Thread by @GraphicMatt

Toronto Council meets today! To mark the occasion, I got you a very long thread.

Things will kick off at 9:30 a.m.

Tory has named the PayIt item his first key matter, so that’ll be the first item debated after some housekeeping.

Streaming live here:

I previewed the agenda in this week’s issue of @cityhallwatcher, with a special look at the PayIt item and all its controversies and complexities. graphicmatt.substack.com/p/payit-forwar…

A new addition to the agenda: Councillor Gary Crawford has a motion to name a new baseball diamond in Scarborough’s Highview Park, funded via a donation from the Jays Care Foundation, after Roy Halladay. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Another new add: Councillor Jaye Robinson has a motion requesting Metrolinx consider alternative sites for the Ontario Line maintenance facility. Under their current plans it’d displace a bunch of well-loved Thorncliffe Park community hubs. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council kicks off with Mayor John Tory speaking in memory of Prince Philip, who is dead. Tory says he’s a supporter of the monarchy.

I like this line art even though that is *not* where the CN Tower actually is. Maybe we should consider relocating it.

Tory introduces a video montage in tribute to Prince Philip. Here he is in a very large car, here he is with soldiers wearing spiky hats, here he is in a badass top hat, here he is contemplating the life and existence of this pig.

Speaker Frances Nunziata notes last week, April 30, marked a full year since Council went to virtual meetings. She thanks the clerks and AV staff who have worked hard to make it all work as well as it could possibly be expected to work.

On a 23-2 vote, Council denies a permit to remove this tree at 29 Craydon Ave. The tree shall live. Ford & Holyday opposed. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes 24-1 to install a pedestrian crosswalk at Morrish Road & Euclid Ave in Scarborough, in front of an elementary school. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Before we get to the first item, Councillor Jaye Robinson brings up the unpleasantness at the end of the last meeting. She asks Councillor Matlow to apologize. Matlow says he retracts his comments and apologizes. Robinson says thank you. All we are saying is give peace a chance.

Council has adopted the order paper, which means all items not held for debate are passed en masse. Adopted items include the King-Parliament Secondary plan. @alexbozikovic wrote about it today: theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto…

By adopting the order paper, Council also voted to add an additional northbound lane to Woodbine Avenue, despite staff concerns that the reconfigured lanes will be too narrow. Move is supposed to address concerns about the bike lanes installed in 2016. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

It’s time for the PayIt debate, a year in the making. @dmrider has a good look at the issue. With the mayor on board, the deal looks like it’ll get majority support from council. thestar.com/news/city_hall…

PayIt debate so far has seen a string of questions from councillors to staff about the basics of the deal: transaction fees, the fact that this emerged as an unsolicited proposal and then a bid process that only attracted one other bid.

Mayor John Tory now asking staff to confirm people will always have a free option for paying for tax bills etc using PayIt. ETF transfers will be free for customers, credit/debit will pay a processing fee.

Councillor James Pasternak is the first speaker on the PayIt item. He’s supportive. He says unsolicited proposals are something the City encourages to learn about new technology. He characterizes people criticizing at the deal as people who are upset they didn’t win the bid.

Councillor Ana Bailao is up now. She moves to limit the amount of authority delegated to staff to set fees and charges. This doesn’t kill the PayIt deal, but makes sure Council has more oversight. She says she’ll support the deal.

Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to make sure the accountability officers — Ombudsman and Auditor General — have oversight over the PayIt deal.

Councillor Paula Fletcher argues City Hall’s “Swiss Challenge” process, where companies are invited to bid against an unsolicited proposal, was designed for small contracts, not $20 million deals like PayIt.

The real Swiss Challenge was designing a knife with multiple blades, a magnifying glass, scissors AND a corkscrew. Incredible achievement.

There’s lots of speakers left on this item, but none of the motions are ready. So Council breaks for lunch early. Back at 2 p.m. when Council will likely vote to move PayIt forward.

Councillors are back on screen but the meeting hasn’t resumed yet. (No audio.) Councillor Paul Ainslie is showing Councillor Gord Perks a Blackberry.

Back to the PayIt debate. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam moves to refer the matter back to staff, with it being reconsidered once the city has a digital infrastructure plan in place.

When a referral motion is made, the normal debate stops. Councillors have an opportunity to speak on the referral. Then they’ll be a vote. If referral vote fails, they go back to the normal proceedings. Councillor Gord Perks speaking now in support of Wong-Tam’s motion.

Councillor Stephen Holyday speaks against referral. He says the City has already made recent tech investments without a digital infrastructure plan (citing recent purchase of Office 365 licenses) so that’s not a reason to not go forward with the PayIt deal.

Councillor Paul Ainslie also argues against referral. He says the PayIt item has come to Executive Committee and Council three times and people have had their chance to weigh in. “We need it to move it forward,” he says.

Councillor Michael Thompson also against referral. He says the city’s Digital Infrastructure Plan, even though it’s not been finalized, is embedded in the PayIt deal, listing all the city hall divisions in support of it.

Councillor Shelley Carroll says she’ll support referral. She says the PayIt proposal came out of nowhere, and the local tech community never had a real chance to engage in the process.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s motion to refer the PayIt deal back to staff until they have a digital infrastructure plan in place FAILS 8-15.

Councillor John Filion has a motion to make it clear on the PayIt platform when Toronto residents are being charged transaction fees. He also wants a mid-term report laying out how the PayIt deal is working out.

Councillor Gord Perks moves to direct city staff to stop processing unsolicited bids until they’ve looked at establishing an Inspector General to oversee purchasing and adopting Open Contracting Global Principles.

Perks is arguing for what he calls a “horse before the cart” approach. He says, instead of looking at unsolicited proposals, elected gov should set priorities and figure out what the city needs, then city hall should go to the market and see if they’ve got tech products that fit.

Councillor Ainslie supports the PayIt deal and says he’s been trying to “drag city hall kicking and screaming into the 21st century.” He says dealing with gov should be as easy as online banking or online shopping. “I think this platform goes a long way toward achieving that.”

Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for a report on the accountability offices’ role when it comes to procurement, and a review of the city adopting the Open Contracting Global Principles. Very similar to Perks’ motion, he admits, but without the Inspector General stuff.

Mayor John Tory is the final speaker on the PayIt item. He reiterates that he supports the deal and he’ll be supporting all the motions except for the one by Perks. But he’ll support Holyday’s similar motion. He says it’s city hall’s job is to make people’s lives easier.

Tory says the deal doesn’t include any upfront capital costs for the city and residents won’t be forced to use it. If they don’t, he says the city can revisit the issue of payments. “People will vote with their clicks,” mayor says.

Councillor Bailao’s motion to limit delegated authority to staff re: payment fees CARRIES 25-0.

Councillor Fletcher’s motion to make sure the city’s accountability offices have oversight over the PayIt deal CARRIES 25-0.

Councillor Filion’s motion to make sure transaction fees on PayIt are clearly communicated to users CARRIES 25-0.

Councillor Perks’ motion to cease consideration of unsolicited bids until October so city can consider establishing Inspector General for purchasing FAILS 8-17.

Second part of Perks’ motion, to stop consideration of unsolicited bids until October while city reviews adopting Open Contracting Global Principles, also FAILS 8-17.

Councillor Holyday’s motion to review role of accountability offices in procurement and to look at adopting Open Contracting Global Principles CARRIES 25-0.

Toronto Council APPROVES the PayIt deal, 17-8.

Council quickly moves on to Tory’s second key item: the acquisition of land from Metrolinx along the Finch West LRT route for use as a Jane-Finch community hub and arts centre. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Bit of a twisty saga that led us here. At one point, Metrolinx appeared to have backed out of a deal to donate the city the land for the hub. There was some uproar. Then the deal was back on. @BenSpurr has the latest here: thestar.com/news/gta/2021/…

Metrolinx is technically selling the city the Jane-Finch property for two bucks. I think the city should pay ‘em in nickels.

Council APPROVES acquisition of the Jane-Finch site from Metrolinx and starting development of a plan to build a community hub and arts centre. 25-0.

There are 56 items left on the agenda, but 32 of them are members motions. Up now: should Council cover $6,889.47 in legal costs for former councillor Justin Di Ciano related to an OPP investigation? app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

They shall. Council votes via show of hands to cover Di Ciano’s legal bill.

Next up: a report recommending Council give businesses a 60-day extension to pay their 2021 license fees. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

This item has a submitted presentation from a consultant working for the Filmores Hotel strip club, arguing that Filmores has been able to open for just 15.6% of the last year, and the licensing costs are unfair. toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… (PDF)

The business license item carries via show of hands, after a speech from Councillor Wong-Tam in which she said council will need to do more to support small biz coming through COVID.

On an item about delegating authority to staff to negotiate deals with other cities for waste management, The City of Clarington has written to Council to make clear to Toronto “that its waste is not welcome in Clarington.” Okay. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

It’s time for Council’s e-scooter debate. Staff have recommended Toronto maintain a ban on using e-scooters on city streets — even e-scooters privately purchased. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Paul Ainslie asks about Ottawa allowing e-scooters versus Toronto looking to ban them. Transportation GM Barbara Gray says there’s a big difference in terms of the number of pedestrians and other road users in Toronto vs Ottawa.

Councillor Jaye Robinson asks a good question about this e-scooter ban figures into Toronto’s approach to micro-mobility. Gray says a report about Toronto’s larger micro-mobility strategy is in the works.

Dr. de Villa has written to Council endorsing the e-scooter ban. “To prevent an increase in street and side-walk related injuries and fatalities, the current regulations prohibiting the use of e-scooters in public spaces need to be maintained.” toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… (PDF)

Janet Lo, the Policy & Innovation project manager for Transportation Services, acknowledges the city doesn’t have the resources to be proactively enforcing the e-scooter ban. Staff seem to be banking on idea the ban will discourage people from buying and riding e-scooters.

Lo says e-bike riders can get insurance through their homeowners’ or renters’ insurance, but that isn’t available for e-scooters at this time. McKelvie asks if Council could revisit private e-scooters if insurance issue is solved. Lo says yes, but bunch of issues to figure out.

Councillor Paul Ainslie, an e-scooter supporter, moves to refer the report back to staff for another report in September with a framework for allowing e-scooters.

Councillor McKelvie, chair of the Infrastructure Committee, argues against referral. She says the City has looked at this multiple times already and the provincial legislation needs to change to address insurance concerns, etc. “Waste of resources” until that happens.

Ainslie’s motion to refer the e-scooter item back to staff to find a way to let the people scoot (legally) FAILS 3-21.

Councillor Stephen Holyday has a motion requesting the provincial government make helmets mandatory for e-scooter riders.

The way this e-scooter debate nudges open a pandora’s box for cycling worries me. If scooters need mandatory helmets and insurance policies, some will inevitably start arguing the same should be true for bikes.

Councillor James Pasternak says Toronto has to “err on the side of caution” for e-scooters right now. “The city has so much on its plate right now” so the timing’s just not right for city hall to take on e-scooters, he explains.

Councillor Stephen Holyday’s motion requesting the province make helmets mandatory for e-scooter riders CARRIES 22-2.

Wong-Tam’s motion, via the accessibility committee, for an education campaign re: the e-scooter ban and stepped-up enforcement carries via a show of hands.

Toronto Council votes to APPROVE continued ban on riding e-scooters on public streets, 25-0.

Council adjourns for the night. Back tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with 47 items left on the agenda. Most of them are member motions. I’m going to totally jinx it and suggest they might even finish this meeting early.

It’s the second and (fingers crossed) final day of the May 2021 meeting of Toronto City Council. The mayor is kicking things off by honouring former mayor Barbara Hall, who recently turned 75. Streaming live here:

The mayor shows off a framed honour for Barbara Hall, who Tory notes he ran against in the 2003 election. They both lost to David Miller. A different time.

First item up today is about the provincial transit-oriented communities (TOC) program. The province has moved to acquire the First Parliament Lands in Corktown for a TOC. Local residents have concerns. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

A long motion from local councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has been advance circulated, looking for the feds to consider including the First Parliament Site on the National Historic Sites of Canada, among other things. You can read it here: app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

The other part of this item concerns the East Harbour site. Land was originally being planned for employment use only. Now the province has indicated a change that’ll see a “significant new residential development component.”

Wong-Tam’s motion is moved. She says it’s important the First Parliament Site remains under “public ownership and public control in perpetuity.”

Councillor John Filion moves a request to the province to commit to early discussions with City Hall about potential transit-oriented community developments. Filion says this is a “very polite” motion.

Councillor Paula Fletcher moves to confirm the city’s position that East Harbour should be designated for employment land, not residential, and to have the Chief Planner report on any changes the province wants to make to land-use designation.

Councillor Ana Bailao draws a distinction between transit-oriented development, which she supports, and a government simply looking to use development as a tool to pay for transit, which she doesn’t. Wants the city to have a strong voice at the table in TOC discussions.

Mayor John Tory has a motion too. He wants to communicate to the province that the city will only support provincial moves re: TOCs if there’s consultation, maximum possible amount of affordable housing, high quality design, etc.

Wong-Tam’s motion carries via a show of hands. Filion’s motion requesting the province commit to early discussions with the city and local councillors re: transit-oriented development plans also CARRIES 25-0.

Fletcher’s motion confirming the city would like East Harbour to be designated for employment lands CARRIES 25-0.

The mayor’s motion carries via show of hands. And that’s the end of the TOC item.

Up now: a motion about reducing the amount of road salt used on city streets. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Here’s 2018 era @shawnmicallef on city salt use. “A few years ago salt water Blue Crabs got into Mimico Creek and survived for a long time … Salt water creatures shouldn’t survive in freshwater, but the salt was so high they could.” thestar.com/news/gta/2018/…

After a quick amendment from Councillor Jaye Robinson to also direct the Toronto Library to look at reducing salt use in their parking lots, the salty item carries via a show of hands.

Council is now on an item about how virtual public hearings for the Committee of Adjustment are being handled. A slew of resident orgs have written asking for changes to the virtual format. Unrelated: Michael Mizzi from the planning dept has a cool poster. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Here’s the logo for community group “Save Our Bennington.” Usually they’re a little less blatant. toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… (PDF)

Councillor James Pasternak tries to end the debate on virtual Committee of Adjustment hearings, but his motion to call the question FAILS 9-14. So they break for lunch until 2.

Councillors are taking this opportunity to film themselves saying “Happy Pride!” for some sort of future video message. They don’t know they’re still on livestream for this exercise. But again, they disappoint me by not saying anything scandalous.

Council is back. There are 45 items left on the agenda. They’re going to deal with member motions before they get back into debate.

Via show of hands, Council votes to dedicate Section 37 funds toward installing a bench and statue honouring the late Councillor Pam McConnell at the Regent Park Aquatic Centre. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes via show of hands to urge the Royal Canadian Mint to ensure the images on Canadian coins and bills better reflect Canadian diversity. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes via show of hands to request a report on technology that can detect, take photos and issue tickets to noisy vehicles. Like photo radar but with sound. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council supports Councillor Brad Bradford’s motion urging the provincial government to “establish a reopening plan for outdoor sports and recreational activities.” app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes via show of hands in favour of Councillor Paul Ainslie’s motion to put together a plan “to phase out traditional telephone fax lines for City Divisions.” app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes 22-4 to support Councillor Michael Ford’s request for a report on extending the Finch West LRT to link up with the future Woodbine GO Station. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes via show of hands to support naming a baseball diamond in Scarborough after Roy Halladay. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Member motions done. There are 11 items left on the agenda. Nunziata tells Council they’re going to vote now on whether to extend the meeting to complete the agenda tonight, so staff can prepare to stay after 6 p.m. This is a good way to do things.

Council votes 21-3 to extend the meeting past 6 p.m. to finish the agenda, if necessary. “Hopefully it’ll be before 6,” says Nunziata.

Council has approved a report on the Mr. Christie site dev and the Ombudsman’s 2020 report. And now we’re back to the Committee of Adjustment item. Every month there’s an issue that surprises me by taking up a huge amount of time. This month, it’s this. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

After a long debate and a handful of amendments, Council votes via show of hands to have staff report on hiring a consultant to review the Committee of Adjustment process and look at ways to improve the hearings.

Council votes 18-5 to advise the provincial government that they only support the use of MZOs when they’re made in collaboration with City staff and officials. (And the public, if feasible.)

To show what they meant by that last vote, Council follows up by voting to endorse the use of two provincial MZOs for affordable supportive housing at 222 Spadina and 877 Yonge. 22-1. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes to refer the development application for Canada Square at Yonge & Eglinton to the Planning & Housing Committee (instead of Toronto & East York Community Council). Contentious! 13-11.

Council also votes to make public the lease agreement between the city and Oxford Properties for Canada Square at 2200 Yonge. 23-1.

Up now: Councillor Jaye Robinson would like Council to support her motion requesting Metrolinx consider alternative site options for the Ontario Line maintenance facility. Thorncliffe Park residents aren’t fans of the current proposal. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes 23-0 to support Councillor Robinson’s motion requesting Metrolinx look at alternative maintenance sites for the Ontario Line, given the local opposition to the Thorncliffe Park site.

Final item has to do with a $40 million in contract awards for arboricultural services — for trees and stuff. Councillor Filion has questions, but he thinks Council may need to go into private session to discuss. There’s dispute on whether that’s necessary app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes 16-4 to go into private session to debate this tree contract item, the very last item on the agenda. My educated guess would be this relates to the recent Auditor General reports on tree maintenance.

Back in public session, Councillor John Filion moves to refer the recommendation to give a $5 million tree maintenance contract to Davey Tree Expert Company back to the City Manager, to give the CM time to talk to Davey about performance and penalties, and to look at in-sourcing.

Filion says he’s singled out Davey because the company sent a letter to Council arguing with the AG report. “Why would you hire somebody who said ‘we didn’t even do anything wrong’?” asks Filion.

Filion’s motion to not give Davey Tree a tree maintenance contract (for now, at least) FAILS 5-13.

The item awarding about $40 million worth of tree maintenance contracts CARRIES 15-3.

Now let’s make like a tree and get out of here. Council’s May 2021 meeting has concluded.

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