Holding a New Public Meeting for Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area Expansion - by Councillor Joe Cressy, seconded by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam

The meeting was well attended and the response was positive. Based on the feedback from this meeting, the Expansion Steering committee elected to proceed to a formal public consultation meeting as required under Section 19-2.2 (A)(3)(e) of the Code. To provide sufficient time for an expansion poll to be conducted in advance of the 2020 Business Improvement Area levy, the public meeting was scheduled for July 30, 2019. Proper notice of the formal public meeting was given in accordance with Section 19-2.2 (D) of the Code, however the meeting was attended by only five potential Business Improvement Area members from the expansion area. A vote was held to determine whether to proceed to an expansion poll. Two voted in favor, three were opposed. Subsection 19-2.2 (G) of the Code states that if the potential Business Improvement Area members vote against proceeding to an expansion poll at the formal public consultation meeting another formal meeting, cannot be held for a period of 2 years. Following the meeting, the Business Improvement Area canvassed businesses and property owners in the expansion area and determined that there is still strong support for expanding the Business Improvement Area . Based on poor attendance at the July 30, 2019 meeting, it is recommended that City Council waive the 2-year waiting period and direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to hold a new formal public consultation meeting to consider the proposed expansion of the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area.