Toronto Council meets today! It’s the one-year anniversary of Mayor Olivia Chow’s election, so maybe there’ll be cake? TBD. First item on the agenda is set to be the creation of a new renovictions bylaw. I will post happenings, and it’ll stream live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf5V...
For a full preview of the agenda, check out this week’s edition of my City Hall Watcher newsletter. Other items up for debate include a new rental housing supply plan, the bike network strategy, Sankofa Square and more. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw285
A bit of rueful laughter in the council chamber during O Canada as the standard glossy video of Toronto landmarks shows an aerial shot of the Science Centre. Guess they’ll need to plan for a re-edit.
Councillors Morley, Ainslie and Fletcher stand to congratulate the mayor on the anniversary of her election. “You fixed CafeTO and you got money from the province and the feds — wow!” says Fletcher, calling the mayor “small but mighty.” That might be trademarked.
Chow gets up to give a quick anniversary speech. She notes people felt isolated during the pandemic and she’s tried to bring people together. Still work to do to make Toronto more affordable, safer and a “more caring place” she says.
Up first: a trio of administrative inquiries. The first is from Councillor Moise, who wants to know if there’s a way for the City to recover the video of the February TTC board meeting. The TTC lost it. City Manager says there’s no way to get it back. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The second administrative inquiry is from Councillor McKelvie. She wants to know if 911 call wait times have increased. The police have provided a variety of alarming stats in response. These seem bad. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The third administrative inquiry is from Councillor Stephen Holyday, who wants to know what old city symbols have been removed for reason of being offensive/outdated. City Manager Paul Johnson has provided this list and says no further removals are planned secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Stephen Holyday introduces a petition opposing the new Sankofa Square name into the meeting record. He says it’s signed by 30,000 people. Councillor Fletcher rises on a point of order to claim many of the signers aren’t from Toronto. “Some are from Tampa, Florida!”
“Maybe they live in Toronto but just spend their winters in Florida,” Nunziata suggests. Fletcher is not buying that. Anyway. Council moves on.
On an item about the vacancy in Ward 15 following the death of Councillor Jaye Robinson, Mayor Olivia Chow moves to fill the vacancy via a by-election this fall.
Chow times the debate for the cycling network plan for first-thing tomorrow morning. On a motion from Councillor Moise, the Sankofa Square governance item is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, after member motions. Fletcher announces there’s snacks available, from Greek town.
Up first: a Toronto renoviction bylaw, modelled after the City of Hamilton’s renoviction bylaw This is really an interim step toward creating a bylaw. Council is being asked to approve work on a report for a bylaw that’ll come in October. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The important bit of the renovictions bylaw will be a requirement that landlords seek a “renovation license” when seeking to renovict a tenant. City will want to see building permits and proof the renovation work requires tenant to vacate.
After supportive speeches from Chow and Fletcher, Councillor Holyday rises to oppose the idea of a renovictions bylaw. He’s got a roll of literal red tape. He says this is just more red tape.
“Can I borrow that?” asks Councillor Gord Perks. He takes the red tape and uses it to post a poster opposing a renoviction behind Holyday.
“The prescription for every ill is housing. The prescription for every ill and every problem we have in our society starts with a roof over your head,” says Councillor Alejandra Bravo, speaking in strong support of a renoviction bylaw.
A quick debate. Council votes 22-1 to APPROVE work on the development of a renovictions bylaw. Final bylaw will be up for approval this fall.
Councillor Vince Crisanti introduces a visiting class of 27 Grade 5 students. He says they’ve collectively read 16,000 books this year. That seems like too many.
Onto an item about the shelter expansion strategy. Councillor Stephen Holyday, noting a reference to “micro shelters”, asks staff what a micro shelter is. Small, self-contained shelter in clusters, geared to people who have been traditionally living outside, staff say.
Staff point to Waterloo as an example of what Toronto might pursue for micro shelters. Locations would be determined later. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The substance of this report is approving plan to acquire 20 new shelter sites with 1600 spaces over next several years, part of plan to wind down the shelter hotel program spun up during COVID. Will cost $674.5 million — city will seek federal funds. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Stephen Holyday has a motion. He wants to require public consultation before new shelter sites are acquired.
Holyday has searched the internet for a picture of a micro shelter. He holds it up. “I am not sure this is something the public would readily accept,” he says. That’s why he wants more public consultation embedded in this report’s recommendations.
Oh, but there’s a twist! Holyday says his photo of a micro shelter is actually a picture of a garden shed. He says he’s done this to illustrate that garden sheds and micro shelters are sometimes kind of similar in their design.
Council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m., where there will be a tribute for retiring Interim Chief Planner Kerri Voumvakis. This move will presumably create a need for an Interim Interim Chief Planner. See you back here in 90 minutes.
Toronto Council is back. Before they return to debating stuff, it’s time to recognize interim chief planner Kerri Voumvakis on the occasion of her retirement. She’s had a 40-year career as a planner, the mayor says.
Chow says Kyle Knoeck, currently Director of Zoning, will be stepping in as an Interim Interim Chief Planner on July 3 as the city continues search for a permanent hire. “Thank god he’s young — very young!” Chow jokes. (There have been a lot of senior staff retirements lately.)
“I’m proud to call myself a public servant and a Torontonian. My gratitude to you is boundless,” says Voumvakis to council. She gets a standing ovation from a gallery packed with colleagues.
Council votes 24-1 to APPROVE an initiative for on-street mini-hubs where packages can be collected and then delivered by cargo bike. There was a very successful pilot project near UofT. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Council is moving to a debate on the new rental supply program. This proposes two big things: 1) Spending $351 million to get 18 previously-approved affordable housing projects moving 2) An incentive program for non-profits to build rent-controlled homes secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
If this plan is adopted, city hall will have programs to build three types of new homes: 1) Rent-geared-to-income 2) Income-based affordable housing 3) Community housing rent-controlled Staff presentation illustrates approximate rents for each type.
Mayor Olivia Chow is the first speaker on the rental supply program. “Doesn’t matter the political stripe. We know we need non-market housing. We know we need supportive housing. We need truly affordable housing.”
Chow moves to work with CMHC and others to look at ways to finance more rent-controlled homes. She also moves to have council state its support for vacancy control on all rental units — rent control that persists even across vacancies.
Councillor Stephen Holyday delivers an extended recounting of the story of Atlas from Greek mythology. On housing, he says, “in many ways [federal and provincial] governments have destined us — or tricked us — like Atlas to shoulder such an enormous responsibility.”
Councillor Bradford points out City is now looking at subsidizing RGI units with amounts up to $260K per unit, a big jump from the $78K average per unit subsidy contemplated by previous plan. “Dollars are scarce,” he says, and it’s important for councillors to consider trade-offs
“18 projects are all going to get shovels in the ground between now and the end of 2025. That’s a construction start every month for the next year and a half. No government in my lifetime has been building social housing at that rate,” says Councillor Gord Perks.
Time to vote. Supplementary staff recommendation to request more provincial and federal support for the rental supply plan CARRIES 24-1.
Chow’s motion to work with CMHC and others on financing/funding options for more rent-controlled homes and supporting vacancy control CARRIES 23-2.
Council is back on the shelter item now. Councillor Lily Cheng has a motion to conduct a “City-wide public engagement and consultation to collect feedback and ideas” on the shelter strategy.
Holyday asks Cheng if “I don’t like it” would be a legitimate piece of feedback to the shelter plan under her proposed public engagement. Cheng says city should listen to that kind of feedback but that it doesn’t mean the city shouldn’t build shelters.
Holyday’s motion to require pubic consultation before the city finalizes the acquisition of new shelter sites FAILS 8-16.
Up now: Councillor Chris Moise wants the city to develop a plan to transition operations of Moss Park Arena to an in-house city-run model. It’s currently controlled by a board of management. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Moise says 41 of city’s 49 indoor arenas are run by the city’s parks department and there’s a need to “enhance equitable access” at Moss Park Arena. Board says board model allows for programs like house leagues & skating clubs that wouldn’t be available if run by the city.
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves “that the item be received for information”, which is procedural-speak for killing it and leaving the status quo in place. He says moving Moss Park Arena to a city-run model would cost more and there’s no need to do it.
Councillor Moise says he’s lived near Moss Park Arena for a long time and “one of the things I have issue with is the lack of access — local access. Equity of access.” He says there’s lots of people driving over to use the ice, but “none of the local kids actually use the arena.”
Councillors Burnside and Bradford say they’ll support the Holyday motion, citing concerns about cost. Report says it’ll cost about $178,000 a year to bring Moss Park Arena in-house. Both also point that the arena is already subject to city’s ice-time provision policies.
Councillor Lily Cheng moves a compromise, calling for a report on options that could keep the board but look at diversifying the membership and also allowing more local access to the ice at Moss Park Arena
Holyday’s motion to receive the item and stick with the status quo board-run governance model at Moss Park Arena FAILS 6-17.
Cheng’s compromise motion CARRIES via show of hands. Moise’s motion to develop a transition plan for bringing Moss Park Arena in-house s a city-run arena CARRIES 18-5. Plan will come back to council for consideration in Q4.
Up now: a new income-sharing agreement with Toronto Parking Authority. Proposal is to drop the required annual dividend from 85% to 75%. City will also provide $48 million for bike share and EV charging infrastructure over next three years. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
One interesting tidbit from this report: the city hall underground parking garage requires $100 million (!) in state-of-good-repair work. About a third of the overall need for maintenance/repair spending for the Toronto Parking Authority over the next ten years.
“I don’t know how I’ve become this advocate for parking. I think it’s because I’m kind of a suburban mom, and I know the importance of being able to go to a shop when you’re in a crunch,” says Councillor Lily Cheng, disappointed there’s not a bigger TPA plan for more parking.
The new income-sharing deal with the Toronto Parking Authority is APPROVED by council via a show-of-hands vote.
On an item about loosening regulations on car sharing to allow Communauto users to start/end trips on streets in the inner suburbs, Councillor Carroll moves to delay the matter to early next year so it can be considered alongside a broader parking strategy secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
That referral CARRIES via show of hands. Suburban car-sharing will have to wait.
And that’ll do it for today. Council breaks for the evening. Back at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow with 61 items left to deal with. The first item up for debate will be the cycling network plan. See you back here then.
Council is back for their second day of proceedings. They have a moment of silence for Donald Sutherland. There will be a presentation to honour the City Clerk department for winning an award, then a bike debate. Streaming live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBIq...
The Clerks won an E.A Danby award for management of last year’s surprise mayoral by-election. Canada’s largest-ever by-election. Chow jokes that it took them just an hour to get a result on election night, while it took the feds eight hours in this week’s by-election. Pretty good
Without any debate, Council votes 20-1 to adopt a modernization and growth strategy for the community housing sector. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: the 2025-2027 cycling network plan. The three-year plan calls for 100 km of new lanes, maintaining the same target from the Tory era. Cycle Toronto and other bike lane advocates would like council to be more ambitious. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Meanwhile, Toronto Region Board of Trade CEO Giles Gherson has a letter asking Council to tap the brakes on bike lanes on major roads. Gherson says council should keep “arterial roads for their core purpose of efficient vehicular traffic flow.” www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)
“Why can’t we do more, and why can’t we do it faster?” asks Councillor Saxe. “We would require increased staff capacity and budgets to do more faster, but even then it couldn’t be done overnight,” staff say. More ambitious target could maybe be part of 2028-2030 plan.
Several councillors have amendments they’d like to move on the cycling plan item, but the clerks haven’t finished processing the motions yet. So council opts to move on to another item while they wait. Council will come back to biking later.
While driving his car, Councillor Anthony Perruzza explains that he’ll be voting against the secondary plan for the Jane-Finch area because he’s concerned about “exorbitant heights” proposed for development. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Anyway, the community development plan for Jane-Finch is adopted unanimously. The secondary plan for Jane-Finch is ADOPTED 21-2.
Up now: an item about the city’s deal with PayIt for online payments. The unsolicited-bid deal signed in 2001 was controversial. Staff now report they’ll be extending the deal via two option years. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
On the PayIt item, Councillor Gord Perks moves for a report in Q1 2025 on a competitive procurement process for a digital payment provider. He seeks to “bring transparency back” to digital payments.
Perks says there’s a report from the Auditor General coming investigating the PayIt deal: “how we got into this mess and how it is we wound up with a very important piece of technology coming to council without council even asking for it.”
Perks’ motion CARRIES via show of hands. So does the PayIt item as amended. To be continued.
Up now: the new plan for Villiers Island in the port lands, increasing density. Councillor Paula Fletcher is asking why the plan allocates so much space to right-of-way. “What is the exact reason for that? Please don’t tell me just because it looks good.” secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Porter Airlines, NAV Canada and Ports Toronto have now written letters asking council to defer Villiers Island item to allow for more analysis of whether tall buildings will impact operations at the island airport. City staff say there’s no impact, but major players unconvinced.
The other controversial part of this plan is the recommendation for major roads to be 40-metres wide with 34% of width devoted to public realm and planting. That’s space that could go toward accommodating more housing units.
On the Villiers Island plan, Councillor Dianne Saxe moves to involve the TransformTO climate change mitigation program in the design of the new community.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report in Q2 2025 on options for the old silos on the island, and whether Villiers Island needs to devote so much space to public realm on major streets.
Responding to concerns from Ports Toronto, Porter Airlines and others, Councillor Brad Bradford moves to defer the Villiers Island item to October to allow more technical assessment about whether the buildings will impact airport operations.
“More density on this site would unlock more affordable housing,” says Bradford. He’s concerned about lack of density on east side and getting as much housing as possible. “This proposal does not maximize housing. It increases, but it doesn’t maximize.”
Mayor Olivia Chow rises to point out there’s been 15 years of talk about Villiers Island development, and a huge number of consultations. On Bradford’s motion to delay to allow more analysis re: airport impacts, she asks, “So you’re asking for more consultation?!”
“Say it with me: delay, debate, defer!” says Perks. “It was debate, defer, delay,” Bradford corrects. “See, the virtue of a good slogan is people should be able to remember it,” says Perks.
Perks says staff have confirmed the current island airport flight paths are compatible with the Villiers Island plan as-is, and the concern from NAV Canada and others is about hypothetical future changes to airport service, and shouldn’t be held up as a reason to delay this work.
Bradford’s motion to delay approval of the Villiers Island plan to allow more analysis of impacts to the island airport FAILS 6-18.
The Fletcher and Saxe motions CARRY via show of hands. New, more-dense Villiers Island plan is APPROVED 21-3.
Councillor Perruzza still appears to be attending this meeting while also driving a car. Long drive.
Council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m. On the agenda for immediately after the lunch break: a tribute to departing TTC CEO Rick Leary. Prepare yourselves accordingly.
Council is back. Start of the tribute to departing TTC CEO Rick Leary was a little delayed. Mayor Olivia Chow takes the podium and thanks Leary and his family, highlights recent achievement of landing a new deal with the TTC union.
Leary recounts how he came to Canada from Boston to lead York Region transit in 2009. Joined the TTC in 2014. He and his family became Canadian citizens in 2019. He notes he shares a belief in “customer service excellence” with his predecessor as CEO, Andy Byford.
“Never lose sight of the importance of state of good repair and the need for capital investment,” Leary says in his closing. “Like a chain, any transit system is only as strong as its weakest link.” He says new lines are great, but just as important to maintain existing system.
Time for some member motions. Councillor Dianne Saxe’s motion to develop criteria for which dog parks are available for commercial dog walkers CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor James Pasternak’s motion directing staff to look at parks, trails, streets and other landmarks that could be named to honour the late Jaye Robinson CARRIES 21-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Jon Burnside’s motion for a report on the cost of a bridge to Toronto Island is added to the agenda, but held for debate by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. Council will come back to it later. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Pasternak’s motion about “Fostering Belonging, Community and Inclusion, and Combating Hate” CARRIES 24-0. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Josh Matlow’s motion for a report on the feasibility of the city operating the Science Centre at its current location is added to the agenda on a 21-2 vote. Matlow holds it for debate. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Matlow’s motion to report on ways to make Toronto look less shabby and more beautiful, including by potentially creating an Office of a City Designer and Architect, CARRIES 20-2. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Mama mia. Councillor Colle’s motion to report on the creation of a Toronto International Pizza Festival FAILS to make the agenda after a 10-13 vote to waive referral. It’ll go to committee. (“Nobody likes pizza on this council?” asks Nunziata.)
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik’s motion to report on the traffic impacts on Lake Shore Boulevard related to Ontario Place redevelopment CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Up now: the governance of Sankofa Square, formerly Yonge-Dundas Square. Councillor Chris Moise reminds councillors they already approved the name change, so this debate isn’t really about that. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Saxe asks if the City CFO can commit to there being no additional funding from the City to rename the square in the 2025 budget. CFO says Chow ultimately controls the budget, but he can commit that there won’t be any property tax funding in the budget he recommends.
“I can confirm these are not tax dollars,” says City CFO on costs related to Sankofa renaming. The money comes from Section 37 funds related to two developments: 311 Bay and 825 Bay.
Councillor Saxe says she’ll support this report but does so with reluctance. “In the view of my constituents, this has been about as badly handled as it could have been.” She says residents were promised a chance to be consulted on new names and they’re angry it didn’t happen.
But Saxe says council has “clearly set a direction” and she’s ready to stop fighting about it. She agrees the bigger priority is making the square a nicer, safer, more active place. Still: “We did this wrong,” she says. “We better not do it again.”
Councillor Holyday moves to receive this item for information, which means take no action on the governance-related recommendations re: Sankofa Square. I’m not sure what the actual outcome would be if this passes — seems procedurally chaotic.
“This is about SOCIALISM as far as I’m concerned,” declares Holyday on the square renaming. This causes Perks to crack the hell up with laughter. “There’s a RED under your BED!” he heckles.
“This is an important opportunity for members of the Black community in Toronto to be recognized. We’ve been here for a long time. We are Canadians too. And we deserve to have space held and be honoured in a good way,” says Councillor Amber Morley. “This is deeper than Dundas.”
Mayor Chow speaks against Henry Dundas: “At the time, people thought what he was doing was totally against abolition. Now, some people revise history. And usually people with more power and more money are able to do so. But if you really research it, there’s no question.”
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to amend the Sankofa Square budget to redirect funds earmarked for new signage and other costs related to the renaming.
“We need to read the room here, guys,” says Bradford. He says he went to the square during the lunch break and talked to people, including business owners. “Nobody said that this needed to be done right now when it’s measured against all the other challenges in the city.”
Morley asks Bradford if he supported the Rob Ford Stadium naming even though there was no consultation. Bradford says he thinks he missed the vote, but he would have supported it “That’s a little bit of a hypocritical position and I won’t be supporting your motion,” notes Morley
Holyday’s motion to take no action on the Sankofa Square governance item (“receive” it) FAILS 5-18.
Bradford’s motion to reallocate funds in the Sankofa Square budget earmarked for signage and renaming costs FAILS 5-18.
Up now: encampments. It’s recommended council enshrine a new protocol that’s based more on working with people in tents to get them into housing or shelters, instead of the more aggressive approach taken with Trinity Bellwoods and other encampments in 2021 secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Staff say there are currently 329 encampments across the city, with about 345 people. Confirming there are many in Ward 11. Saxe wants to know what this report will do to clear the encampments in her ward. Staff say they’re continuing to work to reduce encampments where they can.
Councillor Dianne Saxe has advance circulated a motion calling for reports on both “public spaces where tents and camps will not be tolerated” and public spaces where tents / tiny homes could be located “without adversely affecting neighbouring communities.”
Councillor Chris Moise has a motion to look at micro-shelters on vacant/underused city lands.
Saxe moves a revised version of her motion, calling for report to the next Council meeting on “how the City will enhance its response to areas where tents and structures are erected on municipal property to ensure safe public access and use of municipally-owned spaces and parks”
“What I can’t support is for us to continue to tolerate indefinite occupations of public space and this essential green space,” says Councillor Dianne Saxe on encampments. “The law is that camping is illegal in all public spaces, but we’re not enforcing it effectively.”
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to affirm that encampments are not a long-term solution to homelessness, and that public access to parks and public spaces should be prioritized.
The Saxe and Bradford motions CARRY via show of hands. And the encampment strategy is APPROVED by council 21-2.
With 19 items left on the agenda, Mayor Chow moves for council to take a break at 6 p.m. and come back at 6:30, then stay until 8 p.m. to try to finish things tonight. That motion CARRIES 18-3.
By a show of hands, Council adopts the recommendations from a supplementary report on Avenue Road safety. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Jumping over to Toronto Island access now, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik moves to amend Burnside’s motion so it reviews “improved active transportation access” to the island, including an Eastern Gap connection. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The Toronto Islands access item CARRIES via show of hands. Report on an eastern gap connection and other improved pedestrian/cycling access will come back to council in Q1 2025.
Nunziata is now fully speed-running the rest of this meeting like she’s in a Summoning Salt vid. I am doing my best to keep up but may miss things.
Council votes 20-4 to ADOPT a Councillor Saxe motion to align the resource plan for Toronto’s electricity system with the Net Zero 2040 goal, including phase-out of gas plant in the port lands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Pasternak’s motion to look at opportunities to name a community garden after Estella Wheeler, a teacher at the Africentric Alternative School who passed away, CARRIES 22-1. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Five items left now. Council takes a 30-minute break to allow staff time to eat. See you back here at 6:30 p.m. for some wacky after-dinner council.
Council is back for its evening session. There’s a new livestream link here: www.youtube.com/live/MPTnomy...
First item is the much-delayed modular housing project in Willowdale. Councillor Perks moves to release the details ASAP of the cost increases related to the province’s delaying issuance of an MZO. He says he’s looking forward to this info becoming public. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
The item authorizing amendment of purchase orders to complete the modular housing project in Willowdale CARRIES 18-1.
Up now: the Science Centre. Staff confirm that a motion to designate the Science Centre as a heritage property is in the works. They also confirm the province applied for a building permit on May 8 to do roof repairs at the Science Centre. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Pasternak asks about a motion council passed last year for a report on the city assuming operations of the Science Centre. Staff confirm that even though that report was due in Q3 2023, it is not yet finished. But work has been ongoing.
In an interesting tidbit of info, staff confirm that the city taking over operations of the Science Centre was a part of the New Deal discussions between the province and the city last year. Was not part of the final agreement, obviously.
“Based on our initial work, the province couldn’t simply walk away from this lease, leaving the asset to us,” staff say, regarding the Science Centre and the city’s longstanding lease to the provincial gov.
"The lease restricts the province's permitted use on the site to a science centre, but it does not obligate them to operate one," says city staff.
Councillor Lily Cheng asks if the city could create an endowment fund collecting money from some of the people who want to donate to save the Science Centre. Staff say the Science Centre does not belong to Toronto, so that’d probably be properly the domain of the province.
Councillor Josh Matlow moves to have the City Manager work with the philanthropists and other donors who want to offer up cash to keep the Science Centre where it is. He says this is about “calling the province’s bluff” re: cost of repairs.
“The Ford government is willfully neglectful. They want, it seems, for the Science Centre to fall into disrepair, so eventually the wrecking ball can find it,” says Councillor Josh Matlow.
Councillor Stephen Holyday has a DVD copy of the Tom Hanks movie “Money Pit.” He warns that the city taking on operations of the Science Centre could be just like the movie.
Holyday offers to lend his copy of the “Money Pit” DVD to any of his council colleagues. Councillor Josh Matlow accepts.
Mayor Olivia Chow has a motion on the Science Centre item. She wants to conduct a “design charrette” to look at ways to keep science programming at the Science Centre.
“Councillor Holyday mentioned ‘Money Pit’ and I looked up the movie and it apparently had a good ending,” says Chow. She says it’s not acceptable province has allowed Science Centre to fall apart and city has received 34,000 letters from people this week who want to save it.
Matlow’s motion to work with philanthropists and others who want to put up money to save the Science Centre at its current location, and to share this info with the province, CARRIES 19-1.
Chow’s motion to conduct a design charrette on opportunities to keep science programming at the Science Centre CARRIES 19-1.
Science Centre item as amended is APPROVED by Council 19-1. Report coming to next meeting of Chow’s Executive Committee on provincial lease obligations and feasibility of city taking over operations.
All that debate, and where did it bring us? Back to bikes. There are a whole slew of motions coming on the cycling network plan. Some advance circulation motions are posted here. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Amber Morley moves to continue to monitor performance of the Bloor West bike lanes. She says there’s been “growing pains” with complete streets in her ward, but she’s still supportive.
Councillor Lily Cheng has a motion for a report on “encouraging cycling lifestyle choices.” “There’s an opportunity for us to not just put down the hardware, but also consider the lifestyle choice transition we’re inviting them to,” she says.
Councillor Stephen Holyday has a bunch of motions, including removing the Bloor West bike lanes. He also wants to delete plans for bike lanes on Kipling, Martin Grove, Lawrence West, Martin Grove and Rathburn Road. All other motions are listed here: secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Councillor Nunziata moves to defer work on bike lanes in the Maple Leaf Rustic neighbourhood until after the completion of ongoing traffic studies.
Nunziata says she agrees with Holyday on removing the Bloor West bike lanes. She says she was on Bloor a couple of weeks ago and saw an ambulance stuck in traffic. “To me that’s a safety issue.” She says there should have been more consultation.
Councillor Vince Crisanti moves a motion on behalf of Councillor Mike Colle, who is not in the chamber. Colle wants more engagement with “impacted property owners” near the York Beltline Trail.
Councillor Bradford moves to “prioritize design options that minimize the impacts on motor vehicle lanes” with future bikeways on St. Clair and Victoria Park.
Councillor McKelvie moves to look at opportunities for off-street cycling through the UofT Scarborough Campus. She also wants staff to consider impacts on congestion & emergency services with proposed quarterly bike lane installations.
“We need to continue to expand the cycling network if we want to actually meaningfully combat congestion. We can’t accommodate more cars,” says McKelvie, chair of the Infrastructure & Environment Committee.
Time to cycle through some votes. Councillor Holyday’s motion to delete future plans for new bike lanes on Bloor West, Kipling, Martin Grove and other Etobicoke streets FAILS 4-17.
Holyday’s motion to delete a planned bike lane project on Kipling between Six Points and Lake Shore West FAILS 3-19.
Morley’s motion to report on ways to improve safety and attractiveness of Bloor West bike lanes and to look at incorporating upgrades like raised cycle tracks CARRIES 19-3.
Holyday’s motion to look at ways to speed up the Etobicoke greenway bike project CARRIES 22-0. Peace in our time.
Holyday’s motion to look at prioritizing impact on parking and turning lanes when developing future plans for bike lanes FAILS 9-13.
Holyday’s motion to prioritize impacts to congestion and emergency services when contemplating cycling routes FAILS 9-13.
Bradford’s motion to prioritize design options that maintain car lanes with future bike lanes on St. Clair and Victoria Park CARRIES 19-3.
Toronto’s Cycling Network Plan for 2025-2027, targeting 100 km of new bike lanes over three years, CARRIES 20-2.
Holyday’s motion to remove the bike lanes already installed on Bloor Street West FAILS 5-17.
Q3 bike lane installation plan, including new bike lanes on Avenue Road between Bloor and Davenport, is APPROVED 19-2.
Let the record show that Councillor Brad Bradford was voting against some bike lanes while actively riding his bike.
The final item is about whether figure skating champ Tessa Virtue and hockey player Morgan Rielly should be allowed to paint their Rosedale home white. Bradford moves to allow the painting. That FAILS 7-13.
Councillor Dianne Saxe’s motion to deny Virtue and Rielly’s request to paint their heritage home white CARRIES 16-4.
Looks like we made it. Council’s June agenda is done. If you enjoyed this thread and all its twists and turns and vote screenshots, consider saying “thanks” with a subscription to my newsletter, City Hall Watcher. It keeps me going. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/subscribe