Request to Increase the Voluntary and Set Fine Provisions

for Parking Meter Violations - City of Toronto By-Laws

The Policy and Finance Committee submits, without recommendation, the following report (April 30, 1999) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority:

The Policy and Finance Committee reports, for the information of Council, having:

(1)requested the Mayor to meet with representatives of the Toronto Parking Authority respecting this issue, and submit a report thereon directly to Council for its meeting scheduled to be held on July 27, 1999; and

(2)referred the following motions to Council for consideration:

Moved by Mayor Lastman:

"That the Policy and Finance Committee recommend to Council that Recommendation Nos. (1), (2) and (3) embodied in the report (April 30, 1999) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority be deleted; and insert in lieu thereof the following:

"That Council request the Toronto Police Services Board to instruct the Parking Enforcement Unit to issue tickets at expired meters so that cars parked at expired meters for the whole day will receive two tickets - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - for a total fine of $20.00 in order to deter the public from using meters all day to park."

Moved by Councillor Nunziata:

"That the Policy and Finance Committee recommend to Council the adoption of the Recommendations embodied in the report (April 30, 1999) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority; and further that the areas where the parking rate is less than $1.25, the fine remain at $10.00."

Moved by Councillor Pantalone:

"That the Policy and Finance Committee recommend to Council that the level of parking enforcement on Sundays in residential areas be limited to situations where illegal parking obstructions block fire hydrants or otherwise creates an unsafe situation, and that the appropriate officials be directed to give effect thereto."

The Policy and Finance Committee submits the following communication (April 30, 1999) from the President, Toronto Parking Authority:

The Parking Authority at its meeting of April 6, 1999, approved a report entitled "Proposed Increase to Voluntary and Set Fine Provisions for Parking Meter Violations - City of Toronto By-Laws". I am attaching a copy of the report and the official minute.

The report recommends the following:

(1)the Board adopt the position that the Voluntary Fine/Set Fine provisions for parking meter related violations in the City of Toronto be increased from the current level of $10.00 and $15.00 respectively, to $20.00 and $30.00 respectively;

(2)City of Toronto Council request the City Solicitor to examine the feasibility of increasing the Voluntary Fine and Set Fine provisions for parking meter related violations from the current level of $10.00 and $15.00 respectively, to $20.00 and $30.00 respectively; and

(3)subject to the Board's approval of the foregoing recommendations, the Board forward this decision to the City of Toronto Clerk for distribution to Council and the appropriate City officials.

I request that this report and the recommendations contained herein be tabled at the next available Council meeting for its consideration and necessary action.

The Policy and Finance Committee also submits the following communication (July 19, 1999) from Mayor Lastman:

I was very concerned at the June meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee about the proposal to double the parking fines at expired meters. This is just another way of gouging drivers and it will also hurt businesses which don't have parking lots nearby. I would therefore like to move the following amendments:

(1)delete recommendations 1, 2 and 3; and

(2)that Toronto City Council request the Toronto Police Services Board to instruct the Parking Enforcement Unit to increase the frequency of ticket issuance at expired meters so that cars parked at expired meters for the whole day will receive two tickets - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - for a total fine of $20.00.

This solution will have the effect of not gouging people who were simply a few minutes late but will also punish people who are abusing the system by monopolizing a prime parking spot all day - therefore, this motion addresses both concerns.

I have run this idea by staff in all of the appropriate departments; transportation, finance, Toronto Parking Authority and the parking enforcement unit of the Toronto Police Services and they have no problem with its implementation.

I hope that this solution will be acceptable to all members of Council.

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The Policy and Finance Committee reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during the consideration of the foregoing matter a communications:

(i)(July 19, 1999) from Councillor Nunziata, York-Humber, forwarding a communication (undated) from Mr. Barry Lowe, Weston Business Improvement Area, advising that the Weston B.I.A. Board of Management reviewed the proposal from the Toronto Parking Authority on July 15, 1999; that the Board is in full support of the three basic rate zones as proposed by the Authority as well as the proposed rates in those zones as but that it has some grave concerns with the proposal to increase set fines, in particular in those areas outside of the inner city zone (zone 1); and requesting that the plight of the small business along main streets be taken into consideration when making a decision on this matter.

(ii)(June 28, 1999) from the City Clerk advising that the Policy and Finance Committee on June 24, 1999 deferred consideration of this matter until its meeting scheduled to be held on July 20, 1999, and requested the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, and any other appropriate officials, to submit a report to the aforementioned meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee:

(i)on the level of enforcement in residential areas especially on Sundays and what revenues are generated;

(ii)on a process whereby the City can repeal the by-law that prohibits parking in a space where there is a broken meter;

(iii)on the change-over days for alternate side street parking;

(iv)on whether the enforcement issue addresses where there may be some grace period allowed so that there is no over-zealous enforcement; and

(v)on the different enforcement by-laws and procedures of each of the former Area Municipalities.

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 The following persons appeared before the Policy and Finance Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. A. Milliken Heisey, Q.C., Chair, Toronto Parking Authority;

-Mr. Maurice J. Anderson, President, Toronto Parking Authority; and

-Councillor Mario Giansante, Kingsway Humber.