Confirmation of Minutes

 

On motion by Councillor Mike Feldman, the Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing and Standards Committee held on February 6, 2009 were confirmed.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         The City of Toronto, Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, be amended by removing from § 545-6D( 2) the words “the panel of the Toronto Licensing Tribunal which issued the conditions may:” and replacing them with the words “the Toronto Licensing Tribunal may:”.

 

2.         The City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary bill to give effect to the recommendations in this report, effective immediately; and

 

3.         All other appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary actions to give effect thereto.

To report on and recommend amendments to the City of Toronto, Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, regarding provisions relating to conditions placed on licences by the adjudicating panels of the Toronto Licensing Tribunal.

 

Currently the Municipal Code requires that the same panel which ordered conditions to be placed on a licence adjudicate the issue of the subsequent breach of those conditions. This provision causes tribunal panel scheduling problems along with the fact that the former members of the tribunal panel may no longer be available to adjudicate on the matter brought before the tribunal.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, be amended to require that vehicles to be used as Toronto licensed limousines not be branded under the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s branding program as a “rebuilt” vehicle.

 

2.         The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, be amended to remove the requirement that vehicles to be used as Toronto licensed taxicabs have been registered in Ontario since the time of the original purchase of the vehicle and shall have maintained continuous registration in Ontario from the time of the original purchase.

 

3.         The City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary bill to give effect to the recommendations in this report, effective immediately; and

 

4.         All other appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary actions to give effect thereto.

 

See the draft Municipal Code amendments attached to this report as “Appendix A”.

To report on a proposal to amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, relating to harmonizing the provisions in the Municipal Code, regarding continuous registration in Ontario, and provincial vehicle branding for vehicles to be used as licensed limousines and taxicabs in the City of Toronto.

 

Specifically, to not allow vehicles that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation branding program has indicated as "rebuilt" to be registered for use as licensed limousines and taxicabs in the City of Toronto.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         Municipal Code Chapter 315, Street Vending of the former City of Toronto be amended substantially as set out in Attachment 1 to this report to permit and regulate the erection of wind screens by street vendors.

 

2.         Appendix 'A', section 1 of subsection 315-1A of Municipal Code Chapter 315, Street Vending of the former City of Toronto in the report be amended by deleting the word "rigid" before the words "break resistant" so that the definition of 'WIND SCREEN' reads as follows:

 

WIND SCREEN - An approved assembly of parts, which shall be secured to the portable display unit in a manner which allows for temporary entry and exit and consisting of break resistant transparent panels with a maximum height of 1.8 metres, to be contained within the approved designated area; and

 

3.         the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary bill to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

At this time, many street vendors in the City of Toronto, in an attempt to provide themselves with protection from inclement weather, have erected screens on or around their permitted areas.  These screens are varied in appearance and construction, and at this time are not permitted by Chapter 315 of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code.

 

The purpose of this report is to provide an interim measure in response to an immediate need, pending the potential harmonization of vending regulations city wide, including the new Toronto ‘A la carte’ program under Chapter 738 and future rationalization with the new street furniture program.

 

It is recommended that Chapter 315 of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code be amended to permit and regulate the erection of wind screens to provide protection to venders from inclement weather.

 

Toronto Public Health, the Public Realm Section of Transportation Services and Legal Services were consulted in the preparation of this report.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, be amended to define pedicabs to include pedal powered pedicabs.

 

2.         Section 1 of Appendix 'A', Chapter 545, Licensing, Regarding Pedicabs in the report be amended by adding the word "electric" before the words "helper motor" so that the definition of  'PEDICAB'  reads as follows:

 

PEDICAB - A vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by human muscular power which may be propelled by human power or electric helper motor, or by both, and includes a pedal powered rickshaw.

 

3.         The City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary bill to give effect to the recommendations in this report, effective immediately; and

 

4.         All other appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary actions to give effect thereto.

To report on a proposal to amend the definition of pedicabs in the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing, to include pedal powered and power assisted pedicabs. This amendment and the regulations for these types of pedicabs and their drivers are necessary for the purposes of consumer protection and public safety.

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

 

1.         referred the letter (February 19, 2009) from Councillor Frances Nunziata, Ward 11, York South-Weston to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division, with a request that he report back to the Committee on the feasibility of a City by-law that would require taxis to have child restraint seats readily available in each vehicle; and

 

2.         requested that deputations be heard when the staff report is presented and interested persons be so advised.

Requesting the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division to report on developing a City by-law requiring taxis to have child restraint seats readily available in each vehicle.

Requesting that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division consider permitting cars to retain their present regulation cameras and stop rejecting these vehicles on the basis of their Wheel-Trans status.