| 136561 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Tanker Truck Incidents and Community Safety | 2024.IE16.1 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report responds to City Council Motion (MM8.28) dated July 19, 2023. It was requested that Toronto Emergency Management, in consultation with Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services, assess the risks faced by Toronto residents living near Highway 401 from transportation incidents.</p> | 16 | 1 | CMMTTEE | IE | All | N | … | Report | ACTION | Adopted | Main | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ACTION | true | Adopted | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| 136635 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Enhancing Capital Infrastructure Program Coordination | 2024.IE16.2 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Toronto continues to experience unprecedented growth and development at the same time that the City focuses on building affordable housing and expanding our transit networks across the City. To support this activity, there is a need to deliver the necessary infrastructure upgrades and invest in aging infrastructure. The construction coordination process that is currently in place has been challenged to keep pace with this rapid growth and complexity of infrastructure work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The present five-year capital coordination process does not typically consider longer-term capital projects (5 to 10 years) that are forecasted to support areas of intense growth. Similarly, current capital construction coordination processes have difficulty adjusting to and accommodating emergency requests to conduct last-minute works. It is important that all capital construction projects are properly coordinated, sequenced and bundled, taking into consideration criteria that include safety and traffic congestion in order to minimize impacts to communities. These challenges have created an opportunity to enhance and strengthen the coordination of the City's capital infrastructure program while, at the same time, support the City's efforts to better manage congestion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To advance and support the necessary work to improve coordination and integrate longer-term, near-term and last-minute capital projects across the City, a new Strategic Capital Coordination Office was established in April of this year within the office of the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services. The creation of this new office was supported and informed by the findings of a management consultant's review and a staff led Capital Delivery Improvements Review; both completed in 2023.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The overall goal of this new Strategic Capital Coordination Office is to: </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Provide strategic senior-level oversight of the City's capital coordination process to enable more timely resolution of emerging issues such as schedule conflicts and management of community impact</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Drive accountability among those involved in the planning, coordination and delivery of construction projects across the city</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Strengthen collaboration between internal divisions, City agencies and external partners such as utilities and developers with work that impacts the City's right of way</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Expand the capital program process to integrate coordination of longer-term plans (5 to 10 years) to maximize bundling and sequencing opportunities of construction projects</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Enhance communication and engagement with Councillors and the public to keep everyone informed on upcoming construction activities, community impacts, mitigating measures, and any changes during construction</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The staff team within Engineering and Construction Services that are responsible for coordination of the Toronto Water and Transportation Services' annual five-year capital plan, were transitioned into the new Strategic Capital Coordination Office in April 2024. As work continues to expand and strengthen the role of this office, additional staff are required to provide strategic coordination of capital projects across the City. Eight new temporary positions to support the implementation of the Strategic Capital Coordination Office, fully funded by the capital budget, are being requested for 2024. An additional seven positions will be requested through the 2025 Budget Process to complete the Strategic Capital Coordination Office.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The report also responds to the City Council direction with report IE7.2 of the November 8, 2023 City Council meeting, directing the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services to report back with an approach on the enhancement and expansion of the existing capital coordination programs.</p> |
| 136624 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Administrative Penalty System for Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement Violations - Revised Implementation Date | 2024.IE16.3 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>On February 6, 2024, Toronto City Council approved the governance and administrative requirements to establish an expanded Administrative Penalty System that includes Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement violations. This change will move the dispute mechanism for violations of Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement offences from a court-based system to an administrative review model.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the report approved by Council, staff recommended an effective date of November 1, 2024, for the new proposed replacement City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610 governing the Administrative Penalty System, the expanded mandate of the Administrative Penalty Tribunal, the updated governance structure for the Administrative Penalty Tribunal, and any associated by-law amendments. This report proposes that City Council approve a revised effective date of December 9, 2024.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Administrative Penalty System program team requires additional time to complete critical requirements for the system implementation. A revised implementation date of December 9, 2024, is being proposed to complete the balance of critical requirements including the privacy impact assessment, cyber risk assessment, user acceptance testing, penetration testing to secure the system and its data, as well as staff training.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Extending the implementation date to December 9, 2024, has no impact on the timelines for increasing the number of Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras from 75 to 150 as directed by City Council. It is anticipated the new camera systems will begin to be implemented starting in January 2025. More information on the expansion of the Automated Speed Enforcement program will be available in an upcoming Vision Zero report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on November 27, 2024.</p> | 16 |
| 136662 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Congestion Management Plan 2023 - 2026 - Fall Update | 2024.IE16.4 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The Congestion Management Plan 2023 - 2026 was presented at the October 2023 Infrastructure and Environment Committee and then subsequently to Council in November 2023. This report addresses a number of additional items that City Council has requested Transportation Services report back on since the adoption of the original report. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Toronto continues to be the busiest city in all North America in terms of construction due to increased private development activity, major infrastructure renewal and the implementation of higher order transit. While the economic benefits of growth will deliver long term value to the residents and businesses in the city, the impacts of construction are having a direct impact on network capacity and neighborhood mobility. Since the end of the pandemic, construction activity has been exacerbated by changes in travel patterns due to hybrid work and a resurgence of people attending events on the weekends. In short, construction has increased, travel patterns and habits have changed, the city population continues to grow and, as a result, overall congestion is having a significant impact on people's daily lives and travel. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Managing congestion in a city the size and scale of Toronto requires comprehensive and nimble approaches to planning and coordination, including bringing data and analytics to articulate the causes of congestion and implement strategic approaches-both tested and innovative-to manage impacted areas. This report identifies additional strategic measures and coordinating efforts to effectively address traffic flow, streamline construction activities and accommodate the demands of a growing urban population.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are several systemic changes being introduced at the September 27 Infrastructure & Environment Committee meeting to help manage citywide congestion and construction coordination, including this report as well as the Enhancing Capital Infrastructure Program Coordination report. These two reports are further supported by actions that Engineering and Construction Services is taking to enhance capital delivery and contract management for large municipal infrastructure projects. A report on these initiatives will be advanced in the first quarter of 2025.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As part of this shared and collaborative effort, this report provides updates on five key impactful actions being led by Transportation Services that will more effectively manage congestion in the near term and set a strong foundation for the future:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Plans for better coordination and control over construction activities on the right-of-way and strategy for cost-recovery of traffic congestion mitigation efforts</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Upcoming measures for automated enforcement to mitigate bylaw infractions, such as the blockage of signalized intersections and illegal blockage of bike lanes and illegal use of dedicated transit lanes.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Next steps for the Traffic Agent Program and Continued support from the Toronto Police Traffic Direction Pilot</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- New evaluation framework and methodology for reviewing and approving permits for Special Events</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Increasing fines in support of congestion and safety</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Attachment 4 outlines the timelines and expected outcomes of each action towards better managing congestion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to the key measures listed above, this report also proposes a plan for a new Artificial Intelligence-based traffic simulation modelling strategy that will assist in assessing the impacts of proposed construction or special event related road closures, recommend traffic mitigation plans and provide the ability to measure the impacts of the road closures. It is anticipated that the predicted impacts could be used in the future to better inform charges for road occupation in the new cost-recovery framework.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the recommendations in this report will not eliminate congestion, they provide a more robust toolkit of coordination practices, technology enhancements and "boots on the ground" solutions to actively manage the ongoing pressures of growth and development that continues to shape our city.</p> |
| 136660 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Approach to Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging to 2030 | 2024.IE16.5 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Decarbonizing the transportation sector to meet the ambitious goals outlined in Toronto’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy (TTO NZS) will require a robust, convenient, and reliable public electric vehicle (EV) charging network that supports other established city-wide sustainable transportation initiatives.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Approach to Public Electric Vehicle Charging presented in this report responds to the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy Short-term Implementation Plan (2022-2025) action: "The City will develop a strategy and plans to meet the 2025 targets in the Electric Vehicle Strategy for public charging infrastructure, and to ensure that sufficient public charging infrastructure will be in place to accommodate growth in Electric Vehicle ownership to 30 per cent of registered personal vehicles by 2030."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Toronto has started laying a foundation for its network by establishing zoning rules, parking regulations, and by-laws that help define the appropriate use of public space in relation to Electric Vehicle charging. Additionally, Toronto has installed Electric Vehicle charging stations at on-street parking spaces, in Green P parking lots, and at City facilities. The City also provides financing support to encourage charging in existing residential buildings through its BetterHomesTO program while requiring new residential and commercial buildings to install Electric Vehicle charging through the Toronto Green Standard.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 2021, Environment and Climate began work to understand how to increase Electric Vehicle uptake by directing its focus on identifying where publicly owned and operated Electric Vehicle charging would be needed to complement the existing privately operated and publicly accessible Electric Vehicle charging network and private at-home Electric Vehicle charging spots.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As of June 2024, Toronto had 30,505 registered Electric Vehicles, roughly 2.8 per cent of the estimated 1.1 million registered passenger vehicles. With a goal of 5 percent of all registered vehicles being Electric Vehicles by 2025, the City will need to take a more proactive role in encouraging Electric Vehicle ownership.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report presents an approach to growing Toronto's existing public charging network by the City through its Divisions, Agencies and Corporations, drawing from extensive research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement completed in collaboration with several Divisions, Agencies and Corporations to prepare for Toronto's public charging needs.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Approach proposes a model of cross-corporate coordination to advance Electric Vehicle infrastructure asset planning until the year 2030 and clarifies the City’s role with respect to Electric Vehicle infrastructure provision based on initial technical analysis.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Approach to Public Electric Vehicle Charging to 2030 includes:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- A City governance structure that optimizes City-owned assets (in the form of properties including lands and buildings) through a centralized approach led by the Environment and Climate Division, including financial planning of Electric Vehicle infrastructure assets.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><br />- A technical projection of future needs from a “demand- and utilization-driven perspective” using currently established public charging network information at a ward level to determine the placement of Electric Vehicle chargers.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><br />- A specific focus on equity through education and public charging station location prioritization of vehicle-for-hire (VFH) vehicles to ensure adequate and convenient access to public chargers for this industry.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the City alone cannot be solely responsible for the robustness of the public Electric Vehicle charging network, nor can the City financially incentivize residents to purchase Electric Vehicles, it can ensure that Toronto residents have reasonable access to charging with a consistent user experience. Relatedly, clear processes and communication on how residents can 'connect' to the Electric Vehicle charger whether a resident is a homeowner, renter, or condo dweller will also be critical for seamless operability. This includes minimizing barriers to access chargers by providing clear signage and wayfinding, advancing charger availability and reliability, and cost parity.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Government-led public Electric Vehicle charging programs around the world demonstrate that success in building robust and effective Electric Vehicle charging networks is achieved when collaboration with diverse stakeholders is at the core of this type of infrastructure development, saving time, money, and avoiding unnecessary duplication and stranded assets. Key international examples showcase partnerships with private businesses who supply charging infrastructure and the technology to support it, commercial businesses who allocate spots for their customers and employees to charge their vehicles either at or near their businesses, local utility companies who are a first contact and can provide reliable advice and orientation to what would work best for residents' needs, and intergovernmental alignment on goals and incentives. The City can also, through its processes, policies, and incentives, encourage private sector investment in growing the Electric Vehicle charging network. A robust public Electric Vehicle charging network must include investments from both the private and public sectors.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City has a wide range of other transportation, city building, land use policies, programs, and infrastructure initiatives. These initiatives are either underway or planned to encourage and support the transition away from the use of fossil fuels and increase the use of more sustainable transportation modes such as public transit, walking and cycling, and zero emission vehicles, where required. This proposed approach supports the multiple options available to residents to travel carbon-free around the city now and into the future.</p> |
| 136680 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | New Design and Construction Coordination Agreement with Toronto Hydro | 2024.IE16.6 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The purpose of this report is to seek Council's authority for the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, to negotiate, finalize and execute a new Design and Construction Coordination Agreement (the "Agreement") with Toronto Hydro Electric System Limited and Toronto Hydro Energy Services Incorporated (collectively "Toronto Hydro"). This Agreement replaces a previous agreement, dated June 10, 2016, which expired on June 10, 2021. The previous agreement has been extended yearly while City and Toronto Hydro staff have negotiated the terms of the Agreement.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The purpose of the Agreement is to permit the City to relocate or replace Toronto Hydro assets that are affected by, or might act as an impediment to, City construction projects. This facilitates the initiation of City construction projects more quickly and reduces overall impacts to the public by allowing all work to be completed in a single City construction contract rather than in separate contracts administered by the City and Toronto Hydro.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The content of the Agreement is similar to the original 2016 agreement. It has been updated to clarify the application of, and respective responsibilities under, the Agreement as well as improvements to processes. These updates include a reduction in response times for the completion of various tasks, clarification of which projects are eligible to be coordinated under the Agreement, and the creation of a Joint Steering Committee of City and Toronto Hydro senior staff to monitor the performance of projects and consider possible future amendments to the Agreement as required.</p> | 16 | 6 | CMMTTEE | IE |
| 136488 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Enforcement of By-laws - Illegal Bike Lane Parking | 2024.IE16.7 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>I am writing to request that the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, to work with other City Officials, the Toronto Police Service, and City agencies as appropriate, take action to address the growing issue of obstructions in Toronto's bike lanes, particularly those caused by construction companies and improperly parked City of Toronto vehicles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The presence of garbage bins, construction equipment, and improperly parked vehicles in bike lanes poses a significant safety hazard to cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike. These obstructions can lead to accidents, injuries, and traffic congestion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I propose that the City Divisions work collaboratively the Toronto Police Service, and City agencies as appropriate on methods for minimizing blocking or obstructing of bicycle lanes, including but not limited to the following possible measures:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Prohibit Construction Companies from Using Bike Lanes for Garbage Bins: Construction companies should be strictly prohibited from placing garbage bins or other equipment in bike lanes. Alternative storage solutions should be required.<br /> </p>
<p>2. Enforce Parking Restrictions for City Vehicles: City of Toronto vehicles, including those from all departments and agencies, should be subject to the same parking regulations as private vehicles. Parking in bike lanes should be strictly prohibited. <br /> </p>
<p>3. Work with other City Officials, the Toronto Police Service, and City agencies as appropriate, to ensure that:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><br />a. City of Toronto owned and contracted vehicles do not block bicycle lanes</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">b. No unauthorized objects, such as garbage bins, obstruct bicycle lanes</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By taking these steps, we can ensure that Toronto's bike lanes remain safe and accessible for all users. I believe that this is a critical issue that requires immediate attention.</p> |
| 136557 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Fossil Fuel Advocacy Advertising on City Assets | 2024.IE16.8 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The <a href="https://adstandards.ca/code/the-code-online/">Canadian Code of Advertising Standards</a> provides:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">8. Advertisements must not distort the true meaning of statements made by professionals or scientific authorities. Advertising claims must not imply that they have a scientific basis that they do not truly possess. Any scientific, professional or authoritative claims or statements must be applicable to the Canadian context, unless otherwise clearly stated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Climate change is an unprecedented threat to people in Toronto and worldwide, with overwhelming consequences, especially for the most vulnerable. In Toronto, climate change is already causing serious impacts, including increases in average heat, and in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. In turn, these adversely affect the Toronto Transit Commission and those we serve.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Government of Canada has made international climate commitments to drastically reduce fossil fuel consumption and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The City of Toronto, through TransformTO, and an annual carbon budget, has committed to achieve Net Zero climate pollution by 2040.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fossil fuel companies have a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Oreskes">well-documented history</a> of using their immense wealth for advocacy advertising to undermine public support for policies that reduce fossil fuel pollution. Such policies are necessary and urgent to preserve a liveable future for today’s young people. The <a href="https://pathwaysalliance.ca/">Pathways Alliance</a>, a coalition of six billionaire fossil fuel companies who produce 95 percent of tar sands bitumen, has actively advertised for this purpose in Toronto, eliciting a number of public complaints. Another fossil fuel lobby group, <a href="https://www.canadaaction.ca/yes-to-prosperity">Canada Action</a>, has also actively advertised across Canada.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.blg.com/en/insights/2024/07/false-advertising-and-greenwashing-bill-c-59-changes-to-competition-act">Recent changes to 74.01 of the Competition Act</a> expressly prohibit misleading environmental benefits claims made to the public, including:</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Any statement, warranty or guarantee of a product’s benefits for protecting or restoring the environment or mitigating the environmental, social and ecological causes or effects of climate change that are not based on an adequate and proper testing; and</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">- Any representations with respect to the benefits of a business or business activity for protecting or restoring the environment or mitigating the environmental and ecological causes or effects of climate change that are not based on adequate and proper substantiation in accordance with internationally recognized methodology.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The onus is on the advertiser making such claims to prove, if challenged, that the claims are based on adequate and proper testing or substantiation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In July 2024, the <a href="https://pathwaysalliance.ca/home-page/canadas-competition-act-amendments/">Pathways Alliance</a> removed the advocacy messaging from its website and social media feeds, citing uncertainty over whether they comply with these amendments to the Competition Act.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A June 2024 study in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103502">Energy Research and Social Policy</a> established strong grounds for this “uncertainty”. It examined whether Pathways Alliance advertisements are based on adequate and proper substantiation. Instead, they found: “instances of selective disclosure and omission, misalignment of claim and action, displacement of responsibility, non-credible claims, specious comparisons, nonstandard accounting, and inadequate reporting… Their messaging omits important information, uses misleading framing and comparisons, and fails to meet standards expected of a credible net-zero plan”.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Several European court cases have also ruled that <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/listing/court-case-klm-netherlands/">fossil fuel advertising is misleading</a>.</p>
<p>In May 2024, <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/listing/advertising-standards-canada-finds-pro-lng-ads-guilty-of-greenwashing/">Canada’s advertising regulator determined</a> that Canada Action ads claiming liquified natural gas will lower emissions are inaccurate, misleading, and distort scientific data.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In June, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/united-nations-guterres-fossil-fuel-advertising-ban-1.7226571">asked all governments to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies</a>, in light of the enormous harm they are causing, including record <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/climate-warming-copernicus-record-united-nations-1.7224438">planetary heat levels</a>. Support for this initiative is growing among <a href="https://cape.ca/focus/fossil-fuel-ad-ban/">physicians</a> and <a href="https://www.stopfossilfuelads.ca/">other health professionals</a> in Canada and <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/organisations/">around</a> the <a href="https://fossiladban.org/about/">world</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Several governments are taking such action. Fossil fuel advocacy advertising limits have been adopted in cities such as <a href="https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s70730/9.1 Policy on Advertising and Sponsorship - Proposed Amendments.pdf">Edinburgh</a>, <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/listing/amsterdam-first-city-in-the-world-to-ban-fossil-ads/">Amsterdam</a>, <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/listing/yarra-melbourne-bans-fossil-ads-and-sponsorships/">Yarra</a> and <a href="https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/listing/sheffield-uk-bans-ads-for-cars-airlines-and-fossil-fuels-in-groundbreaking-new-policy/">Sheffield</a>. The Montreal bikeshare system has removed fossil fuel advertising. The Société de transport de Montréal is <a href="https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2023-09-06/la-stm-songe-a-interdire-la-publicite-reliee-aux-energies-fossiles.php">considering doing the same</a>. In March 2024, Council of the City of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9lqOo22Nd4&t=7056s">Ottawa directed its staff</a> to report back in the third quarter on revising its city-wide advertising policy on fossil fuel advocacy advertising.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Given the urgency of the climate crisis, the documented greenwashing by fossil fuel companies, and the harmful effect of such greenwashing in discouraging essential climate action, it is contrary to the best interests of the people of Toronto for the City or its agencies and corporations to display fossil fuel advocacy advertising inconsistent with TransformTO on city assets, especially if the claims in such advertising have not been substantiated as required by the Competition Act.</p> |
| 136559 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | N | Establishing a Working Group to Study the Widening of Steeles Avenue East Between Ninth Line and Beare Road to Support Regional Growth | 2024.IE16.9 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The employment and residential areas surrounding Steeles Avenue East continue to experience growth, in both the City of Toronto and surrounding municipalities. In recent years, vacant lands along the south side of Steeles Avenue East have been developed for employment purposes bringing thousands of new employees which has increased traffic volumes on Steeles Avenue East. There are also regional development pressures east of Toronto’s boundaries that will have further traffic impacts.</p>
<p><br />This growth is expected to continue and Steeles Avenue East has been identified as a Higher Order Transit Connection in provincial plans, including Metrolinx's 2041 Regional Transportation Plan, and the City of Toronto’s Official Plan in response to this growth.</p>
<p><br />The need to widen Steeles Avenue East dates back to the late 1980s when the province's "Highway 407 Overview Study" identified the need to upgrade the TorontoYork-Durham road infrastructure. In 1990, recognizing the inter-regional function that Steeles Avenue East has for the Cities of Toronto, Pickering, and Markham, the province committed funding to widen this segment of road.</p>
<p><br />In 1993, the province approved the City of Toronto's Environmental Assessment that studied the widening of Steeles Avenue East from Tapscott Road to Pickering Town Line from two to four vehicular lanes. The easternmost portion, from Beare Road to Pickering Town Line, was widened before the province withdrew its funding in 1996. Since 2015, the City of Toronto has been advancing design for the portion between Tapscott Road and Ninth Line, with construction targeted to start as early as 2026.</p>
<p><br />This motion requests the formation of a working group to identify opportunities to advance the widening of the remaining segment, between Ninth Line and Beare Road.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Steeles Avenue East is a vital arterial road in Scarborough and a critical link between East Scarborough and York and Durham Regions. A widened Steeles Avenue East would facilitate rapid surface transit in the future and ease congestion by providing better mobility for residents and employers throughout the region.</p>
<p><br />The recognition of Steeles Avenue East as an important regional corridor, and the openness to cooperation and partnership is highlighted in the letters of support from the City of Pickering and the City of Markham appended to this recommendation.</p> |
| 136679 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | N | Growing with the City - Revitalising Allan Gardens Park and Conservatory | 2024.IE16.10 | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The Friends of Allan Gardens (“FOAG”) is a volunteer-based and registered charitable organisation working to imagine and lead the revitalization of Allan Gardens. Friends of Allan Gardens facilitates public programming focusing on conservation and stewardship and celebrating horticulture, urban agriculture, and the natural environment. Friends of Allan Gardens operates out of the historic Children's Conservatory, Propagation House, and the new Teaching Garden, which it manages on behalf of the City of Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Over the past years, Friends of Allan Gardens has positioned itself as a key stakeholder, playing an active role in the diverse social network that connects, integrates, shares resources and improves the resilience and the vitality of the community. In 2022, City Council directed the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to enter into a management agreement and a fundraising agreement with Friends of Allan Gardens to keep with their original visioning document "Refresh". This document has since been updated, the updated vision, Growing with the City (Fall 2023), highlights an ecosystem of initiatives that allows the park to evolve and grow, linked to the larger city. Working transparently and collaboratively with the community, through innovative partnerships and pilot projects, they work towards transforming the park into "a community centre without walls".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since 2021, Friends of Allan Gardens has expanded its programming to include arts and culture, concerts and music, and family activities including the Mudday Morning program and craft sessions. From September 2023 to August 2024, Friends of Allan Gardens has led over 200 programs, engaging over 10,000 people, including both public participants and volunteers. Audience demographics range from children and caregivers, Toronto residents, visitors, students, gardening enthusiasts of all ages, and more. Event attendance ranges from 75 to 1000 people.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Various community members, particularly families, have expressed a need and want to access the park. Allan Gardens is still experiencing the aftermath of COVID-19. While some community activity has rebounded after the pandemic, the community network is still fragmented with isolated events. Friends of Allan Gardens plays an important role in engaging the local neighbourhoods and diverse populations by providing unique and accessible programming in the historic Children’s Conservatory, recently expanded Teaching Garden, and North Lawn.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In early 2024, Friends of Allan Gardens received a City of Toronto Main Street Innovation Fund grant of $50,000 to activate Allan Gardens. The initial pitch focused on a Winter / Off Season Farmers’ Market, paired with complementary programming. This initiative has recently evolved into a Community Market Series, a weekly Saturday activation. The Community Market Series will play an important role in social and economic life by establishing links between residents and small businesses, flowing more money into the local economy, and showcasing the abundance of products, at the same time activating the park.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In order to meaningfully activate Allan Gardens over the next year, Friends of Allan Gardens is requesting permit fees be waived for their park programming until the pending management agreement is signed. This will assist Friends of Allan Gardens in activating the park. The General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation does not have the delegated authority to waive permit fees. Therefore, this Motion is requesting the necessary authority from City Council. This will provide the flexibility and capacity to be able to appropriately activate the park with a variety of programs in a timely manner.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Friends of Allan Gardens's activations will provide opportunities for the diverse local community to come together, enjoy the park, and participate in unique programming. All events will be free to the public. Events will fall into three categories: Recurring Events like the Community Market Series, Single Day Events, and Passive Ongoing Activations. These events will be run by Friends of Allan Gardens staff with Friends of Allan Gardens volunteers. A schedule will be presented to Parks, Forestry, and Recreation and will work collaboratively to ensure successful programming.</p> |