November 29, 1999-12-23

WORKS COMMITTEE:

City Council, at its meeting held on November 23, 24 and 25, 1999, had before it Clause No. 16 contained in Report No. 5 of The Works Committee, headed "Other Items Considered by the Committee".

Council directed that the following Item (a), embodied in the aforementioned Clause be struck out and referred back to the Works Committee for further consideration:

(a) General Cleanliness in the Downtown Core.

The Works Committee reports having:

(1) requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to:

(i) develop a plan as outliend in the following communication from Councillor Chow;

(ii) meet or communicate with the downtown area Councillors to review options for running a "Clean Toronto" pilot project; and

(iii) develop the terms of reference for a uniform commercial litter container program;

and submit a comprehensive report on the foregoing, including budgetary implications, to the Community Councils in January 2000, for comment to the Works Committee, such report to also include the following:

(a) costs of upgrading the standard of commercial waste collection, and necessary public education programs;

(b) resources required to provide flexibility in handling statutory holidays;

(c) a proposal for requiring and enforcing the disposal of waste in garbage bags;

(d) an investigation of alternative forms of garbage collection for tourist areas such as Chinatown, Yorkville, Yonge Street and the India Bazaar; and

(e) the feasibility of garbage collection from laneways;

further requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to:

(i) meet with Councillors to review the sidewalk steam-cleaning schedule to determine whether adjustments are necessary; and

(ii) provide support to Councillors by way of information on what means of enforcement are available to them to respond to complaints; and

(3) requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development services to submit a report to the Planning and Transportation Committee on the extension of boulevard occupancy licences to the East York, York, Etobicke and Scarborough communities:

(i) (October 18, 1999) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Downtown, recommending that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services develop a comprehensive plan that will improve the general cleanliness of the downtown core, including increasing the number of times the streets are swept and the number of garbage receptacle sin the downtown core and involving a public education campaign.

(ii) (November 2, 1999) from Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River, suggesting that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services meet as soon as possible with the downtown are Councillors concerned about this issue, and review options for running a "Clean Toronto" pilot project that addresses the deteriorating level of cleanliness in the City core; and further suggesting that the Commissioner conclude the discussions and complete the development of strategy by early January.

(iii) (November 2, 1999) from Mr. Gordon Dreger, Urban Design Committee Chair, Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area, concurring with Councillor Chow that the level of street cleaning and the number of garbage receptacles presently provided needs to be increased; noting that by-law enforcement also requires improvement; and requesting that the Bloor-Yorkville BIA be included in recommendations for improvement

_________

The following persons appeared before the Works Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

Ms. Helen Hatton, Toronto, Ontario;

Councillor Olivia Chow, Downtown;

Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River;

Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, High Park

Councillor Sandra Bussin, East Toronto; and

Councillor Kyle Rae, Downtown.

for City Clerk

J. A. Abrams/sb

Encl.

c. Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services