City of Toronto Logo Decision Document



Parks and Environment Committee


Meeting No. 31   Contact Dela Ting, Acting Administrator
Meeting Date Thursday, June 17, 2010
  Phone 416-397-7769
Start Time 9:30 AM
  E-mail pec@toronto.ca
Location Committee Room 2, 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.

PE31.1 

Presentation

Amended 

 

Ward: All 

Staff Presentation on "Every Tree Counts - A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest" - Toronto's Tree Canopy
Committee Decision

The Parks and Environment Committee requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

 

1.         to report further on Toronto's tree canopy to the Parks and Environment Committee for the next term of City Council in 2011 when 2009 data becomes available;

 

2.         to explore means of improving communications and timely service to customers related to the Front Yard Tree Planting Program;

 

3.         to consult with the City Solicitor and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) on additional tools needed to prosecute persons who break the Private Tree By-law and report back to the Committee; and

 

4.         in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and City Solicitor, assess and report back to the Committee for the next term of City Council in 2011 on any process improvements, including changes to Provincial enabling legislation that may be required to better coordinate tree protection requirements with development applications, including Committee of Adjustment.

Decision Advice and Other Information

Beth McEwen, Manager, Urban Forestry and Rike Burkhardt, Forestry Planner gave a presentation to the Parks and Environment Committee.

Summary

Staff Presentation on "Every Tree Counts - A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest"

Background Information
Presentation - "Every Tree Counts - A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest" - Toronto's Tree Canopy
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31570.pdf)


PE31.2 

ACTION

Amended 

 

Ward: All 

Making City Playgrounds Fully Accessible
Committee Recommendations

The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:

 

1.         upon legislation by the Government of Ontario, City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the Built Environment Standard and determine the applicable components of the standards that apply to playground design.

 

2.         City Council request funding from the Government of Ontario to implement the City's strategy of making City playgrounds fully accessible.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Parks and Environment Committee requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to City Council, for its meeting on July 6, 2010, on the membership composition of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Playground Equipment Committee.

Origin
(May 21, 2010) Report from General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide information on making existing City playgrounds fully accessible to the benefit of all.

 

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 requires the province to be accessible by 2025 through the development of five mandatory accessibility standards.  One of the five standards to be developed, the Accessible Built Environment Standard, is expected to provide direction on new construction and extensive renovations.

 

Currently Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PF&R) has an inventory of over 850 playgrounds located in every park category city-wide and has limited resources to maintain these assets.  Although PF&R is already incorporating a number of accessible initiatives for new playgrounds and renovations to existing ones, PF&R will finalize a strategy based on the financial impact of retrofitting current playgrounds and constructing new ones when the new standards are announced.

Background Information
Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-30629.pdf)


PE31.3 

Information

Received 

 

Ward: 5, 13 

Humber Historical Park - Project Update
Committee Decision

The Parks and Environment Committee received this item for information.

Origin
(May 31, 2010) Report from General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary

This report provides a status update on a proposal to create a historical park in the lower Humber parklands.

 

Parks, Forestry and Recreation received a feasibility study, “Toronto Historical Park: A Shared Path,” in 2008. This report proposed developing a series of interpretive stations within the existing park and trail network between Dundas Street West to Lake Ontario. The interpretive stations would highlight key historical sites in the Humber such as Baby Point, Old Mill, the Rousseau trading post, and Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Seneca settlements. The feasibility study was reviewed by a steering committee comprised of staff from several City of Toronto divisions, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Heritage Toronto and La Société d’Histoire de Toronto.

 

The steering committee is proposing that the two existing Discovery Walks in the Humber be redesigned with greater emphasis on the unique cultural and natural heritage of the Humber River. The Discovery Walks program is managed by Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and produces a series of self-guided interpretive walks through City of Toronto parkland and urban spaces (see Attachment A: Humber Historical Discovery Walk: Proposed Components).  The steering committee also looked for opportunities to implement other components of the project through collaboration with existing programs, such as Urban Forestry’s community tree planting program, and civic improvements being undertaken by the Transportation Services and City Planning (Urban Design) Divisions.

Background Information
Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-30757.pdf)

Humber Historical Park - Attachment A
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-30758.pdf)


PE31.4 

Information

Received 

 

 

Supplementary Report - Additional Financial Information Pertaining to Report on Parkland Acquisitions from 1998 to 2009
Committee Decision

The Parks and Environment Committee received this item for information.

Origin
(June 9, 2010) Report from General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Summary

As requested by the Parks and Environment Committee, at its meeting of May 21, 2010, this report provides further information on the cash-in-lieu of parkland payments received from 1998 to 2009 and their distribution amongst the various Parks, Forestry and Recreation Reserve Funds. The distribution of these payments into these accounts is in accordance with Council’s approved Cash-in-lieu of Parkland Allocation Policy that was adopted in July, 1999. Attachment 1 outlines the distribution of these funds in the various Parkland Acquisition Reserve Funds. Attachment 2 outlines the distribution of these funds in the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Development Reserve Funds.     

Background Information
Staff Report
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31338.pdf)

Attachment 1 - Parks levies collected for the Parkland Acquisition Reserve Funds 1998 - 2009
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31339.pdf)

Attachment 2 - Parks levies collected for the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Development Reserve Funds 1998 - 2009
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31340.pdf)


PE31.5 

ACTION

Amended 

 

Ward: All 

Request for Report - City Strategy to Operate Food Services Operations in Parks
Committee Decision

The Parks and Environment Committee requested:

 

1.         the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to the Parks and Environment Committee on the City's strategy to operate cafes and food service operation in City parks specifically:

 

a.         on methods to enhance efficiency and quality of the directly operated food services outlets;

 

b.         on opportunities to provide for enhanced community partnership agreements;

 

c.         to what extent food services in Parks is a core activity of the Division, giving reasons for yes or no;

 

d.         to outline the criteria used to establish food services in parks; and

 

2.         that this report be submitted as part of the City's Food Strategy for the next term of City Council in 2011.

Origin
(June 17, 2010) Memo from Councillor Karen Stintz, Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence
Summary

Request for report on the City's strategy to operate food services operations in Parks.

Background Information
Memo from Councillor Karen Stintz, Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31567.pdf)


PE31.6 

ACTION

Adopted 

 

Ward: All 

Request for Report - 165 Pottery Road
Committee Decision

The Parks and Environment Committee requested the Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to submit to the August 18, 2010 meeting of the Committee a report on the transfer and/or acquisition of 165 Pottery Road which has been declared surplus by Toronto Hydro.

Origin
(June 17, 2010) Memo from Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth
Summary

Request for report on the transfer and/or acquisition of 165 Pottery Road.

Background Information
Memo from Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth
(http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-31568.pdf)


Meeting Sessions
Session Date Session Type Start Time End Time Public or Closed Session
2010-06-17 Morning 9:40 AM 11:15 AM Public
Attendance
Members were present for some or all of the time period indicated.
Date and Time Quorum Members
2010-06-17
9:40 AM - 11:15 AM
(Public Session)
Present Present: Fletcher (Chair), Moeser, Nunziata, Stintz, Walker
Not Present: Cho