The motion directs senior city staff to look at options for improving program delivery and supporting businesses impacted by installation delays and other issues with CaféTO this year.
My motion calling for a comprehensive review of the CaféTO program was adopted today at City Council.
This comes after the city announced Wednesday significant progress on the installation of CaféTO patios. Approximately 90% of patios had been installed by mid week and the city expects the rest completed by Sunday.
My motion reflects the many issues that were identified over the last few weeks, such as moving up the application and permitting process to ensure patio installations are done for the start of patio season, improving communications to small businesses and BIAs and incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
Some other highlights of the motion include directing the City Manager to:
I also moved to have the City Manager report on creating a business model for CaféTO led by a single city division to ensure a coordinated, efficient and effective delivery of the program going forward.
I would like to thank city staff for working with me these last few weeks to address immediate issues with the program's roll-out and for their hard work to complete the patio installations over this last week.
You can read my full motion here.
I'll be sure to keep you updated on the review process and how small businesses can participate.
We considered luxury home tax rates, priority signalling for LRTs and streetcars, a maximum heat bylaw along with our next five-year climate plan and the Portlands Energy Centre.
Major items included snow clearing, Ontario Line truck safety, blue bin collection, removal of provincial tenant protections, zoning changes to allow for more residential retail and more.
We considered issues such as speed cameras, expanding the Toronto Community Crisis Service to the TTC and more, as well as several of my motions.
