City Council meeting of July 25, 2006
Green development standard
Council approved a set of principles and targets that are intended to promote environmentally sustainable site and building design. The Toronto Green Development Standard will be applied to developments undertaken by the City and its agencies, and will be provided as a voluntary guide for the private sector. The City will encourage other Ontario cities to take a similar approach to promoting sustainable development and will ask the province to consider making green standards mandatory for site and building design.
Posters on public property
Council adopted a policy on posters, intended to help the City control visual clutter in public places while permitting small posters such as community-based notices about civic and charitable events. The City will permit such notices to be attached to utility poles but not to traffic-control devices, street furniture or trees. The City also plans to set up kiosks that people can use for community notices. A related bylaw is expected to be enacted once the kiosks are ready.
2007-2010 capital plan
Council approved a 2007-2010 Capital Plan that will guide the City's financial planning and annual capital budget process. The plan also provides guidance on managing debt. The total capital estimate of $5.5 billion for the next four years (2007-2010) will enable the City's to maintain its infrastructure and other capital assets in a state of good repair. In adopting the Capital Plan, Council expressed support for efforts to establish funding partnerships to help pay for capital projects and control the debt load. In a related decision, Council agreed to apply the one-time proceeds of $980 million from an investment in Toronto Hydro Corporation to help pay for the City's major infrastructure and environmental projects.
Design of tall buildings
Council approved design criteria that will be applied in the City's reviews of proposed tall building projects in Toronto. The guidelines will be tested for a year and then incorporated in an updated edition of the Urban Design Handbook. Overall, the design criteria are intended to enhance the public realm and ensure that new buildings fit well with neighbouring structures.
New items for blue box
The City will take steps to allow residents to include three new kinds of items in the blue box recycling program. Council agreed on a plan that will permit spiral-wound containers (such as frozen orange juice containers) in blue boxes starting later this year. Plastic film (such as grocery bags) and polystyrene (such as plastic or foam cups and food containers) will become eligible for recycling in Toronto once Council authorizes the introduction of additional recycling capacity through larger recycling bins, weekly recycling, or blue bags, subsequent to budget approval. Recycling these new items will divert about 4,000 tonnes of material a year from landfill disposal.
Power generating plant in Port Lands
Council approved a set of steps for City staff and agencies to take in order to find out more about the provincial government's recently revised plan for a Portlands Energy Centre. The City wants any new electricity generating plant to be a co-generation facility - that is, capable of contributing to district heating as well as generating electricity. Council also emphasized the importance of a co-ordinated effort by the City, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation, Toronto Hydro, Enwave and the Toronto Economic Development Corporation in managing waterfront development.
Compensation for elected officials
Following debate, Council approved a pay increase for members of the Council who will be elected in November, taking effect January 1, 2007. Councillors' current salary of about $87,000 a year increases to $95,000, and the mayor's salary increases from about $148,000 at present to $160,000. The raises bring the salaries in line with the average of large Ontario municipalities.
Parking for veterans
Council agreed to honour war veterans in Ontario by granting them free municipal parking on three significant days each year. Vehicles displaying an Ontario veterans licence plate will be able to park free of charge each September 17 (Battle of Britain), November 11 (Remembrance Day) and June 6 (D-Day). In addition, arrangements for free parking will be considered for other events honouring veterans when the dates vary from year to year. The Royal Canadian Legion expressed its support for the proposal when consulted. About 22,000 Ontario vehicles have veterans licence plates.
Parking tickets
Council authorized staff to negotiate agreements with the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Maine and Ohio to help Toronto pursue the collection of unpaid City of Toronto parking tickets issued to offenders licensed in those states. Other states and provinces that the City contacted were either unwilling to assist because of prohibiting legislation or they charge fees that would make collection unfeasible for Toronto. The City currently collects payment on about 15 per cent of the more than 100,000 parking tickets issued to out-of-province vehicles each year.
Letters of reference
Council adopted guidelines that place strict limits on elected officials providing a recommendation or general letter of endorsement on behalf of individuals seeking City positions. Written references are acceptable in certain contexts - but not in situations that involve a relative of an elected official. Details are provided in a report prepared by the City's integrity commissioner.
Procedures at Council meetings
Council approved new procedural rules for Council and committee meetings, effective when the new Council takes office in December. The new procedures, which are based on parliamentary principles, are intended to help make Council more effective and efficient in its decision-making as a responsible government under the new City of Toronto Act. The meeting procedures are one in a series of projects that the City Clerk's Office is undertaking to improve decision-making. The new plain language procedures bylaw will be going to the September Council meeting.
Redevelopment of the Hummingbird Centre
A business plan to support redevelopment of the City-owned Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto received Council's approval. The project is to include construction of a condominium tower. The tower will rise above a podium enclosing a new cultural attraction called CityCentre that expands the existing facility for the performing arts at Yonge and Front Streets.
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.
