Authorization to Release Section 37 Funds for Ward 13 2024 Participatory Budgeting Projects for the Mural Project at 237 Gerrard Street East (West Face) - by Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll

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The decision

2025-12-16 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on December 16 and 17, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council increase the 2025 Operating Budget for Non-Program on a one-time basis by $50,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 Community benefits obtained in the development at 500 Sherbourne Street (Source Account: XR3026-3700240), secured for public art, for the purpose of forwarding funds to STEPS (Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space) Public Art for installation of a mural at 237 Gerrard Street East (Cost Centre: NP2161).

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2. City Council direct that the $50,000.00 be forwarded to STEPS (Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space) Public Art, subject to STEPS Public Art signing an Undertaking governing the use of the funds and the financial reporting requirements.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Participatory Budgeting is a system of direct democracy where residents imagine how their neighbourhood could be improved, suggest potential ideas and then vote on how funds are spent to improve their community through capital projects. 2023 was the first year Participatory Budgeting was implemented in Toronto Centre to determine how community benefits funding should be allocated. Between April 12 and November 1, 2024, my office hosted online and in-person engagements with local residents and business improvement areas to crowdsource ideas.

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These ideas were then vetted for cost and feasibility with City staff and presented to the local community to vote on which projects they would like to see funded. In the St. James Town, Winchester Park and Cabbagetown neighbourhoods, six projects supported by the local community fit within the allocated budget of $750,000: One of the projects, Mural at 237 Gerrard Street East, required additional review. The release of funds for these projects would allow for locally supported capital projects to move forward in a timely manner.

Staff recommended

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that: 1. City Council increase the 2025 Operating Budget for Non-Program on a one-time basis by $50,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 Community benefits obtained in the development at 500 Sherbourne Street (Source Account: XR3026-3700240), secured for public art, for the purpose of forwarding funds to STEPS (Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space) Public Art for installation of a mural at 237 Gerrard Street East (Cost Centre: NP2161).

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2. City Council directs that the $50,000.00 be forwarded to STEPS Public Art, subject to STEPS Public Art signing an Undertaking governing the use of the funds and the financial reporting requirements.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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