: Bill Saundercook City Councillor Ward 13 :
City wide Sign By-Law - Public Consultations
News Release
January 19, 2009
City of Toronto conducting second round of public consultation
on new city-wide sign bylaw
The City of Toronto is seeking public input on the creation of a single sign bylaw to regulate permanent signs across the city. Permanent signs that will be regulated under the new sign bylaw include roof signs, fascia (wall) signs, free-standing (ground) signs and billboards. A proposed draft bylaw and enforcement protocol is expected to be completed in the summer of 2009.
The first round of consultation has concluded and an interim report and presentation containing issues and options for the new sign bylaw was heard at a special meeting of Planning and Growth Management on December 8, 2008. At the meeting, public and stakeholder submissions were made and councillors provided direction to help steer the project into the second round of consultation.
Options presented at the special meeting include:
• Consider the appropriateness of electronic and digital signs and regulate them based on location and sign characteristics
• Create environmental standards for signs including consideration for recycled or re-used materials, purchase of renewable power and control of illumination
• Restrict new roof signs
• Regulate signs in windows
• Establish a sunset clause for new third-party signs
• Revise and update the current sign variance practice
• Create a dedicated Sign Unit in TorontoBuilding to consolidate the sign approval process.
At this second stage, a series of public consultation meetings is being held to give residents and businesses an opportunity to provide their comments and ideas on the issues and options presented in the first report. This information will be used to develop appropriate measures in the new sign bylaw to effectively regulate signs in Toronto. Following this second round of consultation, a draft sign bylaw will be presented to Council.
The public is invited to participate in any of the following consultation sessions:
1. Tuesday, January 20, 7 p.m. - Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, Ground Floor, Boardroom
2. Wednesday, January 21, 7 p.m. - North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St., Council Chamber
3. Thursday, January 22, 7 p.m. - Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., Council Chamber
4. Thursday, January 29, 7 p.m. - City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, Committee Room 2
For details about the Sign Bylaw Project and the public consultations, visit http://www.toronto.ca/signbylawproject, e-mail signbylawproject@toronto.ca or call 416-392-8000.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.
City Council
GREEN FLEET PLAN APPROVED!
Toronto is greening its fleet operations to reduce fuel use, fuel costs, and emissions of greenhouse gases and smog pollutants.
The 2008-2011 Plan builds on the green fleet activities from Phase I: the Green Fleet Transition Plan 2004-2007. The Plan also adds exciting new initiatives, such as a focus on green heavy trucks.
The Plan will make buying green vehicles standard practice at the City of Toronto and provides the flexibility to adopt promising new technologies and practices over time.
The focus of the Plan is the City's centrally-managed fleet of almost 4,700 vehicles and pieces of equipment. These fleet vehicles and fuels are used by all City Divisions and managed by Fleet Services.
Through Phase I, the Green Fleet Transition Plan, the City of Toronto reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated five million kilograms, (5,000 tonnes). Phase II aims to reduce emissions of CO2 by approximately 15 million kilograms (15,000 tonnes) compared to conventional vehicles, fuels and activities. This equals an 11% reduction in fleet emissions compared to conventional activities. By reducing fuel use, implementing the Plan will also save money.
The Plan outlines 38 specific actions Toronto will take to accelerate the greening of its fleet over the next four years. The actions cover five topic areas:
Emission reduction targets
Vehicles
Fuels
Sustainable choices
Maintenance and management practices
Plan Highlights
Replacing a minimum of 520 vehicles with green vehicles
Pilot testing hybrid heavy trucks
Pilot testing hydrogen-powered vehicles
Promoting the Idle-Free campaign for City staff
More highlights...
Q&As regarding greening our fleet
CLICK HERE to download GREEN FLEET PLAN 2008-2011
City Council meeting of January 29 and 30, 2008
Agenda for Prosperity - a strong, vibrant and internationally competitive Toronto
Council endorsed the Agenda for Prosperity - A Prospectus for a Great City as the framework for major strategic policies impacting economic competitiveness and growth. The city-building agenda was prepared by the Mayor's Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee, which is comprised of business, labour and academic leaders, and members of Council. City Council also directed staff, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, to prepare an implementation plan and budget for priority actions, recommend targets for the success measures identified for the four pillars of the Prosperity Agenda, and to report back as soon as possible on next steps, and annually thereafter on the status of the report's implementation. The Mayor convened the Advisory Committee in June 2006 to provide advice on ways to improve the quality of life in Toronto, put creativity at the heart of the economic development strategy and create greater opportunity for all through enhanced economic competitiveness and growth, the creation of high quality jobs, retaining and attracting investment, and fostering a culture of partnership to sustain a vibrant economy.
Street Food Pilot for Toronto
Council approved a Toronto Street Food Pilot for the summer of 2008 to introduce the sale of safe, healthy, nutritious and ethnically-diverse foods at selected locations. Staff were instructed to seek expressions of interest from potential cart manufacturers and to explore the use of partnership opportunities to provide funding for the 15-cart pilot. The pilot is dependent on making an arrangement at no cost to the City. A staff report is expected in the spring. Council also approved a motion authorizing staff to take the necessary steps to secure the name "Toronto a la Carte" as the official name of the proposed street food program.
Protecting Toronto's trees
Council adopted amendments to the City's tree bylaws to better protect both City-owned trees and trees on private property. Under the approved new fee structure, a construction-related permit application to request the removal of a private tree will cost $300 per tree (with no maximum), instead of $200. The non-construction-related permit application fee to remove a private tree is still $100 per tree, but the previous maximum fee of $300 has been removed. Residents who wish to apply to remove a healthy City-owned tree are now required to pay $300 per tree (with no maximum). Previously, there were no fees associated with requests to remove healthy City-owned trees. The amendments will strengthen the bylaws and improve inspection of potential infractions. The city-wide Private Tree Bylaw has been in effect since September 30, 2004 and regulates trees on private property that have a diameter of 30 cm or greater measured at 1.4 metres off the ground. The City's Street Tree Bylaw protects all trees located on public streets, lanes and highways. The minimum fine for illegally injuring or removing a privately- or publicly-owned tree is $500 per tree up to a maximum fine of $100,000, as determined by the courts.
Decreasing the risk of rabies transmission
Council approved a motion asking staff to report back on strategies to decrease or eliminate the risk of rabies transmission when dogs and cats are sold to the public, including the requirement that all dogs and cats to be licensed and fully immunized against rabies at the point of sale. Council also approved a request to ask the provincial government to regulate the sale of dogs and cats to ensure that anyone who may come into contact with these animals is protected against the risk of rabies transmission.
Streamlining the City's bicycle lane approval process
City Council adopted a new approval process for bicycle lanes in the city. In an effort to streamline the bicycle lane approval and reporting process, all bicycle lane matters will now be routed to Council through the City's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. Rather than have bicycle lane matters considered by one of the City's four Community Councils, and the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee if the proposed bicycle lane crosses more than one Community Council area, the new method streamlines the approval process by ensuring all bicycle lane matters are routed through one committee. Simplifying the bicycle lane approval process is an important step in accelerating the implementation of the Bike Plan, which was approved by City Council in 2001.
Increasing the City's share of slot machine revenue from Woodbine Racetrack
Council directed the Mayor and staff to negotiate a larger percentage of the slot machine revenue the City receives from Woodbine Racetrack, which is owned by the Woodbine Entertainment Group but operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). The objective is to increase the City's share to 10 per cent - the amount currently awarded to non-government stakeholders. Under the current Racetrack Municipality Contribution Agreement with the OLG, the City receives 5 per cent of the gross gaming revenue on the first 450 slot machines and 2 per cent on the balance in excess of 450 machines. If the discussion to amend the existing agreement fails, staff will report back on the feasibility of negotiating a separate deal for new slots machines, and on the possibility of implementing a cap on the number of slot machines permitted in any establishment in the city. Council also voted in favour of a policy whereby any expansion of gaming in Toronto would be contingent on the City receiving a minimum share of 10 per cent of the gross gaming revenue.
New City Council meeting times
Council voted to conclude their meetings one hour earlier and to cancel their 30-minute dinner break. As per the approved new meeting times, City Council will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Council also approved a motion for the provision of refreshments when council extends the meeting session past 8 p.m.