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April 27, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Lesley Watson, Director, By-law Administration and Enforcement, City Works
Services
Subject:Recommendation on Conducting a Second Poll to Determine Neighbourhood
Support or Opposition to a Boulevard Cafe on the De Lisle Avenue Flankage of 1510 Yonge
Street (Midtown)
Purpose:
To provide staff's recommendation on conducting a second poll at this location within the
two year period during which re-polling for the same purpose is not permitted under
Municipal Code Chapter 90.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The cost to conduct a poll at this location is approximately $300, including printing,
mailing and staff time.
Recommendation:
That no further poll be conducted for this cafe application until two years have passed from
the closing date of the previous poll, as required under Municipal Code Chapter 90.
Background:
The Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of April 1, 1998, in considering my report
(March 10, 1998) entitled "Appeal of Denial of Application for a Boulevard Cafe - De Lisle
Avenue Flankage of 1510 Yonge Street", requested the Commissioner of Works and
Emergency Services to submit recommendations on conducting a further poll for this
location at its meeting of May 6 and 7, 1998.
Comments:
I have reviewed the details of the poll at this location. I have also compared the
participation in the poll for 1510 Yonge Street with the average participation rate for all
boulevard cafe polls which have been conducted since my Division assumed responsibility
for polling for cafes in October 1996.
The poll results, as summarized in my March 10, 1998 report to the Toronto Community
Council are:
Polling Summary
| Ballots cast
opposed15
in favour12 |
27 |
| No response |
60 |
| Returned by post office |
31 |
| Total ballots issued |
118 |
The poll results for the 1510 Yonge Street poll, in comparison with all other boulevard cafe
polls which have been completed since October 1, 1996 are shown below:
| PERCENTAGE OF: |
1510 YONGE POLL
(1 poll/118 ballots
issued) |
ALL CAFE
POLLS
(61 polls/11,324
ballots issued) |
| Eligible voters who cast a
ballot |
22% |
11% |
| Voters who did not
respond |
50% |
62% |
| Ballots returned by post
office |
26% |
26% |
| TOTAL: |
98% |
99% |
Note: totals do not add to 100% due to rounding
The data show that the response rate for the 1510 Yonge poll was twice as high as the
average response rate for all cafe polls. The number of ballots returned by the post office as
undeliverable mail was the same as the average for all polls.
The poll was conducted in accordance with the requirements of Municipal Code Chapter 90
in both official languages. There were no unusual circumstances, complaints from eligible
voters, or inquiries which might indicate any problems with the polling process.
Conclusions:
The poll at 1510 Yonge Street had a higher than average response rate, when compared
with other cafe polls. There were no unusual circumstances surrounding the poll. This being
the case, there is nothing to indicate that a second poll is required to correct any problems
with the initial poll.
Therefore I am recommending that a second poll not be conducted until the statutory 2-year
time limit on re-polling has passed, which is August 26, 1999.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Lesley Watson, 392-1525
Director
LJW/gp
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