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Highlights of the Toronto City Council
meeting of July 20, 2004 |
This is not intended to serve as an official record of the meeting.
As a service to citizens, I provide the following Highlights of the Toronto City Council meeting of July 20, 2004
 Protecting Our Neighbourhoods: Improvements to the Official Plan
In a
major victory for stable residential neighbourboods, Council adopted my motion
to amend the City’s Official Plan. The new provisions allow the City to define
in more detail the boundaries between stable residential neighbourhoods and
areas suitable for intensification. The amendments also require that,
“Wherever warranted,
intensification of land along major roadways will be done through Secondary
Plans, Avenue Studies and area specific policies, as determined by Council,
created in consultation with local communities and designed to carefully control
development so that adjacent neighbourhoods are protected from significant
negative impact.”
The
amendments must be approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in order to be
incorporated into the Official Plan. I acknowledge and thank Mayor David Miller
and many ratepayer representatives for their efforts and assistance in helping
me fulfill this major election commitment.
Proposals for Election Finance Reform
While many citizens have
asked Council to quickly clean up the political process in response to the
computer scandals of recent years, Council deferred consideration of significant
election financing reforms. However, the issue will be back before Council at
its September 28 meeting. I strongly support the task force recommendations to
eliminate surplus campaign funds for candidates, ban corporate and union
donations in municipal elections, and limit the amount of money spent on
fundraising activities and victory parties, among other rules.
Bins for Recycling and
Litter
A debate concluded with Council voting in favour of a three-month test of the
proposed design for recycling/litter containers that are integrated with
illuminated panels for advertisements. As many as 132 of the units will be
placed on sidewalks in wards where councillors allow their wards to be used for
the test. The advertising panels that extend above the containers are the same
size as those used for transit shelter advertisements. The City receives a
portion of advertising revenues from Urban Equipment of Canada ("Eucan"), the
company under contract to provide recycling/litter bins in Toronto until 2009.
Eucan wants to replace the bins now in use with the new design giving
advertising greater prominence. I plan to permit the testing of three units in
Ward 25 at locations to be determined in consultation with local community
associations.
Look-alike Parking Tickets
Council decided to prohibit
private property owners or their agents from issuing parking tickets/notices
demanding payment for parking on private property. As a result of the decision,
the only document that may be issued for parking on private property without the
property owner's consent is a City parking infraction notice (parking ticket)
issued under the Provincial Offences Act. Council addressed the issue because
of complaints to City officials and the police about look-alike tickets and
excessive charges.
Strategic Plan for Parks and
Recreation
Council approved a 15-year
action plan for Toronto Parks and Recreation. The plan, called Our Common
Grounds, consists of 53 recommendations for the Parks and Recreation division,
all relating to Toronto residents' health and well-being. The broader strategic
goals are environmental stewardship, development of children and youth, and the
theme "lifelong active living." Parks and Recreation is now preparing a plan to
guide implementation of the 53 recommendations.
Tenant Protection: Public
Disclosure for Apartment Buildings
Council supported plans for
a public disclosure system that will inform people about violations of property
standards at multi-residential buildings in Toronto. The new system will be
similar to the "Dinesafe" food inspection system for restaurants, which is
communicated on the City's Web site, by telephone and by means of notices posted
at premises' entrances. The information concerning apartment buildings will
help people make informed choices about rental accommodations and will also act
as an incentive for compliance with Toronto's property standards.
Call for Action on Air
Pollution
Council decided to ask the
premier of Ontario to commit the provincial government to contributing 75 per
cent of the funding needed to sustain and improve Toronto Transit Commission
services. That and other steps taken by Council, such as a commitment to
strengthen the City's vehicle idling control bylaw, respond to a Toronto Public
Health report documenting human illness associated with air pollution. The
report concludes that more needs to be done to reduce vehicle emissions -- hence
the recommendation to expand the role of public transit, among other measures.
City's 2005 Budget Process
A schedule for the City's
2005 budget-setting process, which Council approved, calls for the adoption of
the budget two months earlier than in the 2004 process. The schedule will begin
with the public launch of the budget review process in December 2004, ending
with Council's adoption of a budget on February 25, 2005.
Appointments
Council approved the
selection of an integrity commissioner for the City. David Mullan, a retired
law professor, is appointed to the new position effective September 1. As
integrity commissioner, he will advise members of Council on their obligations
under Council's code of conduct and other legislation governing ethical
conduct. He will also assess and investigate complaints under the code of
conduct's complaint protocol.
Council also approved the
appointment of David McKeown as the City's new medical officer of health. Dr.
McKeown, who is currently Peel Region's medical officer of health, held the same
position with the former City of Toronto at the time of amalgamation in 1998.
This list is intended to
keep Ward 25 residents informed about selected City issues. If you wish to be
removed, simply send a message titled Unsubscribe to councillor_jenkins@toronto.ca.
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