City Council — November 2012

Psh, why would that matter.

So, no Ford in by-election. That is surprising and I'm not entirely convinced that was Hackland's intent.

Oh yeah. Plastic bags. That was a big thing once.

Oh yeah. The city budget. That was a big thing once.

So: If Ford isn't granted a stay by divisional court, the sensible decision would be to stand down and focus instead on 2014.

Councillor Frank Di Giorgio will really shake things up on Executive Committee.

Mike Del Grande goes to the police board. Here's the vote. Not sure what's up with Perruzza. http://t.co/Oh3fkgFx

Roll credits.

Fun with numbers: Doug Ford says his brother has saved the taxpayers $1 billion over two years. This is inaccurate.

Ford, sounding somber: "I was elected two years ago by the people of this great city to do a job."

"Job is not finished yet. I respect the court's decision that was released yesterday. My decision to appeal is not a criticism of court."

Ford: "This entire matter began because I love to help kids to play football."

Ford: "I was focused on raising money to help youth. I never believed there was a conflict of interest because I had nothing to gain."

Ford: "To everyone who believes I should have done this differently, I sincerely apologize."

That may have been the first sincere apology in Rob Ford history.

Thought so too.

Here's the thing. If Ford loves helping underprivileged youth as he says, maybe he should take the opportunity to do that full-time.

Ford's argument that he had "nothing to gain" from speaking & voting on football issue is odd, 'cause he saved himself $3K.

Parking tickets: threat or menace?

Motion to just move the damn elephants to wherever it is they can be happy and roam around and chill out with good pals.

David Shiner is supporting "the withdrawal of the ban" on plastic bags. That was a fun ride.

"Ford Nation didn't show up! There is no Ford Nation! I wasn't inundated with calls!" says Shiner of the bag ban protests.

Shiner says he talked to Integrity Commissioner about councillors who basically urged people to sue to the city over bag ban.

Shiner: "I'll support this withdrawal now." But says the ban ban will return in BAG BAN 2: ELECTRIC BAGALOO.

Chair is upheld 22-20 after ruling out-of-order a motion to reintroduce five cent bag fee. Perks: "Congratulations, Mr. Mayor, you won."

On one side of the ledger: a legal ruling that removes him from office. On the other: unfettered access to free plastic bags. Call it a draw

Mammoliti points out that people are still being charged five cents for bags by most retailers, like it's an outrage.

"Where does the five cents go?" Right-leaning councillors sure seem mad that businesses are selling items for a profit.

Palacio: "I think the debate today is not about what's good for the environment." Says it's about whether council followed the legal process

Vote to call the question fails on a tie, 21-21. This bag vote could end up being close. http://t.co/9MuvGVo4

There is no real difference between the process that led to the plastic bag ban and the process that removed the Jarvis bike lanes.

Well. As long as the plastic bag lobby is satisfied councillors have done their job.

Councillor Berardinetti up now. She kickstarted this whole Rube Goldberg machine.

If this motion by @CouncillorMB had just passed in the first place, we could have avoided a lot of this mess. http://t.co/4ENOcKNa

(Once again, decision came down to swing votes Bailão and Colle.)

Oh good. It's Doug Ford. He says he'll oppose Janet Davis' motion because it suggests looking at banning the bag properly.

Doug is concerned about job losses at plastic manufacturers if we ban bags. Next time you're at the store, take extra bags to create jobs.

Doug Ford: "We can't let the retailers make a profit off the taxpayers." Um. Okay.

Minnan-Wong motion to stave off bag ban passes. 38-7. http://t.co/Cn8mQj4q

Davis motion to examine other ways to reduce plastic bag use passes 31-14. http://t.co/9NGc1BCm

Procedural motion passed by @gordperks during bag ban debate is interesting. Can we get the text, @TorontoCouncil?

Welcome to Toronto: It takes us years to figure out how to reduce plastic bags, and you expect us to expand transit?

Council votes to waive referral on item re: implementing more QR codes. Imagine if this tweet *was* a QR code.

Council also votes 28-12 to waive referral on @JoshMatlow's item re: privately-owned public spaces. Good news.

Council members who just voted against supporting FCM's long term fed infrastructure plan: Doug Ford, Doug Holyday and, of course, Rob Ford.

Rob Ford rises to speak on the Mr. Christie's issue. "Employment is one of the key challenges facing Toronto residents today."

Ford says city needs 50,000 jobs to bring employment levels in line with national average. Neat stat.

"We've got to keep these lands for employment purposes," says Ford emphatically. Crowd applauds. Deputy Speaker Parker warns them.

Good pick.

Doug Ford gives long, circuitous speech and eventually lands on the need to save more money at City Hall so employers will create jobs.

Josh Matlow wants City Manager to change the annoying (and way outdated) boilerplate on city press releases. https://www.joshmatlow.ca/issues-and-policies/general-issues/1073-my-letter-regarding-the-boilerplate-mission-statement-that-follows-each-city-of-toronto-official-news-release.html

The press release boilerplate was changed right after Ford took office. Compare-and-contrast: https://www.networksolutions.com/typepad?siteID=100&channelID=P99C100S653N0B5A1D0E0000V111

Mike Del Grande rants about trade unionists and I guess later there will be a podrace.

Oh, we all tend to agree on an item, let's all of us take five minutes explaining why.

Last two budget years kicked off with a press conference delivered by the mayor. Not so this year.

So: can a political administration in serious flux win a budget battle with the Toronto Police?

Metrolinx's "next wave" of projects includes Downtown Relief Line. Finally. https://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1080785/metrolinx-unveils-next-wave-of-big-move-projects/

Also includes Yonge subway extension to Richmond Hill, which is less exciting but inevitable I guess.

Metrolinx presser doesn't include much news on their pending investment strategy, which worries me a bit because, well, Hudak comin'.

Meanwhile, city budget proposes residential property tax increase of 1.95% which is better than expected but still below inflation.

Does the 2013 budget include a cut to the Land Transfer Tax? Haha, just kidding.

Oh, that won't cause any controversy.

Instead of embracing a conversation about revenue tools, let's just vote for the guy with a vague plan that doesn't include revenue tools.

What? Holy hell.

That can't be right. A single highway can't have a repair backlog almost equal to TCHC's.

Last year, council restored $5m to preserve TTC service. Stintz/TTC used that money to preserve Wheel Trans service for dialysis patients.

And now: city proposes we cut Wheel Trans service for Ambulatory Dialysis Patients. Again.

This whole council term is just reruns.

City proposes losing 132 staff positions at Exhibition Place. Not sure what's up with that. (Net staffing reduction 2013: 126 positions)

For 2014/2015, city will need to find $196m/$128m in efficiencies, respectively. Assuming 2% res. property tax increase both years.

Most baffling item in this operating budget is this. Bizarre decision that requires justification. http://t.co/PmT7razL

Um, what's with the Backlog numbers for Sidewalks on pg. 33? $14 billion? http://bit.ly/V8FNSU (PDF)

This line from the Library's budget summary is going to make Doug Ford so damn happy. http://t.co/Hfv3KCPk

Are you for real.

Budget summary on new LRT lines/subway ext: "There is currently no funding strategy in place to address these forecasted operating costs."

Transportation Services proposes replacing mechanical leaf collection in Etobicoke York & Scarborough. Residents will need to bag leaves.

(That means the left will probably be able to get Gloria Lindsay Luby on side for some on-the-floor budget editing.)

Kinda dig this chart re: per kilometre costs of winter road maintenance. http://t.co/SfhkFDGS

Toronto Fire Services has seen virtually no staff increase since amalgamation. 2013 budget recommends they lose 104 positions. Weird.

2012 projected actuals say there are 16 positions at the mayor's office. Two fewer than budgeted.

That'd be part of it.

@GraphicMatt Less fires?

City Planning Dept will look for $25,000 in donations to update the city model in the lobby at City Hall.

City Clerk's office charts the rise in deputations/web page views of late. http://t.co/2ltgMXgb

Toronto Public Health summary on discontinuation of Global AIDS initiative funding: council made 5 year commitment in 2007. It's over now.

The city's contribution to the Global AIDS initiative currently goes to Schools Without Borders - Safe Spaces projects for girls in Africa.

We really need to stop and think about this half-billion dollar Gardiner thing.

Relevant to Gardiner discussion: 8% of trips into downtown Toronto are made by car via the Gardiner. (47% TTC; 19% GO)

Breakdown of planned work on the Gardiner. ~$200m to rehab least-used section that was overbuilt. http://t.co/RxHNjp6E

Staff say that a universally free recreation program for youth would cost $18m. That is less than I expected.

Augimeri motion to reinstate fee-exempt adult programs at priority rec centres passes 36-5. Fords, Holyday, Crawford, Milczyn against.

Old thumb probably would have helped on that one.

(Augimeri's motion is "subject to the necessary funding being identified through the 2013 budget process." So stay tuned.)

Council just voted for a Paula Fletcher motion to name a new street in the Bridgepoint subdivision as "Jack Layton Way."

Which is nice, but kinda feels like the name could have been reserved for a more prominent street maybe.

Council votes 33-0 to approve some QR codes. Stay tuned for QR codes.

Odd moment at council in which Rob Ford has held this item re: development in Vaughn's ward. Shiner is now implying things about Section 37.

The development is for Queen W & Simcoe. Dev proposes 54 parking spaces. Transportation Services wants 131.

Ford: "If you're going to go against staff and ask for a million dollars, there's a problem." Uh oh.

Ford says this looks like a "shakedown." He's mad that Vaughan hasn't listened to staff. Vaughan asks Ford what's wrong with the building.

"It's about the million dollars, Councillor Vaughan. You can't go and shakedown developers for a million dollars."

Vaughan says the application will go to OMB if council doesn't approve. Ford seems a bit confused.

Ford: "Did you ask the developer for a million dollars for this? All I'm saying is that looks like a shakedown." Says it's wrong.

Doug Ford is yelling now. "It's about the money!" he bellows. "Councillor Ford, we don't need your help," says Parker.

Let's just appoint the most boring, likeable councillor to be temporary mayor and chill out for a couple of years.

Ford: "But asking developers to pay a million dollars and go against staff, outright - that's problematic." Withdraws his "shakedown" remark

(He seriously does not understand how Section 37 works in the slightest.)

Ford asks, if the local councillor is going to do all the planning, then why do we need staff? "Staff does not support this, period."

Rob Ford expresses his deep support for staff and their advice. Somewhere, Gary Webster is like, "huh?"

Councillor Vaughan and e.g. Councillor Di Giorgio technically have the same job, but their day-to-day is probably completely different.

Councillor Ford smashes his proverbial Escalade into this discussion. "This is the problem down here at City Hall, okay."

Doug Ford: "No councillor at all should be involved in negotiating money with any developer in this city." He wants to stop this nonsense.

Perks: "I just wonder when we are going to hit bottom." We are pretty close, I think.

Perks points out that Section 37 is a literal section of legislation and not some sort of pseudo-mafia shakedown weapon of chicanery.

Perks: "Since when is it wrong to make sure there's daycare? Since when is it wrong to ensure there's affordable housing?"

Perks: "It's only wrong when Rob Ford is running for re-election. That's the only time it's wrong."

Milczyn tries hard to justify Ford's making this a thing, but it doesn't really work. He moves to defer the item until January council.

Rob Ford rises to speak AGAIN. "I encourage councillors to support the deferral." Because Milczyn supports it. Okay.

Deferral fails 12-20. Here's your list of hardcore Ford loyalists. Oh, Robinson. http://t.co/zMVmqY3m

Vaughan basically says he gave residents choice: fight project at OMB, or wring concessions/sec 37 and come to agreement. Chose the latter.

After all that, Vaughan's amendment passes 25-4. Hardest of hardcore Ford loyalists: Doug, Holyday, Nunziata.

Hah, and then after all that, Rob Ford votes in favour of the item as amended. What a ride.

Rob Ford is now mad about another development in Vaughan's ward because there is no parking. "You may not like cars..."

Ford: "You think everyone who lives here is going to take the TTC?"

Ford is all-out yelling at Vaughan. Devolution complete.

If someone wants to buy a unit in a building with no parking, why not let them? Free market rah-rah and all that.

Rob Ford: "You can take me to the integrity commissioner if you want. That is not true. You never spoke to me." Shaking fist at Vaughan.

Ford vs. Vaughan mayoral debates would be so good.

So Vaughan helped staff draft a motion but then somehow Ford got the motion and held the item and then, geez, I don't know.

Motion carries unanimously 29 in favour. Clerks are cracking up. This meeting will never end.

Vaughan now rises to make a really good point: there's a ton of construction staging areas closing streets downtown.

Construction staging areas suck for everyone, but I find they're *really* bad for cyclists.

Minnan-Wong says the issue will be looked at as part of his ominous Downtown Traffic Study, coming out soon.

And we're finally done. Nunziata wishes councillors a Merry Christmas. Applause for staff. Rob Ford left a while ago.