City Council — March 2015

Toronto City Council meets today! Here's @neville_park's cheat sheet. http://nevillepark.ca/2015/03/31/the-cheat-sheet-march-31-city-council/

Here's what's going on at council right now: ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding

Rob Ford apologizes for saying racist things. Okay. Sarah Doucette tells us about the llamas at the High Park zoo. Hope their pen is secure!

In conclusion, Rob Ford is a land of contrasts. http://t.co/1DJ25Mo4hW

I'm sympathetic to the notion that council is slow-moving and sometimes painful, but Tory will need to do more than just complain about it.

There are a bunch of council reforms that could speed things up. Start by delegating a whole bunch more stuff to community council.

For instance, why let an Etobicoke councillor weigh in on whether this downtown tree should get cut down? http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2015.TE4.27

Council rejects a Mihevc motion to put Spadina subway project management out to tender, 15-28. Will be sole-sourced. http://t.co/yWgL9s4Q9p

Council votes 40-3 to move forward with $150m sole source project management plan for Spadina subway. http://t.co/9LD3tvxmuw

Council votes 34-9 on Perks amendment to look at making in-house management better, in addition to P3-type options. http://t.co/2TiG16H7F4

And now council chamber falls through a wormhole and returns to the halcyon days of 2013. It's time to debate casinos again.

"Gaming" is an odd euphemism for casino stuff. Brings to mind Sega Playdium and not, like, Woodbine slots.

Extra points to any councillor who mentions Gamblor and his neon claws on the council floor today.

Good motion from Joe Mihevc on the Woodbine casino item. He wants 'em to look at extending the Finch LRT. http://t.co/l5SMFdKUrX

Mihevc: "Why are they calling it gaming? I don't think they're going to be playing Scrabble or Settlers of Catan."

Council votes 28-12 in favour of looking at Finch LRT extension as part of Woodbine casino report. http://t.co/93tWNjq44n

Ainslie's motion to have consultations in all four areas of the city, instead of just Etobicoke, fails 19-21. Close! http://t.co/30Z8p3MFqM

And council votes 29-11 to study expanded gambling at Woodbine. Winner winner chicken dinner. http://t.co/YAn7kUIypN

Councillors welcome the mayor of Kitchener, who is visiting the chamber. Then they decide to go in camera, thus kicking him out.

Council votes 20-17 to put Trustee Chris Glover on Board of Health, instead of committee recommended Angela Kennedy. http://t.co/Er0lDs1rsj

That's a surprising result. Not super consequential, but Tory has lost a few votes now that I assumed he'd win easily.

After a 15-28 vote, council will not be debating DRONES today. I like capitalizing the word DRONES. http://t.co/AurAYeYOid

Rob Ford's member motion re: street art gets approved on a voice vote. He probably feels conflicted.

Mammoliti seems to argue that merging the city's accountability officers wouldn't be a big deal because they already share office space.

By that logic, we could merge every city department that works out of city hall. Synergies!

Councillor Campbell asks the ombudsman to outline her "core competencies." I admire the restraint she's showing here.

What an absurd spectacle. Oversight officers forced to defend their existence to the politicians they oversee.

A few billion on a Scarborough subway? Yes, do it, whatever. A few hundred thousand for an oversight office? WHOA HOLD YOUR DANG HORSES.

"Gee, you're a great staff!"

Listen here, accountability officer. I intend to break no rules and never do anything wrong ever. So isn't your job irrelevant?

Councillor Stephen Holyday: "None of us here support less accountability, I'm sure of that." He's new.

Ainslie has moved an amendment to the original motion, deleting the original recommendation and replacing with this: http://t.co/mcJO54OsvI

This debate is dragging on for so long. Competing motions. Does the mayor's office have no opinion?

Layton moves to end debate on the accountability office item. Vote on that PASSES 25-10. http://t.co/ixG1Cy1h9F

Ainslie motion to do a THIRD PARTY wide-ranging review of accountability offices PASSES 28-12. http://t.co/987A3skEn9

Council votes 16-17 against a Berardinetti motion to end today's meeting at 4 p.m. in recognition of Holy Thursday. http://t.co/BBZW4h3J7a

(I still think odds are pretty good that they don't finish today and come back Tuesday.)

Council votes 23-14 in favour of staff recommendation to remove the pedestrian scramble at Bay & Bloor. http://t.co/8fSiT1AspA

(Some surprising votes on that one.)

Council votes 17-20 against finishing at 5 p.m. today for Holy Thursday. http://t.co/7Cp1CcI1Fa

Tory suggests, if council doesn't finish today, they come back Monday. McConnell points out that'd be unfair to staff, who have the day off.

Council votes 14-22 against removing this fine-looking tree in Etobicoke. http://t.co/jokyitST5g

Councillor now debating whether to order Rob Ford to take an anti-racism course. It keeps going and going and going.

Some people just aren't going to give you a redemption arc.

Council votes 10-27 against Perks' motion to order Rob Ford to take an anti-racism training course. http://t.co/43nWdPS4In

Oh look, council is debating taxis again. Oh look, it's 6 a.m. and my radio is playing Sonny & Cher. Oh look, it's Ned — Ned Ryerson!

Councillors want to ask questions to staff about a forthcoming amendment, but can't because the amendment has not yet been introduced.

It's a common procedural problem at city hall. Staff with in-depth knowledge of issues aren't able to comment on last-minute amendments.

Don't know the answer. Ban amendments? Every amendment opens up an opportunity for staff questions? Overthrow democracy? All have drawbacks.

Minnan-Wong says driving a cab is expensive, but most revenues go to "agents and owners." Then there's like, a tidal wave of booing.

Can someone move an amendment to bring back Hailo? I feel like things were better when we had Hailo.

LIVE on #Periscope: the surface of the ocean as seen from my submarine.

Chair of Licensing & Standards Cesar Palacio speaking now. Coincidentally, I wonder how many of his appointments John Tory already regrets.

Palacio now "begging" councillors to reject Deputy Mayor's amendment on the taxi item. Weird stuff.

The Deputy Mayor amendment on the taxi item FAILS 17-24. Surprising! http://t.co/DOX44TC307

I was critical of early-term Ford administration for whipping so many votes, but Tory's approach seems too soft so far.

As council wraps up, Councillor McMahon is having a weirdly difficult time attempting to pass an innocuous motion re: pedestrian scrambles.

Here's the motion. I don't get why anyone would oppose this. http://t.co/RzQNphubRD

Minnan-Wong says transpo staff have indicated they don't have the resources to do this. Don't pedestrian/vehicle counts exist already?

Hell, give me a list of pedestrian volumes at Toronto intersections. I'll sort 'em in Excel.

Council votes 17-15 to refer McMahon's motion to look at pedestrian scrambles back to committee. War on the what? http://t.co/XXQfSCuSG1

I sort of wonder if that was the most whipped vote of the entire three-day council meeting.

Councillors leave without giving Joseph Pennachetti a million standing ovations, so I assume he'll still be here for next meeting.

Here's the previously-confidential recommendations re: taxis council adopted today. Let's ask @jm_mcgrath to explain. http://t.co/SFBMiByoio