Toronto Council meets today! The last meeting of City Hall’s strange mayorless limbo period. There are a hodgepodge of items before us, including the Bloor West Bike Lanes, SmartTrack and more. It’s streaming here. I will post commentary and make jokes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-5XG8EEMBk
For a preview of some items on this agenda, check out this week’s edition of @cityhallwatcher. https://toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw231
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie — making use of the power while she still has it — has designated two items as "key matters" to be debated first: the appointment of a new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth, and SmartTrack funding.
Councillor Jamaal Myers rises to thank the police for arresting the suspect charged with threatening mayoral candidates. He was on a ride-along with 42 Division at the time the arrest was made. He calls the ride-along a “unique, eye-opening experience.”
News on the SmartTrack file. The city had asked province for $234 million, so this would appear to be a little short. Quick math suggests this means the provincial government will be paying for about 13% of the cost of the five “SmartTrack” stations, which they will own outright. https://x.com/mckelvieAJAX/status/1668981973547622403
As expected, Councillor Stephen Holyday holds the bike lane item which includes the Bloor West extension for later debate. “What a shock,” notes Councillor Gord Perks.
Councillor Stephen Holyday says he has concerns about a Toronto & East York Community Council motion to reduce speed limits on a bunch of arterial streets to 40 km/h. He wants a recorded vote. The item CARRIES 22-2. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.TE5.40
Some procedural confusion now as Councillor Cheng wants to time her two items on the Willowdale modular project for tomorrow afternoon. She says seniors are planning to show up to watch. Clerk says the items can’t be timed as they are member motions and are not yet introduced.
Council has adopted the order paper. Just 26 items were held for debate. The full agenda is here: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2462/23195
First item: the appointment of a new Deputy City Manager. We immediately get PROCEDURAL CONFUSION as some are under the impression they’ll be in violation of the code of conduct if they vote against the appointment without first asking questions about the appointee. Weird!
The name of the person recommended as the new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth is confidential, so if councillors want to ask questions they’ll need to go into private session and kick the public out of the chamber. Here’s the item: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.CC7.2
The Batty signal is lit. Council would like Integrity Commissioner Jonathan Batty to show up and provide some advice on this appointment process.
I don’t have all the background on this story, but it did strike me as weird that Council would be voting to install a high-level appointee like a Deputy City Manager less than two weeks before a new mayor takes the reins.
Councillor Gord Perks asks City Manager Paul Johnson if this new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth was created by Tory with his strong mayor powers. Johnson says no, but Tory was involved in the structural changes that led to this new position.
This is interesting. City lawyer Wendy Walberg notes Tory’s final “strong mayor” order was to delegate powers to the City Manager to “determine the organizational structure of the City.” That order was issued on Feb 17, the same day Tory resigned. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mayoraldecisions/2023/mayor0006.pdf (PDF)
“Would you agree this is a clumsy mess and the province regulated terribly in this area?” Perks asks Walberg. Walberg laughs but offers no specific comment.
To recap: through a series of unfortunate events, Premier Doug Ford’s “strong mayor” legislation ended up giving broad powers over the structure of the City of Toronto to an unelected bureaucrat.
Also notable: The second-round interview panel for this new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth job included John Tory’s Chief of Staff Courtney Glen.
Meanwhile, a city release notes 129,745 people voted in advance — up 12% from the advance vote number last fall. Good news for democracy. https://www.toronto.ca/news/advance-vote-turnout-for-the-2023-by-election-for-mayor/
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie asks the City Manager why this Deputy City Manager needs to be appointed now. Johnson says it’s because Bill 109, which creates more aggressive timelines for development approvals, comes into effect on July 1.
Councillors ultimately do decide to go into private session to discuss the Deputy City Manager item, after a 17-3 vote to go in camera. My DMs are open if any councillors or staff in the room want to send me details. I will refer to you only by a cool mysterious codename.
Some quick number crunching as we wait for council to return. The mayoral by-election advance vote of 129,745 is about equivalent to: - 7% of total eligible vote from 2022 - 23% of total actual vote from 2022 - 17% of total vote from 2018 - 13% of total vote from 2014
Council is back. Councillor Paula Fletcher apparently lets the cat out of the bag, telling us that the new Deputy City Manager will be the current TCHC CEO? It’s a bit unclear. She says she’ll support the appointment.
“People want to know who’s in charge of what,” notes Councillor Gord Perks, saying the provincial strong mayor legislation has led to an “opaque and tangled mess” where it’s hard to know who’s making decisions.
Council votes 22-1 to APPOINT the selected candidate as the new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth. We’ll get confirmation of the name shortly.
Council also votes 22-1 to APPOINT the selected candidate as the new Deputy City Manager for Infrastructure. Same deal — name will be revealed shortly.
McKelvie welcomes Jag Sharma, currently the TCHC CEO, as the new Deputy City Manager for Development & Growth. Will Johnston will be the new Deputy City Manager for Infrastructure.
Council has moved onto an item about approving an agreement with Bell Canada for “next generation” IP-based 911 service. The city doesn’t really have much choice in the matter as “Bell is Ontario's CRTC assigned Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier.” https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX5.1
The vote on that item will have to wait. Council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m. There are 21 items left on the regular agenda plus 31 member motions. I don’t want to jinx it, but I think they can finish this thing without a Friday session.
Council’s back. Item considering 45 requests to broaden zoning permissions for lands zoned for employment — recommending against most of the requests — CARRIES 22-0 (Bradford didn’t vote as he is a conflict of interest, with his wife working as a planner) https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH4.5
The 911 item passes via show of hands after Cheng expresses frustration re: not having a choice but to sign a deal with Bell. Up now: transit. The prov has said it won’t pay for Cummer Station on the Yonge North subway extension. Cheng has concerns. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX5.3
The potential Cummer Subway Station — yes, a funny name — would cost at least $445 million. The province has said the city is welcome to put up the money. But the city is not exactly flush with cash at the moment, so staff aren’t recommending that.
Councillor Lily Cheng says she’ll be trying to get Doug Ford’s cell phone number so she can make her “best Hail Mary plea” to get Cummer Station funded and built before the opportunity passes.
The item carries via a show of hands. Cheng passed a motion at committee asking staff to ask the feds for $$$ to build Cummer Station. Staff will also report on cost of installing signage informing new area residents that there’s no subway station coming. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX5.3
Up now: Councillor Chris Moise is moving to defer the matter of whether citizen TTC board members Fenton Jagdeo and Julie Osborne should get reappointed. He thinks it should wait until after the mayoral election. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.CA6.5
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie argues against deferring the TTC board appointments until after the election, saying that the consistency of membership could be helpful, especially because the councillors currently on the board could get shuffled off by the new mayor.
Councillor Gary Crawford also argues against deferral, saying appointing these two TTC board members now — for a term that’ll expire in 2027 — will help ensure “continuity” under the new mayor.
Councillor Pasternak says he’s against “deferral and delay.” (“I realize that’s a campaign slogan,” he adds.) He says people want Council to get on with decision-making and not hold things up. (Does the average resident really care about when/how TTC board members get appointed?)
Perks says he’s going to support deferral. “I can’t remember the last time someone that I represented complimented the City of Toronto on its transit service. It’s been a while.” He thinks the City needs to take a closer look at TTC governance and consider some changes.
Perks points out the current TTC board members will continue to serve until replacements are named. The TTC board will continue to meet even if this item is deferred. There’s no real operational impact.
Councillor Mike Colle, noting he has served on the TTC board for eight years, says it does not “make a heckuva lot of difference” who is on the TTC board because the TTC is simply “cash-starved.”
Motion to defer the TTC board appointments until after the mayoral election FAILS 12-13. A nail-biter!
After the deferral fails, TTC board members Julie Osborne and Fenton Jagdeo are reappointed for another term, 23-2.
Council’s next item is about childcare. The city has a target of 30K more childcare spaces by 2026. 4,554 new spaces have been created so far. Just 25,446 to go. Staff have provided this map showing the need by ward. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EC4.3
The childcare item carries with this amendment, adopted unanimously, from Councillor Shelley Carroll asking the provincial government for better funding and support for expanding childcare spaces and increasing wages. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EC4.3
An interesting item up now: staff are proposing new regulations for signage, including a new set of limitations for “advocacy signs” — signs residents might post on their lawn urging drivers to slow down or opposing funding cuts, for example. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EC4.6
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to remove all the stuff about “advocacy signs” from the new sign bylaw. She says it’s just going to cause problems and city doesn’t have enough bylaw officers to enforce it anyway. “I think we’ve just gone overboard here.”
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to change the proposed advocacy sign rules so that people aren’t permitted to put signs on publicly-owned boulevards adjacent to homes. He also moves to remove the proposed restriction that only one advocacy sign is allowed to be posted at a time.
“I just don’t think we need to get into the business of regulating what someone does on private property,” says Holyday, arguing for removing the proposed restriction of one advocacy sign allowed at a time.
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to raise the limitation, so that people are allowed to have up to three (but no more) advocacy signs at any given time.
Carroll brings up mayoral candidate Xiaohua Gong — the guy with a ridiculous number of signs — as an example of the risk of inviting too many signs. She says bylaw officers need tools to address people who might go a little overboard with the advocacy signs.
Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to add rules prohibiting advocacy signs that “display graphic or disturbing images” or that violate laws. She also wants to add a clause stipulating owners/occupants can remove signs posted without their consent.
Councillor Mike Colle estimates he has put up 1.5 million signs over the course of his career in politics. He says signs are a very complicated issue and suggests it makes sense to defer this item. I’m not sure if he has an actual motion to do that, though. TBD.
Councillor Bravo and Councillor Perks both rise to praise and support Holyday’s motions. Cats and dogs, living together! Both also express concern about Saxe’s graphic imagery motion. Perks says he doesn’t think public servants should be deciding what’s acceptable imagery.
Councillor Fletcher withdraws her motion to delete the advocacy sign rules from the sign bylaw, so that’s no longer on the table. Meanwhile, Councillor Anthony Perruzza moves to defer the matter to the October 2023 Council meeting.
Some procedural confusion now as Perks says he might vote for deferral, as he’s waiting to see an upcoming wording change to one of Holyday’s motions that could change his mind. Nunziata suggests council just move on to the bike lane item and come back to signs later. OK, sure!
So council is, quite suddenly, now debating the cycling network plan. Item includes an extension of the Bloor bike lanes from Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road. Councillor Stephen Holyday has concerns. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.IE4.3
Holyday is asking staff about figures showing that only about 0.3% of current Bloor West road users are cyclists. Staff confirm those numbers, but under questioning from Perks also confirm that infra tends to increase number of cyclists. (And also that safety is improved.)
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to delete the Bloor Street bike extension from Runnymede to Resurrection Road from the cycling network plan.
“There isn’t going to be a sudden tidal wave of cyclists showing up here,” says Holyday re: the Bloor West bike lane extension. “People are really upset” he says, pointing to advocacy signs opposing the bike lanes.
Holyday suggests this plan can be “dusted off if the demand changes” and cyclist numbers on Bloor West increase. “Think about the harm this does in dividing a city,” he says, in conclusion.
Meanwhile, Councillor Chris Moise moves to make some tweaks to the proposed Cabbagetown bike lane network, upgrading the Ontario Street bike lane to a cycle track and adding a contraflow lane to Winchester Street. https://x.com/TorontoCouncil/status/1669093232024616961
“I frankly think it’s an irresponsible, short-sighted and out-of-touch position to suggest we do not need safe cycling infrastructure in our city,” says Councillor Amber Morley. She says this is about taking proactive action to provide travel options.
Councillor Stephen Holyday’s motion to delete the Bloor West bike lane extension from the cycling network plan FAILS 3-20.
Councillor Moise’s motion to tweak the Cabbagetown bike lane plan, adding a contraflow lane on Winchester, CARRIES 20-2.
The 2023 cycling network item, including the Bloor West bike lane extension, is ADOPTED by Council, 21-1. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.IE4.3
Up now: Pickleball? It’s a real thing! Staff are recommending some new courts to meet the people’s pure passion for Pickleball. “It’s a very fast-growing sport,” notes Councillor Paula Fletcher. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.IE4.5
Councillors Fletcher and Cheng have both asked staff if they’ve seen conflicts between tennis players and pickleball players. Staff say they have not seen much conflict.
Councillor Colle is concerned that Pickleball has become an elitist sport, saying a plain pair of Pickleball paddles can cost $130 (?!). He’d like to see Council and the private sector work to make paddles available to everybody.
A strange diversion! Anyway, the Pickleball item carries via a show of hands.
And that’ll do it for tonight. Council will return tomorrow, with 12 items left on the regular agenda and 38 member motions to introduce and consider. See you back here at 9:30 a.m.
Council is back for day two. Things are popping off this morning with a presentation honouring departing City CFO Heather Taylor, who is reportedly taking a gig at consulting firm Ernst & Young. Today’s stream is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgBiXRELcA
In her presentation honouring Taylor, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie tells us that a report on Toronto’s long-term financial plan will be coming to the July meeting of city council. Exciting! There’s also a plaque and a photo.
Taylor gives a brief speech thanking those she worked with. She leaves at a time when the City is facing unprecedented financial pressures — including a $1.5 billion funding gap — heading into the 2024 budget process.
Live footage of the next City of Toronto CFO’s first day on the job.
Council’s first item today is the inexplicable and unstoppable SmartTrack. A new report confirms the province has offered $226 million to cover budget overruns for the $1.7 billion project that will see five new GO Stations built in the city. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX5.2
There are some intriguing terms attached to this new provincial SmartTrack funding, including a condition that the City support the province in advancing “any alternative flood protection solution” for the East Harbour development area.
Councillor Paula Fletcher asks if there’s confirmation from the province that there will be seamless transfers (without double fares) for riders transferring between the TTC and these new “SmartTrack” GO stations. Staff can’t confirm that. They say conversations are ongoing.
Councillor Bravo asks if there’s a “guarantee” transit riders won’t be paying an extra fare to board trains at these SmartTrack GO stations. “That commitment is in the agreement in principle,” staff say, but they’re still working with province to get their final commitment.
Bravo: “So our property tax dollars are NOT going to solve the transit infrastructure problems that we have in Toronto — they’re going to fund a provincial GO Expansion plan just so it can be branded ‘SmartTrack’, and we don’t even have a binding contract for fare integration?”
Councillor Shelley Carroll asks what could happen if Council doesn’t approve this SmartTrack report today. Staff say it could put the whole SmartTrack project in jeopardy, and city has already committed about $200 million in sunk costs.
Councillor Gord Perks moves to suspend negotiations re: SmartTrack until the province agrees to provide funding for TTC capital and agrees to fare integration.
“John Tory is no longer mayor. We’re no longer under any obligation to build monuments to him. We’re under an obligation to build transit that works,” says Councillor Gord Perks on his motion to halt SmartTrack negotiations until province provides a better overall transit deal.
Councillor James Pasternak suggests the city will lose $800+ million in transit funding from the federal and provincial governments if they vote for Perks’ motion, as both Ford and Trudeau would simply walk away from the SmartTrack deal altogether.
It seems like city actually has a good negotiating position here, especially with Ford, as city is providing more of the funding for something the province wants and has planned development around But council so rarely has leverage they don’t even recognize when they do have it
Councillor Brad Bradford — he’s running for mayor, you know — says Perks’ motion is a “joke.” “A joke from not a serious person who doesn’t take the role of government in this chamber seriously.” He says Perks’ motion tries to “move the goalposts” on a negotiation.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie moves to accept the SmartTrack funding deal with the province. She also moves that council “reaffirm its support for fare integration across all transit systems in the Toronto region.”
Councillor Gord Perks’ motion to suspend SmartTrack negotiations until the province agrees to help fund the TTC’s unfunded capital program FAILS 4-19.
Perks’ motion to suspend SmartTrack negotiations until the province agrees to fare integration, with a “single fare use of the entire system” FAILS 6-17.
McKelvie’s motion to accept the provincial funding deal for the SmartTrack GO Stations CARRIES 22-1.
McKelvie’s motion that council reaffirm its support for fare integration across the GTA CARRIES 23-0. Item as amended carries via a show of hands.
Council has returned to the sign bylaw item. Councillor Stephen Holyday has revised his motion to allow for advocacy signs to be placed on abutting public property in cases where signs “cannot otherwise be placed entirely on private property.” https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EC4.6
Perks says this revision should broker peace, but Saxe says her concerns have not yet been addressed. She’s concerned about situations where tenants in multi-unit homes disagree about signs, and also lack of regulation around posting graphic imagery. She’s supporting deferral.
Councillor Anthony Perruzza’s motion to defer the sign bylaw item until October FAILS 4-19. (“Here come the sign police! Get ready!” remarks Councillor Colle.)
Back to the regular debate. Councillor Lily Cheng moves to refer the advocacy sign section of the sign bylaw back to staff for more consideration, with a report back in Q4 2023.
Cheng says this deferral would be specifically to address issues like how to deal with a situation where residents in a multi-unit home disagree about a posted advocacy sign, and potential rules around graphic imagery.
Cheng’s motion has caused more procedural confusion, so council is standing the sign bylaw item down for now, so they can… consider another item about signs? Huh. Wow. My god it’s full of signs. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH4.1
Specifically, this item asks council to approve a “special sign district” for the Woodbine casino and racetrack area, permitting a variety of electronic signs promoting horses and gambling and beer and so on. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH4.1
Council votes 15-7 to APPROVE the Special Sign District for the Woodbine racetrack and casino area.
Council is now considering an item about proposed changes to the Provincial Planning Statement. One notable change Toronto’s planners are particularly concerned about: it removes the definition for affordable housing. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH4.8
After peppering the chief planner with some questions about what the new Provincial Planning Statement could mean for employment land conversion requests (it would likely lead to a lot more of them!), Council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m.
Council returns. Deputy Mayor McKelvie takes a moment to thank the staff in the mayor’s office for their support over the last few months during City Hall’s mayorless limbo period. Councillors Fletcher and Colle rise to thank McKelvie. She gets a card and flowers. And cake!
A Grade 4 & 5 class is here today to watch Council. Councillor Fletcher welcomes them. “We don’t ALWAYS have cake at Council,” Nunziata cautions.
On to member motions. Councillor James Pasternak’s motion for a report on a pilot for “free-to-use outdoor work spaces” gets added to the agenda. Perks holds it for debate. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.7
Councillor Alejandra Bravo’s motion endorsing a pedestrian/cyclist connection between Antler Street and Lappin Avenue CARRIES via a show of hands. Connection was part of original Metrolinx Davenport Diamond plans but was later nixed. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.14
Councillor Ausma Malik’s motion directing staff to take steps to expand the clothing-option beach at Hanlan’s Point and to further improve the beach CARRIES 25-0. (Mantas was also a yes.) https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.15
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion about improving CafeTO gets added to the agenda. Matlow holds it for debate. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.16
News on the Willowdale modular housing item! Councillor Lily Cheng moves to withdraw her member motion calling for a reconfiguration of the project. Her motion calling for relocation remains and gets added to the agenda. She tells us an amendment is coming https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.20
Councillor Jamaal Myers’ calling for a report on Charter City status for Toronto gets added to the agenda on a 19-5 vote. Myers holds it for debate. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.23
Via a slew of member motions, Council approves CafeTO patio permit exemptions for Hello 123, Sidebar, Le Swan, Bud's Coffe, Chowpatty Culture and Rebel House.
After the member motion run-through, there are now 18 items left on council’s agenda. Council has now returned, again, to the sign bylaw item. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EC4.6
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie moves for a future report on prohibiting advocacy signs with graphic or disturbing images, and whether people should be allowed to post signs without the consent of all owners/occupants of a property.
Councillor Holyday’s motion that advocacy signs only be permitted on private property or, where private property isn’t available, on adjacent public property only as much as is absolutely necessary, CARRIES 24-1.
Councillor Shelley Carroll’s motion to limit people to only three posted advocacy signs at any given time CARRIES 17-8.
Councillor Holyday’s motion to place no limit on the number of advocacy signs is now deemed redundant, so there won’t be a vote on that.
Councillor Saxe’s motion to delay implementation of the new sign bylaw, so it takes effect June 3, 2024 instead of March 1, 2024 CARRIES 21-3
McKelvie’s motion for a report on banning graphic imagery and whether all owners/occupants of a property should have to consent before a sign is posted CARRIES 24-1.
And the new sign bylaw item as amended, with new rules regulating “advocacy signs” like “Watch Your Speed” or support for Ukraine, CARRIES 20-4.
Council votes 20-1 to ADOPT recommendations to the provincial government regarding the proposed Provincial Planning Statement, urging them to maintain current definition of “affordable housing” and to protect employment lands from conversion requests. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH4.8
Council has moved to an item about an appointee to the Toronto Hydro Board. A panel has recommended someone named Nicole Martin for a term that’d expire in 2025. Councillor Fletcher has suggested deferring it to the next council meeting in July. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.CC7.7
Appointment to the Toronto Hydro board is a pretty good gig. Board members get $12,500 per year, plus $1K per meeting they attend to a maximum of $30K per year. The Board Chair gets a $75K annual retainer.
It didn’t get a lot of attention yesterday, but Council apparently approved a new slate of appointees to the TCHC Board yesterday, including former councillors Joe Cressy (as chair) and John Campbell. Councillor Robinson isn’t happy about it. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-237078.pdf (PDF)
Councillor Fletcher’s motion to defer the Toronto Hydro Board appointment to July FAILS 10-13. Subsequently, Nicole Martin is appointed via a show of hands.
Up now: Councillor Chris Moise would like a governance model review of Yonge-Dundas Square, with consideration of getting rid of the board of management model and operating it more like Nathan Phillips Square. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.5
Staff have added a Fiscal Impact Statement to the motion, warning passage could cost up to $1.7 million as it directs the Yonge-Dundas Board to not enter any new funding agreements until after the review, which would mean foregoing some sponsorship opportunities.
Since Council is talking about the square I have done some research and learned this weekend we all have the opportunity to come by Yonge-Dundas Square and “learn more about Cheetos Mac & Cheese!” Just an FYI for those looking for educational opportunities https://www.ydsquare.ca/calendar/2023/6/17/cheetos-smack-talk
A quick diversion to note a Reddit user has snapped a photo of a bike counter being installed on Bloor. Neat. https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comments/14ab0qn/bicycle_counter_installed_on_the_bloor_bike_lanes/
Moise calls the question on the Yonge-Dundas Square item, wanting to skip the remaining debate. That CARRIES 15-5. Councillor Robinson calls it “deeply disrespectful” but… it passed, so Council moves on.
After the question got called, Moise’s motion calling for a governance review of Yonge-Dundas Square CARRIES 15-5. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.5
Robinson feels she wasn’t given an opportunity before the vote to speak on her Point of Privilege before the vote.. “You did speak, Councillor Robinson,” says Nunziata. “You talked over me the ENTIRE TIME, speaker,” says Robinson. Council moves on.
After a couple of minor amendments, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie’s motion to accept funding from a couple of private foundations to fund the University Park EA CARRIES via a show of hands. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.11
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion to request the federal government “issue Clean Electricity Regulations that prohibit increasing the gas-fired generating capacity at the Portlands Energy Centre” CARRIES 19-2. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.25
After a tweak in the language, Councillor James Pasternak’s motion for staff to look at free-to-use outdoor working spaces CARRIES via a show of hands. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.7
Councillor Carroll’s motion for a report on requiring landlords to ensure units are heated/cooled to prescribed levels during our various seasons CARRIES 20-1. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.8
Up now: the modular supportive housing project in Willowdale. Local councillor Lily Cheng has introduced a new motion, requesting assurances that the housing complex will not have a safe-injection site, and be limited to residents 59 years or older. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.43
Another motion also remains on the agenda, which asks Council to reconsider relocating the 59-unit modular housing project away from the Willowdale site altogether. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.20
I wrote about this issue in my Star column this week. These modular homes have been waiting for approval for assembly for a long time. They were stored in a TTC parking lot for a while. They’re now in a storage unit, at a reported cost of $77K a month. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/06/13/why-this-neighbourhoods-fight-over-a-modular-housing-site-should-be-a-mayoral-election-issue.html
Councillor Cheng responded to my column here, arguing her motions aren’t about opposing housing, but rather “are in response to a serious lapse in the democratic process.” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2023/06/15/supportive-housing-and-neighbours.html
Councillor Gord Perks asks if staff support the idea of limiting housing projects to residents above a certain age. Staff say they do not. They think it’s important to maintain flexibility to best respond to housing need.
Councillor Jamaal Myers asks if Cheng’s second motion could result in delaying this modular housing project. Staff say the part of the motion asking staff to “examine the feasibility of maximizing green space and community space” could increase costs and construction timelines.
Myers seems to be running a bit of interference for Cheng here, asking questions that get staff to highlight that Cheng’s motion includes some exceptions to allow residents younger than 59 years old, and doesn’t restrict all harm reduction services.
Meanwhile, Councillor Stephen Holyday is pointing to an earlier motion directing staff to target funding toward Indigenous housing programs, arguing that if it’s okay to do that it’s okay for Cheng to move to limit this modular housing to people 59 years of age and older.
Councillor Brad Bradford asks staff for a ballpark estimate of what it would cost in money and time to relocate this Willowdale Modular housing project. Staff say it’d cost $1 million to $2 million just to do due diligence work and take probably 2+ years.
Councillor Brad Bradford asks City legal staff if moving the Cummer Ave modular housing site could jeopardize funding/financing to be received via CMHC. Staff say yes — there’d be a risk of that.
Bradford closes by asking city housing staff if they support Cheng’s motion or prefer their original plan. The answer is the original plan. “Crystal clear for me,” Bradford says, sitting down. He’s quite good on issues like this.
Councillor Lily Cheng is speaking now. She asks colleagues to think about the seniors in her community, saying she has “faith in democracy and the goodness of the people who sit in this room." “Change happens at the speed of trust,” she says.
Cheng says the online consultations held during the pandemic on this project weren’t accessible to seniors and they are very upset about potentially losing green space. She says we “must all get into the same boat and row toward the same destination.”
Cheng closes by saying she’s been working hard to find a middle ground on this issue, and she thinks her motion reflects that. “If we can do this, everyone wins — the seniors, the unhoused, and the community!”
Councillor Brad Bradford urges his colleagues to vote against all the motions Cheng has brought forward. He says this project is at the Ontario Land Tribunal and it would not be right for Council to change their position on the project in the middle of that process.
Bradford points out the Cummer and Cedarvale modular projects were brought forward at the same time, about two years ago. Cedarvale currently has people living in it. Cummer is still in pieces.
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to call the question and end this modular housing debate. That CARRIES 17-3.
Cheng’s motion to explore relocating the Willowdale Modular Housing project to another site FAILS 2-18.
Cheng’s motion to request the RFP for an operator of the Willowdale modular site not allow a public safe-injection site and generally restrict residents to people 59 years of age or older FAILS 6-14.
Cheng’s motion to create a multilingual Community Liaison Committee to address community concerns re: the Willowdale housing project FAILS 10-10. Loses on a tie.
Cheng’s motion to look at expanding the green space and community space for the seniors home near the Willowdale modular site and look at adding more lawn furniture FAILS 8-12.
Council has granted another CafeTO permit exemption via show of hands. This one goes to Bar Volo. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.44
Speaking of CafeTO, Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion requesting a report on ways to improve the program is up now. It’s not been going great, as evidenced by the number of CafeTO permit exemptions Council has needed to grant during this meeting. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.16
One worry I’ve had watching the various CafeTO permit exemptions come forward during this meeting is that councillors might secretly kind of like this process, where they get to ride to the rescue and make arbitrary decisions re: which patios get approved.
Whoops. It looks like the Bar Volo motion does not actually approve their patio, but instead asks for a report to a meeting next week on “a resolved plan to safely permit a CaféTO Patio.” https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.44
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for the review of the CafeTO program to consider “a business model for the delivery of CafeTO 2024 that would include a lead city division to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of this program to restaurants.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher crosses her fingers and says she thinks the 2024 version of CafeTO will “go off without a hitch” after City Hall implements some improvements.
Councillor Fletcher’s motion to explore options for financial assistance for restaurants participating in the CafeTO program CARRIES 19-2.
The rest of Fletcher’s motion calling for a review of the CafeTO program and improvements for next year CARRIES 21-0.
Two items left. Up now: a motion from Councillor Jamaal Myers asking for a report on the constitutional amendment process that’d make Toronto a Charter City. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.23
A Charter City status, in theory, would give Toronto’s municipal government some sort of constitutional recognition, so that city decisions — and the city’s existence — wouldn’t be completely subject to the whim of the provincial government. https://x.com/otherswise/status/1669476876191145984
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for the report on Charter City status to also consider a new title for the mayor, like “Lord Mayor”, “Grand Mayor” or “High Mayor.” Okay, sure.
Holyday’s motion for the report on Charter City status for Toronto to also include a new and more impressive title for the mayor FAILS 5-16.
Holyday’s motion to hold a referendum on the matter before pursuing Charter City status for Toronto FAILS 8-13.
Myers’ motion for a report by the end of the year considering a process for Toronto to obtain Charter City status CARRIES 16-5.
Last item is about securing an emergency shelter for Ethiopian refugees. Deputy Mayor McKelvie moves to strike a Matlow motion to look at emergency shelters and instead make a series of requests to the federal government. That CARRIES via show of hands https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.MM7.42
Councillor Jaye Robinson says she was recorded incorrectly on this vote, earlier. Re-vote to correct the record CARRIES 19-1. https://x.com/GraphicMatt/status/1669451268551589888
And that’ll do it for the June meeting of Toronto City Council. For the next meeting, we’ll be joined by a brand new mayor. I do coverage like this because people support my work with subscriptions to @cityhallwatcher. It’s the best way to say “thanks.” https://toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe