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.
EC4.1adopted
Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism: Year Four Update
Four years work to implement the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism has led to unprecedented investments to understand and combat anti-Black racism entrenched in the policies, practices, and institutional structures at the City of Toronto. Considerable competency development, and capacity and awareness building have been developed across the City to enhance the quality and targeting of services and programs accessed by Black residents. The dedication and commitment reflected in such progress should be recognized and commended, even as efforts must be increased due to negative COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Not surprisingly, access and needs were amplified by adverse pandemic shocks on key sectors and areas where many Black individuals live, work, and play. As a result, racial disparities remain an ever-present threat to the quality of Black life across the city. Post-pandemic health and socio-economic data indicate the far-reaching and persistent impacts of systemic discrimination on mental and physical health, educational and digital access, unemployment and housing, family and child welfare, and policing and the justice system. There is much work to be done to reduce racial disparities and close gaps that emerged. Continued commitments to innovating and scaling up anti-Black racism work can produce the positive attitudes, practices, behaviours, and decision making that are essential to realizing a Toronto for all. On December 5, 2017, City Council unanimously adopted the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. This five-year Plan identifies 80 actions and 22 recommendations to address anti-Black racism in the City of Toronto, leveraging the talents, knowledge, and experiences of Black residents, organizations, and partners to improve outcomes for Toronto's Black communities. This report provides an update on the progress made over Year Four of the Action Plan with a focus on the 41 actions prioritized from January to December 2022. Since its launch in 2018, 80 per cent of the Action Plan recommendations and actions have been implemented. In Year Four, considerable progress was made to reduce barriers and increase access for Black communities, including the implementation of the first year of the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan, critical investments to develop targeted programming for Black families, and a growing culture change framework, which was underscored by an increase in internal division-led Anti-Black Racism Action Plans. Unrelenting global and local cost-of-living crises have challenged Black communities to meet the demands of food and energy costs, climate change, and housing affordability, spurred by mounting inflation. These challenges are compounded by additional systemic racism barrier for Indigenous, Black, and equity-deserving communities. As the City supports recovery, it is critical to ensure that there are sustained investments in current initiatives, that create more equitable pathways for Toronto's Black communities. Effective collaboration between Black community leaders and City divisions and agencies have resulted in targeted responses that are better tailored and equipped to support Black communities. These collaborations include external partnership initiatives such as the Black Scientists' Taskforce on Vaccine Equity, the Black Vaccine Engagement Team, and the Black Resilience Cluster. New and innovative models have also been developed to address longstanding problems. Legacy Initiatives like the Black Health Service Coordination Strategy, the Growing in Place Initiative, and the Black Housing Framework, are designed to address racial inequities through a place-based, inclusive, economic development lens. These interventions in local planning projects will positively improve Black lives in Toronto through redevelopment initiatives in Little Jamaica, Jane and Finch, and Weston Mount Dennis. Year Five is expected to be challenging. City divisions, boards, agencies, and commissions are stretched with complex demands at a time of great fiscal constraints for the City and will need renewed commitment and resourcing that is essential for completing the remaining activities in the final year of the Action Plan. Beyond 2023, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit in Social Development, Finance and Administration, will support renewal efforts through a retrospective analysis of the current Action Plan, informed by the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, and the Unit's Legacy Initiatives, along with collaborative identification of alternative options for closing gaps and reducing disparities. This work will assess and communicate outcomes, impacts, and future opportunities for change to the develop a new Action Plan. Enclosed in the report you will find the following: · An overview of the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black communities and the increased systemic barriers they continue to face. · A progress update on Action Plan Legacy Initiatives, including the Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan. · An update on the progress made to advance the Year Four (January 2022 to December 2022) Work Plan Deliverables. · An overview of Year Five Work Plan Priorities (January 2023 to December 2023). · The Partnership and Accountability Circle report, which provides community feedback on the implementation of Year Four actions and the Year Five Workplan Deliverables. · A compilation of divisional-led Anti-Black Racism Action Plans that demonstrate how City staff are embedding culture change in their mandate and operations.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to review and analyze the impact and outcomes in the first five years of the Action Plan and develop a new 10-year Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism that effectively responds to emerging and persistent issues facing Black Torontonians, in consultation with Black-led and mandated community agencies, residents, institutions and stakeholders, and the following City divisions, agencies and corporations: Toronto Public Health; Economic Development and Culture; Parks Forestry and Recreation; City Planning; the Housing Secretariat; Shelter Support, Housing and Administration; Children's Services; Technology Services; Environment and Climate; Toronto Community Housing Corporation; Toronto Transit Commission; Toronto Police Service; Toronto Public Library, and any other relevant City divisions and partners who were engaged in the first iteration of the Action Plan; and report back in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to review and analyze the impact and outcomes in the first five years of the Action Plan and develop a new 10-year Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism that effectively responds to emerging and persistent issues facing Black Torontonians, in consultation with Black-led and mandated community agencies, residents, institutions and stakeholders, and the following City divisions, agencies and corporations: Toronto Public Health; Economic Development and Culture; Parks Forestry and Recreation; City Planning; the Housing Secretariat; Shelter Support, Housing and Administration; Children's Services; Technology Services; Environment and Climate; Toronto Community Housing Corporation; Toronto Transit Commission; Toronto Police Service; Toronto Public Library, and any other relevant City divisions and partners who were engaged in the first iteration of the Action Plan; and report back in the fourth quarter of 2024.
EC4.2amended
Leveraging Post-Secondary Institutions for a Stronger Workforce - Follow-up
This report responds to a request from the January 11, 2023 Economic and Community Development Committee on the implementation of a revised omnibus agreement(s) that includes: 1. Securing agreements with more post-secondary institutions and; 2. Advancing additional opportunities for placements that align with the needs of the City and practical course requirements, in preparation for student placement intakes in September 2023.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council receive the report (May 16, 2023) from the Chief People Officer for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief People Officer recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee receive this report for information.
EC4.3amended
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement Implementation in Toronto - Update
This report provides an update on the implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement signed by the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada on March 27, 2022. This report covers the period from April 1, 2022 to May 1, 2023, including an overview of anticipated impacts of the CWELCC system and the Province's Draft Access and Inclusion Framework on Toronto's families and child care operators.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council recommend that the Province of Ontario and/or the Federal Government increase the allocation of Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care-funded spaces for Toronto to align with the Child Care Growth Strategy targets to better address demand and ensure equitable access to affordable and high quality child care spaces for families in Toronto. 2. City Council recommend that the Province of Ontario review the fee subsidy guidelines and update the income threshold and revise eligibility criteria in order to reduce additional barriers for low-income families to access child care spaces funded by the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement. 3. City Council recommend that the Province of Ontario develop a set of guidelines for sustained increase to wages and benefits that are inclusive of all staff in the early years and child care sector and provide additional investment to implement these guidelines. 4. City Council request the Province to increase school-age spaces to ensure continued access to affordable child care for families with children age 6 to 12, including additional measures to offset fees. 5. City Council direct the General Manager, Children's Services to report to City Council, through the Economic and Community Development Committee, by November 28, 2023, on the number and capital funding source of new child care spaces constructed since the adoption of the Licensed Child Care Growth Strategy (the Strategy) in 2017, as well as an update on the progress of child care expansion as it relates to the Strategy. 6. City Council request the Federal and Provincial Governments to commit to capital funding to support the child care expansion targets in the not for profit and publicly funded sector for Toronto set out in the Province's Access and Inclusion Framework, and the Strategy.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Children's Services recommends that: 1. City Council advocate to the Province of Ontario to increase the allocation of Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care-funded spaces for Toronto to align with the Child Care Growth Strategy targets to better address demand and ensure greater access to affordable and high quality child care spaces for families in Toronto. 2. City Council recommend to the Province of Ontario that any unused funds for school-based projects be reallocated to support planned and committed community-based capital projects between 2022-2026. 3. City Council recommend that the Province of Ontario review the fee subsidy guidelines and update the income threshold and revise eligibility criteria in order to reduce additional barriers for low-income families to access child care spaces funded by the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care agreement. 4. City Council recommend that the Province of Ontario develop a set of guidelines for sustained increases to wages and benefits that are inclusive of all staff in the early years and child care sector and provide additional investment to implement these guidelines.
EC4.4adopted
Willowdale Business Improvement Area - Name Change
The purpose of this report is to recommend that the name of the Willowdale Business Improvement Area (BIA) be changed to "Yonge North York Business Improvement Area". The BIA Board of Management voted to support the naming process and request the City of Toronto to formally change the name of the BIA. This name change request was also endorsed by the BIA's general membership at its January 31, 2023 Annual General Meeting.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve the renaming of the Willowdale Business Improvement Area, as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment 1 to the report (May 15, 2023) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to the Yonge North York Business Improvement Area. 2. City Council amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, as required to reflect the name change of the Willowdale Business Improvement Area to the Yonge North York Business Improvement Area.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council approve the renaming of the Willowdale Business Improvement Area, as defined by the boundaries described in Attachment 1, to the Yonge North York Business Improvement Area. 2. City Council amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas, as required to reflect the name change of the Willowdale Business Improvement Area to the Yonge North York Business Improvement Area.
EC4.5adopted
Toronto Licensing Tribunal 2022 Annual Report
In accordance with the Relationship Framework approved by City Council for the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the Chair's 2022 Annual Report is being communicated to the Economic and Community Development Committee for information. The Toronto Licensing Tribunal (the Tribunal) is an independent quasi-judicial body that makes decisions about business licensing matters brought forward by Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), or at the request of a licence holder or applicant, in accordance with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, and Chapter 547, Licensing and Registration of Short-term Rentals. The Tribunal is comprised of seven citizens chosen by City Council for a four-year term, and it receives administrative support from the City of Toronto's Court Services Division. In 2022, the Toronto Licensing Tribunal scheduled 166 appearances before a hearing panel. There were a total of 49 electronic hearing dates. There were no hearing dates in-person. In 2022, the top licence types that appeared before the Tribunal were: Tow Truck Driver's Licences, Vehicle for Hire Driver's Licences, and Taxicab Owner's Licences. As indicated in the Toronto Municipal Code and the Relationship Framework for the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, the Annual Report contains recommendations of the Chair for improvements or changes to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal policies and procedures. In the 2022 Annual Report, the Chair made recommendations to: 1. Change the layout of hearing submissions to ensure that all parties can fully participate in electronic hearings using various devices; and 2. Return to the previous practice of scheduling interpreters in advance of hearing dates to support parties who require interpretation services.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Received the report (May 16, 2023) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards recommends that: 1. The Economic and Community Development Committee receive this report, for information.
EC4.6adopted
Temporary signs are signs that are not permanently installed or affixed to the ground or any structure or building, and are regulated by Article III of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs ("Temporary Signs By-law"). This report proposes amendments to modernize the By-law to improve enforcement, respond to the use of new sign types in Toronto, and increase the By-law's overall readability. Election Signs, Third-Party Signs, Posters, Designation Signage on Public Highways, Neighbourhood and Business Area Identification Signs, and signs regulated under the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General were not part of this review. This report recommends improving the pedestrian clearway by updating placement requirements for A-frame and Portable signs. It is proposed that these signs be placed curb-side and in-line with other street furniture, where possible. The existing 2.1 metre pedestrian clearway requirement would be maintained and expanded to 2.5 metres on specified Downtown Toronto streets to align with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. These changes are intended to improve the line-of-travel for pedestrians while allowing the business community to continue to use A-frame and Portable signs. This report also proposes allowing and regulating three new types of temporary signs on private property: Contracted Services Signs, Home Builder Identification Signs, and Advocacy Signs. The proposed regulations for Contracted Services Signs and Home Builder Identification Signs limit the size, number, and display period for these sign types, respond to their use in Toronto, and clarify the City's expectations for signage on construction sites. The proposed regulations for Advocacy Signs balance the ability of Toronto residents to display content related to civic causes with the need to consider the safety and neighbourhood impacts of these signs. Further amendments are recommended that would modernize the By-law, improve enforcement, and simplify regulations. These include: - Updating regulations for Mobile Signs (i.e. those designed to allow for the rearrangement of lettering, typically on steel frames) to remove the requirement that they may only have black and white lettering, and to increase the maximum number of permits issued to a single business from 3 to 6 per year; - Updating the removal and disposal provisions, except for Election Signs, including deleting the mandatory 30-day storage period and allowing for the timely disposal of unlawful temporary signs; - Updating and clarifying fees, and aligning enforcement, fine, and offence provisions with the authority provided under the City of Toronto Act, 2006; and, - Simplifying all existing requirements to improve the readability of Chapter 693 including adding a section setting out the scope of the By-law, consolidating the general restrictions that apply to all signs and setting out more clearly the location requirements, and specific requirements that apply to all sign types. A previous review was completed in 2019 and a staff report was considered by the Planning and Housing Committee on October 15, 2019, and by City Council on October 29, 2019 (2019.PH9.3). At both the Planning and Housing Committee and City Council, questions were raised about the proposed location requirement that Advocacy Signs be allowed only on private property, as there are properties in Toronto where the front-yard is considered the public's right of way. Concerns were raised about the ability of these property owners to display Advocacy Signs, and the report was referred to staff for additional research on allowing Advocacy Signs on public and private property. Given that time has passed since the 2019 review, staff conducted additional public and stakeholder engagement and research to validate the recommendations. This report proposes changing the 2019 proposal on the location requirements of Advocacy Signs to allow these signs to be placed on private property and/or the public property in the boulevard abutting the private property. Other recommendations in this report remain substantially the same as those considered by City Council in 2019. Minor changes have been recommended to modernize the By-law, provide clarity, and reflect current operational practices. Transportation Services, Toronto Building, and the Toronto Transit Commission were consulted in the preparation of this report.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs Placement Requirements for A-Frame and Portable Signs 1. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to require that, when located on public property, A-frame and Portable Signs must be placed curbside and, in the Furnishing, and Planting Zone, as described by the City of Toronto's Streetscape Manual, whenever possible and adhere to any separation distances established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 2. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to include minimum separation distances, as established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for A-frame and portable signs from installations and utilities such as bicycle rings, fire hydrants or fire connections, intersection, or pedestrian crossovers, postering columns, benches, garbage/recycling bins, and transit stops and shelters as a location requirement. 3. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to include that an A-frame or Portable Sign may be moved or removed by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards: a. If location requirements are not met; b. If space is required by the City of Toronto or other entity with the appropriate rights over public property such as a utility company for any reason including the installation of street furniture or construction; or c. If space is required by the Toronto Transit Commission, including for operational, accessibility, or public safety reasons. 4. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to increase the pedestrian clearway requirement to 2.5 metres for streets identified in Appendix A of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. 5. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align Portable Sign regulations with existing A-frame Sign regulations by specifying that Portable Signs also cannot be displayed or erected along the right-of-way areas along Bloor Street East and Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Sherbourne Street, or along Yonge Street south of Davenport Road. 6. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align Portable Sign regulations with existing A-frame Sign regulations by specifying that: a. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is 6.1 metres or less, a maximum of one Portable Sign per building may be displayed regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; b. Where the frontage associated with the main front wall of a building is more than 6.1 metres, display a maximum of two Portable Signs per premises regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; and c. Despite 6a. and 6b., if a building is on a corner property with two or more walls adjacent to a highway, one additional Portable Sign may be displayed adjacent to the side wall of the building. Contracted Services Signs 7. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Contracted Services Signs". 8. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define a Contracted Services Sign as "a sign advertising a contractor who repairs, renovates or landscapes a premise." 9. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Contracted Services Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per contractor is allowed on a property. b. There cannot be more than three signs on a property. c. No permit is required. d. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. e. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the erection of the sign. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). g. The sign can only display content related to a contracted service underway or completed at the property. h. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 0.37 square metres in area. i. The sign cannot exceed a maximum height of 0.61 metres or a maximum width of 0.61 metres. j. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. k. The sign may only be displayed while the contracted service is occurring or after it has occurred and must be removed no later than 30 days after the contracted services have occurred. Home Builder Identification Signs 10. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Home Builder Identification Signs". 11. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define a Home Builder Identification Sign as "a sign identifying a builder or renovator who constructs or renovates a residential building or related structure." 12. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Home Builder Identification Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per property is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the sign is erected. e. The sign can only display information related to the builder or renovator responsible for undertaking work at a residential building or related structure. f. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.5 square metres in area. g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. h. The sign may only be displayed while the construction or renovation is occurring or after it has occurred and must be removed 30 days after the construction or renovation has occurred. i. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Advocacy Signs 13. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Advocacy Signs". 14. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define an Advocacy Sign as "a sign that advances a point of view and is not for a commercial purpose, not including an election sign, outsider election sign or campaign office sign." 15. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Advocacy Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign is allowed on a private property and/or its abutting public property. b. No permit is required. c. The sign may be displayed on private property and/or the public property in the boulevard abutting the private property provided that the advocacy sign: i. Otherwise adheres to all general restrictions and specific requirements for a temporary sign; ii. Is not located within 1.5 metres of the curb or the edge of the travelled portion of a highway; iii. Is not located within 0.60 metres of either side of the sidewalk; and iv. Is not located within 15 metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossover of a collector road or arterial road and not located within 3 metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossover of a local road. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the premise is required before the erection of the sign. e. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign can be larger than 1.2 metres in square area. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or a fence other than a stake that is vegetation (except for an advocacy sign on private property secured to a window or balcony). g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade (except for an advocacy sign on private property secured to a window or balcony). Open House Directional Signs 16. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to allow Open House Directional Signs to be displayed up to 2 hours before the start of the open house and 2 hours after the end of the open house. 17. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to state that there may be no more than six Open House Directional Signs per advertised property. Mobile Signs 18. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that Mobile Signs may only have black and white lettering. 19. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that mobile signs be located directly in front of the business that the sign is advertising and instead specify that the sign must be on the property in which the business is located. 20. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to increase the maximum number of Mobile Sign permits issued from 3 to 6 for a single business location in a calendar year. Construction Hoarding Signs 21. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to move the provisions governing construction hoarding signs from Temporary Signs Article 3 to Article 6 that includes vehicular destination signs and neighbourhood and business area identification signs; these are sign types which are administered by the General Manager, Transportation Services. Alignment with Chapter 742, Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays 22. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to prohibit an A-frame or Portable Sign being displayed where a small frontage café or small marketing display has been installed and the building frontage is 6-metres or less. 23. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to specify that a business that has a permit for a café or marketing display may locate an A-frame or portable sign only within the limits of the permitted area and must have a permit issued under Chapter 693 for the sign. Sign Storage 24. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the required storage period for all signs, except Election Signs, and update the removal and disposal provisions accordingly. Administrative Matters 25. City Council rename Chapter 693, Signs to be "Signs, Election and Temporary". 26. City Council include in the general restrictions section of Chapter 693, Signs that signs regulated by Chapter 693, Signs must not damage underground or aboveground services. 27. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align regulations for temporary signs by requiring that, except in accordance with a sign permit, they be no closer than 0.60 metres from a sidewalk or where there is no sidewalk, 0.60 metres from the travelled portion of the highway, and direct that this provision be included in the location requirements for all temporary signs in the amended Chapter. 28. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to: a. Establish a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $100,000 for offences. b. Add a special fine in an amount equal to any economic gain obtained from non- compliance. c. Include offences for obstruction and failure to provide information as required. d. Designate each offence as a continuing offence with a minimum daily fine of $500 and a maximum daily fine of $10,000 and a total fine which may exceed $100,000; and e. Include authority to enter to inspect, to make orders to comply and to take remedial action. 29. City Council add the following transition provisions to Chapter 693, Signs to establish that: a. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to permits granted or agreements entered into before March 1, 2024, until the permits or agreements are renewed, provided that the holders of the permits and parties to the agreements continue to comply with the terms of their permits or agreements and that the permits or agreements are not revoked or terminated and do not expire without renewal; and; b. All prosecutions and other enforcement processes commenced under this chapter which have not been completed on March 1, 2024, shall be completed as if the chapter had not been amended on that date. 30. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that sign owners of A-Frame and Portable Signs must display on the sign a sign permit identifier issued by the City as evidence that the sign has been authorized. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General 31. City Council repeal section 694-6A (6) of Chapter 694, Signs, General, removing signs affiliated with the ongoing construction or demolition of a building as this sign type will be regulated as a Home Builder Identification Sign under Chapter 693, Signs. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges 32. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to delete fees unique to each sign type (reference numbers 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 136) so that the removal, retrieval, storage, and disposal fees for temporary signs are the same (reference numbers 137, 138, 139, 140), as outlined in Attachment 1, Table A, to the report (May 16, 2023) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 33. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to update and include an annual adjustment based on the annual rate of inflation related to temporary signs, as outlined in Table 1 below. Table 1: Recommended updates to fees 137, 138, 139, and 140 in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards. REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2023 FEE ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT 137 Private Properties Removal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $100.00 NEW Yes 138 Private Properties Retrieval fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $200.00 NEW Yes 139 Private Properties Storage fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery NEW Per Day $15.00 NEW Yes 140 Private Properties Disposal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $50.00 NEW Yes 34. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to delete fee 414 (Annual fee: -Temporary Sign permit- Portable) and establish two new fees for the application and renewal of portable sign permits that are identical to that of A-frame sign permits, as outlined in Table 2 below. Table 2: Portable Sign permit fee recommended to be deleted and to be made identical to that of A-Frame Signs, as detailed in Table 3. REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2023 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. 414 License & Permit Issuance Annual fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Annual $250.64 Yes Table 3: Recommended portable sign-related fees in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS FEE ANNUAL ADJ. NEW 500 Licence & Permit Issuance Application fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $119.05 Yes NEW 501 License & Permit Issuance Renewal fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $93.99 Yes Implementation 35. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, City Clerk, and Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to re-structure, consolidate, and simplify all existing requirements to improve the readability of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693 including adding a section setting out the scope of the By-law, consolidating the general restrictions that apply to all signs and setting out more clearly the location requirements, and specific requirements that apply to all sign types, including attachment requirements, substantially in accordance with Attachment 2 to the report (May 16, 2023) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 36. City Council direct that Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 192, Public Service, Chapter 545, Licensing, Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, Chapter 608, Parks, and Chapter 694, Signs General be updated to reflect the new title of and new section numbers in Chapter 693, Signs, as required. 37. City Council direct that the changes to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Chapter 693, Signs, and Chapter 694, Signs, General, become effective as of March 1st, 2024.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards recommends that: Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs Placement Requirements for A-Frame and Portable Signs 1. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to require that, when located on public property, A-frame and Portable Signs must be placed curbside and, in the Furnishing, and Planting Zone, as described by the City of Toronto's Streetscape Manual, whenever possible and adhere to any separation distances established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 2. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to include minimum separation distances, as established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for A-frame and portable signs from installations and utilities such as bicycle rings, fire hydrants or fire connections, intersection, or pedestrian crossovers, postering columns, benches, garbage/recycling bins, and transit stops and shelters as a location requirement. 3. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to include that an A-frame or Portable Sign may be moved or removed by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards: a. If location requirements are not met; b. If space is required by the City of Toronto or other entity with the appropriate rights over public property such as a utility company for any reason including the installation of street furniture or construction; or c. If space is required by the Toronto Transit Commission, including for operational, accessibility, or public safety reasons. 4. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to increase the pedestrian clearway requirement to 2.5 metres for streets identified in Appendix A of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. 5. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align Portable Sign regulations with existing A-frame Sign regulations by specifying that Portable Signs also cannot be displayed or erected along the right-of-way areas along Bloor Street East and Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Sherbourne Street, or along Yonge Street south of Davenport Road. 6. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align Portable Sign regulations with existing A-frame Sign regulations by specifying that: a. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is 6.1 metres or less, a maximum of one Portable Sign per building may be displayed regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; b. Where the frontage associated with the main front wall of a building is more than 6.1 metres, display a maximum of two Portable Signs per premises regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; and c. Despite 6a. and 6b., if a building is on a corner property with two or more walls adjacent to a highway, one additional Portable Sign may be displayed adjacent to the side wall of the building. Contracted Services Signs 7. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Contracted Services Signs". 8. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define a Contracted Services Sign as "a sign advertising a contractor who repairs, renovates or landscapes a premise." 9. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Contracted Services Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per contractor is allowed on a property. b. There cannot be more than three signs on a property. c. No permit is required. d. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. e. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the erection of the sign. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). g. The sign can only display content related to a contracted service underway or completed at the property. h. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 0.37 square metres in area. i. The sign cannot exceed a maximum height of 0.61 metres or a maximum width of 0.61 metres. j. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. k. The sign may only be displayed while the contracted service is occurring or after it has occurred and must be removed no later than 30 days after the contracted services have occurred. Home Builder Identification Signs 10. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Home Builder Identification Signs". 11. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define a Home Builder Identification Sign as "a sign identifying a builder or renovator who constructs or renovates a residential building or related structure." 12. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Home Builder Identification Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per property is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the sign is erected. e. The sign can only display information related to the builder or renovator responsible for undertaking work at a residential building or related structure. f. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.5 square metres in area. g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. h. The sign may only be displayed while the construction or renovation is occurring or after it has occurred and must be removed 30 days after the construction or renovation has occurred. i. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Advocacy Signs 13. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Advocacy Signs". 14. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to define an Advocacy Sign as "a sign that advances a point of view and is not for a commercial purpose, not including an election sign, outsider election sign or campaign office sign." 15. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Advocacy Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign is allowed on a private property and/or its abutting public property. b. No permit is required. c. The sign may be displayed on private property and/or the public property in the boulevard abutting the private property provided that the advocacy sign: i. Otherwise adheres to all general restrictions and specific requirements for a temporary sign; ii. Is not located within 1.5 metres of the curb or the edge of the travelled portion of a highway; iii. Is not located within 0.60 metres of either side of the sidewalk; and iv. Is not located within 15 metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossover of a collector road or arterial road and not located within 3 metres of an intersection or pedestrian crossover of a local road. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the premise is required before the erection of the sign. e. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign can be larger than 1.2 metres in square area. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or a fence other than a stake that is vegetation (except for an advocacy sign on private property secured to a window or balcony). g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade (except for an advocacy sign on private property secured to a window or balcony). Open House Directional Signs 16. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to allow Open House Directional Signs to be displayed up to 2 hours before the start of the open house and 2 hours after the end of the open house. 17. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to state that there may be no more than six Open House Directional Signs per advertised property. Mobile Signs 18. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that Mobile Signs may only have black and white lettering. 19. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that mobile signs be located directly in front of the business that the sign is advertising and instead specify that the sign must be on the property in which the business is located. 20. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to increase the maximum number of Mobile Sign permits issued from 3 to 6 for a single business location in a calendar year. Construction Hoarding Signs 21. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to move the provisions governing construction hoarding signs from Temporary Signs Article 3 to Article 6 that includes vehicular destination signs and neighbourhood and business area identification signs; these are sign types which are administered by the General Manager, Transportation Services. Alignment with Chapter 742, Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays 22. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to prohibit an A-frame or Portable Sign being displayed where a small frontage café or small marketing display has been installed and the building frontage is 6-metres or less. 23. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to specify that a business that has a permit for a café or marketing display may locate an A-frame or portable sign only within the limits of the permitted area and must have a permit issued under Chapter 693 for the sign. Sign Storage 24. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the required storage period for all signs, except Election Signs, and update the removal and disposal provisions accordingly. Administrative Matters 25. City Council rename Chapter 693, Signs to be "Signs, Election and Temporary". 26. City Council include in the general restrictions section of Chapter 693, Signs that signs regulated by Chapter 693, Signs must not damage underground or aboveground services. 27. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to align regulations for temporary signs by requiring that, except in accordance with a sign permit, they be no closer than 0.60 metres from a sidewalk or where there is no sidewalk, 0.60 metres from the travelled portion of the highway, and direct that this provision be included in the location requirements for all temporary signs in the amended Chapter. 28. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to: a. Establish a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $100,000 for offences. b. Add a special fine in an amount equal to any economic gain obtained from non- compliance. c. Include offences for obstruction and failure to provide information as required. d. Designate each offence as a continuing offence with a minimum daily fine of $500 and a maximum daily fine of $10,000 and a total fine which may exceed $100,000; and e. Include authority to enter to inspect, to make orders to comply and to take remedial action. 29. City Council add the following transition provisions to Chapter 693, Signs to establish that: a. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to permits granted or agreements entered into before March 1, 2024, until the permits or agreements are renewed, provided that the holders of the permits and parties to the agreements continue to comply with the terms of their permits or agreements and that the permits or agreements are not revoked or terminated and do not expire without renewal; and; b. All prosecutions and other enforcement processes commenced under this chapter which have not been completed on March 1, 2024, shall be completed as if the chapter had not been amended on that date. 30. City Council amend Chapter 693, Signs to remove the requirement that sign owners of A-Frame and Portable Signs must display on the sign a sign permit identifier issued by the City as evidence that the sign has been authorized. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General 31. City Council repeal section 694-6A (6) of Chapter 694, Signs, General, removing signs affiliated with the ongoing construction or demolition of a building as this sign type will be regulated as a Home Builder Identification Sign under Chapter 693, Signs. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges 32. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to delete fees unique to each sign type (reference numbers 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 136) so that the removal, retrieval, storage, and disposal fees for temporary signs are the same (reference numbers 137, 138, 139, 140), as outlined in Attachment 1, Table A. 33. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to update and include an annual adjustment based on the annual rate of inflation related to temporary signs, as outlined in Table 1 below. Table 1: Recommended updates to fees 137, 138, 139, and 140 in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards. REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2023 FEE ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT 137 Private Properties Removal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $100.00 NEW Yes 138 Private Properties Retrieval fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $200.00 NEW Yes 139 Private Properties Storage fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery NEW Per Day $15.00 NEW Yes 140 Private Properties Disposal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $50.00 NEW Yes 34. City Council amend Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to delete fee 414 (Annual fee: -Temporary Sign permit- Portable) and establish two new fees for the application and renewal of portable sign permits that are identical to that of A-frame sign permits, as outlined in Table 2 below. Table 2: Portable Sign permit fee recommended to be deleted and to be made identical to that of A-Frame Signs, as detailed in Table 3. REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2023 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. 414 License & Permit Issuance Annual fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Annual $250.64 Yes Table 3: Recommended portable sign-related fees in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C- Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards REF NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS FEE ANNUAL ADJ. NEW 500 Licence & Permit Issuance Application fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $119.05 Yes NEW 501 License & Permit Issuance Renewal fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $93.99 Yes Implementation 35. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, City Clerk, and Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to re-structure, consolidate, and simplify all existing requirements to improve the readability of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693 including adding a section setting out the scope of the By-law, consolidating the general restrictions that apply to all signs and setting out more clearly the location requirements, and specific requirements that apply to all sign types, including attachment requirements, substantially in accordance with Attachment 2 to the report. 36. City Council direct that Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 192, Public Service, Chapter 545, Licensing, Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, Chapter 608, Parks, and Chapter 694, Signs General be updated to reflect the new title of and new section numbers in Chapter 693, Signs, as required. 37. City Council direct that the changes to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Chapter 693, Signs, and Chapter 694, Signs, General, become effective as of March 1st, 2024.
EC4.7received
2022 Toronto Employment Survey
City Council on May 10, 11 and 12, 2023, in adopting Item PH3.5, headed "2022 Toronto Employment Survey" has forwarded a copy of the report (April 12, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to the Economic and Community Development Committee.
The Economic and Community Development Committee received the item for information.