City Council meeting of May 18, 2004

Implementation of pesticide bylaw
Homeowners and lawn care professionals in Toronto are expected to comply with the City’s pesticide bylaw, which went into effect April 1, 2004. The pesticide bylaw, which is designed to protect public health, bans the use of chemical pesticides to treat weeds on home lawns and general parkland (but permits their use in the event of a substantial insect infestation). At its May 18 meeting, Council decided on an implementation schedule for phasing in full enforcement of the bylaw. Full enforcement with fines for non-compliance will begin September 1, 2005 for lawn care professionals and September 1, 2007 for homeowners. Council voted to delay full enforcement in order to give people more time to learn about and begin using organic, non-chemical lawn care and gardening practices. More information is available on the City's Web site at www.toronto.ca/pesticides/index.htm.

Green Fleet transition plan
Council adopted the "Green Fleet Transition Plan 2004-2007" that will guide the City's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet operations. The plan and related capital budget considerations promote the use of biodiesel, hybrid electric and natural gas vehicles in the fleet of about 4,000 licensed vehicles and motorized equipment. The Green Fleet Transition Plan is intended to support the City of Toronto's goal of a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2005 (based on 1990 levels).

Design guidelines for accessibility
Council endorsed design guidelines that are intended to help make Toronto a barrier-free city. The accessibility design guidelines can be used by the City and other organizations to conduct accessibility audits and guide the planning, design and construction of facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities. Removing and preventing barriers to access enables people with disabilities to participate in the city's social, cultural, recreational, economic and political life.

Union Station revitalization project
Council approved a revised master agreement to lease Union Station to the Union Pearson Group, the consortium chosen to revitalize the historic, City-owned transportation hub on Front Street. The new agreement resolves an impasse concerning additional project costs attributed to delays. Construction of the $130-million renovation of Union Station is projected to begin in September 2005. Council also approved a public consultation process as part of a review of the Union Station Master Plan. The business transaction with the Union Pearson Group is conditional, requiring the satisfactory conclusion of the Master Plan review and the settlement of lease terms (and other closing documentation) between the City and the Union Pearson Group.

Names of community councils
Council ended years of discussion about appropriate names for its four community councils, replacing the interim community council names Toronto South, Toronto West, Toronto East and Toronto North. The new names are Toronto and East York Community Council, Etobicoke York Community Council, Scarborough Community Council, and North York Community Council. The community councils deal with the City's business of a local nature at the community level and provide a forum for local input into Council's decision-making process.

Changes to parking fines
Council decided to eliminate the voluntary payment option that provides a discount when a vehicle owner pays the fine within seven days of receiving a parking ticket in Toronto. In addition, Council approved changes to two specific parking fines. The fine for a parking meter violation in Toronto will decrease from $30 to $20, while the fine for parking in a no-parking zone will increase from $30 to $40. Those changes to the dollar amounts are still subject to approval by the Ontario Court of Justice. All the changes are expected to take effect later this year.

Emergency management
Council approved an updated emergency management program for Toronto that will be the basis of an emergency management bylaw required by the Province of Ontario's Emergency Readiness Act. The City has reviewed and restructured its emergency management program, in part as a result of experience with the SARS crisis and the power blackout in 2003.

Holiday shopping in Yorkville
Council passed a bylaw that will permit retail businesses in the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area to remain open on holidays. The provincial Retail Business Holidays Act requires most stores to remain closed on official holidays such as Canada Day and Thanksgiving Day. Exemptions are allowed for the maintenance and development of tourism. Council specified that the Yorkville-area businesses covered by the exemption must continue the tradition of remaining closed on December 25 – Christmas Day.

Previous Council Highlights

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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.