Matt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Toronto Council meets today! It's the last and final meeting of 2024.

There will be debates about things like rental housing, rideshare wages and SmartTrack (whatever that is). It starts at 9:30 a.m. It streams live here. I will post happenings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_APrgXiJEvs

City Council - December 17, 2024

YouTube
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
For a full preview of the agenda, which also features items about the future of the Scarborough RT corridor, the next phase of waterfront work, and legalizing corner stores, check out Friday's free bonus edition of City Hall Watcher. https://toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/smarttrack-flunks-out-ombudsman-versus
SmartTrack flunks further, Ombudsman versus City Manager battle, and let's do the mid-term shuffle

The week at Toronto City Hall for December 16 to 20, featuring a look at the agenda for the final Council meeting of 2024

City Hall Watcher
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
In this week's regular edition of City Hall Watcher, I've got a timely update to the COUNCIL SCORECARD with a look at how often councillors vote with Mayor Olivia Chow. And a look at the looming mid-term committee shuffle. Consider it your pregame show. https://toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/city-councillors-get-scored-and-shuffled
Toronto City councillors get scored and shuffled

City Hall Watcher #310: The Council Scorecard RETURNS with a look at how often councillors are voting with Mayor Olivia Chow.

City Hall Watcher
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Oh wait, my inbox tells me, in fact, there will be one more 2024 Council meeting after this — a special Council meeting on Friday at 9 a.m. to approve the new deal with CUPE 416. It should be quick. It damn well better be quick.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Before they get down to business this morning, Council will take some time to pay tribute to departing Medical Officer Dr. Eileen de Villa. She played a major role in guiding the city through the pandemic. She also wore a lot of scarves.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Dr. de Villa takes the lectern after a warm introduction from the mayor. "It has truly been the privilege of a lifetime serving as Toronto's Medical Officer of Health," she says. After eight years on the job, she's "ready for a rest — and a new chapter."
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
De Villa says her "final prescription" for Toronto is for unity. She says the private, public and not-for-profit sectors worked together during the pandemic, and that kind of collaboration should really be a permanent thing.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

De Villa also says Toronto's public service workers are exhausted and still recovering from the demands of the pandemic and the last few years.

"So I recommend a focus as well on the well-being of the Toronto Public Service. They are the backbone of the city's operations."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Nunziata credits Dr. de Villa for coming along and holding her hand when she got the COVID vaccine. "I was petrified," Nunziata says.

For that and many other reasons, the departing medical officer gets a standing ovation from council.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Nunziata wants a quick recorded vote on the interim hike to garbage fees. Vote to raise fees 3.75% effective January 1 CARRIES 19-4. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX19.10
Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.10

Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.10

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Via show of hands, Council votes to approve the appointment of longtime NDP power player Brian Topp to the Hydro Board. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.NC15.2
Agenda Item History 2024.NC15.2

Agenda Item History 2024.NC15.2

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Council votes 21-2 to exempt new rooming house units from having to pay parkland dedication fees. Holyday had concerns. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.PH17.6
Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.6

Agenda Item History 2024.PH17.6

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
The housekeeping is done. Up first for debate are a pair of road safety items: an update to the Vision Zero plan designating more community safety zones, and a policy to retrofit city vehicles with sideguards.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Mayor Olivia Chow tells the tragic story of Jenna Morrison, who was killed by a truck driver while cycling in 2011. "At the time, I promised her family I would do something about installing sideguards on trucks." She says sideguards can reduce fatalities by 60%.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin moves to request (again) that the federal Transport Minister require all commercial vehicles to have sideguards. City has power to retrofit its own fleet, but needs feds to make regulations re: private vehicles.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Chernos Lin also moves for Transportation staff to look at speeding up the process of reducing local speed limits across the city. "The data is conclusive: slowing traffic down saves lives," she says.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Holyday has motions on Road Safety, but don't worry they're fine. He wants councillors to have access to the collision report database. He also wants to accelerate the implementation of speed limit reductions in the Eatonville Neighbourhood.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
But alas, Councillor Nunziata rules Holyday's motion about reducing speed limits in Eatonville out of order. It's a local community council issue, so he needs to bring it up at one of those meetings.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Mike Colle shows off this chart of killed or seriously injured road users from 2000 through 2023. "These investments that we've made through Vision Zero — all these speed cameras, red light cameras, speed limit reductions — they have saved lives."
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
All remaining motions carry via show of hands. The updated Vision Zero plan is ADOPTED 21-0.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE policy of retrofitting city trucks with sideguards. Next step: finding $5.7 million in the budget to do the work. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.IE18.5
Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.5

Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.5

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Up now: a report on the continued effort to make Toronto a "public developer." No debate, but Councillor Holyday wants separate votes on some of the report recommendations. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX19.1
Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.1

Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.1

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Whoops, cancel the vote. Actually, Councillor Bradford has questions for staff, so it looks like we will get a bit of debate on the public developer item.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Bradford wants to know the salary range for the Executive Director of the new Housing Development Office that will be tasked with public development. Staff say it'd be similar to other executive positions but don't offer a number. Bradford seems concerned about adding bureaucracy
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
For handy reference, here's the new corporate/bureaucratic structure being planned for housing-related stuff at City Hall with this report.
Show threadMatt Elliott
Council has to press pause on their Housing Development Office debate, because it's class picture day at City Hall. They've got to take a group photo at 12:30. Nunziata says she hopes everyone got the memo re: formalwear. Some did, at least.
Dec 17, 2024 at 5:25pmWeb
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Before the break and the photo, Council takes a sec to approve the bill confirming Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey as the Acting Medical Officer of Health, effective January 1. She's currently the Deputy Officer. The process for recruiting a permanent top doc continues.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

And that takes us to the lunch break. Council will be back at 2 p.m. They're scheduled to debate the next steps of the rental housing incentive program. A new report says they received lots of applications.

See you in 90 minutes or so.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Council is back, finally. And look, I spy the Grey Cup in the chamber. They are set to celebrate the CFL Champion Toronto Argonauts for their football accomplishments.

Mayor Chow takes the lectern and yells "ARRRRRRGOS." Some councillors respond, saying, "Arrrrrgos."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Michael "Pinball" Clemons, GM of the Arrrrrgos, is here. "Tell us the magic - teach us how to win!" Chow asks as she invites him to take the lectern for a few comments.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Pinball tells Chow and Council the secret to winning is to have a great head AND a great heart. He doesn't say anything about other body parts but I think they're useful too.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

"Losing is the fast track to winning — know that," says Pinball Clemons. "We learn more oftentimes from our losses than we do from our wins."

He closes by quoting MLK Jr: "Power, at its best, is love. The two are synonymous."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Councillors want to take a photo around the Grey Cup. Councillor Perruzza hoists it on his shoulder. "Don't drop it!" implores Councillor Chris Moise. He doesn't.

Everyone then says cheese or their customary equivalent.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
The wins just keep coming. Councillor Matlow announces that Councillor Parthi Kandavel just welcomed a new baby to the family.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Up now: the results are in from the initial application intake for the rental housing incentive program approved at the last Council meeting. Staff are recommending awarding about $458 million worth of incentives for these 17 projects, with 7,175 rentals. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.16
Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.16

Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.16

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
With provincial and federal money and financing support, the city says it could approve another 58 submitted applications under the rental incentive program to create 24,450 more homes.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Councillor Bradford when trying to ask questions of housing staff is frustrated after Nunziata shuts off his microphone after his time runs out.

"I gave you an extra minute — and you were not allowing the staff to answer, and you were being very rude," explains Nunziata.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Staff clarify that council already approved, via delegated authority, these applications to the rental incentive program when they approved this program in November. This report is really an FYI plus approval of an extra 528 rentals beyond the original scope.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
"Members, congratulations — this is literally the fastest and most successful affordable housing project in the City of Toronto in living memory, if not ever," says Councillor Gord Perks. He congratulates the mayor and staff on a "job well done."
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Continuing his victory lap, Perks says groups RESCON & BILD said this program wouldn't work. He says RESCON claimed no one would apply because of requirement to include 20% affordable units.

"A key lesson there - don't believe the industry when they say they need more subsidy."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
"The claims from the development industry should be taken not just with a grain of salt, or a lick of salt, but a whole steamboat full of salt," Perks says, arguing city hall housing staff are better at offering real numbers about the cost of building new housing.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
In her speech, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik points out that one of the successful applicants to this rental housing incentive program is phase one of Quayside — the waterfront land formerly eyed for the Sidewalk Toronto "Smart City" scheme. The saga continues.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Stephen Holyday decries the almost half-billion dollar cost of this rental housing incentive program, arguing this is just subsidizing "selected" developers, some of whom would be building anyway. He calls it an "income redistribution scheme."
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Councillor Bradford says Toronto is in the middle of a "housing starts crisis."

"Folks are pretty happy to take a victory lap but I can't square that with the numbers or the lack of progress," he says.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Bradford says with the tight timeline and short application window, he doesn't have confidence the city has identified the best applications that are most likely to actually get built. He's frustrated this report was only published six hours ago.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Bradford says he'd prefer a simpler policy, where the city would simply "waive development charges on a time-limited period for any applicant that wants to come forward and build purpose-built rental."
Show threadThird spruce tree on the leftDec 17, 2024
@GraphicMatt Oh there Holyday goes _thinking_ again. Give your brain a chance Stephen!