Post

Toronto Council meets today! It's the PENULTIMATE regular meeting of the term. To mark the occasion, they'll talk car-free streets. And maybe parking requirements, too. Multitudes. The meeting streams here. I'll post the things that occur, as they occur. www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2X_...

For an easy way to follow my coverage, City Hall Watcher Live is on the air! Posts in this thread will be automatically collected and archived here, in real time. The best kind of time. live.cityhallwatcher.com

For a complete preview of the agenda, which also includes items about keeping renters cool, spiffing up Queen's Park North, the Gardiner upload, and speeding in a city without speed cameras, check out this week's newsletter. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/the-tardy-...

In a twist, the mayor has designated a new member motion as her key matter, so it'll be debated first. It asks Council to approve making a deal with the province and feds to accept $1.5 billion in funding in exchange for cutting development charge rates. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

We begin with the mayor at the lectern, paying tribute to police officer Marc Pinizzotto, who died in the line of duty earlier this month. "We honour Constable Pinizzotto through our gratitude, and our support for those he loved." Council observes a moment of silence.

Councillor Michael Thompson wants to show his colleagues a video. It's about the Taste of Lawrence festival, now in its 23nd year. The video is a production of some students at Upper Canada College. In it, a student describes Thompson as "quite an amazing person." The festival runs July 3-5.

Council decides to hold its tributes for the late Howard Moscoe until tomorrow morning. They'll also break between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. today so councillors can attend Pinizzotto's funeral. They'll then meet until 8:30 p.m. tonight. Adjust your calendars accordingly.

Councillor Chris Moise, chair of the Board of Health, touts Toronto Public Health's line of "six limited-edition soccer-inspired condom designs that celebrate the energy of the World Cup while promoting sexual health." Free while supplies last. ("They're going quick, by the way!" he notes)

Councillor James Pasternak, introducing some North York items, highlights his opposition to a development at 75 Billy Bishop Way. He says the "five tall buildings" proposed will "be tearing up vital retail", like a Beer Store, Jolibee, Starbucks and A&W.

Councillor Mike Colle, as is his custom, declares a conflict of interest on all TTC-related items as his son works there. No other conflicts declared for this meeting.

On an item about zoning changes to make it easier to install net-zero infrastructure, Councillor Saxe passes a quick amendment to allow removing parking spaces to install support pillars for solar parking canopies. Item CARRIES via show of hands. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Council votes 23-1 to APPROVE the installation of some new windows on a house in the South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. Okay then. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

The debate schedule takes shape: - Toronto Hydro annual report set for tomorrow morning, after Gardiner upload item - Queen's Park North set for tomorrow afternoon - Ombudsman report on token refunds will follow that

"It's really nice that I see all members of council paying attention to what I'm saying," says Nunziata. I think she's being sarcastic. "I see everybody just walking around, and nobody's really paying attention." Yes, definitely sarcastic.

Whether councillors are paying attention or not, staff have a presentation on the deal with the province and feds to reduce development charge rates in exchange for a big bag of money. Here's a handy table of the reduced DC rates.

In exchange for a ~40 month reduction in DC rates, the City will get $1.5 billion to fund this big list of projects over next ten years. These are not new projects, but previously they were funded with dev charges — now they'll be funded by provincial and federal funds.

The City estimates the development charge reductions will spur the construction of about 18,750 more units over 3 years. CFO also points out the program creates "funding certainty" as city was worried, with bad RE market, it wouldn't make much from development charges over next three years anyway.

The deal seems like a lopsided win for the city: 10 years of capital funding for ~3.5 years of DC reductions. But also doesn't really solve the dev charge problem in a sustainable way. We could be right back to square one in 2030s, with city overly reliant on development charges for infrastructure.

Perks asks if it's true that the city had to rely on DCs because prov and feds reduced their infrastructure funding. "Municipalities are responsible for 60% of public infrastructure in this province, and generally collect about 9% of all taxes and fees," says CFO Stephen Conforti.

The development charge deal is also giving the city the financial certainty to launch phase two of their Purpose-Built Rental Incentive Program. They call it their "PBR" program, but it's not a beer thing. Incentives to build 10,000 more rental units, with 20% affordable.

Councillor Stephen Holyday's Zoom background features models of the CN Tower and, perhaps surprisingly, an old CLRV streetcar.