Waiving Fees for Outdoor Fitness Permits for Businesses - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson

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The decision

2021-06-08 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on June 8 and 9, 2021, adopted the following: 1. City Council delegate authority to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to waive any fees required under Municipal Code Chapter 608, Parks, or Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, where the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, issues a Commercial Fitness Class in Parks permit and determines that the following criteria are met: a.

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the applicant is a person or group organizing instructor led exercise, yoga or martial arts classes on City owned and/or managed parkland; b. the facility being permitted is an outdoor area in a City park approved by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation; c. the fitness classes will take place between June 8, 2021 and October 3, 2021, inclusive, and is permitted under Provincial and Municipal statutes, by-laws, regulations, orders and guidance on the date it is to be held; and d. the applicant and fitness class participants will comply with: i. all other requirements of Chapter 608, including the physical distancing requirements under section 608-3A(1.1); ii. any conditions of the permit, including standard conditions and any additional conditions which the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation adds to ensure the health and safety of persons participating in the fitness activity and otherwise using the park; and iii. all provincial and municipal statutes, by-laws, regulations, orders and guidance relating to the fitness activities.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In recognition of the increased need for access to outdoor space, essential fresh air and exercise, and to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation requests authority to waive fees for providing permits to private businesses who want to offer outdoor fitness, yoga or martial arts classes in park spaces. Permits will be issued for open green spaces in parks, and approval for permit requests will depend on proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, sports fields, gardens, conflicts with other permitted or programmed areas and other site-specific considerations.

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Permit holders will be required to comply with current Provincial restrictions, including gathering limits and restrictions around amplified sound. Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 patrons is allowed under Step 1 of the Province of Ontario's three-step plan to safely and gradually life public health measures. Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities are not expected to resume until Step 3. In the interim, several businesses have inquired and requested permission access to cities green spaces so they may resume providing services to residents. The reason for urgency is that staff need the authority to waive the fees for these permits ahead of Step 1 of the Reopening Plan, which begins on June 11th.

Staff recommended

Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson, recommends that: 1. City Council delegate authority to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to waive any fees required under Municipal Code Chapter 608, Parks, or Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, where the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, issues a Commercial Fitness Classes in Parks permit and determines that the following criteria are met: a.

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the applicant is a person or group organizing instructor led exercise, yoga or martial arts classes on City owned and/or managed parkland; b. the facility being permitted is an outdoor area in a City park approved by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation; c. The fitness classes will take place between June 8, 2021 and October 3, 2021, inclusive, and is permitted under Provincial and Municipal statutes, by-laws, regulations, orders and guidance on the date it is to be held; and d. The applicant and fitness class participants will comply with: i. all other requirements of Chapter 608, including the physical distancing requirements under section 608-3A(1.1); ii. any conditions of the permit, including standard conditions and any additional conditions which the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation adds to ensure the health and safety of persons participating in the fitness activity and otherwise using the park; and iii. all provincial and municipal statutes, by-laws, regulations, orders and guidance relating to the fitness activities.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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