Infrastructure and Environment Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 6 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.
IE4.1adopted
Plans for the Historic Mimico Train Station - Update
This report provides an update on the status of the Historic Mimico Train Station (the "Station") project and the Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) division's plans for the Station. This report is in response to City Council's recommendation at its meeting on July 23, 2018 upon adopting the Ombudsman's July 9, 2018 report which requested Parks, Forestry and Recreation report to the Parks and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2019 with a detailed plan for the Station. In early 2016 the Ombudsman commenced investigating the City's handling of a Section 37 Agreement between a developer, which has since gone into receivership in 2017, and a volunteer resident group called Mimico Station Community Organization ("MSCO") which officially dissolved in 2017. The investigation concluded with the Ombudsman's report in July 2018 which included recommendations to PFR and City Planning. PFR has indicated to the Ombudsman that it intends to seek an arts and culture operator for the Station after the rehabilitation work has concluded.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Received the item for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that: 1. Infrastructure and Environment Committee receive this report for information.
IE4.2adopted
Construction Staging Area - Broadway Avenue (85-91 Broadway Avenue and 198 Redpath Avenue)
Fitzrovia Real Estate Inc. is constructing a 38-storey rental building at 85-91 Broadway Avenue and 198 Redpath Avenue. The site is bounded by Broadway Avenue to the north, Redpath Avenue the east, existing residential uses (178-192 Broadway Avenue) to the south and existing residential uses (75 Broadway Avenue) to the west. St. Monica Catholic School, St. Monica Child Care Centre and North Toronto Collegiate Institute, have all been notified of the construction staging plan and the developer has committed to holding information sessions with the schools. Transportation Services is requesting approval to close the south sidewalk and a portion of the eastbound lane on Broadway Avenue abutting the south side of the site for a period of 30 months to accommodate the construction staging and operations. Pedestrian access on Broadway Avenue will be maintained within the closed portion of the curb lane. This report is submitted to Infrastructure and Environment Committee as Broadway Avenue forms a shared boundary between the Toronto and East York Community Council and the North York Community Council.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that: 1. City Council approve the closure of the south sidewalk and a 2.0 metre wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and a point 41 metres west, from March 26, 2019 to August 31, 2021. 2. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, on the north side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 74.5 metres west. 3. City Council rescind the existing maximum one-hour parking limit in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on the north side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 74.5 metres west. 4. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the south side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 42.5 metres west. 5. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the north side of Broadway Avenue, from Redpath Avenue to a point 74.5 metres west. 6. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the south side of Broadway Avenue, from Redpath Avenue to a point 42.5 metres west. 7. City Council direct the applicant to schedule all major deliveries at the site between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. 8. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site. 9. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the respective Ward Councillors. 10. City Council direct that Broadway Avenue be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that: 1. City Council approve the closure of the south sidewalk and a 2.0 metre wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and a point 41 metres west, from March 26, 2019 to August 31, 2021. 2. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, on the north side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 74.5 metres west. 3. City Council rescind the existing maximum one-hour parking limit in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on the north side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 74.5 metres west. 4. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the south side of Broadway Avenue, between Redpath Avenue and 42.5 metres west. 5. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the north side of Broadway Avenue, from Redpath Avenue to a point 74.5 metres west. 6. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the south side of Broadway Avenue, from Redpath Avenue to a point 42.5 metres west. 7. City Council direct the applicant to schedule all major deliveries at the site between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. 8. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site. 9. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the respective Ward Councillors. 10. City Council direct that Broadway Avenue be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.
IE4.3amended
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for temporary daily short-term curb lane closures on a section of Highway 27 in the vicinity of Finch Avenue West and Humber College Boulevard. The proposed lane closures will be implemented intermittently during the off-peak period and to undertake early works for the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction. The temporary lane closures are being requested from May 2019 to October 2019. The report further seeks Council authority to close a portion of the boulevard space within the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest quadrants of the intersection of Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West. These areas of land are required for construction material and equipment laydown purposes during construction of the LRT portal and guideway. The proposed boulevard closures are being requested for a period of 51 months (May 31, 2019 to August 31, 2023). With the proposed closures in place, all traffic lanes and sidewalks on Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West will be maintained. Finally, the General Manager's current delegated authority in relation to the Finch West LRT to temporarily close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic highways or portions of highways for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days is valid until March 31, 2020. With the expected project completion date in 2023, extension of the current delegated authority is required until August 31, 2023 to ensure timely approval and implementation of any road closures required for the completion of the project.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that: 1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delegate to the General Manager, Transportation Services, despite section 937-4 of Code Chapter 937, from May 16, 2019 to October 31, 2019, the authority to temporarily close to vehicular traffic portions of the northbound and southbound curb lanes on Highway 27, between 200 metres south of Humber College Boulevard and 100 metres north of Finch Avenue West, daily between 9:30am and 3:30pm as required but ending no later than October 31, 2019, for the purposes of the construction of the Finch West LRT project, and exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services, in carrying out this delegated authority from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor. 2. City Council close the boulevard spaces within the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest quadrants of the intersection of Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West, as shown shaded in Attachment 1 to the report (April 9, 2019) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, from May 31, 2019 to August 31, 2023. 3. City Council amend Section 937-3.8 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delete the date of March 31, 2020 and replace it with the date of August 31, 2023 such that the General Manager, Transportation Services will be delegated the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic highways or portions of highways for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days, until August 31, 2023, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Chapter 937, as required for the purposes of the construction of the Metrolinx Finch West LRT corridor, and to exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services in carrying out this extended delegation from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor. 4. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to ensure that affected Councillors are consulted on proposed lane closures and associated traffic management plans prior to permits being issued that exercise the delegated authority detailed in Recommendation 3, above.
Staff recommendation as filed
The General Manager, Transportation Services recommends that: 1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delegate to the General Manager, Transportation Services, despite section 937-4 of Code Chapter 937, from May 16, 2019 to October 31, 2019, the authority to temporarily close to vehicular traffic portions of the northbound and southbound curb lanes on Highway 27, between 200 metres south of Humber College Boulevard and 100 metres north of Finch Avenue West, daily between 9:30am and 3:30pm as required but ending no later than October 31, 2019, for the purposes of the construction of the Finch West LRT project, and exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services, in carrying out this delegated authority from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor. 2. City Council close the boulevard spaces within the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest quadrants of the intersection of Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West, as shown shaded in Attachment 1, from May 31, 2019 to August 31, 2023. 3. City Council amend Section 937-3.8 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delete the date of March 31, 2020 and replace it with the date of August 31, 2023 such that the General Manager, Transportation Services will be delegated the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic highways or portions of highways for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days, until August 31, 2023, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Chapter 937, as required for the purposes of the construction of the Metrolinx Finch West LRT corridor, and to exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services in carrying out this extended delegation from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.
IE4.4amended
Pursuing Compensation for the Cost of Climate Change to the City of Toronto
City Council on March 27 and 28, 2019, referred Motion MM5.11 to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. Climate change costs Toronto. The City of Toronto will spend billions of dollars rebuilding the homes, businesses and municipal infrastructure damaged by ever-stronger floods, storms, heat waves and flash freezes. We will spend even more proactively to make our City more resilient in the face of those impacts. Most importantly, Torontonians will experience devastating loss and suffering - a cost that will be felt by all, but which will hit our most vulnerable populations hardest. Extreme weather is already causing massive damage to Toronto-area infrastructure, homes, services and businesses. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Greater Toronto Area has had six "100 Year Storms" since 2005. These storms are a direct result of climate change and the resulting flooding has come with escalating costs to both taxpayers and insurers. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that for every dollar in insured damages to homes and businesses, governments must spend three dollars to repair infrastructure. Cities across North America are beginning to deal with the question of who should help pay for these climate change-related costs. Given recent research highlighting the role of oil companies' impact on climate change and their involvement in decades-long efforts to cast doubt on climate science, City Council should explore joining New York, San Francisco and other major metropolitan cities in taking major oil companies to court. Just like tobacco companies knew their products caused cancer, but hid that information from the public, major oil companies have known for decades that their products would cause climate change. As tobacco companies have been held accountable for the health care costs associated with smoking, big polluters should have to pay their fair share for building a climate-safe City.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Requested the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, the General Manager, Toronto Water, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Chief Resiliency Officer, the Director, Energy and Environment and any other City staff deemed appropriate, to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the fourth quarter of 2019 on the long term cost implications of climate change to City of Toronto's infrastructure and programs, and any legal avenues to pursue compensation for these costs from major greenhouse gas emitters. 2. Requested the City Manager, and other appropriate staff, to review partnership models between oil and gas companies and other cities internationally, including those in Europe, that are being used to combat climate change and report back at the same time as Recommendation 1 above. 3. Requested staff to conduct all research internally without contracting any outside legal counsel or outside consultants.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle, recommends that: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, the General Manager, Toronto Water, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Chief Resiliency Officer, and any other City staff deemed appropriate, to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the fourth quarter of 2019 on the long term cost implications of climate change to City of Toronto's infrastructure and programs, and any legal avenues to pursue compensation for these costs from major greenhouse gas emitters.
IE4.5amended
Proposed Regulatory Framework for Scooters, Cargo, and E-assist Cycles
There has been growing interest and growth in the use of vehicles on our roads other than cars and standard bicycles. Increasing congestion and market changes (such as the growth in e-commerce) are driving businesses to explore the use of pedal-only and e-assist cargo cycles for goods movement in recent years. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the use of dockless scooters, which are made by companies like Dropbike and Lime and are already in use in many cities across North America. However, the City of Toronto does not have any regulations around these vehicles, and regulation at the federal or provincial level is unclear. Dockless e-scooters may not meet provincial standards for on-road use. Existing municipal bylaws around e-assist cycles (referred to as power-assisted bicycles or pedelecs in municipal bylaws) may discourage the use of certain e-assist cargo cycles carrying heavier loads. In Toronto, power-assisted bicycles over 40kg are not allowed in bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, and cycle tracks, which may limit the use of e-assist cargo cycles given that many are typically over this weight. The City has an opportunity to proactively review its policies to provide regulatory clarity for residents and for businesses which are interested in the use of cargo cycles, scooters, and other vehicles. Distinguishing between different types of cycles is necessary in order to regulate what is appropriate for use in different bikeways and/or our roadways and sidewalks.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Director, Environment and Energy, the General Manager, Fleet Services, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Toronto Parking Authority to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on a proposed regulatory framework, safe road design and intersection requirements for low speed wheeled modes under 25 km, including but not limited to electric wheelchairs, scooters, cargo cycles, and e-assist cycles in Toronto in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Mike Layton requests that the Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with Director, Environment and Energy, the General Manager, Fleet Services, and the Toronto Parking Authority report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on a proposed regulatory framework for scooters, cargo cycles, and e-assist cycles in Toronto in the fourth quarter of 2019.
IE4.6referred
The waste management landscape in Toronto and across Ontario is imminently set to significantly change. With a desire to move to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, municipalities will soon no longer be responsible for managing and processing their recyclable material streams, nor responsible for any of the associated costs. This new Provincial framework brings with it a climate of uncertainty, where stability in processing services needs to be taken seriously and is the prudent direction to take. Some changes to consider are: 1. Future contracts for processing will be removed from municipal authority and made the responsibility of product producers, or others with a commercial connection as designated by provincial regulation, likely facilitated through engagement with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). 2. Full transition to EPR implementation date target of 2024 (moving away from the current 50/50 cost-sharing system between municipalities and industry). 3. Timeline of EPR transition anticipated to be released within a 6-month period by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks - Toronto's current processing contracts are set to expire in 2020 and 2021 respectively (extension options are available). 4. Significant staff changes within the Solid Waste Management Services Division at the City - time is needed to bring staff up to speed in their new roles. 5. The lack of a dedicated EPR Consultation is missing from the City's current Long Term Waste Strategy. 6. Market costs are rising all over North America due to China National Sword and increased contamination, meaning that issuing RFPs and entering into long term contracts now will not provide the desired cost savings to the City but could potentially double rates which has been seen in recent contract awards. This motion seeks to receive enhanced reporting on the upcoming wind-up of the Blue Box Program, schedule dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) consultations to be added to the City's Long Term Waste Management Strategy and that Infrastructure and Environment Committee consider delaying the issuance of any RFPs that will result in long term contracts to provide staff with sufficient time to conduct a thorough, transparent, equitable and inclusive consultation on EPR while providing stability and continuity of processing services without a cost increase and provide security for the 400 local residents currently employed at the MRF during the EPR transformation period. The issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) prior to the new Provincial regulations, that will not result in cost savings for the City as the current market continues to dictate rising costs. Status quo with a strong partner is often preferable when the regulatory landscape is about to evolve.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee: 1. Referred the item to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services with the request to report to the May 23, 2019 Infrastructure and Environment Committee Meeting.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor James Pasternak requests that: 1. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee direct the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to keep Members updated on transition to EPR timelines and overall future contracting processes regarding the wind-up of the Blue Box programming through regular reports to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. 2. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee direct the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to schedule dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) consultations with relevant and directly impacted stakeholders and to submit a report back to Members of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in Q2 2020, as an addendum/supplement to the City's Long Term Waste Management Strategy. 3. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee direct the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to delay the issuance of any Requests for Proposals that entail long term contracts regarding Single Stream Recyclable Materials (Blue Bin Recyclables) Processing Services until the EPR consultation report is brought back to Committee in Q2 2020 and the Provincial EPR timelines are clarified. This will maintain stability of current costs for the City of Toronto, processing services and secure local employment while the EPR transition landscape is finalized.