City Council — May 2014

Council discussing the Eglinton Connects plan, which includes bike lanes. Here's a nice letter sent in support: http://t.co/HCpLrYHUZc

Council votes 38-0 in favour of the Eglinton Connects EA Study. Hey, didn't John Tory want to cancel this thing?

Doug Ford demands media leave his brother alone. If only there was some way for Rob Ford to stop being a public figure with a public salary.

Cheat Sheet. Randy Ford wears a cowboy hat. Doug Ford has a bit more hair. Rob Ford looks like international celebrity Rob Ford.

Council votes 27-14 in favour of retaining a right-turn prohibition at Bracken & Victoria Park. http://t.co/hSSSkcy5z1

Council votes 29-14 to debate ban on EDM events at Exhibition Place. http://t.co/uPIWNEs3mw

Council votes 36-5 in favour of motion that'll ensure Ford doesn't sign any more decommissioned street signs. http://t.co/QYXVPjqxj1

Ford is gone and anyway has few powers. Can't council go back to doing voice votes for some procedural things?

This plan to install digital advertising at TTC shelters doesn't seem to include any requirement that digital screens include nextbus info.

(Not that I'd think it was a good idea even then. But still!)

De Baeremaker suggests that digital bus shelter ads are okay because everyone has a smartphone these days.

Here's how much money Toronto is guaranteed to get through the street furniture/advertising agreement with Astral. http://t.co/7IjBMTHYVn

Street furniture deal is a strong counter-argument to those who like to portray Miller as some unhinged socialist.

(See also: Regent Park project with Daniels, Build Toronto, Invest Toronto, CUPE Sick Bank, Commercial Tax Plan, and so on.)

Here's a chart showing how far behind Astral is at installing the street furniture they were supposed to install. http://t.co/F6brATWZzb

Janet Davis motion to not proceed with changes to street furniture/advertising agreement fails 11-29. http://t.co/TxCTaf038J

McConnell motion to ensure electronic signs don't get installed in heritage neighbourhoods fails 15-25. http://t.co/YKklhNgVyi

McConnell motion to involve BIA and councillors in digital signage decisions also fails 15-25.

At least they're giving me potential votes for the council scorecard.

Perks motion to not allow auditory/interactive ads fails 12-28. http://t.co/RikU5GUHtu

Secondary Perks motion to limit auditory ads to a certain decibal level does carry, 22-18. http://t.co/m8uk7KRAMf

Vaughan motion to only allow illuminated ads in wards where councillors voted in favour of such ads fails 12-28. http://t.co/1ZNblUXhf7

Vaughan motion to review shelter ad design to ensure public safety and security passes 27-13. http://t.co/sx7kocK1Ks

New street advertising agreement passes 29-11. Get ready for talking bus shelters. http://t.co/lTF7v8TRNg

Back at council, Denzil Minnan-Wong is joking about creating a "Twitter laureate." I can think of a few nominees.

As Council considers a Photo Laureate position, let's read about Arthur Goss, TO's first official photographer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Goss

Norm Kelly says "world class city." Drink up.

Minnan-Wong motion to require that any photo laureate position be funded with sponsorship FAILS 17-19. http://t.co/HLchQ5qvSU

But a Mihevc motion to SEEK sponsorship for the Photo Laureate position PASSES 35-2.

Matlow motion there be no cash for the Photo Laureate and that all their pics go to the Archives PASSES 22-15. Uh. http://t.co/KuhvlWr23v

I don't know how I feel about the city effectively not paying an artist for their work while retaining copyright.

But anyway. After a vote of 30-7, the city will now maybe have an unpaid Photo Laureate. Hooray? http://t.co/xC81nBGzwD

It's funny how some councillors are all "think of the children" until you start talking about, say, lowering speed limits.

Too bad council didn't go in camera to discuss the photo laureate. We would have come up with some great jokes.

And council goes in camera yet again. Remember when Ford pledged to make minutes from in camera meetings public after a certain time period?

Councillor Perruzza now listing things he does not understand. It's a long list.

Council votes 8-26 against deferring the item relating to EDM ban. They'll make a decision today. http://t.co/5RoWJRC3V7

Council votes 27-6 to take an immediate vote on the EDM ban. This is our third act of Footloose moment.

And council votes to overrule the Exhibition Place board and keep EDM events, 31-4. http://t.co/ns5NWWvdxv

Perruzza now showing classroom-made video of teacher disposing of coffee cup and children getting angry.

The precocious children in this video have now come up with a solution for recyclable coffee cups using math and science.

That was an A+ video. I am convinced. Let's have recyclable coffee cups.

Doug Ford is only councillor to vote against moving forward with recyclable hot drink cups.