City Council meeting of July 22, 2003
Agreement on Union Station
Council approved a master agreement to lease City-owned Union Station to the Union Pearson Group for a 100-year term. The private consortium will restore, revitalize and operate the train station on behalf of the City. Outstanding issues, which include final concept design, construction schedule and budget, will be resolved over the next several weeks. Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2004. Council also decided the lease will include a provision that the City's Union Station Public Advisory Group remain in place for the duration of the station lease and be fully involved in the restoration of Union Station.
Revitalization of Regent Park
Council approved Toronto Community Housing's plan to redevelop the Regent Park housing complex in the east downtown area over the next 15 years. The decision follows consultation with 2,000 residents of the social housing complex on ways to transform the current isolation of Regent Park by integrating it with surrounding communities. The plan calls for a total of 4,500 housing units, resulting in a mixed-income, mixed-use neighbourhood. Toronto Community Housing, the City's social housing corporation, is one of the largest providers of social housing in North America.
New wings for Hummingbird Centre
Council expressed its support for a proposal from the board of directors of the City's Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts to turn the downtown centre into a more elaborate facility that includes an interactive theatre, a high-tech arts lab, and a "TV Dinner" theatre, while retaining the present 3,200-seat theatre for the performing arts. The concept includes expansion of the west side of the building (adjacent to Yonge Street) for multi-disciplinary programming. The plan also envisions expanded conference and banquet facilities. The proposal is designed to make the centre attractive to tourists and residents alike, keeping it vibrant and financially healthy in the years ahead.
West District service centre
Council endorsed a plan to further examine the possibility of creating a new municipal services centre in the west part of the city to serve the Etobicoke and Humber York communities. The new centre would replace the current Etobicoke Civic Centre, with good access to the Bloor-Danforth subway line a high priority for the location. Consultations will continue and the City will obtain design concepts. Council decided to create two community reference groups to provide input. Several sites are under consideration for the service centre.
Illegal dumping in parks
Council approved pilot projects to address the problem of illegal dumping in Toronto parks. The City will undertake a pilot project in Rouge Valley this fall and one pilot project for each ward in 2004, using signs, cameras, additional bylaw enforcement officers, and access restrictions to discourage illegal dumping. Another pilot project will pay a $100 reward to people who witness, report and assist in the conviction of those who dump garbage or other items illegally in a park. The City is also taking steps to raise fines for dumping infractions.
Community council boundaries
Council approved revised boundaries for community council areas when the six current community councils are replaced by four community councils after the November election. The boundaries of the existing service delivery districts (designated North, South, East and West) will be adjusted to match the new community council boundaries. Community councils are committees of City Council. They deal with issues such as local development applications and neighbourhood traffic issues.
Toronto labour force planning
Council approved the formation of a task force to assist in implementing the City's new Toronto Labour Force Readiness Plan. The task force will meet with federal and provincial officials to discuss strategies for education and training to make sure Toronto's labour force can meet the anticipated demand for employees in the coming years. The Toronto region may face labour shortages across all occupations and skill groups by the end of the decade - sooner in some occupations.
Adopt-a-Park program
Council approved plans for an Adopt-a-Park program across the city, encouraging local community groups to help make parks safe and attractive through their involvement as volunteers. Groups that adopt a park have an opportunity to play a direct role in maintaining and beautifying their local park, registering through a procedure administered by Parks and Recreation.
Seniors residence to be built
After two hours of debate, Council voted in favour of permitting the Muslim Welfare Centre of Toronto to proceed with plans to build a 40-unit seniors' residence in the Scarborough community. Concerns were expressed about whether the building will fit in well with a nearby residential neighbourhood. City planners noted that the site has the merit of being close to public transit, shopping and medical services.
Photo radar on Toronto streets
Council decided to seek authorization from the Province of Ontario to use photo radar on Toronto streets and expressways for improving safety. The program would be designed as basically revenue neutral, but Council has directed staff to report on the appropriate use of revenues if any were produced by a photo radar program. The provincial government halted the use of photo radar on provincial highways in 1995. Toronto has been employing another traffic safety technology - red light cameras - on a pilot project basis at selected city intersections since 2000.
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.
