March 15, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Angie Antoniou, Manager, Right of Way Management, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject:Decorative Sidewalk Plaque/Star and Monument Installation - Canada's Walk of Fame - John Street, Simcoe Street and Front Street West (Downtown)

Purpose:

To report on the request from Mr. Peter A. Soumalias, Chair, Board of Directors of Canada's Walk of Fame, to extend the existing boundaries and install individual plaques/stars in the sidewalks of (a) John Street, from Richmond Street West to King Street West; (b) Simcoe Street, from King Street West to Front Street West; and (c) Front Street West, from Simcoe Street to John Street, to continue honouring Canadian achievers in the entertainment industry.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The supply and installation of the plaques/stars and monuments are to be funded by the proponents. As no special maintenance is required following installation, there will be no financial impact on the City.

Recommendation:

That City Council approve the extension of the existing boundaries of Canada's Walk of Fame and the installation of decorative plaques/stars and two monuments on John Street, from Richmond Street West to King Street West; on Simcoe Street, from King Street West to Front Street West; and Front Street West, from Simcoe Street to John Street, subject to the Board of Directors of Canada's Walk of Fame:

(a)supplying the plaques/stars and monuments to the City and paying $700.00 for each plaque/star and monument for their installation by City forces;

(b)submitting to the City an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the cost of on-going maintenance work that may be required for the City sidewalk affected by the installation of the plaques/stars and monuments; and

(c)executing an agreement with such conditions as the Commissioners of Works and Emergency Services and Corporate Services may deem necessary in the interest of the City of Toronto.

Background:

The former City of Toronto Council, at its meeting of July 6 and 7, 1992, approved the creation of a "Walk of Fame" in the sidewalk on the north side of King Street West, from Simcoe Street to John Street, to honour Canadian celebrities. In subsequent meetings on July 19, 1993, May 12 and 14, 1994, January 22, 1996 and May 27, 1998, City Council approved, amongst other things, the installation of additional decorative commemorative plaques/stars, as well as the renaming of the "Walk of Fame" to "Canada's Walk of Fame".

Comments:

The Board of Directors for Canada's Walk of Fame are once again in the process of nominating additional inductees for 1999 and requested an extension of the previously approved Canada's Walk of Fame boundaries, for the installation of additional commemorative plaques/stars and two monuments.

Originally, the installation of the plaques/stars was confined to the north side of King Street West, between John Street and Simcoe Street. The proposed new boundaries for Canada's Walk of Fame will be extended to include:

(a)John Street, from Richmond Street West to King Street West;

(b)Simcoe Street, from King Street West to Front Street West; and

(c)Front Street West, from Simcoe Street to John Street.

The proposed monuments will consist of an upright column or post type of installation with an inscribed plaque on the top surface. The monuments will serve to identify and highlight the start and finish of Canada's Walk of Fame and are to be installed on John Street at Richmond Street West and on Front Street West at Simcoe Street.

As in the past, Canada's Walk of Fame will continue to supply the commemorative plaques/stars based on the City's specifications to ensure that they are fabricated in a manner suitable for sidewalk use. The on-going maintenance of the sidewalk will be consistent with the standard sidewalk treatment and, therefore, the plaques/stars will not generate additional maintenance costs. As for the monuments, the applicant has submitted a conceptual design for review and has asked that he be provided with the City's specifications as to the size and dimensions for fabrication. This is currently under review.

The cost for City staff to install the plaques/stars and monuments, which requires the removal and reinstallation of a complete sidewalk bay, is estimated at $700.00 per star/monument, the cost of which is to be incurred by the applicant.

For your Committee's information, an evaluation of the existing walk of fame was done to review the condition of the sidewalk. It was determined that the spacing of regular sidewalk bays between the plaques/stars as currently provided along the existing walk of fame should also be maintained for the extended portions. The spacing between the plaques/stars serves to minimize shifting or heaving of the sidewalk bays and helps to maintain the integrity of the sidewalk and the associated maintenance costs.

Conclusion:

Canada's Walk of Fame was approved in principal in 1992 by the former City of Toronto and since then numerous plaques/stars have been installed along the north side of King Street West, between John Street and Simcoe Street.

As the installation of additional commemorative installations onto other streets does not interfere with the routine maintenance and cleaning of the sidewalks and as they contribute to Canadian achievement in entertainment, sports and the arts, this application should be approved.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Fani Lauzon, 392-7894

Manager

AML

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