Insurance Claim Regarding a
Demolished Community Identification Monument at the
North-east Corner of Islington Avenue and
Hilldowntree Road (Kingsway-Humber)
The Etobicoke Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (January
20, 2000) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 2, subject to striking out
Recommendation No. (3) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(3) in consultation with the local Councillors and the Director of Transportation Services,
District 2, the $6,089.00 be spent on road-related improvements, including:
(a) repair and clean up damage that still exists at 44 Hilldowntree Road;
(b) landscaping in the area of 44 Hilldowntree Road; and
(c) other community markers in the area; and":
Purpose:
To advise Etobicoke Community Council of an insurance claim concerning the
"Humber Valley Village" community monument at the north-east corner of Islington Avenue
and Hilldowntree Road.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Adopting the recommendations described in this report will provide the City of Toronto with
$6,089.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the "Humber Valley Village" community identification monument located at the north-east
corner of Islington Avenue and Hilldowntree Road, not be reconstructed;
(2) the $6,089.00 offered by the City of Toronto's insurance company to settle this claim be
accepted;
(3) in consultation with Members of the Etobicoke Community Council, the $6,089.00 be
spent on road-related improvements authorized by the Director of Transportation Services,
District 2; and
(4) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect
thereto.
Background:
On March 14, 1999, the driver of a northbound passenger car lost control of the vehicle while
being pursued by the police, and collided with the "Humber Valley Village" community
identification monument located at the north-east corner of Islington Avenue and
Hilldowntree Road. The monument was completely destroyed.
Comments:
This monument, one of a pair that for many years has identified the entrance to
"Humber Valley Village," was located on the municipal road allowance at the north-east
corner of Islington Avenue and Hilldowntree Road. These monuments appear to have
existed since the date of the subdivision's original construction many years ago.
Since the monument was constructed on municipal property, and for all intents and purposes
was City property, a damage claim was filed with the City's insurance company (McLaren
Toplis Canada Insurance Adjusters) in July 1999.
According to McLaren Toplis, the cost of rebuilding the monument is $7,818.96, however,
due to age and weathering, their contractors cannot guarantee that it will match the
companion monument on the opposite side of the road.
If the monument is not rebuilt, McLaren Toplis Canada Insurance Adjusters will settle the
claim by providing the City with a cheque for $6,089.00. This amount represents their
estimated cost to rebuild the monument, less industry estimates for contractor overhead and
expenses. This amount can then be directed toward road-related improvement projects such
as the Humber Valley Village Residents Association's proposal for new community
identification markers in the "Humber Valley Village" area. These improvements would be
authorized by the Director, in consultation with Members of Etobicoke Community Council.
Conclusions:
It is extremely unlikely that the community monument can be rebuilt to match its companion
monument located at the south-east corner of the intersection. A more appropriate
alternative is for the Director, in consultation with Members of Etobicoke Community Council,
to use the money from the insurance settlement to fund road-related improvement projects in
District 2.
Contact:
Allan Smithies, Manager
Traffic Planning/Right-of-Way Management, District 2
Tel.: (416) 394-8412; Fax: (416) 394-8942
E-mail: asmithies@toronto.ca
______
The Etobicoke Community Council reports, for the information of Council, also having had before it a
communication (December 8, 1999) from Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby, directed to the Manager,
Planning/Right-of-Way Management, with respect to a concern expressed by the Humber Valley
Village Residents' Association for retaining markers at significant entrances to Humber Valley, and
also the possibility of plantings in the area.
Mr. Jerry Hartman, President, Humber Valley Village Residents' Association, appeared before the
Etobicoke Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.
(A copy of Attachment No. 1, referred to in the foregoing report, was forwarded to all
Members of Council with the agenda for the Etobicoke Community Council meeting of
January 20, 2000, and a copy is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)
