Terms of Reference - Task Force on the

Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor

 The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team recommends the adoption of the following joint report (April 15, 1998) from Councillor Jack Layton, Chair and Ms. Catherine Nasmith, Co-Chair, Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor:

 Purpose:

 To establish Terms of Reference for the new City of Toronto=s Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)(a)the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor of the former City of Toronto be established as the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor of the new City of Toronto; and

 (b)that the Terms of Reference for the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor, as appended to this report, be adopted;

 (2)the organizations and citizens-at-large presently represented on the former City of Toronto=s Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor as outlined in Appendix II, be appointed to the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor of the new City of Toronto for the period ending November 30, 2000, and until their successors are appointed, and that these organizations be requested to name a representative and an alternate representative to the Task Force;

 (3)Councillor Layton and Councillor Korwin-Kuczynski, and any other interested Councillor, be appointed to the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor for the period ending November 30, 2000, and until their successors are appointed.

 (4)in addition to the above noted membership:

 (a)the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor be given the authority to appoint, for the period ending November 30, 2000, or until their successors are appointed, a broader spectrum of community organizations, landowners, public agencies, professional organizations and citizens-at-large as members and that those organizations, when identified, be requested to name a representative and an alternate; and

 (b)the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor be authorized to add to its membership from time to time and be given the power to appoint such organizations or citizens-at-large as members and that they be requested to name a representative and an alternate; and

 (5)Council set the quorum requirements of the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor of the new City of Toronto at two-fifths its total membership to reflect the same quorum requirements of the Task Force of the former City of Toronto.

 Background:

 The Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor was established by Toronto City Council in 1986, as an advisory body to City Council on matters relating to the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor.

 Since its inception, the Task Force has overseen several consultant studies on civic improvements within the corridor such as:

 (a)Gardiner/Lakeshore Corridor - A Civic Design Study;

(b)Yonge Street Urban Design Study;

(c)High Park Western Beaches Humber River Civic Improvements Study; and

(d)Don Valley Sweep Study.

 The completion of each of these studies resulted in the implementation of numerous improvements along the entire length of the corridor and highlighted the importance and cumulative benefits achieved from small-scale civic design initiatives.

 Discussion:

 Terms of Reference:

 The role that the Task Force played in the former City of Toronto was no doubt very valuable and effective. However, with a newly expanded city limits, there is a need to re-examine the role that the Task Force will play in the new City of Toronto. The proposed Terms of Reference for the new Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor are attached as Appendix I.

 Budget:

 No budget implications are anticipated at this time.

 Membership Expansion:

 The Task Force of the former City of Toronto is comprised of members from community organizations, landowners, public agencies, professional organizations and citizens at-large. The current membership listing is attached as Appendix II.

 The Task Force would like to add new members to more accurately reflect the diverse spectrum of interests within the new City of Toronto. Some of the suggested members include representatives from the following groups:

 (a)interested Councillors throughout the expanded corridor;

(b)Pedestrian Committee;

(c)Cycling Committee;

(d)Task Force to Bring Back the Don;

(e)Waterfront Regeneration Trust;

(f)GRAIL;

(g)Citizens for the Old Town of York;

(h)Toronto Society of Architects;

(i)Institute of Transportation Engineers;

(j)Geographic community organizations; and

(k)Landowners within the expanded corridor.

 In order to ensure consistency in reporting of members, it will be necessary to reappoint all existing member organizations of the Task Force. It is recommended that potential new member organizations be contacted and requested to name a representative and an alternate representative.

 Quorum:

 Section 114 of the City of Toronto By-law to Govern the Proceedings of Council and Committees sets quorum (which must be achieved within 15 minutes of the commencement of a meeting) of a Committee of Council as the majority of the members of that committee, unless Council decides otherwise.

 Therefore, if the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor wishes to increase or decrease its quorum requirements from a majority of the Task Force, it can make an appropriate recommendation to Council. In 1996, the former City of Toronto Council (Clause 10 of Land Use Report 13) reduced the quorum requirements of the Task Force from a majority to two-fifths of its members, thereby setting the present quorum requirements to eight.

 Given the goal to expand the membership, but at the same time recognizing that all members will not attend regularly given the large geographic area that will now be covered by the Task Force, it is recommended that quorum for the new Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor be set at two-fifths of its members.

 Contact Name:

 Maggie Easton

Urban Planning and Development Services

City Hall

Telephone: 392-7218

 Appendix I

 Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor

Terms of Reference

  (1)Vision Statement:

 The Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor visualizes the integration of the Gardiner/Lake Shore corridor (The Corridor) into the fabric of the city and will focus its attention on the physical and psychological barriers to the waterfront that the Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard and the railway corridor have created.

(2)General Objectives:

 The Task Force will ensure that the following general design objectives are incorporated into the planning of minor and major modifications within the Corridor:

 (a)substantially improve north/south links to the waterfront for automobiles, transit, pedestrians, cyclists, wildlife and water courses;

 (b)achieve substantial reductions in noise and pollution, and support the City of Toronto=s objectives for CO2 reduction;

 (c)increase the diversity of transportation options within the Corridor;

 (d)improve the environment for east/west pedestrian travel;

 (e)rationalize and consolidate the relationship between the Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard, and the railway corridor; and

 (f)improve the civic character, amenities and safety along the full length of the corridor, including respect for natural and cultural heritage features.

 (3)Study Area:

 The Task Force will limit its review to those proposals or concepts which fall within the general boundary limits of the west side of the Humber River to the west, and Woodbine Avenue to the east, within or immediately adjacent to the Corridor.

 (4)Method of Work:

 The General Objectives will be achieved through the review of existing projects and or proposals in the Corridor, initiated by others, and/or the initiation of projects/proposals by the Task Force itself (subject to funding availability).

 The Task Force will continue to strive for improvements within the Corridor which satisfy their General Objectives. This will be achieved by focussing on small scale improvements within the Corridor and will also examine the concept of a complete reconfiguration of the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard.

 The Task Force will provide a forum for interaction amongst community organizations, landowners, members of City Council, professional organizations, other public agencies and citizens at-large, enabling the achievement of the Task Force=s vision for a transportation corridor that is integrated into the fabric of the City.

 (5)Membership:

 The Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor will meet on a regular basis and include participation from community organizations, landowners, members of City Council, professional organizations, other public agencies, and citizens at-large.

 If a representative (or alternate in place of the representative) of an organization or group appointed as a member of the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor does not attend three consecutive meetings without providing an acceptable explanation, then the organization will be required to name a new representative. If the organization chooses not to name a new representative or fails to respond to the request in a reasonable time frame, then the organization will cease to be a member of the Task Force.

 (6)Staff Resources:

 One senior staff member and/or his/her representative, from the following departments, will be allocated to attend all meetings and assist the Task Force with its on-going work:

 (a)City Clerk;

 (b)Urban Planning and Development Services (Transportation Planning and Urban Design);

 (c)Works and Emergency Services (Transportation);

 (d)Economic Development, Culture and Tourism (Parks and Recreation, Economic Development and Heritage); and

 (e)Healthy City Office.

 Advisors from the Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO), the Toronto Harbour Commission (THC), the Toronto Historical Board (THB) and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will also be invited to participate.

 Appendix II

  Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor

 Membership: 21 members

Quorum (two-fifths): 8 members

 Members

 Members of Council:

 Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski

Councillor Jack Layton

Two City Councillors (to be appointed)

 Adjacent Land Owners:

 Steve Hiley, Marathon Development Inc.

David Sadowski or Norm Jarus, CN Real Estate

 Local Resident Groups:

Peter Dean, Toronto Island Residents= Association

Ron Nash, Roncesvalles-MacDonell Residents= Association

Ben Smith-Lea, Niagara Neighbourhood Assoc.

William Roberts, Swansea Area Ratepayers= Association

David Windrim, Beach Triangle Residents= Association (Alternate: Christopher Blythe)

Marilyn Roy, Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association

Stan Rzepka, Queen West Lower-Ossington Residents= Assoc.

David Gunter, St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association

 Other Interested Groups:

 George Grant, Board of Trade

Ronny Yaron, Women Plan Toronto

Jim Neff, Citizens for Safe Environment and S.E. Riverdale Community Assoc.

Mark Inglis, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects

Ian Keith, The Friends of Fort York

 Interested Citizens:

 Cathy Naismith

Paul Raina