Toronto City Councillor
Ward 25 Don Valley West

This is not intended to serve as an official record of the meeting.

 ORGANIC WASTE FROM HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Council supported plans for a one-year pilot project involving the collection and composting of organic waste, such as kitchen scraps, in residential highrise buildings. Thirty condominium and apartment buildings will be chosen to participate in the project. In Ward 25, buildings on William Carson Crescent have been identified as possible candidates. The City must find ways to increase recycling and composting by residents of Toronto's 5,100 highrise buildings in order to end the City's shipment of waste to Michigan for landfill disposal and to meet the diversion goals set by Council. The green bin program for organic waste is already available to most single-family homes in Toronto.

 GARBAGE DISPOSAL CONTRACT

Council decided to renew the City's contract with Wilson Logistics Inc. and Republic Services Inc. for hauling and disposing of Toronto's residual solid waste (the waste not separated for recycling or composting). The garbage has been trucked to Republic's landfill site in Michigan since January 2003. That arrangement will continue to the end of 2008 under the renewed three-year contract.

 CONTROLLING PORTABLE SIGNS AND POSTERS

Council dealt with portable signs, but delayed dealing with posters. Council approved a new bylaw to regulate the design and display of temporary signs through a permit process with strict guidelines and enforcement. The rules are designed to manage and reduce self-standing A-frame signs and mobile signs on sidewalks, boulevards and private property. Under the new regulations, businesses that install, lease or rent temporary signs must be licensed. The new standards will increase public safety and reduce street-side clutter. On Posters, in order to deal with the conflicting requirements of a Clean & Beautiful City and the Supreme Court's decsions on Freedom of Speech, Council referred the item to the Mayor's office to develop a compromise proposal.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING FEES

In certain areas of the former City, we have on-street permit parking and front-yard permit parking (but not in the former North York). For those areas, Council approved new cost-recovery fees for on-street permit parking and off-street residential parking (the latter involving locations where the parking space in front of a house extends onto the City boulevard) for 2005. The on-street parking fee increases from the current $8.50 to $10 a month for the first vehicle and $25 a month for a second vehicle. The fee for off-street parking also increases from $8.50 to $10 a month for the first vehicle.

 REVITALIZING THE WEST DON LANDS

Council endorsed the West Don Lands Precinct Plan as a guide for the area's future environmental assessments, development application decisions, and agreements with government partners and the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation. The plan anticipates about 6,000 residential units, non-residential development, and the construction of a park (in conjunction with a flood protection land form) and community facilities over the next 15 years.

 STANDING COMMITTEES/IMPROVING THE PLANNING PROCESS

City Council appointed members of Council to standing committees, agencies, boards and commissions for the remainder of this term. Details are provided in the City's May 17 news release, which is available through the "News Releases" link on the main page of the City's Web site at www.toronto.ca. I will remain on the Planning & Transportation committee where City policy on development is considered. In particular, I am on a subcommittee on "Improving the Planning Process". This subcommittee will be holding public meetings on June 3, 8, 13 and 17 to accept public input on ways to change the current development application process to provide a more even-handed handling of the interests of the applicant and neighbouring property owners. If you are interested, the June 13 meeting will be held in the North York Civic Centre - Members' Lounge between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Please call my office at 416-395-6408 for details. "Lastly, on the Committee of Adjustment (COA), P&T requested that the City-wide Chair of the COA report on an annual basis on matters relating to standards, training and other pertinent matters in the operation of the COA."

 GRAFFITI ART PARK

I introduced a motion for staff to report on the concept of a Park for Graffiti Art, similar to parks in several U.S. cities. It is important to distinguish Graffiti Art from Graffiti vandalism or gang "tagging". Recently a young Graffiti artist, a resident of Ward 25, was killed while practicing his art. If adopted and subsequently implemented, a Graffiti Art facility would contribute positively to a Clean and Beautiful City and could be an excellent outlet for the energies of "at risk" youth. 

 PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

Council adopted my motion to request the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to report on three aspects of Current Value Assessment (CVA) which are of great concern to many Ward 25 residents - (1) unstable assessments which swing significantly from year to year; (2) large assessment increases for properties which were successfully appealed in the prior year; and (3) the obscurity of the CVA system in which property owners have great difficulty understanding how their assessment are derived. MPAC is scheduled to report to the City's Policy and Finance Committee on Wednesday, June 1.

 PERMITS AT RECREATION FACILITIES

Council approved harmonized rates (consistent across the city) for the public's use of City-run recreation centres' gymnasiums, kitchens and other rooms, and dry pads (indoor arena floors), as well as for children's use of sports fields. The new rates take effect in January 2006. Most children, youth and seniors will still be able to use recreation facilities for free or at a nominal cost.

 EMERGENCY SHELTER ON EDWARD STREET

Council approved funding to keep an emergency shelter and referral program operating at 110 Edward St. until next spring. The building's owner has agreed to a month-to-month extension of the lease. The shelter, which opened last winter, was originally scheduled to close this month.

TRANSITION TO A GREEN FLEET

The City will establish a policy requiring its replacement vehicles to be alternative-fuel or hybrid vehicles. In adopting the recommendation, Council agreed that replacement vehicles will have to meet yet-to-be-set technical standards. The City will take steps to ensure that corporate and emergency services fleet operations, as well as those of City agencies, comply with the policy.

INTERNET HOTSPOT PROJECT

Council approved plans to undertake a test project that will provide a "wireless hotspot" on Nathan Phillips Square. The hotspot will provide wireless access to the Internet. The pilot project will be conducted on the square commencing this summer.

IDEAS FROM CITY EMPLOYEES

At its one-day meeting on May 4, Council's actions included support for the concept of an Ideas Day involving the Toronto Public Service later this year. Employees will be encouraged to submit their ideas for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of City operations. Council also expressed interest in establishing an ongoing program to collect and assess employees' suggestions.

HARDCOPY NEWSLETTER

My annual hardcopy newsletter is now in the final stages of production. It should be delivered in June. I will be sending out a note to you when it is in the hands of the delivery organization. At that time, I'd appreciate it if you would confirm whether or not you received it, so that we can exercise quality control.

Cliff Jenkins

Councillor, Ward 25