City Council meeting of
October 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12, 2000
Waste disposal and diversion
Five days of debate at City Hall concluded October 11 when Council approved contracts with Rail Cycle North and Republic Services Canada for the disposal of solid waste from Toronto. The conditional contract with Rail Cycle North for shipping garbage to the Adams Mine site near Kirkland Lake was subsequently cancelled over the unresolved issue of responsibility for potential future cost increases during the 20-year agreement. The City now intends to truck its residential waste to Michigan landfill sites when the Keele Valley Landfill Site closes in 2002. The current contract with Republic Services is for the disposal of Toronto's private-sector waste in Michigan starting next year. Council also made a commitment to develop programs to recycle and compost 80 per cent of the City's municipal waste by 2009.
Gun amnesty and buy-back
Council approved a one-week program called Operation Save a Life to help reduce the number of firearms and shooting incidents in the city. The program, which ran from October 4 to 14, offered $50 for each unwanted or illegal gun given to the police. The maximum payment was $100 a person. People turned in a total of 1,753 guns, including more than 300 handguns.
Strategy for family shelters
The City will create new family shelters in order to reduce reliance on commercial motels along Kingston Road for emergency housing. Council approved a shelter strategy that places emphasis on services such as helping people avoid having to use shelters and helping people address issues that contribute to their homelessness. In addition, the City is in the midst of adding 675 permanent new beds to shelters for single adults and youth.
Development freeze on port lands
Council passed an interim control bylaw that freezes new development on certain lands essential to the implementation of the City's plans for waterfront revitalization and the Olympics. The intention is to keep the City's transportation options open as it prepares the official plan and a zoning bylaw for the central waterfront, potentially the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Next step for city charter
Council approved plans for public education and consultation in support of Toronto's request for a city charter. The City will also communicate with the provincial and federal governments about the merits of the proposal. A charter would give Toronto responsibilities and powers that match its stature as Canada's largest city and economic centre.
GTA-wide challenges
Council approved the City's input to the first stage of a review of the Greater Toronto Services Board. Council reaffirmed its support for the board and recommended that it be given stronger powers to manage growth in the Greater Toronto Area and co-ordinate GTA-wide infrastructure development.
Action to curb unregulated towing
Council gave its approval in principle for new bylaws to resolve problems with parking enforcement on private property across the city. The bylaws will support property owners' need for enforcement while setting out regulations such as the mandatory licensing of all parking enforcement companies. Towing companies have been issuing tickets that look like official parking infraction notices.
Toronto to honour Pierre Trudeau
The City of Toronto will name a prominent landmark and establish a fund for youth initiatives in honour of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Council directed the chief administrative officer to recommend a suitable landmark and source of funding.
Action on homelessness
Council adopted a local plan for the federal Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative. Federal approval of the plan will set in motion the investment of $53 million in federal funds for homelessness initiatives over the next three years. The Toronto plan places emphasis on capital spending for transitional housing and investment in services not funded by other programs.
Protecting rental housing from demolition
The City is requesting provincial approval of legislation that Council considers necessary to protect rental housing from demolition. The City has received redevelopment applications proposing the demolition of about a thousand rental units in the past two years since the repeal of the Rental Housing Protection Act. There is a strong demand in Toronto for rental housing, particularly for rental housing affordable to households with low and moderate incomes.
Making Toronto more accessible
Council adopted plans to ensure that all City of Toronto buildings are accessible to everyone by 2008. The plan calls for the creation of accessibility standards, followed by an accessibility audit and a financial plan.
City-wide property standards bylaw
Council approved a property standards bylaw requiring that properties across the city comply with minimum standards for maintenance and occupancy. The new standards will help property owners manage their holdings and will improve safeguards for tenants' safety and security.
Plans for TTC bus terminal
Staff received Council's go-ahead to issue a request for proposals to redevelop the Toronto Transit Commission's bus terminal and garage site at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.
Managing year-end budget surpluses
Council adopted a policy for managing year-end surpluses that can arise when revenues exceed expenditures. The policy creates a tax rate stabilization reserve to be used when there is a year-end deficit. It also establishes a policy that by 2004 there will no longer be a surplus to carry forward as a funding source for the operating budget.
Toronto municipal code
Council approved a City of Toronto Municipal Code of bylaws organized by subject and presented in plain language. The code, which will come into effect January 1, 2001, deals with general and administrative bylaws that have been enacted since amalgamation in 1998.
Previous Council Highlights
For inquiries about the official documentation of Council decisions, contact the City Clerk by e-mail, clerk@toronto.ca
Council Highlights, produced for your convenience, is a summary of Council's recent decisions. Council Highlights is not intended to serve as an official record of the meeting. If you have questions about this summary, please e-mail Strategic Communications at stratcom@toronto.ca.
