Thread by @GraphicMatt

Toronto Council meets today! The mayor has named inclusionary zoning his first key item, so it’s up for debate first, after the usual housekeeping. After that: the small biz tax break.

Streaming live on YouTube. I’ll tweet the highlights and lowlights.

For a preview of the agenda, @neville_park has you covered with the latest TWATCH for @CityHallWatcher.

We’re expecting debates about road safety, pot shops, anti-vaxx protests, employment area zoning, the winter shelter plan and more. Also: trees.

graphicmatt.substack.com/p/twatch4

Speaking of trees, if you missed yesterday’s @CityHallWatcher you missed a ridiculous amount of information about Toronto street trees. What ward has the most trees? What’s the most common type of tree? Do trees get lonely? It’s all here. graphicmatt.substack.com/p/chw148

And we’re off. The Council meeting starts with a video presentation about Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the poppy as a symbol people wear.

Councillor Stephen Holyday wants a recorded vote on an item about giving a below-market lease to a seniors centre and other not-for-profits in Scarborough Guildwood at 705 Progress Ave. Leases are APPROVED 25-1. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

A new addition to the agenda: Jim Hart, chair of the Toronto Police Services Board, has moved out of Toronto, which is contrary to residency requirements. Mayor John Tory would like to change the policy so Hart can continue to serve as police board chair. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Around 75% of Toronto cops live outside Toronto so I guess why not the police board chair too? theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto…

Council has adopted the order paper, approving a bunch of items with no debate. There are now 79 items left on the agenda. Time to talk inclusionary zoning.

Inclusionary zoning, in effect, requires developers to set aside units for affordable housing. Here’s the phase-in schedule for Toronto’s IZ. Starts with requiring between 5% and 10% affordable in 2022, then ramps up to as high as 22% for 2030. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

And here are the three “market areas.” Remember provincial rules only allow IZ near transit stations. City is setting IZ percentages higher in the core.

If you look closely at that map, you’ll see some planned or existing transit stations have been left out of the city’s IZ zones — especially along the Sheppard Subway and parts of the Crosstown corridor. Councillor Josh Matlow has been pushing for Little Jamaica to be added.

Another contentious piece is that Toronto’s IZ policy doesn’t offer incentives, like extra density, as IZ policies often do in other cities. @MoreNeighbours is asking for “density bonuses, relaxed urban design guidelines, and financial benefits.” toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… (PDF)

Councillor Mike Layton says he’ll be be moving a motion during this IZ debate setting higher targets for affordable housing. Councillor Gord Perks tried to move a motion like that at committee but it didn’t fly.

Councillor Mike Colle has a cool art piece of what appears to be a giant person contemplating a CLRV streetcar.

Councillor Stephen Holyday asks why there’s no parking requirements for affordable units created via IZ. Chief Planner Gregg Lintern says because parking adds greatly to construction costs, and city’s data shows affordable units generally have much lower parking demand.

Deputy Mayor Denzil MInnan-Wong says he has “out of control development” in his ward. “The community and I can’t do anything to stop it.” Wonders if he could use IZ to control development.

“I don’t think that’s the intent of the program,” says chief planner, diplomatically.

This has been one of my big concerns as Toronto goes forward with IZ: that NIMBYism will stand in the way of letting it translate to enough affordable units constructed. I wrote about this in my column last week: thestar.com/opinion/contri…

Time for IZ motions! Councillor Ana Bailao moves for staff to develop a communications plan that counters some of the objections to IZ being pushed by the development industry. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Mike Layton moves for a more aggressive phase-in schedule for the IZ percentages set aside for affordable housing. “We have a housing emergency,” he says.

Layton says in the next five years his motion will create 1.5 times to 2 times more affordable housing in most high-growth areas of the city than the committee proposal. Developers would still have a 15% profit margin.

“Sure, the province could appeal, but usually municipalities are given broad direction to set their own policies like this, so it’s not clear the province would be successful in their appeal,” says Layton. He calls for bravery and not to be afraid of “developers and Doug Ford.”

Councillor Stephen Holyday: “Politicians and magicians can be similar in a lot of ways…”

Oh no. He has a prop. He has a hat.

Holyday’s point, illustrated with his magician’s hat, is that things are not always what they seem, and councillors may be handwaving drawbacks that come with IZ, like a lack of parking. “These affordable units don’t come from the sky … somebody ultimately pays for this.”

The latest in a series.

And with that, Council breaks for lunch. Back at 2 p.m. I’d urge other councillors to use the time to think about props to use for their IZ speeches. Some ideas: a hard hat, a big jar of gumballs, a hula hoop, a butterfly net.

Do you believe in magic? I hope you do.

Council’s back from lunch. Councillor Mike Colle, without props, moves for a report in June 2022 on adding the Marlee Ville corridor as an IZ area.

Councillor Gord Perks speaks in support of Layton’s motion for more aggressive IZ percentages. “I am sick and tired of telling Torontonians we are not ambitious in terms of the city we want to build because we are afraid of Doug Ford,” he says.

The tension in this IZ debate is basically between whether it makes sense to go with IZ percentages that won’t lead to pushback from Queen’s Park, or whether to get caught trying with something more aggressive that might lead to another Toronto vs. Ford bare knuckle brawl.

Councillor John Filion, also without using props, moves for “further analysis in the North York Centre area” for a report in spring 2022. A pretty vague motion!

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam moves for a report on a communications campaign. Similar to Bailao’s motion, educating the public and pushing back against misconceptions about IZ.

This makes the vote on Layton’s motion a bit more interesting!

https://twitter.com/jpags/status/1458162216939802630

The curveball in this debate is that there are could be some councillors who hear that aggressive IZ could lead to some developments not going forward and their response is something like, “Oh. Cool.”

Mayor John Tory is the last speaker on this issue. He defends his record on housing. “Where was the courage in past years, prior to my being here at city hall, in respect to the building of affordable and supportive housing? Where was the courage? What were the outcomes then?”

“Councillor Layton’s motion should not be the tool to slow down development,” says the mayor, signalling strong support for the staff recommendations.

Time to vote. Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to impose more ambitious targets for Inclusionary Zoning FAILS 8-18.

Councillor Bailao’s motion calling for a communications plan to defend the IZ policy CARRIES 23-2.

Councillor Colle’s motion calling for a report on adding the Marlee Ville corridor to the IZ zones CARRIES 24-2.

Councillor Filion’s motion calling for further analysis of North York Centre as it pertains to IZ CARRIES 25-1.

Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion for a report on a comms strategy to fight “misconceptions” about IZ CARRIES 23-3.

And Toronto’s Inclusionary Zoning report, as amended, with original staff-recommended targets, CARRIES 23-2.

Up now: a proposal for a new property tax class for small business. This tax break for small businesses will be funded by higher property taxes on larger businesses. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

I wrote about challenge with implementing a small biz tax over the summer. Turns out defining a “small business” isn’t easy. Staff ended up going with definition based on the value of the property (CVA), the location, and, in some cases, lot size. thestar.com/opinion/contri…

Colle asks how the City can guarantee landlords will pass savings from small biz tax change on to their commercial tenants. Casey Brendon, director of Revenue Services, says there’s no real way to do that. The report says the same. Landlords could just pocket the savings.

Brendon says the city will publish a list of properties that qualify for the new small biz tax rate, so commercial tenants can look that up to see if their location is on it. But there’s no direct notification program planned via mail or otherwise.

Councillor Brad Bradford moves to ask the provincial gov to match the city’s small biz property tax reduction with a similar reduction to education property taxes paid by small businesses.

Councillor Stephen Holyday moves for a one-year review of the small biz property tax. He also wants staff to look at something he’s calling “inter-ward balancing.” He’s concerned businesses in strip malls and plazas in his ward may not get a benefit from this.

“This is like whack-a-mole,” Councillor Colle explains of the small biz tax class. “You’ve got to be very careful how hard you whack that mole. You whack it too hard and you’re going to basically hurt the larger business class, and you could even impact the residential class.”

You’ve got to be very careful how hard you whack that mole.

Words to live by.

Councillor Wong-Tam, who worked very hard on getting this tax class to the finish line, moves for a public awareness campaign letting property owners and biz operators know about the tax break.

All motions on the small biz property tax class carry via show of hands. The item as amended CARRIES 25-1. Small biz tax break approved.

Council votes 22-0 in favour of a zoning amendment for a development at 966 Don Mills, which includes a deal for a community centre on the old Celestica site. Community group wanted the centre built on an alternative site. @KopunF wrote about it in Oct: thestar.com/news/gta/2021/…

Next item is the City Manager Chris Murray’s latest report on the COVID response. Minnan-Wong asks if City Hall could set an example by bringing employees back to the office ahead of the holidays. Murray says city hall is at 30% capacity — expects capacity to increase after Jan 1

Councillor Paula Fletcher asks where employees will keep their files now that the city is largely moving to a shared desk “hoteling” model for employees. Murray explains that most files are digital these days.

Councillor Mike Colle asks if there’s any plans to allow people to open windows at city hall for increased air circulation. Staff say that’s not possible. No openable windows.

On the COVID recovery item, Councillor James Pasternak moves to conduct a survey to assess employee views on working remotely versus returning to the office.

After a few councillors and the mayor point out that the city has already conducted employee surveys re: remote work, Council votes 7-19 AGAINST Pasternak’s motion for another one.

Council approves a new slate of appointees to the Zoo Board, including Cynthia Holmes, whose bio says she “is the creator of the Youtube video ‘Otters holding hands’ but her favorite animal is the giraffe.” So noted. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council calls it quits for the night. Back at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, when the first item will be CafeTO: 2022 and beyond. There are 68 items left on the agenda.

Council is back for day two. CafeTO will be up first today. Staff report recommends bringing back the expanded patios for summer 2022, and beginning the work for making the program permanent.

Meeting is streaming live here:

Before they get to the CafeTO debate, Council votes 26-0 to approve accepting advance payments from Metrolinx as compensation for expropriation of First Parliament Site. The Master Plan for the site is also approved unanimously.

CafeTO debate kicks off with Q of staff. An interesting aspect of this debate is that, while CafeTO patios were available to restaurants city-wide, they were pretty heavily concentrated to the downtown area. Wards 1, 6, 7, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 had zero participation in 2021

Here’s a map showing CafeTO participation by number of restaurants supported, by ward. Ward 10 — Spadina-Fort York, Ward 11 — University-Rosedale, Ward 13 — Toronto Centre and Ward 14 — Toronto Danforth accounted for ~58% of the program in 2021. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NLtCx/1/

This program was and is enormously popular with businesses. City survey found ~75% of biz operators want to keep using curb lanes for patios. Just 7% want to go back to parking. I wrote about the triumph of patios over parking here: thestar.com/opinion/contri…

Initial questions about CafeTO from councillors Holyday and Minnan-Wong are focused on whether CafeTO is delaying travel times for Toronto drivers. Shocking, I know. Transportation GM Barbara Gray say part of making program permanent will be analysis of how patios impact traffic.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam moves to amend the process for CafeTO patio approvals so that local councillors are informed.

Councillor James Pasternak speaks about how the CafeTO program has “redefined the streetscape” along streets in his ward like Wilson Ave, giving them a European vibe when the patios are in place. He’s a big fan of the program.

Offering an opposing view, here’s Councillor Holyday. No props today. He says he has a lot of concerns about making CafeTO permanent. He believes CafeTO and bike lanes “represent barriers” to people who live in the suburbs who want to go downtown.

Councillor Gord Perks says this CafeTO debate is fundamentally about what kind of city people want: one where the “attractions of our main streets are so great that everyone wants to be there” or “main streets with tumbleweeds blowing down them with the odd car going 100 km/h”?

Councillor Paula Fletcher has a motion asking staff to seek “input and advice” from local councillors on CafeTO patios prior to issuing licenses. Also requests reports on number of patios, complaints, and whether councillors could apply conditions to licenses.

The temporary CafeTO program implemented during the pandemic has been heralded as a triumph of cutting through red tape and getting things done quick. The permanent program might be… different.

Councillor McKelvie points out that while the report indicates her Ward 25 didn’t have any CafeTO participation, there were 6 patios on private property. Part of analysis re: permanent CafeTO will look at supports for patios on private property, like strip mall parking lots, etc.

Councillor Mike Colle is a big fan of CafeTO. “If you want to see Paris in Toronto, just go down Ossington south of Dundas down to Queen. It is alive with cafes, young people, old people — incredible humanity of wonderful, wonderful animation.”

Colle has switched up the art since yesterday.

https://twitter.com/GraphicMatt/status/1458103584487321603

Scarborough’s Councillor Cynthia Lai says she’ll support the CafeTO report, but wants to see more effort on making it work in the suburbs. She explains that, aside from coming to city hall, she rarely goes downtown.

Mayor John Tory is the final speaker on the CafeTO item. “This saved businesses,” he says, and also speaks to how it made streets look more vibrant. On traffic, he says streets can’t just be “thoroughfares”. Govs investing $30B on transit so people don’t have to drive so much.

All CafeTO motions carry via a show of hands.

Holyday wants some report recommendations split into separate votes.

Council votes 22-2 to APPROVE starting work on making the CafeTO program permanent.

Council votes 22-2 to APPROVE waiving permit fees etc for patios as part of bringing back the CafeTO program in 2022.

Remainder of the report recommendations carry 24-0. The upshot: CafeTO will return in 2022 and staff will begin work on making it permanent, despite objections of councillors Ford and Holyday. Patio season shall return.

Up now: an intriguing report pointing out that none of City Hall’s Accountability Offices currently have much oversight over procurement. Councillor Gord Perks is asking about establishing an Inspector General who could fill that role. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Perks moves two motions about purchasing and procurement. One calls for a review of potential role for Inspector General. Other calls for review of how city conforms to Open Contracting Global Principles.

Perks says goal of both motions is to avoid rerun of PayIt situation.

Perks’ motion re: Open Contracting Global Principles carries via show of hands.

His motion for a review of an Inspector General role to provide oversight on procurement CARRIES 20–3.

Council sneaks in a quick tree debate before the lunch break. Should Council grant a permit to cut down this massive Norway Maple in Councillor Ford’s ward? Councillor Carroll moves to overrule the community council recommendation and let the tree LIVE. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

The tree will SURVIVE. The tree will ENDURE.

Life finds a way, and that way is Council voting 12-9 to support Carroll’s motion to deny the request for a tree removal permit.

Council breaks for lunch until 2 p.m. There are 57 items left on the agenda, including 35 member motions that’ll get dealt with swiftly after the break.

Council is back. They’re going to run through the list of member motions then it looks like they’ll be going into private session to deal with some confidential reports.

Councillor Gord Perks’ motion about implementing safety measures on Parkside Drive gets added to the agenda, but Councillor Stephen Hollyday holds it. He wants to ask questions of staff. They’ll come back to it later. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Jennifer McKelvie’s motion calling for a report in Q1 2022 on options to accelerate the implementation of Vision Zero measures carries via a show of hands. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Two motions from Councillor Paula Fletcher and Councillor Brad Bradford to reduce speeds and look at installing red light cameras and speed cameras on O’Connor Drive carry via shows of hands. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s motion, seconded by the mayor, to create a mental health and addictions strategy CARRIES 25-0.

Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion for a report on increasing the number of photo radar cameras as part of the 2022 budget process CARRIES 25-0. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion calling for a moratorium on new pot shop licenses and a council endorsement of Bill 29 to give municipalities on the location of cannabis retailers is added to the agenda, but Councillor Colle holds it for debate. They’ll come back to it.

Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion calling for a report in Feb 2022 on adding infant changing stations to all city-owned buildings CARRIES via a show of hands. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Council votes via show of hands to vary the residency requirement and allow Jim Hart to continue as chair of the Police Board even though he has moved out of Toronto. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

On a show of hands, Council votes to request the AGCO change regulations to allow seniors to play card games like Euchre and Bridge with a small ($2) entry fee for players at community centres. Currently prohibited as it is considered gambling. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Whew. That’s all for member motions for now. Council is now going into private session to consider items about cybersecurity, the sale of city-owned lands, and a new CEO for CreateTO. There are 25 items left on the agenda.

That took a while. Council is now back from their two-hour private session. Secrets were shared. Plans were plotted. Let’s see what we learn.

One bit of business arising from the secret session: Council votes 23-2 to ratify the appointment of a new CEO for CreateTO, the agency handling the city’s real estate matters.

We’ll find out the name of the new CEO shortly. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Gord Perks asks Nunziata if she’s thinking Council will need to come back on Friday to finish this agenda. Everyone nods. Yes, a third day of Council on Friday is the plan, says Nunziata.

But first: an Uber debate. Council voted to require ride share drivers to go through a certified training program in 2019. COVID delayed implementation. Some councillors want to stop issuing new ride share driver licenses until training is finally in place app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Uber has written to Council urging them NOT to vote to stop issuing new licenses. Letter argues not allowing more people to become Uber drivers will cut off a “financial safety net” and also lead to higher wait times and an increase in number of DUIs toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… (PDF)

Carleton Grant, City Hall’s Executive Director of Municipal, Licensing & Standards says an RFP for a ride share driver training program provider was just issued yesterday, and will close on December 10. Council approved the training requirement in July 2019.

Secret identity revealed! The new CreateTO CEO is former Tory staffer Vic Gupta. Councillors Josh Matlow and Jaye Robinson were only two to vote against the appointment. Approved 23-2.

https://twitter.com/jpags/status/1458561484968058895

Councillor Wong-Tam moves to immediately pause the issuing of new licenses for vehicle-for-hire and private transportation company drivers until the training program is in place.

Wong-Tam also moves that the training for Uber and taxi drivers include both in-class and in-car lessons and that previously-trained drivers be subject to a refresher course.

Wong-Tam points out this training requirement was put in place because Nicholas Cameron died while a passenger in an Uber. That story from 2018: thestar.com/news/gta/2018/…

Councillor Stephen Holyday says he’s in full support of driver training for Uber and taxi drivers, but says the procurement has already started and city has no understanding of the economic impact of pausing the issuing of licenses. Won’t support Wong-Tam’s motions.

Councillor Michael Ford disagrees with Holyday! The Etobicoke megapowers explode!

Ford says he’ll support Wong-Tam’s motions, because Council has been waiting too long for this training requirement to go into effect and this is about road safety. “Council has to send a message”

Deputy Mayor Denzil MInnan-Wong says he’ll vote against Wong-Tam’s motions because this item does not include a staff report and he doesn’t think that’s proper.

Layton and Matlow both indicate they’ll support Wong-Tam’s motion, along with Ford. “I don’t agree with Councillor Ford on everything…” Layton says, which is, uh, just a bit of an understatement. This is shaping up to be an interesting vote.

Councillor Gord Perks: “We are in the circumstance not because Mr. Grant isn’t doing his job, not because of the pandemic, but because of a deliberate and concerted effort by a bunch of venture capitalist tech bros who say they’re different and the rules don’t apply to them.”

Mayor John Tory says he’ll support Wong-Tam’s motion to stop the issuance of Uber/taxi driver licenses until the training program is in place. He thinks it sends a message — he’s not happy that it’s taken staff more than two years to implement this after Council approved it.

Tory suggests that part of Wong-Tam’s second motion, which directs staff to require specifics in the training program, be put off for now until after staff issue their report. Wong-Tam agrees to do that. Peace in our time.

Here’s Wong-Tam’s amended Motion 1B.

Wong-Tam’s motion to pause issuing new licenses for Uber and taxi drivers until after a training program is in place CARRIES 20-3.

Wong-Tam’s motion to grant taxi license holders access to the Accessibility Fund also carries, 22-1.

And the Uber/taxi driver training item as amended, with the amendment to stop issuing new licenses until after the training program in place, CARRIES 21-2.

And that’ll do it for tonight. Councillor Mark Grimes’ grandson Brody introduces the confirming bills to wrap things up. Very good job, Brody.

Council will come back on Friday, after Remembrance Day, at 9:30 a.m. to finish the agenda. There are 17 items left.

Toronto Council has returned for Day Three. There are 17 items left on the agenda, with the biggies being the shelter service plan and the award of a contract to pick up Etobicoke’s garbage to GFL. Also: two tree debates. Strap in and watch live:

Today’s meeting will be a race against time as Council must wrap by 3:30 p.m. to allow for religious observance at sundown.

Up first: the shelter service plan. Gordon Tanner, city hall’s director of homeless initiatives, says 7,073 people stayed in Toronto’s shelter system last night, and there are an estimated 200-250 people sleeping outdoors. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

I wrote about the results of Toronto’s 2021 street needs assessment — basically a census of the unhoused — for an issue of @CityHallWatcher a few weeks back. Lots of charts and maps. graphicmatt.substack.com/p/chw145

Councillor Wong-Tam moves for a report on what it would cost to provide every person living in a shelter with a one-year rental subsidy, and then to ask the province and feds for that money.

Holyday asks if Wong-Tam would accept a friendly amendment to also wind down the shelter system and close them all. Wong-Tam says no, because it makes sense to wait until council has all the info on rent supplements etc before contemplating the end of the shelter system

Wong-Tam says there will probably always be a need for emergency shelters, but it’s “time for us to move away from using shelters as de facto housing.”

Council has stalled because of some audio issues in the chamber. Councillors pass the time about just giving Councillor Anthony Perruzza, who likes giving long speeches, extra time to give a long speech.

The Clerks explain that they’re not sure if the public is getting audio of this meeting. @TorontoCouncil, I can assure you, we are. (Or I am, at least.)

Coun. Perks: “My mind has just been boggled that, in an environment where housing is an absolute crisis — not just in the City of Toronto but in other Ontario municipalities — the provincial government announces their big spending plan is to build highways that nobody even wants”

Perks concludes by saying Council needs to stand up to the provincial government and fight to get funding for housing. The mayor says he doesn’t think it’s time for “naming, blaming and shaming” and points to “ongoing productive discussions” with Queen’s Park he’s been having.

Tory says he’ll support Wong-Tam’s motion, but cautions that he will not support any subsequent move to have the city fund those rent supplements. He calls that “voluntary downloading” and says these costs should be borne by higher levels of government.

Wong-Tam’s motion to get a report on what it would cost to give every person living in a shelter a one-year rent subsidy (and then to ask the province and feds for that amount) CARRIES 25-0.

Remainder of the shelter item also carries unanimously. Up now: waterfront revitalization. Councillors Bailao and Fletcher have brought motions asking for the amount of affordable housing planned for the Port Lands to exceed minimum requirements. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Michael Thompson asks what’ll happen to the port uses (all the stuff that gets delivered there by ship) when the Port Lands get redeveloped. Chief Planner Gregg Lintern says the planning framework continues to support these uses on the waterfront.

Councillor Holyday brings up Redpath’s sugar operation on the waterfront. Lintern says Redpath has modernized operations, reduced noise of cranes — he notes city noise studies found the Gardiner generates more noise than Redpath these days.

Councillor Paula Fletcher, whose ward includes the Port Lands, notes that some industrial businesses on the waterfront have been pushing back against plans for parks, etc, arguing those uses aren’t compatible with their operations.

If you haven’t been down to check out Port Lands construction in a while, it’s worth a trip. Real “holy hell, they’re making an island” vibes. Here’s an overhead view from the latest Waterfront Toronto board meeting.

Councillor Fletcher’s motion calling for a report on the number of affordable housing units currently planned for the Port Lands CARRIES 24-0.

Councillor Bailao’s motion directing staff to shoot for an amount of affordable housing in the Port Lands that exceeds minimum requirements CARRIES 24-0.

Waterfront item as amended also carries 24-0. Up now: an auditor’s report on cybersecurity for Toronto Fire Services. A bit timely given the TTC’s recent woes. Most of the report is confidential. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

If I remember my schooling correctly, the best way to ensure cybersecurity is to have a Guardian named Bob who will combat foes like Megabyte and Hexadecimal.

Councillor Stephen Holyday, chair of the Audit Committee, moves a motion that he says is designed to enhance cybersecurity across all city divisions.

Holyday has another prop. It’s a literal City of Toronto banner, intending to symbolize his point that all of Toronto’s various divisions and agencies operate under the same banner. So noted.

Holyday’s motion carries via a show of hands, as does the cybersecurity audit item.

Up now: a report about developing a cultural districts program. Councillor Josh Matlow moves to involve “the local City Councillors, community members, stakeholders, BIAs, and relevant Council Advisory Bodies” in upcoming consultations. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Wong-Tam moves a long motion on the cultural districts item, directing the consultation process to include continued engagement with equity-deserving communities and a report back through the 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee.

Matlow’s motion carries via a show of hands. So does Wong-Tam’s motion. Staff will continue work on developing a Cultural Districts program.

Nunziata, ever mindful of the clock, moves to shorten the lunch break. They’ll only take an hour instead of the usual 90 minutes.

On an item about celebrating the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Township of North York, Councillor Carroll moves to have staff seek federal and provincial support for the bday celebrations in June 2022.

Carroll’s motion carries. See you at the party in June. If North York’s 100th anniversary celebration does not include Mel Lastman bursting out of a cake then I don’t even know what we’re doing here.

Council starts in on an item recommending Council award a contract worth up to $88.5 million to GFL for trash pick-up in Etobicoke through 2030. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

There’s some extra interest in this item after @johnrieti’s reporting that contracted-out trash collection is not saving any money compared to Toronto’s in-house service. cbc.ca/news/canada/to…

Council only gets a couple of trashy questions to staff in before the lunch break. Back at 1:30 p.m. for some more garbage time.

Council’s afternoon session begins. They’ve got about two hours to get through 11 items if they want to avoid deferring items to next month or coming back for a day four next week. Gotta go fast.

On the garbage item, Perks says he won’t be voting for the new GFL contract for Etobicoke. He says it’s always been clear how this would go: private companies come in with lowball prices, city gets rid of trucks so can no longer compete, then private companies raise prices.

Councillor Wong-Tam moves to defer the vote on the new GFL contract until after Council gets a report comparing private/public costs and service levels in January.

Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong brings up the “dirty, stinky” garbage strike in the summer of 2009. He said a big reason why the city contracted out service was to ensure they would no longer be beholden to the unions.

Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, chair of the Infrastructure Committee, says now is not the time to be debating public versus private on garbage collection. She says Council gave staff authority to collect bids for service in Etobicoke in January. She won’t support deferral.

Councillor Stephen Holyday says he’s happy with the current private sector-delivered garbage service in Etobicoke. “So don’t mess that up.” He won’t support deferral of the contract award.

Mayor Tory thinks the “balanced system” where half the garbage is collected by public sector employees and other half is private is working well. He won’t support the deferral motion, saying this kind of thing shouldn’t be done on the fly. “This is not ideological,” he says.

Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion to delay award of the contract to GFL for garbage pick-up in Etobicoke until after Council gets a report on public versus private FAILS 9-14.

(Interesting to see Bailao at odds with the mayor on that vote.)

Council votes 19-4 to AWARD the contract for garbage collection in Etobicoke to GFL.

Up now: safety on Parkside Drive. Councillor Holyday wants a recommendation about installing Green P parking spots on the street separated out so he can vote against it. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

And vote against it he does. Motion 1f, to work with the TPA to install some Green P parking spots along Parkside Drive, CARRIES 22-1. Remainder of the item carries via show of hands. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

On the item endorsing Bill 29 to allow municipalities more say over cannabis store locations, Councillor Mike Colle moves for a public education campaign to let citizens know that city hall currently has no say on the number of pot shops on their block. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Colle’s motion carries via a show of hands. And Council votes 23-0 to endorse the cannabis shop item, endorsing bill that’d give cities more say.

Up now: a Master Plan for Centennial Park. Got some headlines because the plan acknowledges the ski hill there will wind down operations. Ski season has been getting shorter and shorter. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillor Holyday moves for consultation with event permit holders as part of the Centennial Park master plan implementation. He thanks staff or all their work on the plan.

Holyday’s motion and the Centennial Park Master Plan carries via a show of hands. Nunziata is in full speed run mode, running at an ultra high frame rate and clipping through walls.

Mayor John Tory moves to refer a long-in-the-works plan to limit zoning for “sensitive uses” in employment areas back to staff. This has been pushed back multiple times before. Tricky business. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Nunziata says she’s very concerned about how bingo halls will be impacted by the zoning changes staff are working on, and will be delayed today. “I’ve been called the bingo queen of the city,” Nunziata says. Tory refers to her as “Your majesty, queen of bingo halls.”

“I’ve been involved with bingo since the 70s,” says Nunziata. “I can tell you that there’s a lot of revenue that these charities raise through bingo.” A lot of passion here for bingo.

Tory’s motion to refer the matter of zoning conformity in employment lands back to staff for more consideration CARRIES 24-0.

12 minutes left to deal with three items. One is about Housing Now. One is about child care. One is about a tree. They’re starting with the housing item. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Councillors move a handful of motions on Housing Now, mostly asking for specific consultation and analysis of future possible project sites in their wards. All motions CARRY via show of hands. The item as amended CARRIES 22-0. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

Up now: this tree at 55 Dixon. Homeowner wants a permit to remove so they can build a backyard pool. app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgen…

The tree shall live. Council votes 20-2 to DENY the tree removal permit.

And the last item, a member motion requesting a report on negotiations between the province and feds re: child care, gets deferred to next month’s meeting.

Looks like we made it. Council wraps up for the month. The next meeting is December 15. Things may get festive. Bring the eggnog.

I’m able to do this megathread coverage of Toronto Council meetings because people support my work with subscriptions to @CityHallWatcher. If you enjoyed this thread and found it useful, please consider subscribing.

graphicmatt.substack.com