125. UNAUTHORIZED SCHOOL BUS PARKING
Moved by Councillor Mihevc,
THE WORKS AND PARKS COMMITTEE recommends that the Metropolitan Separate School Board and the York Board of Education be requested to include in their tenders that all school buses are restricted from parking on residential streets,
FURTHER, that the new City of Toronto Council be encouraged to adopt a uniform traffic by-law and procedures to cover all heavy vehicles, including all school buses, restricting them from parking on residential streets, and permitting active police enforcement of the by-law, without the need for street signage,
which was carried. Councillor Davis was absent when the vote was taken.
Moved by Councillor Rowland,
That the deputations be received,
which was carried.
(September 15, 1997) From the Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee
"The following motion is presented for discussion, consideration and decision:
That an amendment to the uniform traffic by-laws be made to include banning and restricting ALL* school buses (see below) from parking on residential streets in the City of York.
*Notes: "All school buses" is defined as follows:
1. All vehicles that display school bus or school vehicle signs.
2. Regardless of weight, size, or school board affiliation.
3. Which have a special Ontario certified school bus commercial license for carrying student passengers.
4. That the carrying capacity is 6 or more students passengers.
(September 9, 1997) From F. Lindsay to the Works and Parks Committee
"Due to the highly extraordinary circumstance, in the dissolution of the City of York that is soon taking place, and, the time frame available, I am taking the liberty of requesting a special meeting of the Works and Parks Committee take place on Monday September 15, 1997.
To consider (a) any other unfinished business, (b) to consider the two recommendations made by Councillor Barry Rowland at the Works and Parks Committee meeting on September 8th, 1997, and (c) to further discuss, with experts on hand, and, perhaps, reach a decision on the following motion. "That an amendment to the uniform traffic by-laws be made to include banning and restricting all school buses (see three notes below) from parking on residential streets in the City of York.
**1. Regardless of weight, size, or, school board affiliation.
**2. That they have commercial licenses for carrying passengers.
**3. That the carrying capacity is 6 passengers or more.
Regarding Councillor Rowland’s recommendation. It is suggested that Metro Police Parking Enforcement West be notified immediately and, a representative (either Mr. Steve Hinder or Ms. Barbara Bonkowski) be requested to attend the Works and Parks Committee meeting.
On the second recommendation, requesting members of the various school boards to attend the Works and Parks Committee meeting, I have reservations after hearing what Mayor Frances Nunziata said at the September 8th, 1997 meeting... that residents who drive some school buses are bringing them home as private conveyances, are parking them for extended periods on residential streets, who, in fact, do not use these buses for business in the City of York, rather, in adjoining municipalities. The local school boards would have no jurisdiction over these buses.
Finally, it is recommended that a representative from the City of York legal department be invited to attend the Works and Parks Committee meeting to render any legal opinion or guidance. We cannot lose this opportunity to resolve a most vexatious problem.
Thank you."
Ref: Clause No. 123.2 embodied in Report No. 14 of the City of York Works and Parks Committee meeting held on September 8, 1997.
Clause No. 63 embodied in Report No. 11 of the City of York Works and Parks Committee meeting held on June 2, 1997.
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The following persons appeared before Committee when the above
matter was discussed:
F. Lindsay, Representative, Eglinton Keele Residents Committee
F. Migory, President, Silverthorn Ratepayers Association
Laurie Roberts, 343 Kane Avenue
Janice Barker, Transportation Officer, York Board of Education
John Hlady, Transportation Supervisor, Metropolitan Separate School Board
Barb Bonkowsky, Shift Supervisor, Metropolitan Toronto Police,
Enforcement Division, West
123.2 Unauthorized School Bus Parking - Request to Amend Parking Enforcement By-law to Include ALL School Buses and ALL Heavy Trucks
Moved by Councillor Rowland,
THAT discussion of the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Works and Parks Committee,
FURTHER, that appropriate personnel be invited to attend the next meeting of the Works and Parks Committee to discuss the whole issue of unauthorized school bus parking on residential streets, from:
- The Metropolitan Toronto Police - Parking Enforcement Division
- The City of York Board of Education
- The Metropolitan Separate School Board
- The City of York Traffic Department
- The Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee
- The Silverthorn Ratepayers Association
- The City of York Legal Department
AND FURTHER, that the deputations be received,
Moved in amendment by Mayor Nunziata,
THAT staff proceed with forwarding a letter to the necessary bus lines advising that school buses are not allowed to park on residential streets in the City of York.
Upon which the Yeas and Nays were recorded as follows:
Yeas Mayor Nunziata, Councillor Mihevc (2)
Nays Councillors Mendelson, Rowland and Leach (3)
Decided in the Negative. Councillor Davis was absent when the vote was taken.
Upon the question that the motion by Councillor Rowland be adopted, it was carried. Councillor Davis was absent when the vote was taken.
Moved by Councillor Mihevc,
THAT the deputations be received,
which was carried unanimously.
(August 26, 1997) Communication From Fred Lindsay, Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee
"Enclosed please find two previous letters sent to your office dated May 27 and June 20, 1997.
The outcome of the first letter was the motion and recommendation presented by Councillor Joe Mihevc which requested (a) that the Metropolitan Toronto Police enforce street parking restrictions of heavy trucks including school buses on all residential streets in the City of York.
This motion was passed unanimously by the Works and Parks Committee on June 2, 1997 and subsequently approved by City Council on June 9, 1997. It is my understanding that a letter was sent over three weeks ago on August 13th by the City of York Traffic Department informing Parking Enforcement West of these approved recommendations. Despite notification, there has been no apparent effort by Parking Enforcement West to comply with the requests from the Works and Parks Committee. From this lack of response, we can only conclude that there is obviously some problem, either in the wording of the request or in the signage on local streets that is holding enforcement up.
Our committee wants to emphasize the need to make enforcement easier by inserting the word "all", which should have been inserted before the term "school buses" in the request. More importantly, the phrase "regardless of weight or school board affiliation" should also have been inserted after the term "school buses". Lastly, the phrase, "may require an amendment to the uniform traffic by-laws" should also be included. This wording was our original intent but was not accurately conveyed in the written recommendation. With these changes in phraseology, parking control officers would not need to discriminate between heavy school buses or light school buses and thus simplify their work. Therefore, we are requesting that recommendation (c) be implemented as outlined (see attached documentation).
Because modifying local parking policies has been lengthy and drawn-out, we are eager for closure of this vexatious problem and would appreciate early action on these matters. As previously mentioned, we are agreeable to attending any meeting if it would prove to be productive.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration."
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The following persons appeared before Committee when the above matter was discussed:
Fred Lindsay, Representative, The Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee
Requested Members of the Committee to consider the following resolution:
"That the uniform traffic by-laws be amended to include banning all school buses regardless of weight, length or school board affiliation, being of passenger carrying commercially licenced vehicles, from parking on residential streets in the City of York."
Floyd Migory, President, Silverthorn Ratepayers Association
63. UNAUTHORIZED SCHOOL BUS PARKING
Moved by Councillor Mihevc,
THE WORKS AND PARKS COMMITTEE recommends that the Commissioner of Operations Services be instructed to:
(a) Request Metropolitan Toronto Police to enforce strict parking restrictions of heavy trucks, including school buses, on all residential streets in the City of York;
(b) If necessary, instruct staff to meet with Metropolitan Toronto Police to deal with the enforcement issue;
(c) If further necessary, request Metropolitan Toronto Police officials to attend a Works and Parks Committee meeting to deal with the enforcement issue;
(d) Inform appropriate Public and Separate School Board officials in writing of what the school bus parking responsibilities are, and that parking enforcement will be forthcoming;
AND FURTHER, that the deputations be received,
which was carried unanimously.
(May 26, 1997) From Councillor Rowland
"Please be advised that Mr. Fred Lindsay will be contacting the Clerk's Office to make arrangements for a delegation of residents to appear before the Works and Parks Committee to request that the area from Rogers Road to Eglinton Avenue West from Blackthorn Avenue to Bicknell Avenue be turned into a restricted area where school buses cannot park."
(May 27, 1997) From Fred Lindsay, Representative of The Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee to Secretary, Works and Parks Committee
"We are writing to convey our concerns about an issue that has been disrupting our neighbourhood and we are asking that action be taken to rectifying this situation. For almost fifteen months, our neighbourhood has been plagued by school buses parked anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The neighbourhood involves the area bordered by Eglinton Avenue West to the north, Bicknell Avenue to the west, Rogers Road to the south and Blackthorn Avenue to the east. Our committee has been in contact many times with parking enforcement and with Stephen Brown, Traffic Supervisor for the City of York. Nonetheless, no action has been taken to rectify this situation. In fact, Parking Enforcement West have flatly stated that they do not ticket parked school buses.
On June 3, 1996, a meeting was held with Sergeant Skinner of Parking Enforcement West and twelve members of our residents committee. The topic foremost in the minds of our committee was school bus parking. Sergeant Skinner stated he would try to rectify this problem. The problems diminished for a period of two weeks but school bus parking resumed again as controls were loosened. I have also spoken with Mr. Dunford about our community's problem at a meeting with the Ratepayers Federation and to City Council. We have even met with the Chairman of Metro Toronto over the same problem with limited success. Thus, our central question remains unanswered. Why are BUSES OF ANY TYPE allowed to be conveniently parked at their owner's leisure in residential neighbourhoods without ticketing while homeowners and their guests are not permitted the same privilege? As a result of the parking division's 'policy', it appears that the rights of one group of individuals within our community has been imposed and upheld over the rights of all others.
Our small delegation would like to meet with your committee in order to develop an action plan that will result in the formulation of a school parking by-law. I will attend the meeting along with the following representatives:
•Floyd Migory, President of Silverthorn Ratepayers Association
•Ronald Crook, a former long-time employee and current resident of the City of York
•Laurie Roberts, small business owner and life-time resident of the City of York
It is known that there is a heavy vehicle parking restriction in this area, which may prohibit some of the school buses. This restriction, however, is vague and unenforceable. From the enclosed literature, you will see that Mr. Roberts has attempted to address the school bus parking issue yet Parking Enforcement has generally not given consideration to the rights of the residents in this community. Only one police sergeant has even attempted to help us and we have seen only temporary results. We are grateful for this limited assistance but this, in our experience, will only be a band-aid solution to a significant problem.
The resident of this community are looking to you for understanding and support of this parking issue as it is one that could just as easily occur on any street in the City of York, even your own. We are asking if you could assist us in resolving this issue.
If you would like to discuss these matters further, I can be contacted at (416) 653-0741. We look forward to your response and thank you for your time and consideration."
(All relevant information is on file in the Clerk's Office.)
Fred Lindsay, Representative of The Eglinton-Keele Residents Committee and Delegates - Ronald Crook and Laurie Roberts - including Floyd Migory, President of the Silverthorn Ratepayers Association, appeared before Committee to express their concerns regarding unauthorized school buses parking on residential streets particularly in the area bordered by Eglinton Avenue West to the north, Bicknell Avenue to the west, Rogers Road to the south and Blackthorn Avenue to the east.
