City of Toronto Logo Decision Document



Parks and Environment Committee


Meeting No. 24   Contact Dela Ting, Acting Administrator
Meeting Date Tuesday, June 16, 2009
  Phone 416-397-7769
Start Time 9:30 AM
  E-mail pec@toronto.ca
Location Committee Room 1, City Hall
  Chair   Councillor Paula Fletcher  


The Decision Document is for preliminary reference purposes only.  Please refer to the Committee’s Report to City Council or to the Minutes for the official record.

 

How to Read the Decision Document:

  • Recommendations of the Committee to City Council appear after the item heading.
  • Other action taken by the Committee on its own authority, which does not require Council’s approval, is listed in the decision document under the heading “Decision Advice and Other Information”.
  • Declarations of Interest, if any, appear at the end of an item.

 

Minutes Confirmed  - April 20, 2009


PE24.1 

ACTION

Adopted 

 

Ward: 13 

Donation from Sir Sandford Fleming College to Parks, Forestry and Recreation - The Children's Teaching Kitchen
Committee Recommendations

The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:

 

1.         City Council accept the in-kind contribution of construction supervision and general labour, valued at $235,000.00, provided by Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology (“Fleming College”) to construct The Children’s Teaching Kitchen in High Park (the “Project”).

 

2.         City Council authorize the selection of Fleming College on a sole source basis as a pre-selected subcontractor on the Project.

 

3.         City Council waive the City’s Fair Wage Policy as it applies to Fleming College as a subcontractor under a City contract; and

 

4.         City Council authorize the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to enter into appropriate contracts with Fleming College in relation to the contribution, on terms and conditions and satisfactory in form and content to the General Manager and the City Solicitor.

Decision Advice and Other Information

Carol Cormier, Manager, Standards and Innovation, Yafit Rokach and Robin Salt, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division gave a presentation to the Committee.

Origin
(May 21, 2009) Report from General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary

This report seeks Council approval to accept an in-kind donation from Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology (Fleming College) toward building the High Park Children’s Teaching Kitchen, in accordance with the Policy on Donations to the City for Community Benefits.  Since the estimated value of this offer exceeds the $50,000.00 threshold for donation acceptance established in the policy, the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division requires City Council consent before proceeding with the initiative. 

 

Fleming College is committed to contributing construction supervision and general labour, estimated at $235,000.00 in-kind donation towards the building of the kitchen.  The Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division will oversee the project through to completion.  In addition to the in-kind donation, funding for this project was approved in the 2009 Capital Budget.  The collaboration will enable significant enhancements to the project, becoming a showcase for green building innovation.

Background Information
Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21428.pdf)

Staff Presentation
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-22243.pdf)


PE24.2 

ACTION

Amended 

 

Ward: All 

Identifying Urban Agricultural Opportunities in the City of Toronto
Committee Recommendations

The Parks and Environment recommends that:

 

1.         City Council support, in principle, the ongoing coordination by the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Director of the Toronto Environment Office of Interdivisional Strategies and Initiatives that will achieve the overall goal of expanding opportunities for local food production and other urban agricultural activities in the City of Toronto; and

 

2.         City Council request the Interdivisional Working Group, as part of their work plan, to develop an inventory of City lands which could be made available for urban agricultural opportunities.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Parks and Environment Committee referred the submissions filed by Lauren Baker and Ravenna Barker on June 16, 2009 to the Director, Toronto Environment Office, for consideration.

Origin
(May 28, 2009) Report from Director, Toronto Environment Office and General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary

Promoting local food production is an important component of the Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainability Energy Action Plan, which was unanimously adopted by City Council in 2007. When food is grown and consumed locally, as opposed to food imports that are transported greater distances from the field to the point of purchase, there is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Public interest in local food and urban agriculture is growing rapidly and there is increasing demand from City park users to allocate additional city lands, particularly parkland, for the purpose of gardening and food production. Community groups and organizations experienced in urban food production have continued to make urban agriculture a valuable community building exercise as well as endeavouring to address the food security issues that are prevalent in Priority Neighbourhoods.

 

On February 5, 2009, the Parks and Environment Committee heard from a panel of experts in the field of urban agriculture who were invited to make presentations about of urban food production and how the City of Toronto can best support the urban agriculture movement while considering important constraints and opportunities.

 

This report responds to the issues examined by the expert panel and provides a platform to continue the policy development work needed to support the increase of opportunities for food production in the City, with a focus on maintaining collaborative working relationships among City divisions and community organizations.

Background Information
Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21648.pdf)

Appendix A
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21649.pdf)

Appendix B
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21650.pdf)

Communications
(June 15, 2009) e-mail from Jutta Mason, Centre for Local Research into Public Space (CELOS) (PE.New.PE24.2.1)
(June 16, 2009) presentation from Lauren Baker, PhD, Director, Sustain Ontario - The Alliance for Healthy Food and Farming (PE.New.PE24.2.2)
(June 16, 2009) presentation from Ravenna Barker, Manager of the Community Gardening and Urban Agriculture Department at FoodShare Toronto (PE.New.PE24.2.3)

PE24.3 

ACTION

Adopted 

 

Ward: All 

National Pollutant Release Inventory: Toronto's 2006 and 2007 Annual Reports
Decision Advice and Other Information

The Parks and Environment Committee:

 

1.         requested the Director, Toronto Environment Office to continue to provide annual reports regarding the emissions that are reported to the National Pollution Release Inventory (NPRI) in Toronto and that he continue to collaborate with Toronto Public Health to produce these reports; and

 

2.         thanked staff for their excellent work in creating a summary of the National Pollution Release Inventory Highlights.

Origin
(May 29, 2009) Report from Director, Toronto Environment Office
Summary

This report provides information about emissions reported to the National Pollution Release Inventory (“NPRI”) by large facilities across Toronto for 2006 and 2007 (the most recent years for which verified data has been published), and updates a previous report on emissions tracked by the NPRI up to and including 2005. Compared to 2005, fewer facilities reported to NPRI and the total releases of common air contaminants and other substances decreased in 2007.  In 2007, a total of 305 facilities in Toronto reported their releases to the NPRI.  Twenty eight (or 8 percent) fewer facilities reported in 2007 than in 2005.  Total tonnes released to air decreased by 20 percent between 2005 and 2007.  Common air contaminant releases decreased by 20 percent and releases of other air toxics decreased by 16 percent in the same period.  The total releases to water decreased from 2005 to 2007, with fewer releases in 2006 than 2007.  Releases to land remain negligible.

 

The NPRI program gathers data about the mass of pollutants released into the environment. NPRI data reflect emissions of large facilities only, so the data only represent a portion of the pollutants released and transferred to the environment in Toronto.  Pollution also enters the environment from non-NPRI sources, including small businesses, vehicles, homes, and pollution that is transported from elsewhere.  The health effects of pollutants depend strongly on the toxicity of released substances and the actual concentrations that reach people, as well as their exposure and sensitivity to such substances.  Health-based priorities for emissions reduction may be different than priorities based on mass alone.  Beginning in 2012, Toronto’s new Environmental Reporting, Disclosure and Innovation program will add new data on chemical release and usage for 25 priority chemicals from smaller Toronto facilities. 

 

This report was prepared in collaboration with Toronto Public Health.

Background Information
Staff Report and Appendix A, B, C and D
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21651.pdf)

Maps
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21652.pdf)


3a Highlights of the National Pollutant Release Inventory for 2006-2007 (Toronto Data)
Summary

Highlights of the National Pollutant Release Inventory: Toronto's 2006 and 2007 Annual Reports. 

Background Information
National Pollutant Release Inventory Highlights for Toronto: 2006 and 2007
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-22219.pdf)


PE24.4 

ACTION

Referred 

 

 

Collaboration with the Société d’histoire de Toronto (Toronto Historical Society) on the Creation of a Historical Park along the Humber River
Decision Advice and Other Information

The Parks and Environment Committee referred the recommendations in the motion (April 29, 2009) from Councillor Adam Giambrone to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, for consideration and appropriate collaboration and consultation with all partners and stakeholders with a request to report back to the September 23, 2009 meeting of the Committee on the status of the project.

Origin
(April 29, 2009) Member Motion from Councillor Giambrone and Seconded by Councillor Milczyn
Summary

The Société d’histoire de Toronto’s mandate is to develop interest in local French history and help in the preservation of historical sites.  For over a decade, they have been strongly advocating for the creation of a historical park or a heritage greenway along the Humber River. The project area is comprised of all public lands along the Humber River, south of Dundas Street to the mouth of the River. This site is one of the richest historical sites in Canada since on this location all three founding people of Canada and Toronto, First Nations, French and British met and traded.

 

In creating this Historical Park, the Société wishes to take advantage of the existing park and trail network, and to capitalize upon the Humber River’s natural and cultural heritage.  The Humber was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1999.  The Historical Park will highlight the inter-relationship of the First Nations, French and English – The Shared Path – along the Humber river.  To highlight this historical link, the proposed name of the historical park is the Sentier partagé/Shared Path.

 

To raise awareness about this project, the Société d'histoire de Toronto would like to also propose a temporary exhibition about the Historical Park and Toronto's French history at the nearby Old Mill subway station. They would also like to explore whether some sort of permanent historical installation would be feasible at the station that would tie it in to the Historical Park project concept.

 

The Société d'histoire de Toronto has also received a $95,000.00 grant, spread over three years, from  the Ontario Trillium Foundation, to inform the public about the Sentierpartagé/Shared Path and to create a strategic plan to successfully implement the project, in collaboration with various partners.

Background Information
Notice of Motion
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-21429.pdf)


PE24.5 

ACTION

Adopted 

 

 

Letter from Board of Health on Air Quality Impact Assessment - Metrolinx Georgetown South Service Expansion and Union-Pearson Rail Link
Decision Advice and Other Information

The Parks and Environment Committee unanimously endorsed the decision of the Board of Health at its meeting of June 15, 2009.

Origin
(June 15, 2009) Letter from Board of Health
Summary

Forwarding its decision of June 15, 2009 on the report  (June 3, 2009) from the Medical Officer of Health, entitled “Air Quality Impact Assessment – Metrolinx Georgetown South Service Expansion and Union-Pearson Rail Link”.

Background Information
Letter from Board of Health
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-22241.pdf)

Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-22242.pdf)


Meeting Sessions
Session Date Session Type Start Time End Time Public or Closed Session
2009-06-16 Morning 9:40 AM 10:50 AM Public
Attendance
Date and Time Quorum Members
2009-06-16
9:40 AM - 10:50 AM
(Public Session)
Present Present: Fletcher, Moeser, Nunziata, Stintz, Walker
Not Present: Cho