City Council — July 2014
July 8–11, 2014
112 posts
Ford congratulates a bunch of people for their work during the ice storm. Names the head of 311 (a service he opposed) and Bill Blair.
"We beat mother nature," says Ford. He says very few people can claim to have ever done that.
Ford says city's response to the ice storm put Toronto on the map as a "remarkable city."
Council has returned to debating the waterfront. Anthony Perruzza is speaking. Few seem to be listening.
Perruzza motion to have city manager report on bringing waterfront development in-house FAILS 8-26. http://t.co/WXjedv25mb
Council votes 31-6 to go forward with strategic review of waterfront development. http://t.co/JdU91xvfDd
Hard to come up with a plausible path to get the 30 votes needed to extend Ombudsman Fiona Crean's contract. She's done good work.
It is also pretty ridiculous that councillors get to vote to extend — or not extend — the contract of an accountability officer.
As council begins, City Manager makes effusive speech about the success of World Pride and the rainbow that capped things off.
Norm Kelly reads a list of shout-outs to those who helped with the Casa Loma wedding. Concludes by bringing @kristynwongtam up. Standing O.
Wong-Tam asks Ford to release his hold on council item relating to LGBT youth shelter. Ford says nope.
Councillor Colle has non-specific concerns about people "bullying" councillors on social media re: how they voted on certain issues.
Friendly amendment: Rob Ford should use a robot voice when he makes this apology robocall.
This council meeting is moving at a glacial pace, by the way. It may never end.
This forced-apology stuff has gotten real tired. Why not just suspend the pay of councillors who violate the code of conduct?
Fair criticism of that idea: the super rich dudes we elect might not care about losing their council pay. Still, better than fake apology.
Doug Ford is talking. He says some words, punctuated by brief periods of not saying words. His voice is loud and gets louder.
Doug now attacking the integrity commissioner for her work leading up to mayor's conflict-of-interest court case. His mouth is a machine gun
Doug is asked to retract his comments re: the integrity commissioner. "I'm not doing it. Until hell freezes over! I'm telling the TRUTH!"
Doug Ford rhetorically asks if Nunziata speaks English. Lots of shouting!
Nunziata needs to remove Doug Ford from the chamber, but she's hesitating.
Doug says he will apologize to Nunziata but not to anyone else. His mic is off but he is loud. "JUST BE QUIET AND LISTEN!" says Nunziata.
Doug Ford sort of retracts his comments, and so we beat on. Doug Ford likes to point out things he sees as double standards.
Doug finishes saying words and council goes to lunch. At this rate, this meeting will wrap up shortly before the heat death of universe.
Council votes 37-3 in favour of re-opening a parking item so they can debate having free parking on Queen West to support music industry.
(They'll debate the issue later. I'd advise @jm_mcgrath not to watch as his head may explode.)
Fletcher motion to invite all accredited media to press conferences at city hall passes 38-3. Guess who opposed. http://t.co/ZrjsBrHqXV
.@gordperks, @mary_margaret32 & @TOMayorFord end up on the same side of a vote re: OMB attendance. Hmm. http://t.co/y1IREF6Dws
Council now voting whether to waive notice on item that recommends 16+ age restriction for EDM events at Exhibition Place.
Notice on the EDM item is waived. Perks holds it. They'll debate it later.
Series of Member Motions up now re: liquor licenses. Think these relate to recent AGCO changes. http://metronews.ca/news/toronto/997890/ontario-wont-enforce-liquor-licence-conditions-in-toronto/
Motion up now to release Section 42 funds to S.A.D.R.A park at St. Clair & Old Weston. Councillors confused by name. (It's a weird name.)
Here is the city's official parks page for S.A.D.R.A Park. Anyone know where it gets its name? http://bit.ly/1w20JOr
Matlow refers to Ford as "Mayor Ford", then corrects himself: "Mr. Ford."
Councillor Perruzza has made up imaginary students named Johnny and Stevie and is making classroom analogies relating to this debate.
Councillor Lee has actually opted to speak on this item. He doesn't speak often.
Lee says he can't support forcing Ford to robocall an apology to AInslie's residents because two wrongs don't make a right.
Maybe they could ask Ford to skywrite his apology. "I'M SORRY, FOLKS" in mile-high letters made of wispy smoke.
Rob Ford is back in the chamber and... apologizes to @cllrainslie. Said he just spoke to legal. Okay.
"I accept the apology," says Ainslie. Councillors applaud. This was a top shelf use of six hours.
Only 3 councillors oppose receiving the item and moving on. Matlow, Carroll and Wong-Tam.
Next up is Mammoliti's violation of the code of conduct. He faces possible suspension of his pay for 90 days.
Mammoliti's lawyer has submitted a strongly worded letter saying council should defer this item. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cc/comm/communicationfile-48606.pdf (PDF)
Doug Ford has put his name on the Request to Speak and Request to Question Staff list for this item. So, um, take cover?
Doug wants to know if this issue is in front of the courts. Integrity Commish says it'll be reviewed by the courts.
Doug Ford asks the integrity commissioner how councillors are supposed to pay for legal fees.
Doug Ford asks how what Mammoliti did is different than councillors going on "junkets all around the world."
Integirty commish uses the overhead to display a $40K cheque made out to Giorgio Mammoliti.
And she now displays a second cheque for $40K.
Councillor Maloney (he's new!) moves that council defer its decision on the integrity commissioner item until resolution of all court cases.
Municipal government pet peeve: councillors who live in fear that the city might get sued for making a decision.
Councillor Cho says that in his view Councillor Maloney's motion is a very bad motion.
Di GIorgio says he agrees with Maloney and will support deferral. The company a man keeps.
Councillor Maloney stands to withdraw her deferral motion. So that'll be that.
And, er, yes, sorry. That should have been *his* deferral motion.
Motion to call the question passes 36-3. So council is going to vote on the Mammoliti code of conduct item.
Also I swear I've heard the first few bars of "Old Time Rock and Roll" at least three times during this council meeting. Someone's ringtone?
Council adopts integrity commish's recommendation and will dock Mammoliti 3 months pay. 37-2. http://t.co/MucUAFRAj6
McConnell motion to not name Union Station Plaza after John A Macdonald loses on a tie. 18-18. http://t.co/hVhfXIPDEP
Council votes to name plaza at Union Station after John A Macdonald. 21-15. http://t.co/JJ30nlTpe3
Council gets ridiculous as De Baeremaeker tries to argue that since Scarborough has 25% of population it should have 25% of subway stations.
The debate right now: whether to appoint James Pasternak or Pam McConnell to TTC board. Some arguing that TTC board needs a downtown voice.
Councillor Pasternak asked to be appointed to TTC board, citing his attendance record at council and transit events. http://t.co/LgFxQH2sZe
Motion to put McConnell on the TTC board instead of Pasternak FAILS 17-20. http://t.co/FNMWeCx9VK
Municipal politics pet peeve #2: the word "ratepayers." What does that even mean?
From the new Zoo Board agenda. 2014 zoo attendance is not looking so good. http://t.co/yHk8I1NOaV
Councillor Berardinetti says if 30 councillors don't vote to renew Ombudsman's contract then council doesn't have confidence in Fiona Crean.
Needless to say, if 30 votes is the threshold for confidence then this council doesn't have confidence in most things.
Matlow: "I think Fiona Crean has been a victim of her own success. I think Fiona Crean has been a victim of her own courage."
And, yeah, if I was a future Toronto ombudsman I'd probably be a bit reluctant to investigate civic appointments.
Matlow: "We're not going to shoot the messenger every time we don't like the message." This is a real good speech from @JoshMatlow.
Core of this debate seems to be whether to ditch the ombudsman now or let the next council decide whether to renew, after the election.
Procedural wrangling: if Berardinetti's motion fails, can Nunziata rule the in-camera motion redundant?
Davis motion to call the question on the ombudsman contract renewal carries 22-11. http://t.co/xWeiMfwVf1
So: the votes! Up first: Berardinetti's motion that council renew ombudsman Crean's contract for five years. Needs 30 votes. Fails. 3-35.
Next: should council adopt confidential instructions re: Fiona Crean's contract? That PASSES 24-15. http://t.co/X8odV30Zaa
I don't know what that means exactly, but I'd guess it's decent news for Crean supporters.
Based on Matlow's speech, I'd speculate it means the next council will have a shot at renewing the contract.
Man's conch concert interrupted by municipal government.
Cynical observer of this local planning board debate could suggest some cllrs want to keep the OMB so they can keep blaming it for things.
Ford releases his hold on item relating to LGBTQ youth shelter. Votes against it. http://t.co/MZty5btdrH
Rob Ford releases his hold on item relating to Fort York displaying a copy of the Magna Carta. Votes against it. http://t.co/B1LlH6GheV
"Is Rob Ford opposed to the Magna Carta?" is now also a question that can be asked about Rob Ford.
Council votes 32-8 in favour of setting up a local appeal body. http://t.co/DgT91b2soh
Council about to debate Eglinton Connects. Nunziata points out council already approved the streetscape and traffic plans. Can't be debated.
Ford ignores that and shows an overhead of Eglinton, asking the Chief Planner if the road has five lanes. Mihevc immediately objects.
Ford doesn't yet seem to grasp that the speaker has denied him his chance to rant about lane reductions and the eternal war on cars.
Ford asks if his picture of the number of traffic lanes on Eglinton reflects the built form of Eglinton.
Councillor Lindsay Luby points out that "built form means buildings." Mihevc suggests Ford "doesn't know what built form is."
Matlow, I think on a rhetorical point (I think), challenges the chair as to whether "built form" includes road design. Chair is not upheld.
So we're back to Ford's overhead showing lanes on Eglinton. He has many visual aides.
Ford asks if there is a "high volume of vehicular traffic" between Mount Pleasant and Avenue on Eglinton. Keesmaat says no.
Someone adopt this platform plank: "If elected, I will dispense with the ceremonial chain of office and the 'your worship' title."
Watching the Fords try to grill @jen_keesmaat, it's easy to forget that she was given the job under this administration.
Doug Ford now asking confused questions about the LRT. How will bus riders get from place to place with only an underground LRT, he wonders.
Ford now telling a story about the time he and his brother saw a bank hold-up on St. Clair and the police couldn't even get there.
Lindsay Luby suggests city should send someone to L.A. to look at signal coordination. Matlow: "Ah, the mayor's already been to L.A."
Doug Ford drops the war on car bomb. He disputes the notion there were more pedestrians than cars at Yonge & Eglinton.
Breaking: Doug Ford willing to bet his entire fortune on belief there are more cars than pedestrians on Eglinton.
Doug Ford says the auto industry is an important part of our economy. Says putting commuters underground kills jobs.
Doug Ford suggests city could bury the entire Eglinton LRT using the $150m planned for Eglinton Connects. That is not true.
Doug Ford will attend one more council meeting as councillor after this. Then council will be Doug Ford-free.
My job creation strategy will eliminate public transit and create renewed demand for automobiles. I'm Judge Doom and I approve this message.
Seems like no matter how good the city gets at providing notice, there will always be a bunch of people who claim to have received nothing.
e.g. I think city does a good job of publicizing marathons. But ALWAYS people in traffic those mornings, wailing "why wasn't I told!"
Attempt to refer Eglinton Connects item to allow for further consultation FAILS 13-19. http://t.co/wdZlJEyWgF
Carroll chastises councillors who think aboveground transit means changes while underground transit means the street stays the same.
Matlow motion to include right-turn lanes along central Eglinton passes 28-5. Fords opposed for whatever reason. http://t.co/Q8N2DlZ9yt
Eglinton Connects item PASSES 26-7. Interesting vote results. http://t.co/XdMjgKgnnf
