City Council meeting of October 26, 27 and 28, 2004

Change to taxicab regulations
Council decided to revise a controversial feature of regulations it approved in September to ensure that Toronto's taxicabs are in good condition. Rather than requiring that only new, unused vehicles be permitted as replacements for old cabs, as specified in the September decision, the revised rule gives operators the option of buying and using cars that are up to one year old as replacements. Cars that are not brand new, however, must always have been registered in Ontario to qualify. The intention is to prevent unsafe vehicles - those rebuilt after accidents and not meeting Ontario's safety standards - from being operated as Toronto taxicabs.

Community awareness of '911' multilingual services
Council adopted a communications plan intended to increase public awareness that emergency services are available by phoning 911 regardless of what language the caller speaks. The 911 line can provide assistance in more than 150 languages. The strategy builds upon existing outreach by Toronto's providers of emergency services to promote 911, especially among new immigrants and in parts of the city with high concentrations of non-English-speaking residents. The core message is that regardless of language, everyone in Toronto has access to free life-saving emergency services by calling 911.

Newspaper vending boxes
Council adopted a Publication Box Strategy to deal with the proliferation of newspaper vending boxes on city sidewalks. The issue of clutter on sidewalks is a focus of the Clean and Beautiful City Initiative. Council decided that no permits will be issued for new dispensing boxes (with certain exceptions) during the next two years as work proceeds on a detailed City strategy and bylaw to regulate the design and placement of publication boxes.

Civic Improvement Program
Council agreed to expand the Civic Improvement Program that is administered by Urban Development Services, giving the program a heightened role in efforts to beautify Toronto. Making Toronto a clean and beautiful city is one of Council's priorities in its current term of office. City beautification is also identified as a high priority in the City's Official Plan.

Employee ideas campaign
Council endorsed a proposal for a staff "Ideas Day" to be held early in the new year. Members of the Toronto Public Service will be asked to submit suggestions pertaining to Council's nine priorities for the 2003-06 term. Management will consult with the civic labour leaders about the ideas blitz. Council's nine priorities are improving public service; making progress on the waterfront; improving the business climate; making Toronto a clean and beautiful city; strengthening at-risk neighbourhoods; ensuring housing is affordable; obtaining the powers and funding needed for Toronto to succeed; improving the planning process; and increasing public involvement in civic affairs.

Bid to host U.S. football bowl game
Council endorsed a private sector organization's bid to bring a championship college football "bowl" game to Toronto's SkyDome in December 2005. If Toronto's bid is successful, a major college conference game will be played in Toronto annually in late December. The game would probably attract as many as 25,000 out-of-town visitors to the city for the weekend of the event, many of them from the United States.

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.