Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)National Communities in Bloom Award.

The Economic Development Committee reports having:

(1)presented the National Communities in Bloom Award to Ms. Fiona Campbell, Co-Chair of the Parks and Forestry Advisory Board (West District) who accepted the Award on behalf of those involved with this project;

(2)thanked and congratulated the members of the Advisory Board, staff and volunteers associated with this initiative for their hard work and community involvement;

(3)requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to:

(a)take the necessary action to submit an entry from the City of Toronto for the international award "Nation in Bloom"; and

(b)report to the Economic Development Committee on how similar projects can be undertaken on the City's streets and highways; and

(4)received the following submission:

(October, 1998) headed "Planning Document for Environmental Action", prepared by the City of Toronto West District - Parks and Forestry Advisory Committee, which provides a framework to promote the protection, restoration and conservation of parkland, open spaces and natural environments by way of goals, objectives and action plans that reflect and encourage the commitment, initiative and innovation of the community, together with the Advisory Committee's terms of reference.

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The following individuals appeared before the Economic Development Committee with respect to the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Claire Tucker-Reid, General Manager, Parks and Recreation;

-Mr. Paul Ronan, Co-Chair of the Parks and Forestry Advisory Board (West District);

-Mr. Murray Cameron, Supervisor of Horticulture, West District, and also gave a slide presentation; and

-Ms. Fiona Campbell, Co-Chair of the Parks and Forestry Advisory Board (West District).

(b)The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA)

Presentation to the Economic Development Committee.

The Economic Development Committee reports having requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report to the Economic Development Committee, in the context of the Economic Development Strategy, on similar initiatives being undertaken in other North American jurisdictions, such report to provide a comparative analysis, information on the funding allocated by each municipality or region, linkages with other levels of government, and success rates.

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Mr. Kenneth Copeland, President and CEO, The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA) gave a presentation to the Economic Development Committee on the programs and activities of the GTMA, and also filed various documentation with respect thereto.

(c)Film Permit Issuance - Review of Practices, Procedures, Policies and By-Laws.

The Economic Development Committee reports having:

(1)deferred consideration of the following report to its next meeting scheduled to be held on November 16, 1998, in order to allow Members of Council the opportunity to conduct community consultation, if they so wish; and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report at that time on the impact of introducing a fee for the issuance of film permits, as well as information on any policy which the City of Vancouver may have in this regard:

(i)(September 8, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, advising that in order to provide consistency and exemplary service in film permit issuance, there was a need to review the current practices and regulatory framework utilized in the various municipalities; and recommending that:

(1)the Economic Development Committee endorse the attached Guidelines for Filming in the City of Toronto and the City of Toronto Code of Conduct for Cast and Crew (Appendices 1 and 2);

(2)film location permitting for Toronto be coordinated by the Toronto Film and Television Office in Economic Development with decision making remaining decentralized;

(3)the Economic Development Committee endorse the attached by-law (Appendix 3) and recommend that the City Solicitor be authorized to introduce the necessary Bill in Council to give effect thereto; and

(4)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report back as necessary on future developments in the film and television sector including any operational requirements.

(ii)(undated) from Ms. Yolanda Adamovsky opposing the policy of issuing permits for the film industry to use school property and immediate vicinity roads that the children use for various reasons.

(iii)(October 16, 1998) from S.R. Battista expressing opposition for various reasons.

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The following persons gave a presentation to the Economic Development Committee with respect to the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Rhonda Silverstone, Toronto Film and Television Office; and

-Mr. Manny Danelon, Chair, Film Liaison Industry Committee.

(d)Urban Aboriginal Economic Development.

The Economic Development Committee reports having adopted the following report:

(October 2, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, responding to the Committee's earlier referral of a series of recommendations from the Task Force on Community Access and Equity and the Aboriginal Planning Group, to the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, and recommending that staff from the Economic Development Office be directed to invite the appropriate staff from other Departments, Agencies and Non-Profit Organizations to meet with the Aboriginal Planning Group to ensure linkages are made to the resources currently available to support aboriginal business development, and to develop and set in motion an action plan for furthering the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Community Access and Equity.

(e)Toronto Small Business Forum '98.

The Economic Development Committee reports having received the following report and brochure:

(i)(October 6, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, advising that the City of Toronto Economic Development Division is hosting Small Business Toronto '98 on October 27 and 28, 1998 at the North York Civic Centre and Memorial Hall; providing background information with respect to this event; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(ii)(undated) headed "Toronto Small Business Forum '98 - October 27 and 28", which provides conference details, a schedule of events and a registration form.

(f)School Facilities Reviews - City-Wide.

The Economic Development Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to City Council, for consideration with Clause No. 2 of Report No. 12 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, that Recommendations (A)(3) and (A)(4)(a) of the Urban Environment and Development Committee as contained in the report (October 8, 1998) from the City Clerk, be adopted subject to:

(a)Recommendation (A)(3) being amended to include the Toronto French School Boards in the emergency joint meeting, so as to read:

"(A)(3)direct that an emergency joint meeting be convened between City Council, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the French School Boards with respect to this matter;"

(b)adding to the end of Recommendation (A)(4)(a) the words:

"or those that could be converted to much needed community uses."; and

(2)requested the appropriate City officials to report to the School Tax Sub-Committee:

(a)with a view of the portfolio of the school sites declared surplus to determine the impact of purchasing such sites for community use; and

(b)on the potential costs of enhanced transportation services as the result of these school closures:

(i)(October 8, 1998) from the City Clerk, advising that the Urban Environment and Development Committee on October 5, 1998, during its consideration of a report dated September 17, 1998 from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, entitled "School Facility Reviews, City-Wide", took the following action:

(1)directed that a copy of the aforementioned report be forwarded to the Economic Development Committee for information; and

(2)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to direct the Manager of Policy and Programs, City Planning Division, to make a presentation thereon to the Economic Development Committee.

(ii)(October 16, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, providing a preliminary report on the potential impact on parks and recreation services brought about by possible school closures in the City of Toronto; and recommending that this report be received for information.

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Ms. Ann-Marie Nasr, Manager of Policy and Programs, Urban Planning and Development Services, gave an overhead presentation to the Economic Development Committee with respect to the foregoing matter.

Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River, appeared before the Economic Development Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(g)Bill Board Advertising - Revenue Potential for The City of Toronto.

The Economic Development Committee reports having requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report to the Committee on the feasibility, planning criteria and revenue potential for the City if it undertook lease agreements for Billboard Advertising on appropriate City owned or maintained properties:

(October 15, 1998) from Councillor Mario Silva, Trinity Niagara, requesting a report on the feasibility of the City undertaking lease agreements for bill board advertising on appropriate city-owned property, and that such report provide details with respect to potential planning criteria and revenue generation.

(h)Update on the Economic Development Strategy Process.

The Economic Development Committee reports having received the following report:

(October 16, 1998) from Councillor Brian Ashton, Chair, Economic Development Committee, advising that the launch of the Economic Development Strategy Process will take place on November 6, 1998, from 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. in the Metro Hall Council Chambers; and providing details of the launch and various other initiatives underway with respect to the strategy process.

Respectfully submitted,

Councillor Brian Ashton,

Chair

Toronto, October 19, 1998

Christine Archibald

Tel. (416) 392-7039