Economic and Community Development Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 3 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.
EC5.1amended
Alcohol in Parks Pilot Program
In response to Council direction (2023.DM6.5), this report proposes an approach, including necessary by-law amendments, to allow responsible personal consumption of alcohol in Toronto parks on a pilot program basis from August to October 2023. The pilot program design is based on public health guidance, public safety, operational considerations, and experiences from Canadian jurisdictions that recently implemented pilot programs. Information from Toronto Public Health is provided on the harm reduction, treatment and education programs available. The pilot will be evaluated to assess the impacts to park visitors and the surrounding community. The report recommends that staff report on the evaluation results in Q1 2024. The parks proposed for inclusion in this pilot were arrived at in three steps. First, staff led a data-driven, technical review and generated a list of parks meeting all or most of the technical selection criteria. Next, staff reviewed the list for each City ward to short-list the most suitable pilot parks from an operational perspective. Lastly, staff met with interested councillors, to discuss the pilot and park options in their wards, leveraging councillors' local knowledge of park amenities and uses. All parks proposed for inclusion in the pilot program have been confirmed by the local councillor.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve a time-limited Alcohol in Parks pilot program, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (June 23, 2023) from the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, from August 2, 2023 to October 9, 2023, in the following sites: Park Name, Ward Eglinton Park, Ward 8 - Eglinton-Lawrence Earlscourt, Ward 9 - Davenport Dufferin Grove Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Campbell Avenue Playground and Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Dovercourt Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Roundhouse Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York Trinity Bellwoods Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York Christie Pits Park, Ward 11 - University-Rosedale Queen's Park (110 Wellesley St W), Ward 11 - University-Rosedale Sir Winston Churchill Park, Ward 12 - Toronto-St. Paul's Corktown Common, Ward 13 - Toronto Centre Greenwood Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Riverdale Park East, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Withrow Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Monarch Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Skymark Park, Ward 17 - Don Valley North Lee Lifeson Art Park, Ward 18 - Willowdale East Toronto Athletic Field, Ward 19 - Beaches-East York Milliken Park, Ward 23 - Scarborough North Neilson Park - Scarborough, Ward 25 - Scarborough-Rouge Park Underpass Park, Ward 13 - Toronto Centre, 29 Lower River Street Morningside Park, Ward 24 - Scarborough-Guildwood, 390 Morningside Avenue 2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 608, Parks, as detailed in Attachment 2 to the report (June 23, 2023) from the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation, subject to such stylistic or minor substantive changes as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the City Solicitor, to allow the time-limited pilot program described in Attachment 1 to be implemented in specified parks, as amended by Recommendation 1, above. 3. City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the evaluation results of the pilot in the first quarter of 2024.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that: 1. City Council approve a time-limited Alcohol in Parks pilot program, as outlined in Attachment 1 to this report, from August 2, 2023 to October 9, 2023, in the following sites: Park Name, Ward Eglinton Park, Ward 8 - Eglinton-Lawrence Earlscourt, Ward 9 - Davenport Dufferin Grove Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Campbell Avenue Playground and Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Dovercourt Park, Ward 9 - Davenport Roundhouse Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York Trinity Bellwoods Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York Christie Pits Park, Ward 11 - University-Rosedale Queen's Park (110 Wellesley St W), Ward 11 - University-Rosedale Sir Winston Churchill Park, Ward 12 - Toronto-St. Paul's Corktown Common, Ward 13 - Toronto Centre Greenwood Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Riverdale Park East, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Withrow Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Monarch Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth Skymark Park, Ward 17 - Don Valley North Lee Lifeson Art Park, Ward 18 - Willowdale East Toronto Athletic Field, Ward 19 - Beaches-East York Milliken Park, Ward 23 - Scarborough North Neilson Park - Scarborough, Ward 25 - Scarborough-Rouge Park 2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 608, Parks, as detailed in Attachment 2, subject to such stylistic or minor substantive changes as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the City Solicitor, to allow the time-limited pilot program described in Attachment 1 to be implemented in specified parks. 3. City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the evaluation results of the pilot in the first quarter of 2024.
EC5.2adopted
Changes to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management
The purpose of this report is to make changes to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management, in accordance with the requirements of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. The Upper Village BIA falls within two Community Council boundaries.
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council, in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: Aboudi, Yacov Goodman Boudana, Dr. Melissa Wallace, Katarina 2. City Council remove the following director from the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management set out below: Silano, Trina
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that: 1. City Council, in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, appoint the following nominees to the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management set out below at the pleasure of Council, and for a term expiring at the end of the term of Council or as soon thereafter as successors are appointed: Aboudi, Yacov Goodman Boudana, Dr. Melissa Wallace, Katarina 2. City Council remove the following director from the Upper Village Business Improvement Area Board of Management set out below: Silano, Trina
EC5.3amended
Theatre Review for Inclusivity and Equity
The City of Toronto has made changes to ensure measures of inclusivity and equity are prevalent in all the work being done at the city. We have recognized systemic racism exists. I would like to request a review on the types of theatre productions that are being staged in city-owned facilities. I am concerned that some productions may marginalize or oppress individuals based on their race or creed, which is not in line with the City's commitment to equity and inclusivity. I believe it is important for the city to ensure that all theatre groups are provided the same access to funding and access to city-owned theater/building spaces and that productions in city-owned buildings and sties do not perpetuate harmful stereotypes or systemic biases.
The Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, to report to the October 24, 2023 Economic and Community Development Committee meeting on: a. how the City and its agencies are ensuring that performances in city-owned spaces are adhering to mandated guidelines of inclusivity and equity so that stereotypes, specifically relating to Indigenous communities and people of colour, are not perpetuated; and b. current levels of funding and access to theatre space provided by the City for BIPOC performances, and opportunities to increase them.
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 TO Live, to report to the October 24, 2023 Economic and Community Development Committee meeting on: a. how the City and its agencies are ensuring that performances in city-owned spaces are adhering to mandated guidelines of inclusivity and equity so that stereotypes, specifically relating to Indigenous communities and people of colour, are not perpetuated; and b. current levels of funding and access to theatre space provided by the City for BIPOC performances, and opportunities to increase them.