIES 22-2, with Holyday and Ford opposed.
🌳🌳🌳 Tree Time 🌳🌳🌳 Council will now vote on whether this tree at 330 Humberline Drive should get to continue to exist. Forestry staff recommended denying an application to remove. Etobicoke York Community Council voted to let the tree die. Council will have the final word
Perks moves to DENY the permit to remove the tree. He laments that his process even exists, and thinks tree decisions should be left to Urban Forestry staff.
Councillor Michael Ford speaks in support of allowing the tree to get removed. Property owner wants it gone to make it easier for trucks to get in and out of their driveway. Tree is city-owned.
These trees are in Nunziata’s ward. House is derelict. New owner wants to demolish the house and build a new two-storey detached.
Perks’ motion to save these trees FAILS 7-15. IN FAVOUR (7): Carroll, Cressy, Layton, Matlow, Perks, Perruzza, Wong-Tam OPPOSED (15): Ainslie, Bailao, Bradford, Colle, Crawford, Filion, Ford, Grimes, Holyday, Lai, McKelvie, Minnan-Wong, Nunziata, Pasternak, Thompson
Oh no. It’s a Black Walnut Tree.
Councillor Mike Colle, who reps the property, explains the owner is wanting to remove the tree because they have a child that is allergic to it.
Motion to KILL the tree LOSES 10-12. (My count is 11-11, which would still be a loss. @TorontoCouncil, can you confirm this one?)
🌳 🌳🌳 That concludes Tree Time 🌳🌳🌳
Two items left. Council now onto an item about “Cannabis Clustering.” Councillors concerned there are too many pot stores close together. Item originally only applied to Toronto & East York, but Councillor Holyday has moved to make it city-wide.
Here are all the pending applications for pot shops in Toronto. Tokyo Smoke is building a small empire. (Date is deadline for public objections/submissions.)
Oh wait. There are a few more, using “Scarborough” and “North York” in their addresses, like the megacity never even happened.
Holyday’s motion to ask the Alcohol & Gaming Commission to take steps to avoid cannabis clustering city-wide CARRIES via a show of hands. Item as amended CARRIES 21-2, with Colle and Lai opposed.
Final item is about 233 Carlton Street, a property recently leased by the City for use as a women’s drop-in centre. It’s connected to the Kielburgers. Not much gleaned. Council votes via show of hands to get a report on the lease deal. Report due at the Sept 30 Council meeting.
And that concludes the July 2020 meeting of Toronto Council. Next meeting: September 30! Almost two months away. Imagine all the stuff that can happen between then and now.
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