The Deputy City Manager, Cluster B recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the draft by-law attached as Appendix A to the November 27, 2009 report from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to:

A.        amend the proposed Chapter 694 to make all decisions of the Sign Variance Committee final and binding with the exception of decisions of the Sign Variance Committee to grant a variance to Chapter 694, which is only final and binding 21 days after its issuance, unless the decision is referred by the Ward Councillor to City Council for final decision in accordance with the mechanism for referral contained in Article V – Variances and By-law Amendments of the proposed Chapter 694; and

B.         add a new subsection to Article V – Variances and By-law Amendments of the proposed Chapter 694, to create a mechanism for the Ward Councillor to require a decision of the Sign Variance Committee to grant a variance to Chapter 694 to be referred to City Council for final decision; such mechanism to include the following:

i.           referrals shall be initiated only by the Ward Councillor for the Ward where the sign is proposed to be erected, displayed, modified or restored;

ii.          the Ward Councillor shall provide the requisite notice to the Chief Building Official, in writing, within 20 days of the decision of the Sign Variance Committee;

iii.        the Community Council for the Ward in which the sign is proposed to be erected, displayed, modified or restored shall hear the Ward Councillor appeal and make recommendations to City Council with respect to granting a variance to the proposed Chapter 694; and

iv.        City Council will be the final decision making authority with respect to granting variances to the proposed Chapter 694 referred to City Council at the request of the Ward Councillor.

2.         City Council amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, by adding a new Section 11 to Appendix B – Committees, IV Duties of Community Council to add to the list of Community Council responsibilities and make it the responsibility of the Community Councils to hear the Ward Councillor appeal and make recommendations to City Council with respect to final decisions concerning variances to Chapter 694.

3.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendation subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft bills as may be required.