Economic and Community Development Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
EC19.1amended
Election of Vice Chair - Economic and Community Development Committee
Election of the Vice Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee under Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Appendix A-2, for a term of office starting January 5, 2021 and ending November 14, 2022.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Elected Councillor Mark Grimes as Vice Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee for a term of office starting January 5, 2021 and ending November 14, 2022.
EC19.2adopted
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) - 2021 Operating Budgets - Report 2
This report brings forward Business Improvement Area (BIA) annual Operating Budgets for approval by City Council as required by the City of Toronto Act, 2006. City Council approval is required to permit the City to collect funds through a special tax levy on the commercial and industrial properties within the respective BIA boundaries. There are currently 84 established BIAs in the City of Toronto. The approval by City Council of the 2021 Operating Budgets for 84 BIAs takes multiple phases. City Council previously approved the 2021 Operating Budgets for 23 BIAs through Report 1 (Item 2020.EC18.11) at its meeting on December 16, 17, and 18, 2020. Included in this Report 2 are the 2021 Operating Budgets for 21 BIAs for City Council approval. The recommendation in this report reflects the Board-adopted 2021 Operating Budgets by the respective BIAs' Boards of Management and General Membership. Complete budgets and supporting documentation have been reviewed by City staff to ensure that the 2021 Operating Budgets for BIAs reflect Council's approved policies and practices. Two COVID-19 related themes emerge in these budget submissions: a number of BIAs are specifically attempting to reduce financial demands on their memberships and a number of BIAs are exercising caution by postponing festivals and events.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council adopt and certify the 2021 recommended Operating Budgets and Levy requirements of the following Business Improvement Areas: Business Improvement Area 2021 Operating Budget ($) 2021 Levy Funds Required ($) Bayview Leaside 261,500 193,579 Broadview Danforth 323,777 304,508 Cabbagetown 775,035 306,310 Crossroads of the Danforth 257,903 144,000 Downtown Yonge 3,637,967 2,995,325 DuKe Heights 3,823,550 3,483,687 Fairbank Village 360,980 213,776 Hillcrest Village 181,720 158,923 Junction Gardens 439,263 340,673 Kennedy Road 282,598 256,136 Kensington Market 201,543 155,880 Lakeshore Village 110,648 102,309 Midtown Yonge 174,125 163,824 Mount Pleasant Village 248,378 217,132 Oakwood Village 65,467 31,837 St. Clair Gardens 105,771 90,881 The Beach 423,463 366,178 The Kingsway 522,685 308,279 West Queen West 378,406 344,117 Wexford Heights 407,070 242,332 Yonge Lawrence Village 257,831 209,968 Total 13,239,680 10,629,654
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommends that: 1. City Council adopt and certify the 2021 recommended Operating Budgets and Levy requirements of the following Business Improvement Areas: Business Improvement Area 2021 Operating Budget ($) 2021 Levy Funds Required ($) Bayview Leaside 261,500 193,579 Broadview Danforth 323,777 304,508 Cabbagetown 775,035 306,310 Crossroads of the Danforth 257,903 144,000 Downtown Yonge 3,637,967 2,995,325 DuKe Heights 3,823,550 3,483,687 Fairbank Village 360,980 213,776 Hillcrest Village 181,720 158,923 Junction Gardens 439,263 340,673 Kennedy Road 282,598 256,136 Kensington Market 201,543 155,880 Lakeshore Village 110,648 102,309 Midtown Yonge 174,125 163,824 Mount Pleasant Village 248,378 217,132 Oakwood Village 65,467 31,837 St. Clair Gardens 105,771 90,881 The Beach 423,463 366,178 The Kingsway 522,685 308,279 West Queen West 378,406 344,117 Wexford Heights 407,070 242,332 Yonge Lawrence Village 257,831 209,968 Total 13,239,680 10,629,654
EC19.3adopted
Changes to the DuKe Heights Business Improvement Area Board of Management
The purpose of this report is to remove a director from the DuKe Heights BIA Board of Management.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council remove the following director from the Business Improvement Area Board of Management set out below: DuKe Heights: Paolo Abate
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council remove the following director from the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management set out below: DuKe Heights: Abate, Paolo
EC19.4adopted
Insurance Program for Toronto Live Music Venues - Potential Options
At its meeting on December 3, 2020, the Toronto Music Advisory Committee considered Item MA7.1, Enhanced Support for Toronto Live Music Venues.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Requested the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to continue to explore City of Toronto options for supporting an insurance program for Toronto live music venues and report with potential options to the Economic and Community Development Committee in March 2021.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Toronto Music Advisory Committee recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to continue to explore City of Toronto options for supporting an insurance program for live music venues and to bring forward a report with potential options directly to the Economic and Community Development Committee in March 2021.
EC19.5adopted
Theatre Review for Inclusivity and Equity
The City of Toronto has made changes to work towards ensuring measures of inclusivity and equity are prevalent in all the work being done at the City, and in City buildings. We have recognized systemic racism exists. I believe it is important for a review of the theatres be done to ensure all theatre groups are provided the same access to funding and access to City-owned theatre/building space. It is important that productions in City-owned buildings and sites do not marginalize or oppress persons of any race or creed.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Chief People Officer and appropriate staff, to report by the end of the first quarter of 2021 on how theatre groups are utilizing City-owned space in Toronto, including how City staff are ensuring that these groups are adhering to mandated guidelines of inclusivity and equity so that stereotypes, specifically relating to the Indigenous community and People of Colour, are not perpetuated, with such report to include the following: a. a review of the productions held in the City of Toronto's facilities; b. funding and community theatre space for the Indigenous community and People of Colour; and c. steps that can be implemented to encourage and support funding and community theatre space for the Indigenous community and People of Colour.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Paul Ainslie recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Chief People Officer and appropriate staff, to report by the end of the first quarter of 2021 on how theatre groups are utilizing City-owned space in Toronto, including how City staff are ensuring that these groups are adhering to mandated guidelines of inclusivity and equity so that stereotypes, specifically relating to the Indigenous community and People of Colour, are not perpetuated, with such report to include the following: a. a review of the productions held in the City of Toronto's facilities; b. funding and community theatre space for the Indigenous community and People of Colour; and c. steps that can be implemented to encourage and support funding and community theatre space for the Indigenous community and People of Colour.
EC19.6adopted
This motion asks City Council to proceed directly to polling on the proposed expansion of the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area (BIA), waiving the requirement to hold a formal public meeting in light of the current pandemic-related lockdown. These exceptions have been prepared in consultation with the Toronto Entertainment District BIA Boundary Expansion Subcommittee and working with staff in the Business Improvement Area Office. The Board of Management of the Toronto Entertainment District BIA passed a motion to explore expanding its western boundary from Spadina Avenue to Bathurst Street in June 2018. Since that time, the BIA, through its Boundary Expansion Subcommittee, has been actively consulting and communicating with businesses, property owners, and major stakeholders in the proposed expansion area to gauge their interest in joining the BIA. The BIA hosted an informal boundary expansion meeting on January 30, 2019. The meeting was well attended and feedback was positive. A formal public meeting was held on July 30, 2019 to seek authority to proceed to a poll. Unfortunately, the meeting was attended by only five potential BIA members from the expansion area. A vote was held to determine whether to proceed to an expansion poll. Two voted in favour, three were opposed. On December 17, 2019, City Council approved Notice of Motion MM13.7 directing the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture to hold a new public meeting to consider the expansion of the BIA. Pandemic-related restrictions have hindered the ability of the BIA Boundary Expansion Subcommittee and BIA Office staff to effectively organize a second formal public meeting. This motion will allow tenants and property owners in the west precinct of King-Spadina to vote on the potential expansion of the Toronto Entertainment District BIA.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Boundary Expansion Subcommittee for the expansion of the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area and the City of Toronto's Business Improvement Area Office staff to bypass the requirement that the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, conduct a formal public consultation meeting as required under Subsection 19-2.2A(3)(e) and the requirements under Subsection 19-2.2 C to H of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, and to proceed to notice and polling under Section 19-2.4 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 2. City Council state its intention to designate the area outlined in Attachment 1 to the letter (January 4, 2021) from Councillor Joe Cressy as the expanded Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area under City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 3. City Council direct the City Clerk to send out a notice of City Council's intention to pass a By-law designating the area outlined in Attachment 1 to the letter (January 4, 2021) from Councillor Joe Cressy as the expanded Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area, in accordance with City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 4. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to prepare designation By-law maps of the area outlined in Attachment 1 to the letter (January 4, 2021) from Councillor Joe Cressy and submit them to the City Solicitor.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Joe Cressy recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Boundary Expansion Subcommittee for the expansion of the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area and the City of Toronto's Business Improvement Area Office staff to bypass the requirement that the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, conduct a formal public consultation meeting as required under Subsection 19-2.2A(3)(e) and the requirements under Subsection 19-2.2 C to H of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, and to proceed to notice and polling under Section 19-2.4 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 2. City Council state its intention to designate the area outlined in Attachment 1 as the expanded Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area under the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 3. City Council direct the City Clerk to send out a notice of City Council's intention to pass a By-law designating the area outlined in Attachment 1 as the expanded Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area, in accordance with the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. 4. City Council direct the Chief Technology Officer to prepare designation By-law maps of the area outlined in Attachment 1 and submit them to the City Solicitor.
EC19.7adopted
Firefighters Future Staffing Requirements
Over the past month, the City of Toronto has seen an alarming increase in significant fires, tragically some of them leading to the loss of our fellow Torontonians. I would like to thank the men and women of Toronto Fire Services (TFS) for their continued efforts to save lives and to keep the residents of Toronto safe. With a City that is constantly growing, and a workforce that has changing demographics, it is critical that we ensure that Toronto Fire Services has the resources needed to maintain service levels into the future. That is why I am recommending the Committee request the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, to consider any anticipated staffing issues and report back to the Committee in 2021 on future staffing requirements to ensure adequate service levels. As TFS is currently reviewing strategies to enhance overall service delivery, I am recommending this report be included as part of the broader Service Delivery Enhancement Review that is currently underway.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Requested the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, to consider any potential staffing issues and report to the Economic and Community Development Committee in 2021, as part of the overall Service Delivery Enhancement Review, with any future staffing resources required to ensure adequate service levels in Toronto Fire Services.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Michael Thompson recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee request the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services, to consider any potential staffing issues and report to the Committee in 2021 as part of the overall Service Delivery Enhancement Review, with any future staffing resources required to ensure adequate service levels in Toronto Fire Services.