City Council meeting of May 23, 2006
Bid to host World Expo
Council voted strongly in favour of Toronto mounting a bid to host a World Expo event in 2015. If the bid is successful, Expo 2015 will take place on 400 acres of transformed Port Lands, bringing to life the "Spirit of Ingenuity" theme. The next step is for the City of Toronto to seek approval from the provincial and federal governments. With their support, a not-for-profit corporation will be formed to undertake the bid submission project.
Taxi driver safety
Council directed staff to ask Toronto taxi drivers for their views on the possibility of making safety shields mandatory in cabs. Protective shields installed between the front and back seats are an option to help protect drivers from assault by passengers. A recent fatal assault has made taxi driver safety a prominent issue. City staff will report back on findings of the consultations.
Memorial for Air India Flight 182
Council supported the City's involvement in the establishment of a memorial to victims of Air India Flight 182, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean as a result of an act of terrorism on June 23, 1985. The tragedy claimed the lives of 329 people - the majority of them residents of the Greater Toronto Area. The memorial will be created in Humber Bay Park East with funding provided by the federal government. Toronto will contribute the parkland and staff support for the project. Many family members of victims asked that a memorial be established on the shore of Lake Ontario, and have expressed support for the Humber Bay site.
Hiring of relatives
Council established a policy that makes relatives of members of Council (spouses, children and parents) ineligible to be hired by the City of Toronto for a list of specific senior and sensitive positions. Council also decided to expand the conflict of interest rules to address certain situations involving relatives.
Councillor communications in election year
Council confirmed guidelines for the use of corporate and communication resources in election years, including this year. The guidelines generally rule out the use of corporate resources and funding for election campaign purposes, but councillors are allowed to send notices about City business matters to residents up until municipal election day. The 2006 election is November 13.
Pedestrian crossovers
Council approved a project to replace or improve Toronto's 77 pedestrian crossovers on major arterial roadways in order to improve safety. The City will convert 24 of Toronto's current crossovers to traffic control signals because of the high risk at those locations. The City will improve the other 53 crossovers on major roadways by enhancing their flashing beacons, signs and pavement markings. The project includes a public education effort to promote greater awareness of drivers' and pedestrians' responsibilities for safe use of the crossovers. Toronto has almost 600 pedestrian crossovers on its roads and streets.
Voice for sport in Toronto
Council agreed to recognize the Toronto Sports Council as "the voice of sport" in Toronto, serving as a sports advocate and working with the City on a plan to increase sport facilities. Council appointed Councillors Maria Augimeri, Mark Grimes and Bill Saundercook to work with staff and the Toronto Sports Council to implement the City's sport strategy. In addition, the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division was asked to prepare a report on opportunities to renovate and develop local sport facilities such as swimming pools, ice rinks and sports fields.
City purchases of goods and services
Council considered the City's current purchasing policy and decided to maintain the position of not giving preference to local suppliers. Council also chose to continue the suspension of a policy favouring Canadian content, which was adopted in 2000 and suspended in 2003. Policies that give preference to local or Canadian suppliers tend to prove counter-productive because they can prompt retaliatory policies. The City offers seminars to help local and other Canadian suppliers compete for opportunities to do business with the City of Toronto.
Garage sales
The City of Toronto will restrict the number of garage sales to two a year at any individual residential address. Council agreed to establish a bylaw to regulate garage sales in order to prohibit recurring garage sales that are operating as businesses and creating a neighbourhood nuisance.
User-friendly website
In the first of two related actions, Council agreed to match Ontario Ministry of Citizenship funding for the City's participation in an eight-month Web design project. The focus will be on improving immigrants' access to online information by creating an enhanced immigration and settlement portal. In a second decision, Council endorsed a Web accessibility statement. It commits the City to making its online services and programs more accessible by providing information in clear language and by removing any barriers hampering use of the website. A staff group is leading related work on standards and practices in order to meet requirements set out in the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005).
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 contact Strategic Communications at 416-392-8937.
