Council Highlights
City Council meeting of July 6, 7 and 8,
2010
News Release - Approving a Renovictions By-law to Protect Affordable Rental Housing
City Council to consider a report recommending the approval of a renovictions by-law.
Lawrence Heights Revitalization
Council approved
proceeding with the revitalization of the Lawrence Heights housing complex.
Created in 1957, the neighbourhood currently houses about 3,700 tenants in
1,208 units. The Toronto Community Housing Corporation will replace all 1,208
present-day rent-geared-to-income units, and 4,792 market units will be added
to the 60.5-hectare property, for a total of 6,000 housing units. Revitalizing
Lawrence Heights as outlined in the broad Lawrence Allen Revitalization Plan
that Council endorsed will help bring positive social and economic changes to
that area of the city. Council adopted many directives to City divisions and
agencies concerning this major initiative.Tower renewal across the
city
Council endorsed a plan for implementing the Tower Renewal
Program city-wide (as presented in the City's "Tower Renewal Implementation
Book") and approved steps to establish a Tower Renewal Corporation. The
corporation will administer financing and co-ordinate incentive programs for
highrise apartment building renewal in Toronto. The City will encourage the
participation of local businesses and manufacturers in supplying products and
services for tower renewal projects.
City funding of Pride Toronto
Council directed that any City funding of
Pride Toronto be paid after the Pride parade and be conditional upon Pride
Toronto requiring that all registered participants comply with the City of
Toronto's anti-discrimination policy. Council asked the City Manager to advise
Pride Toronto organizers on whether the participation of the group Queers
Against Israeli Apartheid (with the signs and banners the group displays)
contravenes the anti-discrimination policy.
Commendations for G20 Summit work
Council adopted a motion commending
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and the Toronto Police Service and other
police/security personnel who participated in June's G20 Summit in Toronto "on
a job well done." The motion also thanked the police chief for his support of
the Toronto Police Services Board's decision to launch an independent civilian
review of the G20 Summit, and acknowledged the Toronto Police Services Board
for exercising its oversight role. Council also adopted a motion commending
all City staff who helped with the Summit.
Voters list for City election
Council decided to ask the Ontario
government to initiate electoral reform to establish a permanent municipal
voters list that would be compiled and maintained by an organization such as
Elections Ontario. Council also requested the City Clerk to support
enfranchisement of tenants in Toronto by arranging for the distribution of the
application form (and information) to assist with adding voters' names to the
Voters List in advance of this fall's municipal election. The City Clerk was
asked to report back to City Council on problems with the current enumeration
system.
Aboriginal communities in Toronto
Council adopted a "Statement of
Commitment towards Aboriginal Communities in Toronto" and directed the City
Manager to prepare a related action plan. Council also authorized the
preparation of guidelines for considering urban Aboriginal issues in all the
City's policy development and service delivery. Council expressed appreciation
to Aboriginal Affairs Committee members for their work on the statement of
commitment and extended thanks to members of the Aboriginal community for
participating in the process of preparing the statement.
Evolution of Lower Don Lands
Council voted to support plans by
Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to
revitalize the Lower Don Lands, re-naturalize the lower Don River and flood
protect the Port Lands. Council directed that the corridors of the Lower Don
River and infrastructure in the Lower Don Lands must be protected from
development. In addition, Council approved an affordable housing strategy for
the Keating Channel lands.
Management of Casa Loma
Council directed City officials to initiate a
dispute resolution process to address concerns about the Kiwanis Club's
management of Casa Loma. If not satisfied with progress on the operational and
financial management of the City-owned tourist attraction, the City intends to
terminate the management agreement with the Kiwanis Club and find another way
of managing Casa Loma. Under the 2008 agreement, the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma
was to implement a "Strategic Vision" for the facility and meet certain
obligations, but the organization is behind in meeting expectations.
St. Lawrence Market building design
Council endorsed the selection of
a design proposed for a new St. Lawrence Market north building. The winning
design was chosen in an international design competition. The design consists
of a four-storey building with ground-floor market hall, courtrooms and
offices on the second, third and fourth floors, and an underground parking
garage.
Next year's Canadian census
Council supported a motion urging the
federal government to reverse its recent decision to scrap the mandatory
"long-form" census that for many years has provided detailed information to
municipal governments. The federal government intends to use a new, voluntary
household survey for the 2011 census. That change is expected to hamper the
City of Toronto's access to the kind of detailed information needed in
planning municipal policies and programs - ranging from immigrant settlement
support to public transit design.
Toronto bid to host Ontario Summer Games
Council agreed that the City
of Toronto will support the Toronto Sports Council's bid to hold the 2012
Ontario Summer Games in Toronto. If chosen as host, the City of Toronto will
make a financial contribution and serve as the financial guarantor of the
event.
City Council to consider a report recommending the approval of a renovictions by-law.
Major items at City Council this week included the Vacant Home Tax, island airport and traffic congestion management.
Read Councillor Fletcher's latest update for details on the newly opened Leslie Lookout Park along with engagement and enforcement activities at Tommy Thompson Park.