City Council on February 23, 24 and 25, 2009, adopted the following:

 

1.         City Council receive the report (December 15, 2008) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, on Vehicle Branding and Continuous Registration of Vehicles in Ontario for Licensed Limousines.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         the report (December 15, 2008) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards on Vehicle Branding and Continuous Registration of Vehicles in Ontario for Licensed Limousines, be received.

The Licensing and Standards Committee advises City Council that it has requested:

 

1.         the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to:

 

a.         report back to the Licensing and Standards Committee, at its next meeting on April 16, 2009, on amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545, Licensing necessary to achieve the harmonization of the provisions found in both the taxicab and limousine articles of the Code regarding the Ontario Ministry of Transportation branding program and the continuous registration of vehicles in the Province of Ontario;

 

b.         draft clauses that would:

 

i.          delete the continuous registration requirement but add a maximum mileage requirement for out of Ontario vehicles for both limousines and taxis; and

 

ii.          amend the by-law to specify that "no salvage or rebuilt vehicles" are allowed to be used as limos or taxis in Ontario; and

 

2.         the City Clerk to give public notice of the meeting in a manner prescribed in the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 162, Notice, Public of the proposed amendments to be considered by the Licensing and Standards Committee at its meeting on April 16, 2009.

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

 

An amendment to the City of Toronto Municipal Code requiring Toronto licensed limousines to be continuously registered in Ontario should not be implemented due to the lack of availability of used Canadian vehicles and the added expense of approximately $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 for these vehicles. Further to this, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation branding program, which assigns "brand" types that indicate whether a vehicle has been severely damaged in the past, is already capturing any vehicles imported from other jurisdictions and currently no vehicle branded as irreparable or salvage can be registered for use in Ontario and therefore could not be licensed as a limousine in the City of Toronto.

City Council on February 23, 24 and 25, 2009, adopted the following:

 

1.         City Council delegate to the Executive Director of the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division the authority to establish Examining Panels and select members, as required, in accordance with the relevant qualifications set out in the Toronto Municipal Code, §545-416 and §545-434.

 

2.         City Council amend the Toronto Municipal Code, §545, Licensing, to give effect to the above recommendation and to delete relevant provisions of Article XXXIII relating to the licensing of electrical contractors and master electricians; and amend and delete relevant provisions of Article XXXIV relating to the examining of master plumber examinations, as well as adding certain provisions regarding examinations of drain layers; and

 

3.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to submit any necessary bills to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends that City Council:

 

1.         delegate to the Executive Director of the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division the authority to establish Examining Panels and select members, as required, in accordance with the relevant qualifications set out in the Toronto Municipal Code, §545-416 and §545-434.

 

2.         amend the Toronto Municipal Code, §545, Licensing, to give effect to the above recommendation and to delete relevant provisions of Article XXXIII relating to the licensing of electrical contractors and master electricians; and amend and delete relevant provisions of Article XXXIV relating to the examining of master plumber examinations, as well as adding certain provisions regarding examinations of drain layers; and

 

3.         authorize the City Solicitor to submit any necessary bills to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

This report recommends that the Executive Director of the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division be delegated the authority to establish Examining Panels and select members as required in accordance with the Council-approved criteria to conduct and mark examinations for certain trade licences.

 

The term “Examining Panel” to be used instead of “Examining Board” to clarify that, this is an administrative body, which does not operate as a board.  The Toronto Municipal Code, §545, Licensing, will need to be amended to reflect these changes and to delete certain sections relating to the licensing of electrical contractors and examining and licensing of  master electricians.  In November 2005, the provincial government passed a Bill to give province wide authority to the Electrical Safety Authority to licence these trades.  This came into force on July 1st, 2006.

 

This report also recommends changes with respect to examinations of applicants for a master plumber and drain layer’s licence.

City Council on February 23, 24 and 25, 2009, adopted the following:

 

1.         The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, be requested to:

 

a.         report to the Licensing and Standards Committee, by September 2009, on regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms within the City of Toronto's jurisdiction to reduce alcohol-related violence and improve community safety;

 

b.         consult with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the Toronto Police Service, local Business Improvement Areas (including the Entertainment District BIA), Toronto Public Health, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and other relevant stakeholders; and

 

c.         review options for violence prevention training and policies (e.g., the Safer Bars Program) appropriate to the range of licensed establishments in Toronto (e.g., restaurants, bars, nightclubs).

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends that City Council receive this item for information.

The Licensing and Standards Committee advises City Council that the following motion by Councillor Howard Moscoe lost and was recorded as follows:

 

For:  Councillor Howard Moscoe (1)

Against:  Councillors Mike Feldman, Rob Ford, Denzil Minnan-Wong and David Shiner (4)

Absent:  Councillor Anthony Perruzza (1)

 

"That the matter be referred to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division, for consideration with a request that he report to the June 10, 2009 meeting of the Committee on the feasibility of including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Safer Bars training program as a mandatory element of municipal licensing requirements, prior to issuing/renewing business licenses, and include consultation with interested stakeholders and Toronto Public Health Division."

 

The motion to receive the item moved by Councillor Rob Ford carried and was recorded as follows:

 

For:  Councillors Mike Feldman, Rob Ford, Denzil Minnan-Wong and David Shiner (4)

Against:  Councillor Howard Moscoe (1)

Absent:  Councillor Anthony Perruzza (1)

Requesting the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division to report further on the feasibility of including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Safer Bars training program as a mandatory element of municipal licensing requirements prior to issuing/renewing business licenses.

City Council on February 23, 24 and 25, 2009, adopted the following:

 

1.         The Fireworks By-law be amended by requiring the vendor to purchase and maintain a liability insurance policy or, alternatively, the vendor must be shown as a named insured on the distributor’s liability insurance policy.

 

2.         To assist individuals to purchase family fireworks from Temporary Fireworks Vendors, Temporary Lease Fireworks Vendors and Mobile Fireworks Vendors for Diwali celebrations in the City of Toronto, the sale of family fireworks only on the day of Diwali celebration and the seven-day period before the Diwali celebration be authorized at a cost as set out in the Fireworks By-law.

 

3.         The appropriate City staff be authorized and directed to implement these recommendations.

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends to City Council that:

 

1.         the Fireworks By-law be amended by requiring the vendor to purchase and maintain a liability insurance policy or alternatively, the vendor must be shown as a named insured on the distributor’s liability insurance policy.

 

2.         to assist individuals to purchase family fireworks from Temporary Fireworks Vendors, Temporary Lease Fireworks Vendors and Mobile Fireworks Vendors for Diwali celebrations in the City of Toronto, the sale of family fireworks only on the day of Diwali celebration and the seven-day period before the Diwali celebration be authorized at a cost as set out in the Fireworks By-law; and 

 

3.         the appropriate City staff be authorized and directed to implement these recommendations.

The Licensing and Standards Committee requested the Toronto Fire Chief to report to the Committee on other holiday, cultural/religious events in which consideration should be given to allow for the sale and use of fireworks.