Councelor Saxs, you're here. Great. >> So, who have we got? Please. I'll just start this meeting in one second. We have Cororum. Just getting everybody settled. You're here for the western beaches. I'm or no, you're here for your letter that has to go on. Okay, great. Good morning everyone. Uh my name is councelor Paula Fletcher. I'm the chair of the infrastructure environment committee and we now have quorum. Thank you to councelor Saxs pastor neck chosen and deputy mayor morley this morning. And deputy mayor Cole is very very ill and unfortunately was hoping to join by video conference but he's just too sick. So we're going to miss him today. I understand there was a motion that he was going to make on vision zero. So if somebody knows where that is. Uh councelor Chosin has that. We're being this meeting is being held by video conference and in person here in city hall committee room 1. We're also livereamed on YouTube Toronto City Council Live. And although we are meeting in different places today in different locations, our committee would like to acknowledge that the land we are meeting on is the traditional territories of many nations. the Missagas of the Credit, the Inishnab, the Chipawa, the Hudnosoni and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse nations, Inuit and Matei people. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Missagas of the Credit. If you're registered to speak today, please listen for me to call your name. I'll call you in order as they appear on the list and you can view that list under toronto.ca CA council and check infrastructure and environment committee and look up the speakers list. Members, everything is on your portal which is the clerk's meeting portal and they're available if you're having trouble with it in any way. And also our great clerk, Mr. Green, is available here at IEC at toronto.ca if you have any messages, any motions. And if you have some motions and you can send the uh drafts to him, that would be great. I'm just going to ask if there's any declarations of conflict of interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. No, don't see any. Thank you. So, could I have a motion, please, to confirm the minutes from our meeting on May 6th, 2026? Councelor Pasternac. All in favor? Carried. We have 11 items on the agenda and we have two new items of business which will require motions to introduce and I'm happy to introduce both of them and we will now review our agenda. Sorry, going to turn that off. Also members, I have a uh emergency dental at 10:30, so I'll be out for an hour and uh councelor Chernos Lynn has graciously agreed to chair the committee during my absence because our deputy mayor Cole is at home quite sick. Thank you. So, we have uh introducing item number one, enhancing coordination with navigation platforms for road closures. There is a a amendment that councelor um Myers has sent for me and I don't know if we want to look at that and approve it with that. It's simply for all the geospatial information isn't quite getting to the locations as fast as it needs to. The same as we have with the roads. So, it's to have city staff uh again get in touch with uh ways and Google maps and everybody else to bring up a very current list of parks. So, with that, if we can agree to that, I'll move that amendment. I'll move that amendment for number one and then we'll move the whole item enhancing coordination with navigation platforms or road closures. All in favor of the amended. Thank you very much. Item number two, long awaited updates on vision zero road safety initiatives, enhancing safety in school zones, permanent roadside memorials, changes to parking regulations for intersection, pedestrian signals, and road safety improvement projects. We have speakers on that and I believe there's motions on that. So, that one will be held. Item number three, review of the city authority to address traffic and privacy issues regarding automated vehicles on Toronto streets. Item number three. Is there any member that would like to hold that item? Councelor Saxs, I know you've been interested in this one. Are you interested today or we're just going to let that go? I am very interested but I am not holding it. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. With Pardon me. You're >> Thank you very much. Moved receipt by council. >> Oh, sorry. To adopt motion to adopt by councelor Chernos Lynn. All in favor? Opposed? That's carried. I'm going to go at the clerk. Item four, Western Beaches Public Realm. We do have a speaker there. I don't know if Councelor Perks, you're interested at all in it. >> I know you are. It's your area. It's quite the It's quite the area. Both of you. Okay. So, that's being held. We do have a speaker. David White is here and I hope you'll stay for that conversation, too. Item number five is Metroinks Egllington cross town LRT atgrade segment and tunnel section traffic and parking bylaw amendments and road dedication. There is one speaker so that's held and I think councelor Cole also has an interest in that but fortunately he's not here. Item number six, right turn on red prohibition Victoria Park Avenue and Kingston Road. There is a speaker here that will be held and it's here because it is actually on the border of Ward 19 and Ward 20. So those always come to our committee. Item number seven, concerns and considerations raised by the province of Ontario and energy utilities regarding development and proximity to the Hearn switching station. I would like to hold number seven. Number eight is being held for speakers. Queens Park North donation concept plan update report. that is being held for quite a number of speakers. And number nine, sewers and water supply bylaws 2025 compliance and enforcement annual report. Is there anybody wishing to hold that? Yes. Wish to hold that. Councelor Saxs is going to hold sewer and water supplies bylaws 2025 compliance and enforcement. >> Madam Chair, I will try to speak to Lou uh at some point. I may be able to release it. I just have some questions for him. >> That would be great. Um, perfect. No problem. We're holding it. Update on MM 40.20 reinstating paddle the dawn for 2027. Um, I do have a unless there's a lot of conversation. I just have an amendment that we can move here and that is to have waterfront Toronto be part of Paddle Badon because the new river goes straight to Canoe Landing. So if I can move that here or I can just hold it and it's on the screen. Okay, >> you're happy. Thank you. >> You want to get paddling? So do I. So that's great. Thank you very much. Uh over to you to get get your paddle out. >> In favor of the amendment. >> In favor of the amendment. All in favor? Opposed. And that's carried. And then the item as amended. All in favor? That's carried. Thank you very much. That could be very very exciting. Um utility reconstruction item 11, utility construction photo documentation. I actually thought this was going to be not on the agenda, but it is. >> Defer. Yes, there's a whole raft of them and that was supposed to come in July. So, if I know you hate that, councelor Sachs, but I'm going to send it to July with your blessing. All in favor? >> Yes, because it wasn't actually I didn't want it here. We were going to do it in July, but it's here, so we'll do that. Thank you. All in favor opposed. That's carried. And now we have a new item. Correct. Or expansion. Sorry. Number 12. >> It's a new item and I believe it's the item that you're here on, councelor Perks. Yes. >> Yes. And I think there >> Can I just get it introduced? >> I think there's a member of the public or two who wanted to speak. >> That's fine. So, what I just want to do is uh get it on the agenda. So, item 30.12, expansion of Ontario's deposit return program. There's a letter here from councelor Perks. I think it's on line already, is it? Yes. So, it's not a matter of introducing it. It's just to add it to our agenda today. So, Deputy Mayor Morley, would you like to do that? All in favor? Opposed? It's now on the agenda. And thank you, Councelor Perks. I don't see anyone on the speakers list yet. So, I will ask whoever wishes to speak to this to speak to the clerk and get their names on this for this item. So, that would be who would they bring that to? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We'll arrange that. If you're wishing to speak, come on up and get that in or send your name in. We'll take it. And then we have one other one which is the Davenport winter maintenance needs. There is a letter from councelor Bravo. And I think we just have to introduce that. Uh would you like to introduce that, Deputy Mayor Mley? Thank you. All in favor? Opposed? And that's carried. That's now on the agenda for discussion. Thank you. Our first held item is uh IE30.2 two, which is updates on vision zero, road safety initiatives, enhancing safety in school zones, permanent roadside memorials, changes to parking regulations for intersection pedestrian signals, and road safety improvements. And I would call on we have speakers here. We have Adam Roy Cahoun, Adam Rogers, and Jess Spiker. I don't know if there's anybody else who wishes to put their name on for this one. So, I know Mr. Kahun often comes online. Is he available online? >> Not online yet. How about Adam Rogers? >> Yes. >> Online or in person? >> Online. >> Online. That's great. Thank you. We're going to put you online, Mr. Rogers. >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Five minutes. Just a second while we are you on camera or just on phone? >> Just on phone. Um or on on audio, I should say. >> On audio. Okay. Thank you. You can start. Thank you. >> Sure. No problem. Uh so I'll keep this short as I know others need to speak to items. Uh but I was reviewing the Elmharst Drive and Islington Avenue safety improvements and I noticed there was a change from a bike lane to an urban shoulder. So I was a little confused what that was. So I I I looked it up, of course. Um, and I read the uh Toronto's official line lane guidance about this and I found out that we actually say that an urban shoulder is not an alternative to dedicated cycling facility. Uh, and then I then read into the actual report and I said and it said uh, observed parking demand is low across the most project streets and parking is also available on nearby side streets with a short walking distance. So, I guess the question for council is why the downgrade from bike lanes to an urban shoulder if this is not an alternative to dedicated cycling facility and there is not a large parking demand for this. Uh that's that's all I have to add on this one. So, um unless there's a question for me, I'll just mute myself. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Are you finished your deputation? Yes, that was >> yes >> on record the fastest deputation that we've had. So, thank you for that. Are there any questions of Mr. Rogers? >> No. Thank you very much for appearing with us today. Then we have Jess Spiker from Friends and Families for Safe Streets. Are you here or are you online? Not here. Mr. Cahoun with us yet? He usually never misses a committee. Is he here now? Okay, Adam. >> Hi, Just a second while we get your uh audio. Please. There you go. Thank you for joining us. Just one second. I'm going to start your time. Okay, here we go. Sorry. Are you ready? What's that? >> I'm sorry. >> Adam, can you unmute your mic or per perhaps turn it up a bit? Um, I I will just give me one second. >> No problem. We're just having a hard We can see you, but we can't hear you very well. >> Okay, just give me one sec. >> Yep. >> Can you hear me now? pretty well. If you can go a little higher, it would be better. >> All right, then. >> Now, is it better now? >> What's that for everybody? Okay, I'm getting the nod. Yes. >> All right. >> Okay. I'm going to start your time now. >> All right. The reason why I'm coming to you today is because some uh some of the items mentioned in this in this segment are pedestrian crosswalk. Now, as somebody with a disability, I have to start by telling you right after the pandemic, it started to become clear to me that even though I was getting out and safely outdoors doing doing um sidewalk pickups, the biggest problem I was having was crossing some of the streets. Because up until that time, it was easy for me to easily get people to press the walk buttons, but I could not get any bystander to stop and want to press those buttons because they were too scared of the germs and whatnot. And you know as time went on it slowly got a little better. But that's when it became clear to me that if we are going to start using more things to move traffic around and rely on individuals to be pushing the walk action button. As somebody with a disability who can't reach over and press the buttons, especially when they are mounted on the poles, we need other options for me to be able to activate the walk signal. whether it is um durable sensors that I could drive onto that are in the sidewalk or whether it is um a way that I could signal that I wanted to um walk using my smartphone or other features. If we are going to start using more more things to advance to allow like um transit priority or other priority things, we are definitely going to need ways for disabled people to use all intersection, but especially those new PXOs which definitely rely rely on individuals with disabilities and everybody pushing those buttons. And if anybody has tried to press a button with anything other than their finger, they can't be pressed with their elbows. They can't easily be relied upon for anybody with any sort of mobility issues. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Have you got any further comments? >> No. No. I'm just I'm waiting for if there are questions of me. >> Sorry, >> I'm just waiting because sometimes I hang up too early and there have been questions of me. >> Okay. Yes. Now, councelor Chernosin does have a question for you, so please proceed. Thank you. >> Hi, Adam. I just wonder if the things that you're suggesting, if you know of any municipalities or countries that have um used those type of things that we might be able to look to for those. I don't know of um other countries or specities specifically um that have you. I do know that during the pan um game there was companies here that were um showing some of these thing and I do know but I do know of a few um cities that have used because they do have the they already have the technology for bicycles. So they have put them in for wheelchairs. I I do I do believe um Brookley, California is one. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any further questions for our deputent? As always, thank you very much for joining us with your insights. Appreciate it. Okay, I'm just checking if Adam Rogers is here now or not. Sorry. Uh, Jess, just friends and families of Safe Streets. No, we'll have to forego that. Okay, let's bring this into committee, please. Sorry, one second. Do we have another speaker? There might be somebody else online. Just hold for a sec. Okay. Thank you. We have two other speakers that have come in since 9:00. Uh Jeffrey Berich and Manakshi Sane. And I wonder if Jeffrey is here in the room or are you online? Yes. Online. Might have stepped out. How about Monaki? You're right. Okay, perfect. Please come on up. very happy to have you here. Hello. Good morning. >> Yes, please get settled. And you have a little microphone in front of you there to put on. >> Do you have Okay, here we go. >> That's great. Just a second. I'm going to start your time because you have the five minutes. All right. Go ahead. Thank you. Um, >> good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to come and speak with you this morning. I'm actually coming here on behalf of my community. I live in on in the Fran Drive community and the city of Toronto over the last two years has made a number of changes to our very very small neighborhood. We are a neighborhood of only 300 houses. However, the city has had uh put in bike lanes including bike lane uh barriers which have reduced uh lanes of traffic uh traffic flow as well as impeded our ability to get in and out of our community. Keep in mind our community which is at Dawn Mills and Egllington had been in the center of this long long long uh LRT um construction along Egun. Sorry, this was supposed to be for agenda item two. Am I at the right time? Okay, awesome. >> You are on the right item. >> Okay, amazing. >> Thank you. Um, and so we were subjected to 15 years of construction with the Egllington LRT with ongoing traffic blockages. With that, we are now subjected to the Ontario line and ongoing lane blockages with that. Um there is a new proposal from the city um that we've been asked to comment on which we did comment on um and all of our comments were ignored. Um now the city is saying they are going to allow come uh coming in from Egllington uh to turn right onto Furand one way uh either going towards um Farand on the westbound side or going on Far one way eastbound. However, that now makes it very difficult for drivers to get around the community because of the fact that we have children that play on our streets. And if you want to go beyond just facing Eg, which means now you have drivers cutting through all of our side streets. Originally, before the city put those bike lanes in, that was two-way traffic. people could actually get to their homes. No one in our neighborhood understands why bike lanes with bike lane barriers were put there. There is a bike lane on Egun which this street faces. We're we're very confused as to why you need these bike lanes there and we would like two-way traffic to be restored. You have decreased traffic. There are days when we have construction trucks, blocking lanes, accidents, fire trucks blocking lanes. People cannot get in and out of the community. The other thing I want to point out is, and I've sent a photo, and I apologize. I had emailed everything and I sent it to the wrong email. I have sent a photo and hopefully um it can be circulated to this committee of a bike lane barrier which is about a foot and a half high. It blocks a fire hydrant. This is not the only bike lane barrier that blocks fire hydrants in our neighborhood. And the photo I showed you is actually or that I sent is very important because of the fact that behind that bike lane barrier and behind that fire hydrant is a town home and in that town home there was a fire related death after the bike lane barrier was put up. We have contacted John Burnside. We have uh responded to the requests for feedback regarding the forand drive project. We have asked for these things to be eliminated. Um we actually think you're just ignoring us and we would like you to hear us. We would like we don't we understand the city wants to be a bike lane bike friendly city. We're not saying get rid of the bike lanes. We're saying get rid of the barriers. Currently, you have removed the barriers for for the Ontario line construction. So, there's no reason why you can't remove the barriers. They're removed in multiple places in our neighborhood. All we're asking is leave the paint on the ground. Fine. No problem. We will not use those lanes unless it's deemed necessary. However, those barriers are impeding people's ability to move safely within our community. The proposed change for this one-way traffic is actually probably going to kill one of our children. >> Can you wind up? And maybe there's a question for you. >> I'm sorry. >> Could you wind up, please? You're at five minutes. Take another I would like you to please reconsider everything that you have done in our community. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. I don't know if there are some questions for you and deputy mayor has a question. Thank you very much. >> Thanks for taking the time to be here on behalf of your community. Uh you mentioned that you did reach out to your local counselor and that's always a good avenue to make sure that your voice is being heard here at city hall. I'm just wondering if you've had some productive discussions with the counselor or if they've been able to give you some guidance um beyond coming before the committee today. >> Absolutely. Mr. Burnside, I tried to meet with him three times last summer. He canceled all of my meetings. um his someone in his staff h recently emailed me um because I've been having ongoing email correspondence. They know that I'm here today. Um and they basically said, "Look, there's nothing we can do." Um good for you. Go and speak in front of the committee. Uh that's helpful to know and I appreciate that. Um, I will put some of your questions to staff regarding the proximity to the hydrants and things like that um to try to get some further clarity. But again, really appreciate you taking the time and um uh engaging with the appropriate folks. >> Thank you. Are there any further Yes, Councelor Pasture. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you for coming down and and sharing your views. Uh the barriers are are these the sort of the parking lot type uh concrete barriers that are street placed in in the roadway. So, we have some low ones that are just kind of like regular little parking lot ones that are, you know, maybe a couple of inches off the ground or whatever 10 10 15 centimeters. And then we have ones that are probably about a foot and a half off the ground >> and they impede the ability to not only drive does it does it narrow the street to one lane? Is that what you're saying? So, I don't know if you're familiar with the Dawn Mills and Negon area, but >> vaguely, but not your corner. >> So, it's it probably is kind of similar to the wa to the way this floor is laid out in on city hall. Okay. It's kind of a little circle. Um and when you are if you're driving uh eastbound on Egun just past Dawn Mills, there is an entrance onto Feran Drive and that entrance you it's a oneway going into the community and it used to be two-way traffic. You could so you could either turn left or you could turn right and two-way traffic would flow all around this circle. when the bike lanes were put in, that two-way traffic was removed and actually lanes of traffic were removed. >> All right. Um, yeah, I I have found when when I'm presented with uh cycling track design in my area, um, and I see something that won't work, I I find staff very amendable to to looking at a plan B or alternatives. >> I'm happy to email you any response I've gotten. I I've got my hands full in in York Center, but I'm sure a very capable councelor Burnside would be able to uh to help you and and work with staff to make any amendments. >> I I have I have direct correspondence from one of his staff members that says there's nothing they can do, which I've actually forwarded now to this committee because I forwarded a picture. Well, I'm not sure what to say that he councelor Bside is not here to explain his position on on the matter. So, I don't want to delve that to go down that road. But, um I I urge you to uh to reach out directly to staff. Um and uh >> I'm here because reaching out directly to staff hasn't worked. >> I'm not sure what to suggest here. Um he she has to work with her local counselor. There's no doubt about that. has to then work with city staff. Um if none of that is working, um >> well, she's here, so I think councelor deputy mayor has agreed to ask some of the questions to city staff this morning. >> Okay. So, you you've got a committee here that will will advocate on your behalf. >> We have sent a letter in to the friend drive project with over 75 emails and addresses and names from our community. We could get more. We probably could get everybody. Um, but our letter was ignored. >> Okay. Well, uh, Deputy Mayor Mori has, uh, very graciously taken on this case and, uh, I'm certainly, uh, support her efforts in getting clarity on it. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. Yes, we have another question. Hang on, please. So council, >> thank you chair. Um I wonder if you could just um tell us a little bit about the consultation that was done with fan drive like was it in inerson meeting or was there an online presentation? Um and how were residents able to make their views known to staff? >> So they put up signs in our neighborhood with little QR codes that says give us your opinion. Uh, Mr. Burnside did have some community meetings. Um, and then I think there was one community meeting before they actually put the bike lanes in. Um, I did not know about the community meeting otherwise I would have went or if I could have went. The other thing is people work, right? We our community is a high immigrant population. We work. Um, I'm a professor at Queens. Um, I'm just lucky today is a flex day for me. I'm actually at home. I'm not in Kingston. I prefer to live in Toronto and not in Kingston. I grew up here. This is my home. I want to be here. Um, but you're ruining our neighborhood. >> Okay. Thank you. I am familiar with it. I'm in the ward next door. I'm in Don Valley West. >> Visit us. >> So, I'm I'm there often. Um and uh I'll be sure to leers with councelor Burnside to understand a little bit more about the specificity of it. I know you can turn right into that neighborhood um off of Egllington when you're going eastbound. I'm not as familiar. I will honestly say I haven't done that route, but I will try to drive it in the next little bit. Um this will come to council just so you know. So, there is another kick at the can, I guess you could say, too. But I'll be sure to ask and if Councelor Mley runs out of time, I'll be sure to ask any follow-up questions to to staff today. Thanks. >> Thank you so much. And if you need me to come back, I'm happy to come back. I just I don't know. I'm I think we're all very tired in my neighborhood. So, >> uh, thank you. you're daylighting an issue and maybe ability to I'm just going to let deputy mayor Mory ask are we finished with questions of our deputent here. So what we do now is we're finished with your questions and your deputation and now our counselors here on the committee we will ask staff questions. So you can uh go back but we're not going to do that until we hear from Jeffrey and I don't know if Jeffrey's with you or if Jeffrey's back in the room. Jeffrey put his name on earlier. >> Did somebody know where Jeffrey is? >> Yeah. Jeffrey >> I'm sorry. Back in >> 10. >> I'll leave that with the >> I'm sorry. Yeah, we're on the item with his name. So, I'm just going to ask, would you like to continue or do we want to wait for Jeffrey? You could message Jeffrey and let him know that unfortunately he's missed his time. Unless that's him. No, it's not. So, okay. We're going to take this into committee now unless there's anybody else on this issue. Thank you. Okay. I know Deputy Mayor Morley, you're going to ask some questions directly from ourut. >> I am, Madam Chair. Thank you. And I actually have a number of questions pertaining to my own ward as well. Um, but I'm happy to >> I was just going to say I think there may be on this one. Yeah, >> you can have more than one round if everybody agrees. More than one round. Okay, great. >> Thank you. Um, I just wanted to quickly inquire related to the um, FARN drive uh, concerns that were just raised to us here. Um can staff could give a brief synopsis on the installation there including the timing uh and the community consultation that took place. Thanks for the question deputy mayor. So for drive safety improvements were originally approved by city council in 2024 following engagement uh with the community and that's where the the one-way conversion and the um and the cycle track were were designed and installed. Um the the recommendations before you are as a result of of ongoing communication with the local counselor and a preference to engage further on flipping the direction of the oneway um and adjusting the extent and location of barriers to better um serve the uh the community in terms of uh solid waste operations as well as um concerns that have been raised by by residents. Um Adam may have something further to add. There was consultation in December 2023 and January 2024 and while we heard some concerns similar to what was expressed today, there was support for the safety improvements proposed through this project. Each leg of Faren Drive is designed specifically to maximize existing available parking as well as maintain two-way operation where it's feasible. There was one segment where that wasn't feasible. and what was proposed was ultimately supported by the counselor and council and that's what's been installed. So what's before us today is really about reversing the direction of that one way as uh as mentioned rather than to make more significant changes. >> Um can you speak to the issue around the barriers blocking fire hydrants? What are standards related to that? And can you confirm um if there's additional action to address any potential conflict or blocking of important fire hydrants? >> Yes, there is one fire hydrant that is separated by barriers. The standard is to leave 3 m on each side. So a total of 6 m. And that's what's been uh provided in both the plans and installed. and we've measured that on site and it complies with uh with the standards that we've worked out with fire services. >> Okay. I think some of my other colleagues may ask additional questions on that and I'm sure the local counselor will continue will re-engage on this and continue to have some discussions with you all between now and council. Um just with respect to Atobbico Lakeshore, uh we know that the Horner Avenue road safety improvements before us include a number of um pieces. Um, what did the data from our traffic studies show about vehicle speeds and safety on her and folk avenues in the project area? Uh, through the chair, we did find that um, speed and traffic studies found that people were speeding on her and folk uh, often approaching 50 kilometers an hour. Um, and a warrant uh, study was undertaken to determine if traffic calming was appropriate and how to get those speeds down and make the streets safer. Uh what was the overall feedback that we received from public engagement with respect to speed humps on her and folk? >> Generally public engagement with respect to speed humps on her and folk feedback was mixed on the proposed speed humps. The number of people with concerns was higher than those who were in support. There was general support for measures to slow traffic noting the speeding issues just mentioned above. Um but uh many concerns for the speed humps would were that they would inconvenience and potentially divert uh vehicles onto other streets. Uh noting that there were some precedents of this behavior elsewhere in the neighborhood. >> Thank you. Um we did have some significant discussions and heard at our community consultations around the possibility of a roundabout um to be implemented at Folk and Horner intersection right in front of the school. Um what did the review uh of that um option determine uh and why was a roundabout sorry what is and why wasn't a roundabout recommended >> through the chair uh a roundabout would not fit spatially without significant impacts to property including property acquisition driveway removal and reconstruction of roads and curbs. that would be cost prohibitive under the current scope. Uh a smaller mini traffic circle was also considered but it does not fit the context as there is a lot of traffic on her and that type of uh infrastructure is not suitable for uh this particular location. >> Thank you. We appreciate you doing a review of that. My last quick question I'm going to slide in here is um some of the abuing stakeholders include Strat and Beck School and Atico uh seniors supports for seniors. Uh what was their feedback related to the proposed parking removals uh associated with um changes on their street? Were there any serious concerns? >> They were generally supportive of the safety improvements recognizing uh their residents and and the way they come to this community. uh they use some of the uh parking on street currently but believed that it wouldn't be an inconvenience given their private lot and uh their kiss and ride. >> Thank you. That's my time. I will leave it there. Madame chair, if we go for a second round, I do have some more questions. >> Okay. Thank you. Are there any other counselors with questions? We're on vision zero. Counselor Pastnack, do you have questions? I suspect you might. >> No, thank you. Uh, thank you, Madam Madame Phil and Chair. Um, yes, I'm I'm focusing uh on the U report back on the roadside memorial permanent memorial um engraved steel braces on utility pole motion that was adopted by committee in September of 20 uh 25. Um staff have focused much of their response on the uh lack of a currency in this being a safety measure. Uh there was nothing in the motion that really saw this as as something promoting safety. It was simply a memorial for uh the family uh who and it was initiated by a family whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver at the corner of Calvington and Keel. Um but you've you've really focused on the educational safety aspects. Can we go back? I mean, I'm trying to think why it would be other than people seeing it um and and and caution at at a certain spot, but um since so many cities are doing something similar, staff don't seem to favor this uh approach, can you just elaborate a a little more on why why Toronto's the outlier and while other cities seem to like it and do it, um Toronto does not want to >> through chair. Yes, councelor. What we saw is that the cities in North America that do have a program and there not a lot of them that there's been very little uptake. Even the the Calgary one uh that was referenced um has been around for several years and there's been no more than a handful uh of sort of residents that have shown interest in the program. Um and that seems to have repeated in other uh cities as well. So there doesn't seem to be while other cities similar to Toronto have thought about it and have um launched a program there hasn't been an uptake for the program um partly because these memorials are seen mostly as something that the advocacy community would prefer that the victims would prefer to work with the advocacy community and vice versa. So you've written here um that uh the big problems are it would introduce ongoing administrative and maintenance obligations. Now if the program if you're worried that the program is so small I'm trying to think what the burden would be um if so few people are opting for this why would there be a burden on the city for maintaining them >> to the chair the through the through the chair. I think I think just just to be clear what what we're saying is that we think there are better ways that we can more um actively engage um with um victims of of road violence and their families to to come up with a solution which may be more fitting and uh more respectful and deliver better benefits for those families than simply attaching a steel band to a lamp column. So you've also I mean you've also written here that this would not give deliver a clear public benefit uh a clear public benefit or road safety outcomes. I didn't really see this as as trying to achieve that. >> I think that's really through the chair. Sorry, that I think that's really a reference to the fact that um in some jurisdictions where these memorials are present, they're often accompanied by some additional information for for people to see uh which often has a road safety type message associated with it. Um so I think what we're saying is that we want to work with we want to work with the relevant different groups and the communities to devise a a program which is fitting which properly recognizes uh remembrance and enhances the partnerships and um really enables those people to engage properly in it as opposed to just one individual little static thing which sits there um constantly. >> So these are on a a cost recovery basis. I mean, I see other cities charge. So, there's no there's no cost to the city. The sponsoring families would uh would pay um >> the chair. That's correct. Y >> would we need uh secondary permissions from let's say Toronto Hydro or has that been sourced >> uh through the chair? Yes, we would need secondary permissions. we would need secondary permissions. >> If if if the installations were going to be installed on on their infrastructure. Yes. >> Okay, we'll leave it at that. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you. Um I have a question for staff and then we'll go to second round. Uh so my question is with respect to crossing guards. Um, now that we have so much less um, money coming into the city from the loss of ASSE cameras, the report makes note of the fact that some of those dollars were used to pay for crossing guards. Um, so does this mean we're going to have to lessen the number of crossing guards we have in the future? And if so, what is the impact in terms of from a vision zero perspective? I I would just um say that this is probably one of the most significant things in my community that people write about um in terms of keeping um our some of our most vulnerable users safe and little children. So, uh I would just ask >> Yep. So, so through the chair, um so there probably isn't a a 100% straightforward answer to that at this point in time. Um the city remains fully committed to our school crossing guard program. Um we're actively working with the province through the funding opportunities which they're making available uh following the removal of the ASSE program to provide funding for alternate measures. Um which in our mind also includes um school crossing guards. So that's active work that's underway. Um we remain committed to that program and we'll be doing all we can to sustain it. So, just as a followup to that, when the province announced that they were going to be giving us some replacement funding for the loss of ASSE cameras, were crossing guards included ever, I know they talked about roundabouts, speed humps, things like that. Did they ever mention crossing guards? >> Uh, through the chair, yes, they did. And I know that in our initial conversations and in the initial um funding which we received from the province, then our school crossing guard costs were eligible for that. Okay, thank you. >> Okay, councelor Mley, over to you. Uh, thanks, Madam Chair. I was actually going to lean into the crossing guard and um provincial uh fund to address ASC, so I'm happy to move to speaking. I'm good on questions. I'm not sure if any other >> anyone has any further questions. We we're just waiting for um Go ahead, Councelor Pastor Neck. >> Yes. So, I'd like to go back into the report. You've listed a number of streets. Um and it's on the this subject heading is outline outlines technical bylaw amendments for city council approval at 11 locations where construction is underway recently completed to align bylaws with field conditions and existing or updated signage. Now I see Wilmington Avenue is there. I didn't think there was any construction there. Can you just briefly explain what happens when we adopt this this motion for all these streets and and what happens at the street level? >> Uh through the chair. So specifically for Wilmington, there's um inconsistencies between what's in the bylaw um for parking laybys in terms of the 10-minute zones. Um and it needs it they currently conflict with the school bus loading zone bylaw. So there's it's a technical correction to make sure that what's been built, what's been approved is consistent with what's in the in the bylaw. Um so the the nature of the technical amendments varies and and there is a description one by one of the of those that are in the report. In some cases for Finch Avenue West, for example, we're bringing bylaw uh amendments in place for infrastructure that was built by Metro Links. Um in other cases, and for Young Street, there's a a safety amendment for a commercial loading zone. So, so it is a bit of a mixed bag and we're happy to answer any further questions on on those specifics, but they they generally are issues without impact. >> Okay. Thank you for that. I just want to uh follow up on councelor Chernos Lynn's question about funding for uh crossing guards. Is that uh reliable annual funding or is that a one-time? Has that been determined? through through the chair. Um our understanding is I think it's one time but I think those discussions are still underway. >> So any any traffic any crossing guards that we add to that complement we we would be on the hook for for as far as costs are concerned. >> So through the chair uh the city has always been responsible for the cost of school crossing guards. So every time we've added school crossing guards, yes, there's already there's always been a subsequent increase in the budget requirement. So you've mentioned on page 11 that it's a it's a one-time transfer of 210 million for for a series of I guess it's to offset the loss of automatic speed enforcement. Um and I guess it supports a number of different safety measures in school zones and so forth. Um so we we can't even though automatic speed enforcement was there was no there was no end date or there's there was no endgame. Uh this is one time and one time only and it's not likely to it could repeat itself. It may not repeat itself because these are operational these are annual operating costs. Sorry, councelor. Would you mind repeating that very last bit? But just to clarify while you're looking back to to do that, the 200 the 210 million that you referenced that province. That's not >> I hope I'm reading this correctly. On page 11, you've said the province of Ontario identified up to 210 million in one-time funding to support road safety enhancements at locations previously eligible for ASC to offset the loss of revenue. So, I guess one time means one time and and it will not repeat itself. ASSE uh was was an open-ended ongoing program with a revenue stream that well I guess we relied on through the check. That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um no, we've got quorum now, so that's good. Uh we'll move on to speakers on this item. I know I have I want to speak and councelor Mley uh I think everybody wants to to get the can so we'll start with you councelor Marley. >> Thanks Madam Chair through you. Um I do have a motion on this and I have been working closely with staff as well as my local community on one of the proposals within the report here. Um if I could just ask clerks to help put the um thing on the screen and madam chair you might want to reset the time just to keep us all honest here. Um uh so my motion um there is some elements of the proposal that we are amending. Um and uh again subject to the approval of the recommendations 3E and 3F. City council authorized installation of traffic calming speed humps and direct the city to prepare a bylaw to alter sections of the roadway. Um it goes on to detail um the amended version and I'll trust my colleagues to take that as read. Um and so while the data shows that vehicle speeds are high enough to meet trafficcoming warrants for speed humps on both her and Faulk in my ward, the feedback from the public consultation was pretty clear opposing some of those changes. I don't want to implement traffic calming on streets where they where people don't want it. Um, so my motion restricts speed hump implementation on her to the community safety zone in front of the school and the seniors community center. My motion also requests that speed humps on Faulk be made a provisional item to the contract for this project. I'd like to have the opportunity to do more direct consultation with residents on Folk Avenue before making a final decision and this approach will give me the time to do so. My team's been really intentional whenever we're introducing trafficcoming elements within our local communities. We do a poll within our office and we just didn't have the time to proceed with that uh in this case. And again, in light of the um feedback and some opposition, we want to uh give it a bit more time and and uh allow for that process. Lastly, the Folk and Horner intersection was a focal point for residents, uh, which is understandable because it's a really important pedestrian crossing, um, feeding into the school and community center. It's also a straight line down to our GO station south of this area. The project team reviewed the possibility of a roundabout with our thanks. Um, but they did find that there were challenges and safety issues fitting that into the location. uh as we heard from staff today. However, I do think uh we need to take resident feedback that some additional attention is needed here. So, I am recommending that they look at implementing a raised pedestrian crossing or other additional safety improvements at this location. I do want to thank my local community and everyone involved in the consultation to date, as well as of course our wonderful staff um and the cycling and pedestrian projects and community engagement teams for their good work on this project, their collaboration with my office and for again a really great community engagement process. I hope that this um solution that I'm proposing helps to allow us to move forward with some really critical safety improvements while pacing ourselves and allowing for additional community engagement as needed. Thanks, Madam Chair. That's all for me. >> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Sack. >> Um yes, I I do want >> Sorry, Councelor Saxs. I I um we'll get back to you. Sorry. There was a second motion apparently from councelor Mley that we did not have up on the screen. My apologies. Yes. So the first motion, both of them are fairly technical in nature. Um the second one is a request for the appropriate staff to include speed humps on Folk Avenue as a provisional item. Um so it's not automatically implemented but included in the contract before us as part of the basement flooding protection project uh that has spurred this work. So that's before you on the screen. Happy to answer any questions on those motions if there are any. >> Okay. Does anyone have any questions for councelor Mley on on those motions? >> No. Okay. So, we're going to move on to other speakers. Uh, councelor Saxs, go ahead. >> Um, I I just want to say to the staff how much we appreciate how hard they work on this and how difficult it is to do. I mean, just the fact that against every provincial barrier, they've come forward with proposals that are well documented, well justified, meet the warrants are necessary for safety, and we're still rolling some of them back. It's really hard to protect safety and we know that the staff have worked incredibly hard for a long time to get the death rate, death and destruction rate down on our roads. It's going back up now. Speeding is way back up. Deaths are up. Serious injuries are up. I talked yesterday with one of the lawyers who defends the city on the lawsuits um that we face when people are hit um often turning right on red and and running down pedestrians and cyclists. Uh and we are rightfully really proud of the progress we've made. The devastation to an individual, to a family from one of these crashes is enormous. Um, and it goes on for a lifetime. And we're in a situation where most of our tools continuously being taken away by the province. Um and then even then we get community push back of the changes we're trying to make to reduce the per the priority of cars so that more people can walk and cycle and get around and get home safely at night. So I recognize this is a tough thing to do. I recognize there's community push back. I get screamed at a lot. Um we're trying to make a change. We're trying to change the way the city moves around and that's hard. But we're doing it for a really important reason. We're doing it for none of us know which of us is going to be the one that's knocked down or who their or your child or your parent is going to be the one killed or get lifealtering injuries because a driver is distracted, watching their phone, drank too much, they've got screaming kids in the back, all the things that happen. and it is our responsibility to make the streets safer and I want to thank the staff for everything that they're doing and to keep trying to support them as much as possible. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Saxs. Uh Councelor Pastnack, please go ahead. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a motion that I'm moving on behalf of Councelor Lily Chang. It's uh regarding a uh a prohibition of a right-hand turn on a red and she would like to uh work with the community on consultations on whether to proceed with this. I think there was a technical error in the original wording of the motion. Something about the street uh was was not in award. So, this fixes uh the problem and allows it to go out to the community uh for consultation. I'm moving that on behalf of councelor Chang. Uh the other motion is to establish. Oh, there we go. I I'm asking I I was a little I was a little disappointed with the staff report and I think part of the problem was uh there's a feeling among the cycling uh lobby uh that this was an attempt to remove ghost bikes from the city of Toronto streets. This is didn't even cross my mind. Didn't even think about it. This motion uh came out of a a a grieving family, Sarahini family, uh who lost their daughter on June the 7th, 2020 to a drunk driver at the corner of Covington and Keel Street. Uh just a a terrible accident. I'm sure you can can imagine how horrific it was for the family. And what happened was is normal in these cases was an informal uh memorial was set up with with flowers and other items to to um honor uh Olivia uh and and remember uh what happened on that corner. Uh there were some I believe some roadside improvements and I think a utility pole or a stop sign had to be moved and the the memorial was dismantled. Uh the mother uh Olivia's mother, Mrs. Sarasini, uh came into the office with the idea of a memorial on a utility pole and talked about uh the um honor a loved one program in in Calgary. And that's how it originated. It was no attempt to remove ghost bikes, to replace ghost bikes. And despite that, uh, that group, that lobby vigorously fought, uh, an attempt to do, um, a grave steel brace memorial, uh, program in our city. So, I'm I'm suggesting here that we do a pilot uh that city staff uh work with the Sarasini family uh and that um in order to do not have to do a lot of work on design guidelines uh use use the honor a loved one program in Calgary as a guideline in in order to uh accelerate this. So, um there's the motion. Um, I think it's I think it's reasonable. I don't think it's a lot a big owners on on staff. Has nothing to do with the Ghost Bike program. Um, so, um, I think this is a good way to to honor, um, uh, Sarasini family and and their and their loss and an attempt, uh, for others to see, uh, the dangers of impaired driving uh, and and what can happen when people aren't paying attention. So, I'll leave it at that. >> Okay. Thank you, Councelor Pastasternac. Um, I have a couple of motions also that I would like to move. Um, the first one is a very small technical amendment uh because Mount Pleasant, it's just listed in the um in the recommendations as Mount Pleasant and the um restricting a left turn, but it's actually not the main left turn on Mount Pleasant. There's a little sort of side parallel block, very short one in front of Greenwood School where the left t left turn lane of that it's still technically called Mount Pleasant, but that's actually so I wanted to specify that so that people don't think it's the main branch of Mount Pleasant. Uh so that's the first one. The second one um is with respect to uh what councelor uh a little bit related to what councelor Pastasternac um uh was interested in and there was mention in the main report uh that um the city engage uh as part of world day of remembrance for road traffic victims that's established by the WHO. And so I actually would like to make that official um that the city participate in that uh so that while I I absolutely do support uh councelor Pastronac's pilot um in his ward uh for the Saraphenei family and I'm interested in where that goes. So I hope we'll we'll learn from that one and see if we can um potentially what what that would lead to. But I also think we should firmly establish something that we're doing as a city and working with local groups um around uh road traffic victims. So in November every year, that's the second one. And then the third one, uh this is um I'm moving this on behalf of uh councelor Cole who isn't here today. And this is just with respect to if we could just get that up on the screen. Um, and I I acknowledge I forgot to set the the time. I'm sure I've gone about a minute and a half. Um, so this is just with respect to having lost the, you know, the oversight of ASSE cameras uh to actually uh request that we get an update on data uh in terms of fatal collisions um and vehicle speeds. Uh what's changed since then? Uh so that's related to that because we've obviously lost um the tracking on that and that data was so very powerful in terms of telling us why we should have ASC cameras. Uh so it would be important to keep track of those statistics. Um, with that, I also just want to say that um, I know I know folks are um, having consultation on some of the specific items of recommendation in this report. I I I just want to comment that I am while I understand it's important to consult with community and do education around community, I am reluctant um to have community guide us as opposed to vision zero experts guide us on traffic regulations in terms of um particularly left turn signals. And I'm just going to put this out there. There was a young child who was killed in my community. Her name was Georgia Walsh. She was killed by a driver who made a right turn on a red without stopping properly at a high speed in an inside neighborhood. Um, and she was 7 years old. So, in my community, we think a lot about um I mean, I think this is everywhere in Toronto. We hear from so many people about um especially with the the apps like Ways and Google Maps, people cutting through neighborhoods because of the traffic in Toronto. And that's part of why we've been reducing speeds to 30 kilometers in internal neighborhoods. And so I'm I'm wary while I understand the importance of working with community and there may come a time where I'm in the same boat as some of my colleagues. I am I just want to register publicly that I think we have to think very carefully about second-guessing staff on things like no turn on red um in places because we have seen those and I'm sure every single one of us in this room has been a pedestrian uh when they've almost been hit by a car who's making a right turn either at a stop sign or an intersection or a red light. And so I I just want to make sure I've said that publicly and thank you to staff for all of your work on this. Oops. I think this is probably the single most important um topic that we deal with at this community uh at this committee at least. So thank you for all your work on this. I think sometimes we we're in a we're in a room. We're not out on the streets at the moment when we're talking about it, but the the number of pedestrians hit in Toronto, it feels like it's almost every single day that you open the paper or you turn on um CP24 and you see that a pedestrian has been hit or a cyclist has been hit. So, um I think this is probably the thing we have to do the most due diligence with. Thank you. So, with that, I think we'll move to um to the motions to voting. So, up first, we have uh Councelor Amber Morley's motion. I'm going to admit that I can't actually see which item that was with my old glasses or my I don't know, my old eyes is 1 A. Okay. So, all in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. I'm glad to be in good company. And now motion 2 A. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay, that has carried. Next up, we have motion 3A. This one is from myself. Uh the one around Mount Pleasant. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay, that has carried. And up next we have councelor Mory. I think we did this one already. Did we do this one? No. Okay. 1B. Uh this is with respect to Faul Avenue. All those in favor? Any opposed? That has carried. and we'll just wait for the next one. Okay, this one is from councelor James Pastronac. This is 2B. This is with respect to the pilot of the steel brace memorial. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay, that one has carried. Next up, we have uh one from myself. Again, this is with respect to participating in World Day of Remembrance. All those in favor? Any opposed? That has carried. And uh one more. This is with respect to update on data around uh fatal collisions with the removal of the ASC program. Motion 3C. All those in favor. That has carried. And I think we have one more. Okay. This is just the item as amended. So there's one more. And this one is as amended with all of those changes. If we could have uh all those in favor? Any opposed? Okay. And that item has carried. Thank you everybody for all your work on that. >> Yeah, we're just going to um Thank you. Uh thank you, Matthew. I I just have to uh like to add one item to the um to the agenda. This is improving tactile wayfinding in line five stations. Um it was brought to my attention in the Toronto Star actually this morning about the fact that um we only we only have wayfinding to the elevator. So this is with respect to that and I'm hoping we could add this to the agenda for today. All those in favor of adding this to the agenda. Okay. Thank you. And any opposed? That >> uh as long as you're still here for this vote to add this to the agenda. Any opposed? >> Okay. And that has carried. Am I not able to? We'll just leave it. Uh, councelor Saxs. >> Can you turn your microphone on? Thank you. >> Yes. I'd indicated earlier that once I'd spoken to Lu Jedrono, I could let him go. Uh, that was um item um ex 20.9. So, I'm prepared to release that. >> Okay. All those in favor of this is can you just repeat the number for me? >> U 20 point uh uh 20 30.9. Sorry, I need to change my glasses. >> That's okay. Okay. So, this is item number 30.9, the sewers and water supply bylaws. Uh that was originally held by councelor Sachs. She's willing to release that. All those in favor? Thank you. Any opposed? Okay. Hearing none, that has carried. Thank you, Councelor Saxs. At this point, I think we can move on to um item number 30 uh.3. This is this >> pardon. >> Oh, we adopted three. Okay, thank you. Um just give me one moment. All right. So, we're going to move on to item number IE 30.4, Weston Beach's public realm plan. And I believe we do have a speaker. I'm just give me Okay, David White. All right. Is David White in the room or online? Oh, there he is. Welcome, David White. You have um five minutes. Can I just ask you to put on your microphone? Thank you. >> Uh, doesn't look like it's on. There should be There's a little button. >> Green. >> Is it green? >> I don't think it's on. Is it on? >> Okay. I don't think it's working. >> We're just going to ask you to pause for one second. The sound isn't coming through. So, we're just going to get that fixed so that everybody can hear you. >> Good. Okay. Um I I just want to in general terms comment that I think the report that's before you lacks ambition as compared to the 2009 report. the um and just some examples of that, the um the 2009 report recommended quite strongly that the east and west lanes of Lakesure Boulevard be combined and even went so far as to recommend that funding be provided at an early date for an environmental assessment on that matter. Of course, combining the east and west lanes would would release red would would release a lot more land for the parks. And of course we know that our parks are are under even greater pressure now than than. The other uh place where it lacks ambition um as an example the earlier report recommended that there be continuous public access along the waterfront. Um this report um recommends more studies on the matter and that this is 17 years later after after the earlier recommendation that was adopted by city council. But the main thing I want to speak to today is safety on the Martin Goodman trail. And I'm glad I'm following the earlier item which which was dealing with pedestrian and cycling safety. the the report uh mentions safety at certain driveways and entrances but is silent on the larger issue which is that drivers on busy weekends drive along the Martin Goodman trail. Um they they uh in large numbers, not just a few, there will be a parade of cars along the Martin Goodman Trail. And what they're trying to do is access parking on the grass, which is also illegal. Now, that's bad enough. It It certainly puts pedestrians and cyclists on the Martin Goodman Trail at risk. The cars um cross the trail. They back over the trail. They drive along the trail. They back along the trail. These are these are things that I've recorded in videos on my phone. I'd be happy to share them. I did share them with counselor perks the other evening at the openhouse meeting and with some of the staff and consultants. I think it's fair to say that people found them. This my video is rather shocking. But the the the other place where people park, and this this is probably um dealing with the um this is probably the most serious issue, which is that people parked adjacent to a children's playground. There's a waiting pool and uh and and some play equipment just east of the of the um of the waiting of the Sunnyside uh swimming pool and people park there. They sometimes they get tickets, not always, but sometimes they do. But but enforcement isn't really the qu answer here because once the car once the car parks there, it means it's been maneuvering in backing up all adjac adjacent to a children's playground. So what I would like to um ask the the committee to do is um request the general manager to take immediate steps to ensure that for the rest of the summer we have candidate busy weekend coming up Canada day. I guess it's not actually a weekend but it it'll be busy. Um, what I'm what I'm asking is that the general manager that you ask the general manager to take immediate steps to place some kind of barrier at least around the playground. That might be curbs, it might be armor stone, it might be something less expensive like driving some steel stakes into the ground and putting up one of those plastic con fences that you see at construction sites. something like that would would do the trick as well as a temporary and less expensive ma matter. But I'd also like to suggest that we add a near-term priority to the report which would place physical barriers such as curbs or armor stone or whatever the general manager thinks might be appropriate to to absolutely prevent cars from getting onto the grass, getting onto the Martin Goodman trail so that we can protect the people the oops and the um and also the the the trees and the landscaping. So that's that's what I'd like you the the committee to do. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Are there any questions of the deputent? Lots of good suggestions there for us to think about. Okay. Thank you very much for your deputation today, David. We're going to move on. We just have the one deputent, correct? >> Okay. So, we're going to move on to questions of staff. Councelor Perks. No, no questions of staff. Does anyone else have Okay, we have councelor Saxs who's got questions for staff. Please go ahead. >> Um, yes. Thank you. Question for parks. The deput has made, I think, really excellent points um about the danger to pedestrians and cyclists. What measures can you take quickly to prevent cars from driving on the Martin Goodman Trail, across the Martin Goodman Trail and next to this playground >> through the chair. Thank you for the question. We could put jersey barriers in certain locations and we'd be pleased to take that back and look at it further. >> Can you have a supplementary report for us before council on that? or uh get back to us on on this before council. I mean, I think there's there's a real safety issue and there is something you can do about it. I'd like to know what the options are, counselor, we can get back to you before council. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions for staff? If not, we'll move on to speakers. I've got councelor Perks first as a guest of the committee. We'll give you Oh, you have a qu. Okay. Sorry, councelor Perks, you're on hold for a moment. >> Deputy mayor Amber Morley. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I could have just asked my colleague beside me, but I believe this work predates my time and I'm just wondering how the area um was selected like the ending at Humber River in terms of the western beaches >> through the chair. This as was directed by council builds off of what was adopted in 2009 and covering that stretch. Certainly we are cognizant of what's happening to the west of the Humber as well in our planning for the park system across the western waterfront. >> Great. And there are some other pieces of work through the waterfront secretaria where we are standing up more opportunities to look at a coordinated and cohesive plan for the waterfront all the way to Marie Curtis Park uh and or atobbico creek which is where our city actually ends. Yeah. uh through the chair. That's absolutely correct. >> Fantastic. I will leave that there. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Thank you. And now we will move on to speakers. Councelor Perks, go ahead. >> Thank you. Um just David referenced a little bit of the history and I think it's important to to put this in context. So, uh, 18 years ago, council adopted in principle, uh, a very ambitious plan for the western waterfront. And as David pointed out, it involved moving the lake shore. Uh, but to do that would also require reconstructing five bridges, I believe it is. Um and we have been eagerly awaiting advice from Metroinks about what clearance heights they need on those bridges so that we can have a conversation about reconstructing them. Uh some of you may have heard me talk about this in the context of the Duffren Bridge recently uh which is past its lifespan and we're unable to reconstruct it because the province of Ontario won't tell us what height we have to achieve. So there's a tangled mess of jurisdictions around the railway lines, the bridges and so on that are that is slowing the big vision. And what staff have very wisely done in this report is built in those principles so that we continue to have a negotiating position with other orders of government as the infrastructure down on the western waterfront is reconsidered. uh conversation that you know would also include our response to say an airport or perhaps uh a hotel entertainment complex which the current proposal is is to put it in the water. So there's a lot of infrastructure stuff we have to untangle there and because we wanted to get something coherent uh that g established good principles in front of council before the end of term while these other questions are still being discussed. What you have in front of you is what you have in front of you. But I want to speak to the value of getting those principles in place. When that original plan, which this is very much just an update of, was put in place, it was not legally possible for someone to walk from Parkdale to the waterfront without going all the way back to Baurst or all the way over to Ronsesville. There was no legal crossing. We have created those legal crossings. There was no sidewalk. We have created those sidewalks. There was no bike access over. We have created that. We have used the principles here to renegotiate uh leases with uh sailing and canoe type clubs along the waterfront to gain the the public access along the waterfront as a lease condition and we are continuing to do that work. This is unfortunately slow long work because of the huge amount of infrastructure that is down there. I mean, frankly, if I could do one thing, I would go back in time and throw my body in front of the bulldozers that built the Gardener Expressway along our waterfront. But to undo all of that mess requires consistent, principled work on the part of this council. And I'm really am delighted with what uh the community has brought us, what city staff heard and reflected from those conversations and have put in front of us in this report. It's a great piece of work and I advocate for it very strongly. In terms of the barriers, um, some of you may remember, uh, several years ago, uh, a young child was, uh, struck by a car after his bicycle veered off, uh, the sidewalk on the south side of Lakeshore. between that and trying to navigate the inout at the boulevard club, trying to navigate the in out at the Legion, at Toronto Sailing. It has been work that the transportation department and parks have put years into. The unfortunate thing is that you can't legislate against stupidity and there are people who will drive their car up across a curb over a sidewalk across grass and onto the Martin Goodman trial. We're continuously looking for ways to police that. And you know, David, I've seen your videos and we're I'm going to take them to staff and and we will continue to look at where the access points are. There are access points that are necessary. So Toronto Sailing and Canoe needs to be able to get sailboats and canoes down. So there is a road access. The Legion needs to a delivery access. It's impossible to build a complete barrier. So we're always tweaking, always refining, always improving. And I will take David's advice back to staff and work with them to see if there are other incremental measures we can make. And with that, I commend the report to you. It breaks my heart that the city of Toronto is one of the largest cities in the world on a huge body of fresh water. And instead of treating it like our front door, we treat it like our garage. So, we can do better and and this report will help us get there. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh any other speakers on this item? >> Councelor Marley? I'm just wanting to um commend and thank uh councelor Perks for his leadership on this file. As he mentioned and as I'm sure we all know sitting around this table, a lot of this really critical citybuilding work, it does take time. Um you know, to the chagrin of many residents who don't understand why we can't flip a switch and make things happen overnight. Um, but I do want to recognize, you know, the folks who've gone before us to really make sure to set us up um with a vision for what our city can can be um and the work that we need to continue to do to make that successful. Um so with that, I'm happy to move um the report before us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Mley. So, all those in favor of this item number 30.4, any opposed? Okay, seeing none, this has carried. Thank you. Thank you all very much. >> Thanks for joining us, Councelor Perks. >> Oh, you're coming back. Great. All right. And it looks like uh Councelor Fletcher's here. >> You'll be back in one minute. >> Thank you, counselor, for that great sharing. Um, I wonder since councelor Perks is here and it's one thing to come back twice if we might be able to do the two deputations on the expansion of change the agenda for number 12. So, uh, when he comes back from his washroom visit, we would hear from the two deputants that signed up that item today. And I just wonder if they're here. I'll check that first. What are their names again, please? Matthew. >> Uh Karen Woring from Environmental Defense. Do you happen to be here in the room? >> You are. Okay. Here's Councelor Perks if that's okay with everybody. And then he's released for the day. >> You didn't happen to take my pen, did you, Councelor Chernos? Okay. Oh, I have it. Clerk has found it. >> Oh, one of I'd like one of those. Yes. Thank you. The signature pen. Uh, okay. So, what we'll do is we'll just bury the agenda and hear from our deputent for counselor FKS's letter and then he can be released for the rest of the busy day because you have your planning and housing tomorrow, do you not? Yes, you do. >> I take my computer. >> Pardon me? >> Can I take >> Whatever you Whatever you need. >> Well, that's your computer. Yeah, this is >> I did. >> Oh, I thought I did. >> You and now we have >> Erin. All right, please come up for your five minutes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam Chair and members of the committee. uh and to uh um councelor Perks for putting forward the motion for a letter in support of uh expanded deposit return. Today we're on the eve of one of the biggest public events in Toronto's history, hosting World Cup games. And it is my fervent hope and it I think it should be yours as well that this be the last major event in Toronto without a comprehensive deposit return program for beverage containers. Obviously, I suspect we are in for a tsunami of be beverage container trash littered around Toronto over the next month and it will be worse here than in Vancouver. And that's because in Vancouver there is a deposit return program for almost all beverage containers. And in Ontario, as you probably are aware, we only have such a program for alcohol containers. Basically, pop, water, juice empties are treated like garbage in Ontario, unlike in BC. And we estimate as a result that at least 1.7 billion plastic containers are wasted or littered every year across Ontario. That means hundreds of millions of containers in Toronto alone. And when these containers are tossed in Toronto's parks, sidewalks, beaches, squares, they become your problem and the problem of everyone who lives here. People, animals, habitats. The best way to solve the problem is for producers of these beverages to take responsibility for their packaging through a deposit return program. And it's not just me saying it. Beverage producers are now saying it themselves. Experiences from other jurisdictions and provinces um and jurisdictions around the world have long demonstrated that deposit return programs are the most effective system for ensuring empties get picked up and managed appropriately. And that means they reduce litter. Return rates for containers in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are hover around 80% or higher. Uh Ontario's rate for non-alcoholic containers 50% or less. Deposit return, recycling, and refill also lead to more local jobs in when it comes to collection, sorting, and processing what can be valuable materials like aluminum, glass, and even PET plastic. Our provincial government was close to expanding deposit return two years ago, but unfortunately blinked and left the expensive and less effective bluebox program to handle non-alcoholic empties. In the meantime, the government has received letters from tens of thousands of people across Ontario and their municipalities that it's time to finish the job. And I really urge the city of Toronto to add public support to this cause. We need to stop treating packaging like garbage and ensure producers take fuller responsibility for the materials they put on the market. And I just for fun brought a picture. We participated in a uh don't mess with Dawn cleanup uh along the Dawn River for Ontario Day of Action against litter and they had brought this picture of a swan nesting in plastic waste on the Dawn River. And you can see very clearly there are beverage containers there. So it's just really important to remember like this hurts everybody. It hurts uh our public spaces and it hurts the animals that call Toronto home. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. Are there questions for defendant? >> Yes. >> Just very briefly, was it the small grocery store and variety store uh lobby that fought returns because they couldn't manage the intake? Was that why that legislation died? In fact, the the small grocery stores um and uh convenience stores were never on the hook for taking back empties under proposed provincial rules, but certainly the big grocery lobby was opposed. And there's probably lots of complicated commercial reasons for that. But also, they just don't want to have to be responsible for taking back the containers that they sell. Unfortunately, there are lots of models around the world where including Next Door in Quebec, where this can work really well with some retail return to retail, some return next to retail, modern systems that can work very effectively and would be great for the city of Toronto. >> All right. So, so someone puts all their recyclables or their bottles in in their green bin or in their recycling and it's picked up uh every other week. Uh what do you say to someone like that saying look I'm already returning them and what they do with them after that is is uh up to the city. >> Well it's now up to circular materials. What we know is that um the the bottles that you put in your blue box are just much less likely to be actually sorted and recycled than um bottles that are returned under a deposit return program. And the other problem with relying on the blue box is about half of the beverage beverages consumed in Ontario non-alcoholic are not consumed at home and the blue box doesn't cover them. So all those containers that are you know you may have in the hospital if you're visiting somebody or at a park or at a hockey arena, none of those is covered by the blue box program. And so we lose millions and in fact billions of containers across Ontario because of that. Uh so this is why deposit return works much better in every jurisdiction because it covers every sealed container that's put on the market. It also then allows for um even improved environmental outcomes for things like refill programs. >> So is it is it the beer store that's the only one that's taking back empties now? The beer store has always been the return location for uh containers covered under the Ontario Deposit Return Program, which only covers alcohol. And they continue to still be the only return point for alcohol containers. But one thing, and we know that's a real concern because beer stores have been closing in some neighborhoods, like I've been hearing from people in Liberty Village that have to travel further to take their containers back. An expansion of the program would actually inject new money and new materials into the system and allow for the opening. we believe of new return points that could take all containers, take the confusion out of the problem, provide an economic incentive for people to bring back their retainers, but their containers to the right place. And I mean, if you still just wanted to put them at the end of your street, you could probably count on somebody else bringing them back to the right place and with a much better recycling or refill outcome. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any further questions? No. Uh questions of staff. No speakers. Councelor Perks, you're here. Go ahead. >> This seems to be my day for uh being corporate memory. Um the first memory I have on this is as a kid, this is this is how I paid my allowance. This is what I did. My parents said, "Take the bottles back and that's your allowance." And the convenience stores at the time uh were more than happy to do it. The way the system worked is the same truck that brought Coca-Cola to the store took the empties away. So there was no storage problem. It was just normal business practice for small. The the big retailers, they were the ones objecting, not the little guys. And I know this because this is an issue I worked on for 25 years. In fact, one of the first phone calls I made as an environmentalist was to uh Dan Leky's office. It was to Dan Leky's office where I spoke to his assistant. >> Oh, who is that? >> Who was Dan Leky's assistant in the mid '9s? She's the chair of this committee and we conspired together a little bit about the importance of getting a deposit return system. And the city of Toronto has always been a leader on this. Uh uh Karen mentioned uh when she was questioned that the we can return wine bottles too. The reason we can return wine bottles is the recently deceased former city councelor Howard Moscow uh moved an amendment to the zoning bylaw in the city of Toronto to make it illegal to sell wine in the city of Toronto unless you took the bottles back. and the province of Ontario promptly caved and created uh the very legislation which we are now relying on for recycling in the province of Ontario. So Toronto is always made progress on this as a leader. An interesting thing is happening right now because the province took over the blue box and said that industry had to pay for it. Suddenly the beverage industry is realizing that pay putting money into an inefficient mixed recycling system gets them worse outcomes at a higher cost. So after decades of opposing deposit return, I now have a letter from the Canadian Beverage Association which has been circulated to all of your all of you saying we want deposit return. It's only when they had to pay the cost of the really inefficient mixed recycling program that they finally caved in. As long as they could offload that cost onto municipalities, which they have been doing, fun little historical fact, the blue box is the creation of something called the Ontario Multimaterials Recycling Inc. And Omry, which set up the Blue Box program, was funded by what large corporation? CocaCola. Coca-Cola paid to create the blue box system in the province of Ontario so that they could close all the bottle washing stations, shed tens of thousands of jobs, and get the municipalities to pay for the mess they created. We're finally at a turning point. We're finally at a turning point where we have broken the back of the the relationship between the big grocerers and Coca-Cola and Pepsi uh and can get to the better environmental outcome at a lower public cost with more convenience to the consumer. And it is more convenience because nobody likes an overflowing litter bin in their park. Recently we had the Dow West festival. I live a block south of it. My lawn, even though I'm not on Dundas, nor does my street intersect Dundas. It's parallel to Dundas, was covered in containers on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. That would not have been the case when we had a deposit return system. So, better outcomes, cleaner city, lower cost, and good for the small guys. And finally with the support of the beverage industry itself. Time to move is now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Count. >> By the way, you were very good at dealing with constituents when you were working for D. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. >> Had some practice before I got this. Council Chernoslin, you wish to speak to? >> I do. Um, so I just have a friendly amendment um to add to yours just to include the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, otherwise known as AMO, just so that if if we're doing this, I noticed there are a number of different uh municipalities that have already begun this work, including Peele. um we want to make sure it's circulated to all of the other municipalities um in Ontario that are a part of AMO and I sit on AMO so we'd like to see this included. Thank you. >> Great. Any councelor Saxs? >> Um like councelor Perks I have also worked on this issue for low these many years um including when I was the environmental commissioner of Ontario. It is it has always been clear that deposit return systems work much much better. It's not just kids who do it for allowance. There's also significant number of very low-income people in our city who have made their livingings um picking containers, taking the beer store. And again, all of those folks have have had their lives made much more difficult as the province is trashing the blue the beer system in order to get more alcohol into corner stores which increases alcoholism and other kinds of problems. But there is absolutely no doubt that a recyclable sorry a deposit system you you look at a community such as Nova Scotia where it has worked beautifully all along they have among other things much lower contamination rates. 50% of the garbage that we pick up at public expense to which we are increasingly have nowhere to put is stuff that doesn't belong in our garbage. A lot of it is plastic containers. Um the plastic industry has been very successful for a long period of time in forcing their costs onto the public. So um we know that the Ford doesn't government doesn't pay any attention to any of the things we send them but they do pay some attention to what industry says. I would also ask that our solid waste folks think about ways to communicate this to the public. Um, and it's going to become worse as we lose recycling pickups in public places, which again has happened this year. So, the problem is getting worse. We need to find better ways of of communicating to the public that there is a very simple solution that will make their lives better, make the city cleaner, will save money, and that works all around the world. We just need to bring it back. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, counselor, and thank you for visiting today, Councelor Perks, before your committee tomorrow, which I know is going to be a busy one, and for your work at Greenpeace and every part of this city on these issues. It certainly is recognized and we thank you very we're very grateful for all of that. So, please feel free to make be a deputent at any time next term. We'd like that. Not everybody knows all the history. It's pretty important to move things forward. So, thank you for bringing that letter today. Um, we do have that amendment from you, councelor Chernos Lynn. So, let's vote on that. All in favor? Opposed? And that's carried. And then on the letter, recommendations from councelor Purks. Uh, all in favor? Opposed? And that's carried. And thank you very much. And with that, we release you to your next orb of planning and housing. That's right. Thank you. Um, great. I just I think we can do one quick release, which if you don't mind, which is item 12, which is the snow uh letter that was sent in by councelor Bravo. And there's just pardon me. Oh, sorry, item 13. That was item 12. Thank you, clerk. And it's just if we put that up there, there's a couple of amendments. Uh, it's just to consider working very minor. We're not directing staff, but we're asking staff to consider working on Davenport, which for two sessions in a row has had >> I'm happy to move. >> Get on. Pardon me. You're happy to move those amendments. Okay. >> Pardon me. >> I've moved an amendment. >> You have one, too? >> It's posted. It's been circulated. >> Yes. >> Okay. I didn't realize that. Okay. Let's hold that down then. Not as fast as I thought. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Moving on. We're going to go to um item five now, which is the Metroinks Cross Town LRT at Act grade segment and tunnel section, traffic and parking bylaw amendments and road classification because we have Adam Rogers to speak to that. And I don't know, is Adam online? He's online. Thank you very much. Adam, you have five minutes. Thank you. Proceed. >> Hello. and I thought I'd jump on video and I commend you on your speedy uh dental work. Anyway, I'll get right into it. Uh so I'm speaking today with great concern about Eg and the state of the Egay plan first approved in May 23rd, 2024 which is uh addressed in IE30.5 via the uh changes to bicycle paths, bike lanes, and cycle tracks. So, uh, just a little background. I learned through the media that this Eglint Day project has now been cancelled and this was the result of city action or inaction, but I'll get more about that later. First, there's some background. Last September, we were informed by the city that Eggling Today route was to be repaved without bike lanes being installed despite the risk of this project being cancelled due to Bill 212, uh, which has a carveout for projects which have already have active contracts. Multiple members of the local community informed the city that the strategy was risky and even held a rally on Egun, which I attended with my daughter, 5-year-old daughter, I should add, to call for cycling lanes to be added at the same time as repaving to make sure we didn't miss this chance with in relation to Bill 212. Not to worry, though. Despite our request to get bike lanes built in September, we were assured by city staff, and I'm going to quote directly, "The remaining work necessary to complete the Egllington today complete street project will follow when the Egllington cross town LRT has authorized by city as authorized by city staff. The timeline for installation in the areas most impacted by Eg West Allen Road are still to be determined." So, it's it no, not a worry. It's coming. And I also heard from the mayor's office. Unfortunately, delays and uncertainty around the opening of the Egllington Cross Town LRT mean that the TTC continues to need uh to run high volume of buses. Reconfiguration of the street now would impact the ability uh to keep people moving and we had to wait for the LT to open. When the LRT does open, the city will be able to install the bike lanes in accordance with the uh council approved Eglington today plans. Understood. We need to wait until the LT is open and we can expect the bike lanes to be installed. Well, as we all know, the Edgington LRT opened in February 2026, and being the dead of winter, I waited. March arrived, and so did the March 23rd, 2026 Egington Allen Allen study consultation, which I intended attended in hopes of hearing more about what what we're going to do with the Egllington, uh, bike lanes. Uh during that meeting uh a question was asked about these bike lanes to which staff repi replied the timing of installation has been delegated to transportation staff staff to align with the LRT opening when surface transit vehicle volumes minimize. The LT will only open a month ago. The LRT has only opened a month ago and the LRT will change how people travel on Eg. traffic patterns will continue to adjust. Installation of the complete street requires warmer weather and the timeline for installation has not been set. At no time did that answer indicate a risk of them not being installed. Uh further I attended the April 6th IEC meeting and I spoke to the Allen Egy. Uh and again at no times did city staff indicate that there was any risk of these lanes not coming through. Um, so then came as a great surprise when a when I read in local media med media a small portion of the new lanes between Chaplain uh Cresant and Avenue Road was completed and all road surface utilities and curb sidewalk and the contract was officially closed on May 20th according to Jaclyn Hayward director of the patterns program of city Toronto. So come as a bit of a surprise that we closed the contract when we said uh we were going to go through with this. So, what it sounds like is that this contract was allowed to close despite council's will to have these bike lanes completed in 2024 and then delayed understandably for the LRT. I have great respect for city staff, but to be repeatedly told the bike lanes were going to be going forward, then to be told it's too early for a timeline, only to find out the contract was closed is a little hard to stomach. Why was the contract closed despite multiple assurances from the city that we would complete the project? How am I supposed to feel as a Torononian? Well, I attended another rally with my daughter on uh Tuesday, June 2nd, and we attended the Eglund Alak Allen consultation. During the meeting, I had a chat with counselor Ma Matlo and expressed my dismay with the whole situation. My daughter came over to to the counselor and asked and he was asked and he asked her a fitting question. Do you want safe cycling on Egllington? To which she answered, "Yes." Here's the thing. She's five. How do I break it to her that people can't have safe cycling because the city decided to close a contract? As much as I am dispedade with this situation, what I really want is action. Let's pass a motion to look into to why these bike lane contract was closed without stakeholder uh or consular input. Also, if we can't have the lanes as they are, then so be it. Let's get them done any way possible. Narrow the lanes, off peak parking, redo the uh redo the curb lane, get creative, and let's just get it done. Uh that's all I have to add on that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. Are there any questions for Mr. Rogers? No, thank you very much for being with us today. >> Um, gonna bring this into committee. Are there any questions of staff? Councelor Saxs, go ahead. >> Uh, Jacine, can you perhaps explain what happened here >> and and what our options are now? More to the point. >> For sure. Um, yeah, it's certainly been a journey on the Egllington uh today complete street project. Um, back in 2024 was when city council approved the installation of that road reconfiguration. Um and that's about road safety for all road users, including the bike lanes, but also other improvements. Um council directed us in the in the leading up to the cross town opening uh to uh to look at the the demand of buses on the corridor and essentially install the bike lanes after the LRT was to open. Um and so that was the plan. the the work to undertake the state of good repair improvements proceeded in in late uh in 2025. Um and that included road resurfacing, utility relocations and and a number of other pieces. Um so the contractor was eligible for substantial completion of their contract and and um and that was held for some time. Unfortunately, the the province's uh legislation does not allow us to proceed with a new contract, but the contractor uh was within their rights to file for substantial completion and the city was required to grant that. So, we no longer have an active contract in place. So, we cannot proceed with the delivery of that project. Um and it would be subject to an exception from the province. There isn't currently a process to request an exception from the province, but certainly given council's direction and approval on this project. At a future time when there is a process in place that we can request an exception and provide our data and the analysis that went into the recommendation, um then at this point it's council's direction that we would proceed with those steps. Can you explain a little more why the contractor was eligible to file for substantial completion if this critical element wasn't built >> given the value of the work associated with the road resurfacing, utility relocations, curb and sidewalk repair, um, and one section of bike lane that was completed by the contractor between Chaplain and Avenue Road. The scale of that work, the volume of the work, and the time that had passed since the contract was issued, um, it did it did meet the threshold for substantial completion. contractors have have um obligations with lean um leans on their on their company to be able need to be able to be um act on other contracts. It had already been deferred quite a bit. Um and so they wanted to be able to have that released and they were eligible to do so. We had no legal means of of um of saying no. >> Right. And again, the threshold for substantial completion is set by provincial law. >> Um I don't know if a lawyer could answer that where the threshold is set. Scott >> through the chair. Yes, the construction act uh which is a law does speak to that. >> Okay, thank you very much. >> Is that it? Last question. Yes. Okay. Any other questions? No. Then we can go to speakers. Did you wish to speak to that, Councelor Saxs, or not? >> Well, it's heartbreaking, right? It's absolutely heartbreaking that we had a path forward and we lost it. Um, you know, it's a generational project that we were promised that we did. Council feels we did everything we could do. I understand you feel you did everything we could do, but we still lost it in a way that you know, we've talked about how we need to transform the city, how we need to give people safe options, how we need to give people safe options that are inexpensive. Um that the large affordability is an enormous challenge for people across the city. The largest single thing we can do for affordability for most people is to make it possible to live well without a personal vehicle. and this was an essential piece of it and we lost it. So, um, infuriating, heartbreaking, I I I I think it was helpful to get the explanation, but the result still is we don't have what the community was promised and we don't have a way to get it. Um, having said that, I don't have any opinion about the atgrade segment and tunnel section parts of this. So, uh, someone who's what it is will speak to that. Unfortunately, someone whose ward it is is sick at home. So, I'm just I'm not sure if that's going to council or not. If it is, he can speak to it there, but I understand he's been engaged in this whole thing. So, technically, counselor, you're saying that this is about the the tunnel and it's very unfortunate that the way it's rolled out. I hear you. Okay. Um, ws 5, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 20, and 21. Quite a number of wards in the north end of the city. Okay. Uh, do you want to move that then and move the report, receive the report information? >> Uh, to adopt it. >> I can move the adoption, madam chair. >> Move the adoption. Thank you very much, Deputy Mayor. All in favor with regrets. Thank you. That is passed. Thank you very much. Um, item number six, right turn on red prohibition, Vic Park and Kingston Road. And I think Adam Roy Kahoun is going to be joining us again for this item. And I'm sure he must be online. He is. >> Yes. >> Great. So, whenever he's ready, we're ready. I um I thank you. >> I have to ask you if you can turn that up a bit, Adam, so we can hear your wise words. >> I um can Can you hear me now? >> Yes, we can. Thank you. >> Okay. I thank you again for um letting me speak on this item. I do realize that I am able to speak on it as a technicality that it was brought because it's at the corner of two words. But we as a pedestrian community want to realize that even though we are going through another oil crisis or fuel crisis and that the red turned on red was actually brought in as an as an idea during the last crisis. The vehicle types have changed and we not only do we think a prohibition should be put in at this corner, but like Montreal and New York and during this time we are talking as trying to be a world class city because we're hosting the World Cup. We need to look at doing no right turns on red at every corner. The main problem is that when people are making right turns on red, they're they're not really concentrating on what's happening right in front of them. Frankly, they're looking to the other lane that they're trying to turn into. They're not really understanding pedestrian activities or and the onus and cognitive energy is totally being put on the pedestrian and everyone has already probably had one or two close calls with even every season as pedestrians. when there is a right turn on red and and it's one of these things where you I know it may cause traffic and there there and the last time this was brought up a few years ago that's where it got stalled because you know it does maybe cause a little bit of traffic to back up in certain areas. But if we, as we just talked about at the last item, want to be a city that can encourage pedestrian first and maybe even makes people double think about when they need to use their cars. We need to start making these things more in the pedestrian line. And the cars have only gotten bigger and scarier, but they are more comfortable. So if people have to spend a few extra seconds in their vehicle, then then getting a quick right turn. We need to make that change for everyone. Thanks. >> Thank you very much. Any questions for our deputent? >> No. Thank you very much for that compelling uh rationale for this as well as the TTC rationale. Appreciate you being here. Uh any questions of staff? I'll just ask one. This is in particular because it has to do with the TTC loop in this area and problems for the TTC moving around. I think Mr. Clemens over there. Good morning >> through you speaker. That is correct. It was initiated by the TTC and staff agrees with the TTC >> and then we'll have the added benefit here of what Mr. Kahun's talking about of just further assisting pedestrians in crossing that major intersection. >> Yes, we agree. >> Great. Thank you. With that, I will happily move that unless anybody wishes to speak to it. No. Okay. All in favor? Opposed? That's carried. Thank you. Um I will now just go to that clearing up item. Got another one in there. I didn't know about 14, but um yes, you have councelor, which is the Davenport winter maintenance needs for narrow streets and permit parking, which we've just added a few more wards on because there's many more than Davenport that have that, asking staff to consider working with local counselors on solving some of those problems for the upcoming season. And I believe that transportation is happy with that. So, councelor Saxs, I will move your ward into that if that's okay. Yes, there it is with basically permit parking streets, uh, small roads and snow problems, which everybody else has other problems, but when you have permit parking and narrow roads, you have exceptional problems in your ward. So, if that's okay with everybody, then I'll just move those amendments. >> Pardon? >> Put up what was covered here. >> No, it's not. have other changes. Okay, holding that down. Thank you. >> Oh, that's fine. We just amended yours, Councelor Sachs, to add those permit parking streets, councelor Pastronac, which I don't think you have that. So, really, that's to address those issues. So, councelor Saxs has an amendment. Can we approve that? All in favor? Thank you. and then the item as amended. All in favor? Thank you very much. That's passed. Appreciate that. Um, okay. Moving back to item number seven, which I'm going to just ask a couple of questions because um there's no speakers, but I do have some staff questions because this is now the switching station and Portland's energy center. I'm it does appear to me to be almost impossible to have any major development on this site currently. To the chair, I would say there's significant issues that have been raised related to this site in any development. They are listed in this report. But for example, Hydra 1 identifies 30 uh items in six kind of topic areas that would need to be addressed related to get mitigating any impacts on uh their operations of the Hearn switching station >> and they're concerned about electricity supply given the critical location of the hear the transmission stations and including any ability to bring any other type of power into the city. >> That is correct. the the Hearn switching station is critical infrastructure and it will connect uh already been identified it will connect to the third line which uh has been identified by the ISO as being necessary for growth as well as reliability uh for electricity in the city. >> So it might be quite impossible to do anything at that site if there was the proposed development that was uh sent into the city uh was approved at the Hearn site which is a very large site. Do you happen to remember how many acres that is? Somebody in planning, Miss Bulman, do you remember? It's quite large. I think it's about 30 or it's 13 hectares of land through the chair. >> Yes. Yes. And acres? Do I have to go? >> 31 acres through the chair. >> How many? >> 31. >> Oh, 31 acres. Great. Thank you. Um so just in terms of having an application come in that has such an impact the this application was turned down primarily because of this >> through the chair the applicant appealed the city's lack of decision we have instructions from council in March to attend at the OOLT in opposition >> but when something of this nature comes in and it is now affecting current electricity supply, future electricity supply. How is that viewed by city planning? We draw on the expertise of our colleagues, but we do have provincial policy around major facilities that guides the city's approach on how we would consider a proposal such as we saw on the Hearn site. And I'm really unclear as to why this wasn't a top reason for or the city hasn't been clear that it's just basically impossible to allow this. We've informed the OOLT that that's impossible. And what channels have we used? Going to ask you and Mr. Nolan because somehow the Ontario Land Tribunal could technically approve this, could they not? We have had two case management conferences on this item at the Ontario Land Tribunal. The city's instructions are to oppose the application. There are in addition parties at the Ontario Land Tribunal, including Hydro1 who has been granted party status. They have expressed an interest in this matter. But my question was, is it not possible for the Ontario Land Tribunal to approve this massive development at this uh very important location? Yes or no? >> I'll point to city legal to assist. >> Thank you. Where are they? >> Through the chair. I'd have to get back to you with an answer. I don't have that at at this time. >> I don't know where you are. >> Just over there. >> Through the chair. I would have to get back to you with an answer. I do not have that at this time. >> Um, so that's fine. We'll just hold on. I'll think I'll send this find a way to send this to council so the city solicitor can answer that because I'll just ask Mr. Nolan is that once you would have such a major development then everything else would be impossible to construct or dangerous uh very difficult >> I would say based on what we have seen and our understanding of the process and my understanding I would say there are significant challenges that would need to be mitigated uh to be able to construct and there's a lot of uncertainties as well the third line is a is an early stage project the uh the the work is just underway to go out to procurement. So there's all there's there's additional work that is even unknowns um that may impact what could happen in that area in the future and that has been identified by the ISO as a provincial priority and will be located in this area. There are no other areas that it could be located. >> Is the ISO a party? >> The ISO is a party through the Ministry of Energy. Is anybody the Ministry of Energy at the OOLT? >> Municipal Affairs and Housing attended the case management conference. >> Okay. >> Sorry to correct that. It's it's through Municipal Affairs and Housing. They are the one window. Ministry of Energy works with Municipal Affairs. >> Thank you. >> And they have been added as a party to the hearing. >> That's fine. I'm just going to hold this down while I find a way to forward that. So, uh, to to council cuz these are it it's not just any old site. It's a fairly significant site. How many megawatts of power for the city transfer at that transfer station? Mr. Nolan, >> right now it's approximately 550. Um, with the third line will increase to 900 megawws, >> not from the Portland's energy center. I'm talking about as a switching station. >> So, the switching station right now is connected to the Portland's energy center. In the future, uh our view is the Portland's energy center will decommission and the third line will provide that power and that is approximately 900 megawws is what's planned uh through the third line. So increasing >> but the Manby and Leside lines is that not the switching station for power moving from one side of the city to the other. >> So those the Mambi and and Leside are the two kind of main entry points in terms of the transmission system. the the Hearn connects into Portland's but it will become the third connection point to the third line. I'm talking about the switching from Mandy that that is also consideration that >> that's correct they are all it's an incon interconnected process so yes that would be a consideration >> whether there the third line or no third line that is the switching station for power from >> the east end to the west end west end to correct at that node >> thank you okay I uh I will just hold that down Mr. Clerk so we can you can help me with the motion that we get that to council thank you Pardon? Uh, clerk just says, "Do we just want to move your item there, councelor Chernos Lim, before we go to Queens Park North?" >> That's improvement of tactile wayf finding in line five stations. You have a letter which >> So, >> no, do we need to introduce that? >> I need to do something already. >> Um, I did introduce it before, but I actually want to just um delete the recommendation. We've just tweaked it slightly in the last hour. uh and adopt instead the following recommendation. And um so really this is just that city council requests the um CEO of Metroinks in consultation with the CEO of TTC, the Toronto accessibility advisory committee and the accessibility advisory committee on transit um to improve tactile wayfinding for those with visual impairments in station along line five to ensure that riders can safely navigate to escalators, elevators, and stairs and to establish this as a standard approach for future stations and existing stations. that are undergoing refurbishment. And and the reason we need this is just that I think everybody uh every counselor would know that there's often a time when an elevator is out of service. And when they're out of service, they're often out of service for significant amounts of time. And it's often the only um you know if that's the only way that you have to navigate if you have visual impairment is to the elevator as opposed to also to the escalators or the stairs. If we're really creating accessible stations, they need to truly be accessible stations and not just in one way that could be interrupted, making it essentially an unaccessible station. Um, and so this is really, uh, an ask of, uh, you know, we can't do this just ourselves, but an important one for us to note. Uh, and I think it's something that we should all stand behind. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. And because you're amending your own letter, uh, we don't have to do it as an amendment. We're just going to adopt your recommendation. So, >> thank you so much. >> All of those in favor? Opposed. That's carried. And thank you for thinking about that and bringing that forward. It's very important. Okay, we'll now move on to item number eight, Queens Park North donation concept plan update report. And we do have a number of speakers here in uh quite a few. And we will start now with uh Matthew Baker. If Matthew is here, there you are. Great. Please come on up. And as you know, we have 5 minutes. I think we'll probably go to 12:30. We'll break for lunch and we'll come back once we see where we're at with the speakers. Okay. Pardon me. At 12:30. Yeah. We won't try to work through because there's a lot of speakers and probably a lot of conversation. So, thank you very much for being here. You have 5 minutes. >> Good afternoon, city council. My name is Matthew Baker. >> Sorry. We're the infrastructure and environment committee. We might like to be city council. >> Oh, well, sorry. My apologies. >> Thank you. Sorry, councelor's apology. Um, my name is Matthew Baker. I'm a Toronto resident, born and raised. I come before you today to address concerns that I and many fellow Canadians have regarding the proposed changes to Queens Park North. Beautiful and historic park we are discussing today began as farmland in the township of York. It was purchased by King's College, now the University of Toronto, and in 1843, the land was developed with residences, lecture halls, libraries, and a museum for students. Following negotiations between the university and the municipal government, a 999-year land lease was signed in 1858 and construction of the park began. On September 11th, 1860, the park was officially dedicated as Canada's first municipal park by Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward IIIth. He named it Queens Park in honor of his mother, Queen Victoria, whom Canadians still commemorate every May. Since its inception, the park has been enriched with important symbols of our history. The Russian cannons at the legislative building entrance were gifted by the British government as trophies from the Crimean War, a conflict in which many Canadians traveled to Britain to enlist and serve. In 1984, two eastern white pines were planted under the grounds. These trees symbolize an important part of Ontario's early economy and heritage. One was planted by former deputy premier Bob Welch and the other by Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout the park stand monuments and statues dedicated to important figures in Canadian history. These include King Edward IIIth who supported Canada's growing autonomy within the crown, Sir John A. Macdonald, a father of the Confederation who oversaw the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the creation of the Northwest Mounted Police, and Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simco, who helped establish courts of law, trial by jury, freehold land ownership, and the abolition of slavery in Upper Canada. The land we are discussing today is more than just park. It is a piece of living history. Queens Park is a physical embodiment of Canada's unique heritage and pays tribute to individuals who helped build the institutions and prosperity we enjoy today. Were these men flawless? Of course not. No historical figure is, but that does not mean they should be erased or hidden from public view. We cannot build a better future by forgetting our past. Council has proposed removing or relocating the statue of King Edward IIIth as part of an effort to decolonize Canada's history. These efforts are misguided and should be abandoned. For too long, governments and institutions have fostered a culture of shame surrounding Canada's history. While there should always be room for nuance and honest discussion, there has been a clear overcorrection driven by activists who view our past only through the lens of its imperfections. Canada's heritage is undeniably colonial. And this is not inherently evil, nor is it something to be ashamed of. Colonial settlers brought institutions, infrastructure, technology, and systems of government that transformed a vast territory into one of the most prosperous, peaceful, and successful countries in the world. Foundations of modern Canada, from our parliamentary democracy and legal traditions to our railways, universities, and cities were built through the efforts of generations to establish communities and created institutions that continue to serve Canadians today. King Edward IIIth represents an important chapter in that story. Whether one admires every aspect of the British Empire or not, it is impossible to understand Canada without acknowledging the central role Britain played in shaping our country. Removing these symbols does not promote understanding. It promotes historical amnesia. A mature nation does not tear down monuments because contemporary activists disapprove of historical figures. It studies history honestly, acknowledges both achievements and shortcomings, and preserves the symbols that help tell it story. Furthermore, replacing this statue with space for food services and washroom facilities is the wrong vision for Queens Park. There are already more than 200 restaurants, cafes, and food vendors within a 1 km radius of the park. And additional washroom facilities may also create unintended challenges such as further homeless encampments disrupting this important public space. Most importantly, removing the park's central monument would dishonor the very man who played a key role in the dedication of Canada's first municipal park. If the largest and most significant monument in Queens Park can be removed, what message does that send about the future of the park's other historic monuments? We reject the erasure of our culture and heritage. And Canadians from Toronto and across the country urge this committee to reconsider their proposals. Instead, we propose that the city of Toronto uses the Weston family's $50 million donation and the $43 million maintenance commitment to preserve and educate Canadians about our history, maintain the park's existing amenities, and continue protecting its landscape and ecology. Our heritage should be taught, preserved, and celebrated, not removed or forgotten. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh, are there any questions? I do have a question. Do you have a question? Yeah. >> Thanks, Madam Chair. Thanks for joining us today, Matthew. I appreciate your advocacy and your submission today. Um, I really, uh, respect the position that you came here to represent today, and I think it's an important one. Uh, and one certainly that I share. Uh, I am also curious about your perspective on how we navigate the nuance of our history. um as uh as you mentioned, we all know we are a colonial um country uh and that has had many different types of impacts. I'm wondering what your suggestions and recommendations are about how we as a society continue to honor our history, acknowledge it while also um working through the harms that also came along with colonization. Some of the harms, some aspects of colonization, right, that were harmful. >> Yeah, absolutely. Well, it starts with being honest in all of our institutions. It starts with honesty within ourselves, within our teachers, our professors, and the literature that we give to our students, and our our future generations. I think that we need to look at our history from an unbiased perspective and take the good with the bad and accept what happened and learn from our mistakes. Build better a future for all of us in Toronto. And to keep in mind that bad things happen, but just because something is bad doesn't mean that it's not true. Doesn't mean that it didn't exist. It doesn't mean that we can push it and sweep into the corner. We have to learn from our mistakes. >> I really appreciate that. Thank you so much again for being with us, Madam Chair. That's all for me. Thank you. Um, >> okay. Councelor Saxs. >> Uh, yes. Thank you, Matthew. Uh, you mentioned the challenges relating to encampments. What is your suggestion? >> So, I've done a bit of personal advocacy for the homeless in Toronto in the past. Over the summer of 2025, I volunteered personally on my own in Duffren Grove Park to help out the encampment with some of the people who were facing homelessness. And I spoke to a few of the City of Toronto workers who were stationed there in one of their uh trailer containers and I asked them what the city of Toronto was doing for some of these people who were facing homelessness in the park. And they told me that the people who were living in encampments were offered, I believe, a free year of housing within hotels in downtown Toronto. they were offered free job placement and the only requirement was if they were addicted to substances, they would have to go on to rehabilitation programs and uh come in for I believe it was weekly or bi-weekly meetings to to confirm their progress is is going forward. So, I think that with the city of Toronto is doing right now in terms of the homeless situation is great. I think that what they're offering is amazing. Unfortunately, we have an issue that not all people who are struggling with housing are able to or desire to go to the city for help. Unfortunately, some of them avoid the city for help. It could be due to addiction. It could be due to past prior traumas and experiences. But really going out there and speaking to these people firsthand and experiencing what they have to say, hearing their stories and learning from them how they can be helped is the most important thing that I think we can do. And for the large number of people who refuse help, what do you suggest? >> I'm kind of wandering off councelor Saxs from Queens Park, but I'll allow it. But I'd like everybody to stay on the park, please. Thank you. >> It's a really good question, counselor, and it's something that we have to look forward to as a city and and conglomerately work together to find out. It's a tough situation because you don't want to put these people in a compromised situation and you want to ensure the best for them and for the rest of the citizens of Toronto. It's a very tough question. Um I wish I had an answer for you, but I think together we can we can work on that in the future. >> Thank you. Uh just Matthew, I'm just looking at appendix 2, which I'm sure you're quite familiar with and um you'd mentioned the suggestion to remove the statue and I think you're if you're we're looking at the same one, it's quite clear it's not being removed from the park, correct? From appendix 2. Yes, we're looking at the same document. >> Correct. But >> okay, that's but would you not agree with me? You might not. But I see that moving that statue to the corner of Welssley and University. It's quite a prominent location for everybody that's not necessarily in the park, but even just going by the park. I think there's probably tens of thousands of people that would see that that might not see it otherwise. Would you not agree with that? I think people can really enjoy the statue and its historic significance when they embrace themselves in the park and when they take their time to stroll through, enjoy the grass, smell the flowers, and listen to the birds. I think that people driving by, walking by on their way to work may not be able to take that time to truly enjoy the beauty of our Canadian history through that statue. >> But it is a gateway. That is the South East Gateway, and it's a very prominent gateway. There's only four gateways into that park. So it's we agree it's not being removed. Correct. So that language I hope that you realize that >> I do. It was just a prior proposal that I was reading about. >> But you were talking about today's appendix 2. So no removal and a very prominent location. Actually there's no other there's no other sculpture at any other gateway. So it does have a prominent location. You'd agree that a gateway is significant. might not be where you want it, but at least it hasn't been taken out or put somewhere that nobody will ever see it. >> I would say it's not as significant as this original place. And I do think that rather than spending the money on moving the statue, like I said prior, I think that putting that money towards education parks programs through Queens Park or affiliates and maintaining the ecology and using that money towards purposes of preserving the current amenities and adding possibly new monuments would be a much better use of the $50 million donation and the $43 million commitment. >> Thank you. Thank you for being here today. >> Thanks so much. Next speaker, uh, Mona Elsai. Mona is here. Hello. How are you? >> Good morning, Mona. >> Hello, Madame Chair, members of the committee. Um, I'm here on behalf of the St. Lawrence Neighborhood Association, but also as a a citizen resident of Toronto uh who has gone through Queens Park North many times when I used to work in the area um on Blur Street. Um it's a lovely park. I think the re revitalization would be very useful for everybody um who uh would be interested in using the park because I remember wanting to stop there for a coffee and not being able to do so on my lunch hour when I was working there. As for the SLNA, um several members of our heritage committee have been involved in this revitalization process, participating in information sessions and um different sessions with stakeholders over the last few years. The SLNA board of directors supports this process and looks forward to the association's continued involvement and participation in the next steps. The board appreciates that the city of Toronto has a unique opportunity to revitalize the existing park and transform it into a destination rather than just a place that we all walk through and don't stop and enjoy. In a city with limited public realm, specifically park resources, it's critical that we maximize the use of our existing parks through cost-effective and engaging programming. Public sta spaces have many stakeholders and the residents and tourists alike. Basic amenities such as washrooms and a coffee shop would encourage people both to visit the park and to remain there rather than, as I said before, just simply passing through. Given the park's unique configuration, there's a significant opportunity to further animate the space by inviting people to enjoy the temple of trees, the indigenous interpretive scope of work and the broader history of the land. The city has invested considerable resources in community engagement and the community in turn has provided thoughtful, sensitive and constructive feedback. At this stage, both the SLNA board and its heritage committee believe that the city, its consultants, and the private donor have sufficient input and information to move forward with the next phase of the project. SLNA also suggests that the city can continue to benefit from these types of public private partnerships in the future. Looking ahead 10, 20, even 50 years, a cafe and other amenities would help create a place where people visit, gather, linger, and enjoy the space throughout the seasons. With strong pedestrian activity in the area, encouraging people to pause and spend more time in the park should be viewed as a desirable and positive outcome. Governance and stewardish stewardship of the park is also important and the city has many successful examples to draw upon including advisory committees and other models. The success of this particular public private partnership is vital in that it may encourage other donors to support future civic projects. This revitalization has the potential to transform the park into a destination, particularly given its proximity to Yorkville, the ROM, and other significant visitor attractions. Expanding the amenities in the park by adding a cafe also creates opportunities possibly for modest revenue generation and could help support additional park programming. This type of revitalization is not unique to Toronto. Other parks such as Brian Park and Madison Square Park in New York City have seen amenities and food service become integral parts of vibrant and successful public spaces. The SLNA believes that there is now sufficient information and more common ground than areas of disagreement to be able to move forward. The SLNA supports this vital revitalization project as well as its amenities. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any questions for Mona? Uh I just have one then. Just when you called that a temple of trees, that was most interesting because of course that's what it has been. and it's the oldest park. >> And so I think you've indicated that things have moved from March until now in the report >> with the foundation being this green oasis in developing things for the park that the trees are are um there are living beings there. Would you agree SNLA that we need to make sure that things that we're looking at honor the trees and make sure that we're not cutting or disrupting or roots and all of that basic information about trees with the forest protection plan that's been developed since March. >> Absolutely. Yes. Yes, we were supporting that and amenities that would come in are all they're great but would be dependent on how well they would fit with our living however many there are hundreds of living >> trees and beings in that park. So yes, that's your proviso. >> Yes. >> Oh, great. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Calling on Katherine Holden, please. >> Yes. Great. Thank you. There's a little green button that can get put on and then >> it's on already, I believe. >> Okay, great. Thank you. You have five minutes, Katherine. >> I Everybody's waiting for lunch. I'm under the gun. >> Don't worry about that. I'm coming back after lunch, so Okay, no pressure. So, I have uh I moved downtown at the time of retirement and I've lived in the BCCA Bay Clover Hill community for more than two decades now. And as part of that, I have become very involved in a community called the Blake Bay Clover Hill community. It is a two square mile community in the fast developing downtown Toronto population growth in in early times. Oh, I need a what's three. the the bay the um Queens Park was is has always been a very important piece of our community because it's totally located within our catchment area and as such we felt quite a responsibility for the loneliness the approachability of the public to the park and making it a good place to be and generally speaking It is known as a green park. It has lots of grass. It has huge green trees, very old trees. It has lots of nature. And within the park today, people find peace, nature, coolness, and peace again. I need some cues here. So uh the the uh flow of time has brought many trials to that park. From 2003 to 2012, the park became heavily heavily used gradually more heavily used as you got up to 2012 with very very large commercial events held in the park. As you got to 2010, 11 and 12, the events got very large. Up to 50,000 people would come to an event over a weekend. There was an event every weekend of the summer and several weekends in shoulder seasons of spring and fall. As a community, we could detect that there was going to be a lot of damage and destruction potentially coming to the park. and we took upon ourselves to monitor the events at the park. We attended them. We noted the population in attendance. We noted the activities and we took pictures. We also wrote reports and sent them to the committee that um you had to get a permit. So, we sent these to the permit committee and we also sent them to our counselor and these setups and tearowns were enormous. How am I doing on time fast? I don't have very much. >> 323. >> Okay. Uh they were flatbed trucks coming in. They were huge vans coming in. They were vehicles of every kind, pickups, cars, and they were delivering tents that were huge with two large poles, wooden poles, major poles in the middle of the tent just to hold it up. The park was made the victim of tent pegs being by the hundreds being driven into the ground every weekend through the roots of the trees. It was also a victim of the actual trampling of the people who visited as the trucks came in. If there were low uh branches on the trees, snapped right off. That was that. And it became clear that something had to be done. In 2012, Councelor Wong Tam and Councelor Mike Leighton cooperated to promote a motion and second the motion that there be a moratorum in Queens Park North to all events. That started immediately and in after 2012 there were no big events in the park. At that time a large uh plan was made to restore and rejuvenate the park and that be began immediately. By 2017 the $5 million budget had been completely spent. The rehabilitation was not finished but that was that. And >> five minutes >> in in I have no more time. >> Yeah. Maybe there's a question. Somebody's going to ask you a question. I'll just ask. >> I would like to say one thing. I've been asked to acknowledge the efforts of councelor Fletcher in what she has done to assist the communities in the um project that is ongoing for Queens Park North. >> Thank you. There may be a question for you to complete your thoughts about from 2017 to to 2026. Go ahead, councelor Saxs. Yeah, first of all, complete your thought and then I have a question. >> Do you have anything else to add is the question council? Yes, I wanted to I wanted to say that in at at uh by 2019 the park was functioning again as a park and it is still a very calm, peaceful green park and I'm urging the council to think of the park in the context of a small community park, not a huge park for big events. Downtown Toronto has been subjected to such construction of towers, the influx of citizens, they don't have parks to go to. This is one of the few we have in our area. And I urge you to reflect very carefully and considerably consider the context of our downtown and what you need to live there in a healthy, safe way. Thank you, uh, councelor. >> Thank you, Katherine. Uh, yes, our ward is one of the most park deficient in the city, especially west of of Young Street, something I work on all the time. But I I um in addition to the history, Thank you. Uh, one thing particular that I'd like you to tell us about is the work of the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association in relation to the great white oak that died and the bench that you donated to the park. Tell us that story, please. >> Thank you for that question. In approximately 2023, the city perceived a 200-year-old oak tree to be it was close to Queens Park Circle and it was perceived to be in danger of dropping a branch onto the six five lane roadway. And so at that time it was cut down and an artisan that we knew was worked with wood and he we collaborated and he eventually took a 12ft portion of the trunk of that tree which was I think 36 in in diameter and it is now an oak bench in Queens Park North in the northeast quadrant. it. Half of the trunk becomes the seats and it's rounded down to sit on the ground and it has a quarters that become the backs. It has arms. The everything's curved for the comfort of the body. It is just a spectacular tribute to one tree that has give been given new new life even in its death. So, Katherine, um, is it fair? >> Could you just move to extend to hear? >> Yes. Move to extend just for this, uh, speaker. Just for this. Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> No. Could you do that? >> Yes. I'm going to move to extend to complete the evidence of this speaker. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? Pause. Thank you. >> So, Katherine, um, do you agree that it's important to the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association that this Great White Oak bench rem kept as part of Queens Park North? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. It has more history in that park than just about anything. >> All right. And the other u um uh element of the park that your association has been very uh vocal about for the last four years is the the old fountain, the 1950s uh fountain. Um and again, I know I discussed this with with Christine, but can you tell us what is the view of your association about that fountain? Do you want to see it replaced or are you looking to see the original physical structure maintained and if so why? >> So this is a very aesthetic piece of art. It was installed around in the 1950s. It was created by an art an artist that um was commissioned to specifically create something for the place that is in the park. It's opposite Queens Park uh uh south the legislature. It's uh it's a round bowl that's about maybe 35 ft in diameter concrete bowl and it had a a series of it had a spray routine and a shooting routine that it went through in cycles as a fountain. And when the rehabilitation of the park happened in 201 12 to 17, the park uh this piece of uh f this fountain art was found to be so decrepit it could not be renewed. And at that time the people who were doing the park rehabilitation retained a water source and an electrical source which are still there in the closed vicinity of this uh fountain. It could be it would have to be replaced with the basic structure structure elements, but it is a part of the history of the park and part of the money. I think it would probably be a few million dollars because it was prohibitive at the time to repair the park the this fountain. So perhaps some of the money from this wonderful legacy gift would be well spent to rehabilitate that fountain. It's quite a beautiful piece with a rich garden around it. >> Well, anyway, I just want to thank the the Bay Club Res Association, all the volunteers over the last 15 years from your association who've been very active in protecting, looking after, and speaking up for the park. Thank you. >> Well, it is our park. We like it to it's it's our park, but we invite everybody that needs a place of comfort and peace in mother nature. She puts out her green arms and just pulls everybody in and seats them on the grass or on a bench and says, "Come to my house and be at peace." >> Thank you. I just want one question and then we'll uh recess till 1:30. and that you talked about these large events and I do remember th those were all permitted through the parks department I believe and then councilors long time and Leighton moved that motion. Are you at all concerned that anything here would move to restoring those types of events or that the nature of events that would be taking place here uh with the your concern over the what somebody called the the temple of trees very certainly large events in that park are truly destructive. the people that even in the last two or three years when big events were not in the park, there were illegal raves that were advertised in some kind of underground um connection or maybe not even maybe just open connection and there would be thousands of people there on a weekend, 10,000. One weekend was especially bad. It had um I think they had dozens if not maybe hundreds of magic markers. Everything in the park was totally covered with graffiti or just wanted lines. It was and it was it was indelible. You couldn't remove it. It was on the paths, on the interlocking stones, on the signage. It was on the benches. It was everywhere. and that kind of destruction I don't even know how to deal with. It is a statement on our society perhaps. >> Thank you. That's very important questions for staff. Thank you so much for being here with us today. And with that, we will recess until 1:30 in the afternoon. >> Thank you. You have nobody to dispute to just yet. You'll have to wait. I think we're all back and here. I don't know where councelor pastor Mac >> you here. >> No, we'll have to start without him. So, we just have quorum now. Thank you very much. We're going to go back to uh Queens Park North donation concept plan update report and we have um our next speaker. I'm just going to move Terry Hawk sorry Sandy Smith up from U of because I think you're on a a time. >> So we need to have you tell us that. No problem do that. So without no further ado, please start. Thank you Sandy. >> Yeah, thank you uh chairman. Um I I'm Sandy Smith. I'm a professor at the University of Toronto. Um I'm here as a professor of forest health and someone's been involved in uh looking after forest for a long long time, probably too many years now at this point. Um last time I deputed uh I'm going to try and make this one shorter. Last time I deputed about two items and I still have those two items. It was about the forest and about the process. And what I wanted to say this this has been a great opportunity in the last uh several months of being involved in this process of trying to get this right. Um I thank the staff for the work they've done. I thank the donors. This is an incredible opportunity of generosity and vision. Um and so I'm feeling better about the forest. I'm still of course always worried about it because that's the important piece to me. the process uh was really improved with the urban forest management plan that's in the report and I think that's really important and to reference back what the donors have made very unique is this idea of maintenance they use the term maintenance and 20 years I have not seen this before this is fantastic wish it was 50 but 20 will do for a good start and I really appreciate it um to me it's not just maintenance no it's just not keeping it status quo it's about stewardship and encouraging it and bringing bringing it forward in a very healthy way and and ensuring that that's sustained. Um and when I look at the report, um process is better, forest has greater opportunities, but I think the report when I try to glean through it, it's still somewhat unclear of just exactly how this stewardship uh is going to be implemented. Um there seems to be a lot of players. It's uh convoluted. There's different places where it's referenced. Um, and that's concerning to me because I don't think it's been worked out yet. And I understand that this is many pieces in motion and we're still trying to get it right. And so I'm hoping uh the way it's set up and with staff involved that that will be sorted out. Um, it's not clear who's doing what and uh the reporting structure. I don't know. I'm looking for some sort of structure of who's who's ultimately responsible. I recognize it's a tripartate arrangement but I think that's important to get that clear in the process. Uh there's a mention of an advisory body that's become an advisory board. There's working groups like so there's all sorts of players involved but how do they relate to one another? The university does not have capacity for the forest health piece unless they hire consultants. That's not inherent. I mean that's why it's worked into the the arrangement unless they want to engage some u profess professorial staff out there in landscape architecture or forestry who could come on board probably volunteer their their services however they probably have to hire a consultant uh the city as well uh probably doesn't have that expertise um it's the obvious uh caretaker I would say the overseer um perhaps in collaboration with the university um both need to hire consultants. So I think that that piece is really important and it's not necessarily articulated in that report. So I think it needs work. The process needs work and I see that they talk about continuing to do that. So really what I wanted to say um to me that stewardship piece of forest health is really important and I don't want to see that get uh watered down um sort of the chaos around who's doing what and when and where gets lost and I'm sorry to bring it up again but tree time um and and I'm going to end with this because uh you know what we do today to those trees they will remember for a long time. They'll remember long after us. It's in their wood. It's in their DNA. It's in their roots. Um, and I think it's really important that we we do this right. And that's really what I wanted to make sure that C council and this this committee understands that that piece is an important piece. And thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions for Sandy? Go ahead, councelor Sads. >> Um, thank you Sandy and thank you again for allowing me to coax and drag you into getting involved in this process. Um, one question that I had, uh, we heard from Katherine about the history of large events in Queens Park. >> Yep. >> And Queens Park North in particular. Um, and we've also seen the extensive data from the tree inventory of the decline of the the big old trees in the park. Do you think those two things are related? >> Yes, I think there's certainly some intersection there. Um, as I say, when you see people call you often, call me often to go out and say, "What's wrong with my tree or my trees?" And usually it's some event 10 years previously or maybe 20, might be a natural drought or they forgot to water for many years or there's some been some compaction, their neighbor did some development and they didn't notice a decline initially. It's not like these trees fall down. So any sort of impacts like that in the the park is going to have an effect and we may not see it for several years if not a decade later. >> Right. So um in terms of moving forward >> yep >> um this is no longer a park for which large events are permitted but um there's political protests, there's encampments, there's the indigenous protests. Um, did those events adversely affect the trees that we're all trying to protect? >> Well, I don't know about those events because I wasn't here. I'm hoping if they went sort of uniformly throughout that park, then there would be impacts. What you want is to try and keep people in guided areas, uh, areas where they're not just sort of wandering randomly through the park. And of course, there's elements like lawns. I I consider lawns an element. Those are the places where you encourage people to be. Uh you can still reflect on the trees or some of the other items that have been brought in are are ways of experiencing the forest in a quiet way, which is what I hear from a lot of people is what they want. It's what I want. But the less people there, the less impact. But I think if we do it strategically and we have the right back to the process and the right consultants, the right people uh professionals who are looking at it, then we can try and mitigate as much as we can recognize that it is a public park, but it's a very special public park. It's not just any park and it's not just cuz it's in my neighborhood. >> Uh I don't think anybody here disagrees with you that it's a very special park which is why so much time and effort and passion is going into it. Um, but you know, we've got the living forest area, we've got the understory area specifically to keep people out. Are there any other areas of the park that you think it's important to keep people off in order to protect the trees? Well, I think wherever those uh trees are, when I saw in this this most recent process, when you see the the map with the the tree uh protected uh boundaries around those trees and you put in at the ravine bylaws, you realize that basically that whole park is is under uh it's it can be impacted wherever the activity. So I guess an answer is to try and limit restrict um you know sometimes for trees the best time for activities is in the winter when roots are on hold and everything's kind of dormant. So thinking strategically back to this idea of the real forest health of this area so that maintenance isn't just going and pruning where you see something some branch dying and a risk to a potential target of a person or whatever. >> Nobody's nobody's talking about >> Yeah. So, I think it's just a case of of strategically keeping people where they have less impact on the trees because the more people there are, the more impact. >> So, the best place for people is where it's paved. Is that fair? >> Uh, impermeable hard service is always better, but we don't want a lot of that if we want a forest. >> Fair enough. I'm not talking about increasing the permeable service, but in terms of where to direct people, your preference is first to direct people where it's paved. >> And then what about the lawns? Are you okay with people being on the lawn? >> I mean lawns are an element and again all these elements are uh there's a lot of elements. Lawns are always part I would say it's a part of a forest. I mean meadows meadows are part of a forest. I see forest doesn't have to have trees everywhere. It has to be part of a landscape a natural landscape with that's dominated by trees. But of course there's open areas and they have less roots perhaps. >> All right. And finally, I just want to assure you that at least as long as I'm here, no one is going to forget about the trees. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? Then I do have a few. I think did were you here in March? I >> end of March. Yeah. >> You were a big advocate for ensuring that we looked after the trees forest forest in any of the >> I call it a forest. Some people just say it's not big enough, but there's a bunch of 358 trees. >> I think it's 10 acres. So it's it's pretty big uh as a downtown forested glade and you were here and concerned that the forest was not getting the attention it deserved >> and we wor we've been working on that to get the urban forest management plan. So would you say that's a huge step forward from March that it's a game changer? It's a game changer because I've never seen that before in the the um projects I've been involved with sort of more on the outside, but that that forestry is at the table the same as landscape architects, architects, other professionals that they get to decide. It would be very different uh if they weren't there. And I think it's made a huge impact. So >> it's great. Thank you. >> That forestry is there. Yes. and that the notion of what somebody earlier called the tree temple or in the green oasis. I have a motion that will basically say city council recognizes this is an important urban green oasis in downtown Toronto. I'm assuming that you would support that. We'd like to have that really clear as the principal values for this site. anything else that goes on. >> Yeah. So few of those left >> and that the forestry through the management plan that would kind of guide what's possible there. So nobody's saying you can't do anything but there are there's roots there's other things. So that is now been elevated to oversee the design principles or the concept that we have in front of us in or in appendix 2. >> Yeah. And I think it's important that the the forestry advising overseas that not the the architects or landscape architects like only a forestry professional could actually know as close as we will ever know what those impacts are going to be, >> right? and the learning forest, former treewalk learning forest that has now been shifted a bit to look after the trees rather than I'll say trees shorter. It's moved. It's the relationship to the ground has now been recalibrated. So the impact on trees itself, >> it's better. It's lesser >> that it's less. >> It's not zero, but it's lesser. >> It's not zero. So you're supportive of that as a a way to >> That's a compromise. compromise and to take advantage of this opportunity which does provide for maintenance and much more input and upkeep for that forest much better stewardship. the health of that forest will benefit if we're strategic about how we interface it with people and those activities that there there's collection of activities that we have there and you would see that and I'm 756 but I piggybacked on councelor Sachs so that there uh uft forestry and the city forester and city forestry are continuing to work together on this this element on these core principles. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm certainly supportive of that. Uh, for sure. That's different than what I think is the official uft partnership, the partners at more an administrative level, but for sure in terms of forest health and stewardship, great team. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thanks. Uh, let's have our next deputent, Sue Dexter. You have five minutes. There we go. I'm Sue Dexter, Harvard Village Residents Association, which is just west of the uft St. George campus and Queens Park is our local park along with the uft grounds. But the feeling of Queens Park is very different. The other day I was sitting on a bench and saying, "What is it about this place? What is the magic in this place?" And there is something primal about being there. It's little people and big trees and you see them walking across and they have somehow little problems now. Not big problems because the big trees are there. There's this there's a strange empathy between the trees and the people and it's almost palpable. And that that magic is right next to a busy roadway and lots of trouble and lots of problem, lots of pressure, lots of this, lots of that. It's a critical part of our lives and of the lives for the of of of the people in Toronto because there aren't very many places where you can go and sit in a forest. My job this afternoon is to talk about process process past and the process to come. It struck me this morning that this may be the last time we were able to debute on design approval for Queens Park North and that would not be a desirable event. If the staff report is accepted without change, our next opportunity looks to be in the second quarter of next year. After a working group has worked on design development, after work has begun on the north end of the park, after contracts may have been let for constit for execution to us that would be a misfortune and a missed opportunity. Our first goal in this process through the last eight months has been to get good information on what is being proposed. We've not been successful in that effort. Park staff maintained plans did not exist. The FOI we initiated in February showed different. There were two drawings dated January 29th, circulated to all staff, never released to the public. They showed measurements of the elements down to the meter. They showed trees cut down to make room for gardens, showing clearly the proposed changes to the park were massive. Had those drawings been released, the public consultation process would have been transformed. Instead, we were given squiggles on a sketch as recently as the end of May. On one side, we've had a park in need and a city that is broke. on the other public service and public trust. Did the $50 million offer tip the scale on transparency? It can't happen again. After a quick read of the staff report, which everyone will agree is reads as though it was written in haste, under pressure, and we understand that we need certain things, certain principles. We need clarity. Consolidate the keystone priority and flesh it out. It lies in the forest. the the feel of the place, the oasis. All change must be tested against that priority and through heritage and forestry management. Three three uh prongs, three pillars of protection. We need to clearly define next steps in a timeline flowchart and organizational structure. Who's doing what? Who's reporting to whom and when? Who has carriage? Who has responsibility on oversight? Donated plans defended by donor experts, and it's not a porative, it's just a fact, deserve independent review. And we've started to build that in. And that is great news. Sorry about that. Uh there may be some questions for you cuz you're at six minutes. >> I told you I'd be long. >> No, I have to stop. I'm sorry about that. Let's see if there's any any questions of the defant. We'll just say is there any further to ask? >> Yes, absolutely. So the community and potential other members of the working group that would carry out design development analysis need to know what limits they must observe. Adjust plans a little a lot. Can an element be removed? We don't know that. Are there limits to change? We they need to know is the grant conditional on all elements remaining. We need to know now what agreements are in place between the city and the donor. It's time. Personally, I want to thank you, Councelor Fletcher, for your passion on parks and public service, for enabling all of us to begin to address the process concerns, and to senior staff in the mayor's office for making a serious effort to turn things around. But we have work to do. We suggest revise the report so it is informative, structured and shows a clear path forward. Ensure the working group review will be open, effective and transparent and bring the proposal back to council where we can together make the final decision on plans and choose the right path, the best path for the park. The community will applaud you for that. >> Thank you. That was my question. So, I have to open that up to anyone else who has a question today. Uh, since you didn't use all my time, I'll just ask you about the uh urban forest management plan because I asked uh Sandy Smith about that as uh a really important component that's been achieved since the March meeting at executive when it was >> Oh, yeah. We're light years from March and the forest management plan and and and uh and Philip is is the right guy to do it. And the thought that you can plan ahead for the forest and make small changes now that are going to create benefit over over the generations of forest life is is a profound benefit and very reassuring for us. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you very much for being here and all the work friends of Queens Park have been doing. Uh Christine Burke, University of Toronto. Afternoon. Do you have something to show? Have you got slides? >> Pardon me. >> I have Christine. >> Yes. We're also bringing Antella Cultterero also from the University of Toronto at the same time. We're uh >> Okay. You're both here. >> Do you have uh by the way, sorry, that was Elizabeth. I'll have her come after you. Do you have any slides? It kind of looked like you had some slides, but >> No slides. >> No. Okay. No slides. Okay. Thank you. And are you each taking five minutes or you're sharing that? >> We are sharing uh we're doing a a brief deputation and then sharing questions. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, thank you to members of the committee for the opportunity to speak. My name is Christine Burke. I'm the assistant vice president of university planning at University of Toronto. And with me is my colleague uh Antella Culturo, the director of building services, grounds, and trades on the St. George campus. We're here representing the University of Toronto in support of the Queens Park North update report. The revitalization of Queens Park North as reflected in the staff report uh we feel is both a a compelling concept plan that reflects passive and active park uses and we see it as a model for long-term sustainability and collaboration. Located in the heart of the university St. George campus, Queens Park North provides an integral green link through the campus. The university recognizes the benefit the revitalized park will have for university users in addition to the general public in alignment with the university's educational mission and as well purposes. Since this item was last before council in March, representatives of the university have worked very closely with city staff and donor to advance the concept plan. Terms of reference for the Queens Park North Advisory Board and the particulars of the proposed cafe to deliver on this historic donation. The university supports and agrees with staff's update report through extensive community and stakeholder engagement as summarized in the report. The concept plan has been revised to reduce the number of structures, enhance and protect the distinctive trees and consider the developing statement of cultural heritage values, all while improving amenity of the park um as the public as well as for university users. The terms of reference for the Queens Park North Advisory Board will ensure continued regular counselor and community as well as stakeholder engagement directly with the steering committee and the future executive director for the park. The proposed cafe has been the subject of re reviews by the donor, the city, and the university to ensure it aligns with their joint vision for the park and the city's recent food and beverages and parks policies and will provide the appropriate amenity for all park users. We are supportive of this project and the approach outlined by staff. We look forward to finalizing agreements and to implement the delivery of the revitalized Queens Park North. Thank you for your time and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have under five minutes. >> Second um I will I will only answer questions if any. >> You'll be here to answer questions. >> Well, we'll share. >> Oh, okay. Great. Thank you. Are there some questions of uft? Um I do have that that uh it's your understand first of all when you were here in March or we had it in March again the urban forest management plan hadn't happened. It wasn't part of the concept. In fact the community really spoke out and said what about the trees? So I'm just wondering if you're that you're understanding that that's a kind of a new place now that we're at with that having taken place and that plan in place. Uh yes and I think I think that it's been a a really great process in the past few months uh in terms of that motion to move that forward and that due diligence. Um I think it's helped uh all all city university as well as the community to really uh look at how the how the trees can become um uh more more uh priority in terms of um how the design uh uh unfolded. So I think that the clear directions there's been some a lot of clear directions from the um the external forestry uh consultant in terms of uh really looking at minimizing root um root systems and impacts. Uh he was an independent urban forestry consultant which I think really was helpful in terms of credibility um and uh and I think that has helped to evolve the concept plan and some of the the the changes that have happened since March and the concept plan that's coming before us. Um and further I think that uh the next steps that are outlined uh in the staff report in terms of how that forestry management plan will uh work in the upcoming phases is also clearly articulated that it's not just this phase but that it's for the next phase in the in the further detailed design design development uh through implementation construction as well as the ongoing maintenance and um and operations um once the once the park has been revitalized. So >> great and thank you for that clarifying. Uh so the concept plan is here and then the detailed design the urban forestry management plan will be uh very big advice to the detailed design as to how things may roll out including the food and beverage. So previously it was a restaurant and now it's being captured as a cafe. Is that something that you support at uft? >> Um absolutely. Um I think that the again the cafe has progressed over the past few months. I think it's been in response uh to the forestry management plan, but also I think it's had cues from the um the heritage work that's been undertaken as well uh from the city and and our and their and the city's external consultant. Um absolutely the university's role will be to um uh and it will be clearly articulated through the triparty agreement as that's worked out. But the University of Toronto will be um with the city working to ensure that the cafe is operated uh by the right partner. I think that's very important. Um, one that reflects the character of the park, serves the full community. Um, the operator hasn't been selected yet. That will be a next a next phase after this um after this stage. Um, and >> be the operator selected. How will the operator be selected? >> Um, I think we we've outlined it in the um in the it's it's reflected well in the staff report, but essentially it's a phased report phased approach. So I think part of it will be to um uh I think part of the what has not happened as much to a great detail right now in the cafe is is really working through some of the operations the logistics uh even the um uh you know to support long-term cafe operations and so that will be the next phase in terms of uh led by uft we would be um looking towards uh you know operator uh selection criteria etc and then moving on into an operator selection consultation with the city. >> Yes, with the city. So, who's selecting the operator, uft or the city? >> The city will be involved in terms of selection, but U of is leading the process and then U of will be holding the um uh the operator uh under a license. Yeah. And one of the things I think that's that's key in terms of this operator selection is that um uh by choosing the operator they can then be part of the uh detailed design of that cafe to make sure that it will be um that it will be um designed in a way that all of these operational logistics uh you know how do you how do you move food across into the park etc. It'll all be part of the part and parcel of uh the detailed design and a successful operation going forward. Any other questions? No. Thank you very much. Uh, next deputant is, uh, Elizabeth Sisum. I swung by you by mistake and I'm sorry about that. >> Thank you. >> Well, thank you very much uh for having me here and being able to depute. Uh, as you know, my name is Elizabeth Cism. I've deputed before to the executive committee and have been involved in the ongoing discussions and community engagements. Today I'm here representing the friends of Queens Park North which is drawn from seven residents associations and is dedicate dedicated to the responsible stewardship of Queens Park North. We have participated fully in public engagement sessions since August 2025. The March 10th executive committee meeting marked a welcome turning point in the thought process of the design of Queens Park North. Everyone at that meeting agreed that it's a muchloved historic public asset with its own distinctive sense of place and character. Thank you, Councelor Fletcher, for your intervention. At that time, we pressed for an urban forest management plan and a heritage statement of significance through the public engagement process. These are tools to assess the concept that was being proposed. We're pleased that they've now been included, but as of yet, they need to be finalized. They're necessary to determine the cumulative impact on the character of Queens Park North and the sense of place, our green oasis. The city's design review panel echoed the same comments. They too questioned the extent of the robust program and the number of program elements. Queen. The friends of Queens Park North submitted detailed information supporting a three-pillar concept of the park. First, as a green oasis having its own sense of place and character, this was characterized as the temple of trees in John Rston Saul's presentation. the park honoring and preserving the cultural heritage and the ecologically significant area with old growth forest. In the past weeks, there have been some modifications to the original concept. Not many, but for everybody in this room, it's still remains a quigle a squiggle diagram that was shared at the last public meeting. So this is the diagram that we were presented at the last public meeting. I note with interest um the former deputent um uh Christine Burke mentioned that there's been ongoing discussion and detail about the restaurant. Well, in this diagram that the public had that restaurant is this little circle here with no information. So where has this conversation been occurring? As always, the devil's in the details, and the details are unknown. Park policies applicable to every city park have been overlaid on this special area. Queens Park North should have a unique designation signifying its special status as the people's park graced by an ancient forest. This status should be recognized immediately so that those policies appropriate to this park apply, not the entire laundry list of policies that are identified in the staff report. Not everything needs to put every be put everywhere in every single park. We urge this committee to recommend further review um and assessment as constructive um proposals as the project proceeds. We think it will add to a better process. So these are the three items. The first is that the terms of reference for the working group are stated. We know that there's a working group. We don't know what they're doing. The question here is whether the design elements any of them can be eliminated by virtue of the agreement with the benefactors. Is there a restriction? Are they a condition of the donation? That the concept plans for University Park are reviewed together with the plans for Queens Park North to ensure that they're fully integrated. The review should include the public, not only city staff. and three, that the final design returns to city council for approval prior to proceeding with construction drawings, which we understand may well be underway if they are planning to proceed in 2027. These drawings will include the missing information and details. >> Elizabeth got to wind up last sentence. Thank you. >> Uh thank you. Well, I would like to my last sentence is to express our gratitude to you, councelor Fletcher. You've devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort to the project and for that we thank you. >> Thank you. I knew you were coming here as chair. I thought I needed to do intervene a little bit. Thank you very much for being here. Any questions for Yes. Uh councelor Pastnak has a question for you. >> I just want to make sure I understand. Are you saying to go back to the drawing board and come back with another report? >> No. Uh I'm not. I'm just I'm asking for details of the concept to be released for 8 months. We've been shown drawings like this and we're asked now you're asked to approve it and that you're going to go to design development to understand those details. We were told there was nothing to show us. But yet we've just heard that there have been detailed discussions specifically about a restaurant. The problem with it is that a restaurant isn't just, you know, a flying saucer that lands on a piece of land. I'm sure you know, there's garbage pickup. There's service deliveries. If it's going to be something like a Starbucks, they have daily delivery of pre-made food. Um, there's all kinds of things that need to occur for the management of that restaurant, which means truck access, garbage access, and egress. Where in the plan that we were shown is there a roadway that's going to get that truck there. How is that going to work? We don't even know the size of the of the restaurant. We know that I think 40 seat restaurant was in the um feasibility study and we know that um they're looking I believe you're looking at 2300 square ft. What does that mean? Does that in include the apron outside the restaurant where there are loose chairs that are going to be moved around? There's so much detail that isn't there, it's unbelievable. >> So, your concerns are the lack of clarity on this restaurant, what it will serve, how it'll be serviced, road network, >> that pest control, all the things. >> We're we've got no details about any of the concept elements except the squiggles that are on the diagram. There are no dimensions. There are no dimensions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, councelor Chernoselin, you have questions. >> So, uh, Elizabeth, I wonder if you could just, um, I just want to make sure I understand you correctly. I guess maybe you can just clarify for me. Your contention is that the regular policies regarding forestry, other pieces, parks don't necessarily apply to this park because this park has a more elevated status than other parks in the city. >> Yes, it's your contention. >> Yes. And the reason is because whenever we have discussed the number of elements that are being proposed for example the restaurant we are pointed to park policy that says food and beverage should be located in public spaces including parks. Well not every park needs to have a restaurant. Not every park needs to have a play area. Not every park needs to be able to convene all kinds of community events. That's not the case for every single park in the city. In fact, >> no. But would you not agree that there are some parks, for example, Sunny Brook Park has many of those things. It It's not as elevated. Is that your contention as Queens Park? >> Sunny Brook Park is a different park. I believe it's much larger than Queens Park. It doesn't have the forest element that Queens Park does. There are many many wonderful elements in in Queens Park that work well as an elevated as that park. But we don't have to include every single thing. I think there are probably 20 different policy items that are identified for parks. So not everything needs to go everywhere. That's my point. So your point is that we don't need to have everything in it. It's not that this park is more special than other parks. Is that >> I I actually do think it's more special. I think it is a special. >> All right. Thank you. That's that's all I needed. >> Yep. >> Any other questions? I'll just ask one. The um understood that I do not see restaurant. I see that this has been changed to being a cafe rather than a restaurant which would mean cooking and all those kinds of things. Fairly major operation. Um do you notice that as well in here that that change has been made Elizabeth? >> I I I noticed that in the summary. However, there's still reference uh deeper in the report to the restaurant >> but not to a restaurant in the report. Okay. Uh, I guess my understanding is that it's been, I'll say, downgraded, no cooking, that kind of thing. And that the urban forest management plan is something that is everybody who's worked on that yourselves, staff, parks, forestry, the donor should be fairly proud of because that will guide anything in the park recognizing is much smaller than Sunnybrook Park. >> But that will determine what can or can't be built anywhere in the park. Do you think that's fair >> rather than saying no? But we're going to have a guide for the tree health and >> I do think that's fair. Um but again go back to the three elements the statement of significance the forest management plan which is absolutely um at the top but together they contribute to the sense of place. So we can't forget about the sense of place and really what this park is all about which other parks do not have that same character. So, it's the three pillars >> and that this has got this status because it is a significant donation that will carry on over many, many years. $50 million is a significant donation to a 10acre park and making the best use of it with protecting the trees. Is that >> significant donation to a significant park? Yes. >> Oldest park in the city. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Sorry. Next up is Glenn Wheeler. Morning. Good afternoon, Glenn. You have your five. >> Afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on uh this issue which is very important to uh many of us as you can tell. Um and thank you uh councelor Fletcher for your engagement on this at executive uh at council and uh and here today. Um, my name is Glenn Wheeler and I'm here as a resident who lives uh near the park uh in the Harbor Baist area. And um it's an important space um uh for those of us who live in the most densely uh populated area of Toronto, a place of respit, as is uh often been said. My what I want to uh use my few minutes to talk about is the engagement process. Thus far I have been at most of the engagement sessions and um they have been um the process has been has been problematic and I wanted to share my concerns um and um and perhaps ask for um make some suggestions. Councelor Matllo at the council meeting in March eloquently set out those concerns in his remarks about uh public space and private dollars. And I just want to recall some of the words of councelor Madlo at that time. He said, and I'm quoting, "As long as the private dollars that philanthropists want to contribute to the public realm, they're fine with it." But he was referring to members of the public. They're fine with it. And they're fine with acknowledging their generosity. As long as there is public accountability about the process that there is genuine public feedback and consultation and ultimately full accountability and transparency when it comes to all the steps that have been taken. In other words, this is still councilor Madlo. So that they know that the plans and the designs weren't done simply at the request of the private philanthropist, but that the community that cares about the public space knows that their voice and their vision were part of that, too. And I think this is what we're this is what we're dealing with is that uh the community that lives closest to the park and relies uh for it perhaps more than other people in the city feels that their vision is not uh has not been taken into account and that many of the elements of this plan detract from what you counselor Fletcher referred to as a place of respit. the green oasis and we're we are mitigating uh in um we are mitigating from the the impact of those many elements in this plan from that green oasis. Uh at the March council meeting, councelor Matlo asked city staff, do we have this is councelor Matlo again in his words, do we have a very clear protocol? The reason I ask is that what I'm picking out from the community is that there has been some either confusion or worry. Are we doing this for the wetest or are we working with the with the western for the community? That was what uh councelor uh Matlo asked. And as you uh councelor Fletcher noted at the March meeting, this is the largest private donation we have received for a park. As you noted, usually the donations are 4 million, 5 million, but 50 million is unheard of as a donation to a park. And of course, for this, we are grateful to the West. Uh the city obviously um is uh shall we say financially challenged and to receive a generous donation is a very good thing and uh I'm sure the the donors uh council and the staff want a good process um that um that leaves people feeling they have been heard. Um now, councelor Fletcher, when you at the March meeting, uh you noted that the that the staff from the city manager's office will be coming in to help um manage this. Uh I see I'm very quickly running out of time. I I just want to say that the protocol that was discussed at the uh at the March meeting, >> last word, >> was was not included in the in the plan. And this is something that perhaps um council should uh consider in projects especially of this size. >> Thank you very much. Any questions of the deputent? Nope. Thank you very much Glenn for being with us today. >> Uh next is Melda Bur from the Western Foundation. Melda, are you here with us? >> Yes. Please come up. Thank you very much. Nice to have you. Don't think you were here in March. Were you here in March? watching in March. >> You were watching but you didn't have a chance to speak. >> I wasn't able to be here. >> Okay. Very happy to have you today. >> Thank you so much. >> By any chance? >> This is This is Justin Robbitai. >> Oh, okay. >> Um uh he'll just be joining me for questions. >> That's great. Fine. Thank you so much. Off you go. >> My name is Malda Burr and I'm the design adviser for the donor. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you councelors Saxs and Fletcher for your interest and guidance. I believe that the concept proposal for Queens Park North is a truly special once- in a generation opportunity to breathe new life into this beautiful and well-loved green space to revitalize and rejuvenate the park for both trees and people now and for the future. I have worked with the Weston family for over 16 years and had the great privilege to work directly with both Mr. and Mrs. Weston. Hillary Weston was Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1997 to 2002. And from the window of her office in the legislature building, she admired the beauty of Queens Park North. Last summer, before Mrs. Weston's passing, I was able to share some of the early ideas for the park with her. Queens Park North is a wonderful park, but it can and should be better. The trees in Queens Park are truly special, some rare and protected, and others over a hundred years old. It's difficult to describe in words what it's like to be amongst them. It's both peaceful and uplifting. It's a rejuvenating place, a place of respit. Like urban parks around the world, the trees of Queens Park North face multiple challenges. The soil is compacted. The trees need more support and care. And because most of the trees are mature, the next generation must be introduced and nourished. By creating restoration zones, all of these challenges will be addressed. This work is essential to the future of the park and is by far the largest component to the revitalization. We began this collaborative partnership with the city of Toronto staff in January 2025. From the very beginning, we worked with ecologists and arborists, and we are now working with a forester to develop an urban forest management plan specifically for Queens Park North. It is our commitment to listen to these experts, to adapt and change as they advise. Since this project was brought forward to council in March, we have listened carefully and have con have continued to refine the proposal in response to expert advice and public feedback. The spirit of collaboration is embedded in all aspects of the project. Through the proposed triparty stewardship model, the donor, the city, and the University of Toronto are committed not only to revitalizing the park, but to help care for it over the long term. as the city's first public urban park. >> Everybody can just turn their phones off, please. It's hard on the Thanks. Please proceed. >> As the city's first public urban park, Queens Park North is often referred to as the people's park. It has a rich and vibrant history, and in an ever growing city, through thoughtful design, it can provide even more. In the learning forest, an elevated tree path will bring visitors closer to nature while ensuring protection of the delicate roots and understory beneath. In this special zone, through the work of our indigenous consultant, we learned about reciprocal relationships between plant communities. People will be invited to see themselves as part of a larger relationship with land, with culture, and with care for the future. As the design developed with city staff, we sought to bring animation throughout the seasons. A cafe will create a place to meet and recharge even on the coldest days of the year and to ensure the highest quality of food and service. It will be operated by a local established Toronto restaurant. On hot days, an interactive water feature will cool the air and provide enjoyment for children. And people will comfortably spend more time in the park because a small permanent washroom structure will provide a muchneeded amenity within the park. A connect a commemorative garden will provide a welcoming and unique experience, a place of exploration and learning, respit and enjoyment for all. Over a year and a half ago, with the city and through public consultation, we created a vision statement exemplifying the spirit of the project. An extraordinary place for people and nature throughout the seasons that respects the existing trees and heritage of Queens Park North fosters a safe and welcoming environment and showcases excellence in design, ecological stewardship, education, animation and collaborative governance. I'm concluding um we have found a balance a balance between the needs of the trees and the needs of the people and for me that is the goal of a great urban park to achieve this vision. Uh we partnered with the best Toronto creative talent including landscape architect Janet Rosenberg and studio and Shim Suckliffe architects. Working on this project with these inspiring teams, the city and the community has been a highlight of my career. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for being here, Meldon. I gave you that extra bit because you weren't able to come in person. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Are there some questions? Councelor Saxs. >> Um, thank you Melda and your team. I know that uh you you've been working very hard on this for a long time. Um, Al Rossu, he's sitting behind you, president of Queens Park North, made a a point that you and I have discussed about children in the park. >> Can you talk to us please about how this park will serve children in the neighborhood? >> Absolutely. Um, so in my mind, um, every aspect of the park uh relates to all people of all ages. um and all abilities including children. Um I touched on the interactive water feature specifically. Um it will be beautiful uh to both observe but also to be able to play in um and the children will be able to cool during the long hot summer days. Um, we have a plan to include um QR code codes within within the park for all new elements and also some elements that have been there for a while but people want to learn about. Um, we had conversations about activities to engage children both within the learning forest um because there'll be lots of um great ecological opportunities um to learn about the understory and the plant communities. Um the cafe itself um I think is an important amenity for children because um like all of us they sometimes need a break. Um the commemorative garden will also have aspects of learning within it. So it's they are activities that are more passive in nature in the sense that we are not proposing a playground per se. Um but all of the opportunities for play as they are today will remain. So, the lawns that that children love to play on. Um, and then some of the the new elements that we're proposing that we feel are sort of appropriately um balanced given the scale of of the park. >> Okay. And you mentioned the QR codes. Yes. Maybe you can tell us a bit more about how you plan to use the QR codes to tell the stories of the park. >> So, the idea around the QR code, um, we've we've been thinking about it from from early days on the project. We haven't developed it in detail. So I'll be honest with you that that is to come. Um but but the the the concept of a QR code is something that obviously um has adopted been adopted wildly wildly widely worldwide um and and works very well with smartphones. So if you are wanting to be introduced to a tree or to understand why is there all this understory, what is the purpose of it? At those given points um along the journey within the park, there'll be a moment where there's a there's a potentially a plaque which may have a small written description but will also have a QR code. The thing that's great about QR codes is that they can go into a lot of detail that you can't provide in a plaque and you can always change them. Um, so there are opportunities to change them as activations potentially change over time. >> Okay. Now, I want to ask you about the two items that the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association have specifically asked for. First of all is the preservation of the Great White Oak bench from a very beloved tree in the park that they donated to the park. Do you agree that that's an important feature to maintain permanently in Queens Park North? I understand that it's very well-loved and I understand that it has a rich and meaningful history and and as a result of that I think it's important there's no reason that it wouldn't stay within Queens Park. Um we talked about ensuring that it was fully accessible so you could get to it easily from a path um regardless of of of whether or not you needed additional help to reach it and also the potential of adding in a QR code to tell people about its rich history. >> Okay. Um, and the other feature that's been of particular importance to the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association, what they've raised over and over and over with me over the last four years is the fountain. Um, tell me what are I I understand that safety codes have changed since 1950. Uh, but what are the options? Uh, you know, it's recognized in the statement of significance as one of the key built heritage elements of the park. What are the options for preserving it, enhancing it, conserving it, making it the best it can be given that 70 years have gone by? >> Excellent question. Um, so the heritage elements within the park are are clearly define the character of of the park and the fountain being one of them. I have a particular affinity to the fountain. I think it's beautiful. Um, sadly it has not functioned for many years. Um, but it gives us an opportunity for the future. So the intention is as as an element within the com commemorative garden on that exact location where the Austin Floyd Fountain is today that we will revitalize the fountain and not just revitalize it in terms of making it actually function but ensure that it takes on a um a form that is either the form as we see it today or a very very similar form if it needs to be um uh rebuilt based on our further studies of it. The other element of it that we want to include is bringing in flowers. So, one of the comments that we've heard um even since 2015 the from the public consultation at that time was that um people missed the idea of flowers within Queens Park North. And so, as part of the fountain, introducing um planting beds with flowers would be part of that as an homage um to the original fountain. >> Thank you. Thank you. Other questions? Anybody else? Uh just going to ask again as I always do about the urban uh the tree management plan as being basically the guiding force for everything that could be developed there, including whatever the cafe is going to be. Um I'm assuming that you've been part of that exercise since that was asked for. >> Yes. in at March Council to revisit the plan based on the free temple, green oasis, whatever we're going to call that. That that's an important feature for the Weston Foundation as well. >> 100%. Um when I first spoke with Elena Weston about the project, um the potential project um I remember very clearly what she said to me and she said, "Melda, it's all about trees and people." Um, and I talked about trees and people in my words and I did that for a reason. Um, because I think essentially it it beautifully sort of um crystallizes the the the the reason that this project is so important. Um, Alena also said to us um, the trees will guide us and they will effectively tell us what to do. So, we could not be more positive and in favor of the um the urban forest management plan. Um and as I said um we will learn from it both in terms of how we design going forward and how we respond to it in terms of both construction um and care for the future as part of the conservancy. >> Thank you. And so the concept plan appendix 2 that I've talked about all day with deputants. Yes. that that is their concept plan that we're looking at to approve. But all the detailed design still to come through with working group and that sometimes the urban forest management will tweak things in the concept plan based on where things can go and and utilities and other things and the TTC underneath and all the rest of those kinds of things. Right? That's your understanding. It is not it is not fixed in time because it is a living breathing site and in addition to what we learn from the forester we will learn from the site itself and the plan must evolve to respect both. >> That's great. I appreciate you saying that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um you didn't get any questions so sorry about that. >> Next time >> uh next time so now I'm just going to ask Mr. Chapman is >> Patrick Patrick um wasn't able to be here so I have spoken on behalf of the >> Okay fine I wasn't clear about >> we work together sorry about that thank you >> and last deputent Terry Hawks Terry thank you very much you have your five your five minutes. >> I want you to be able to see me, so I sit on my leg. >> I want you to be able to see me, so I sit on my leg. That's my little secret trick. >> Okay, go ahead. You have your five minutes. Thank you. >> Good day, Madam Chair, counselors, staff, residents, guests. I'm Terry Hawks. I'm a resident of the annex in University Rosedale, Ward 11. a ward rich in resources, its people, its businesses and institutions, and its old growth trees in Queens Park North. I last spoke in this room three months ago on behalf of a community organization. Today, I approach you as a resident who sees Queens Park North as an exceptional treasure in the heart of an intensely densifying urban area. a park to be honored for its rare grove of old growth trees. Quite different from various pocket parks and green spaces sought for their useful exercise or playground structures. Today we're talking about a park different from our other parks that are animated, mobilized and developed. A park within a park with a different purpose, a different but essential value, a respit, a sanctuary, a jewel in the crown that is Queens Park North. And over the last year, I have observed many residents associations show up multiple times at countless community consultations and at city hall to express their interest in keeping the park in as natural a state as possible. In fact, Madame Chair, I recall you loing the powerful group of deputants on March 10th as an assembly that rivaled the Spadina Expressway detractors many years ago. That movement had a similarly long view of what might be best for our city and communities. slated to have run right through Ward 11, University Rosedale, my home. By the way, that March council meeting was the genesis of John Rustin Saul's eloquent advocacy for our temple of trees. Quote, those Queens Park North deputants on March 10th expressed an almost universal desire to see the trees in Queens Park North revitalized and protected with as little development as possible. And because of those residents voices and the active engagement of a number of counselors across the city, including your chair here today, progress was made, proven by the fact that we are here in front of this committee with heritage analysis and forest management now part of the conversation. Thank you. This was not the plan 3 months ago. And yet today, as has been spoken of, the proposed design for development in the park is not marketkedly different than it was when it was released over a year ago alongside the press announcement of the Western family's generous donation offer. So, the timing of that meant that a design was imagined, drawn, and shared with the public before the public had any say in the matter. And despite thousands of objections to substantial development in the park, this design, while mitigated somewhat, still does not seem to fully honor those voices. So, I am a curious person like many of you here. And I asked councelor Josh Matlo on a break during the March 25th city council meeting why the Weston family generous and known for their philanthropic work with green spaces and parks even beyond this province. The well-intentioned staff here today, the architectural firm of Rosenberg, and our city councelor still seem to not fully acknowledge the predominant concerns as represented here today by various residents associations and residents. I am grateful that councelor Matllo took this question to the floor. As far as I know, and as mentioned by Glenn Wheeler today, there has been no response to this question and thus no response to councelor Matlo's request for more transparency around this matter. Has councelor Matllo's request for information on March 25th, 2026 been answered in any meeting or distribution? I.e., were there requirements attached to accepting this generous donation from the West? And if so, what are they? Or who is at the root, excuse the pun, the root of these plans for substantial development in the park? And thus, will the representatives on behalf of the residents, many sitting behind me, to be included in the working group, will they actually be heard in their bid to retain Queens Park North as a place of respit, protecting the old growth trees above all else? I appreciate Councelor Fletcher and her colleagues attempts to make this process more workable and to find compromises within this plan for this green oasis, honoring its sense of place and character while preserving its cultural heritage and ecological significance and acknowledging all that and appreciating that the Weston's family's representatives are here today. I still respectfully suggest that addressing and correcting a lack of transparency might be constructive and it might help the stakeholders understand this seeming disconnect as to the existential future of Queens Park North which according to the vast majority of deputants they rever as a sanctuary and a respit not only for the residents of University Rosedale and the surrounding neighborhoods but for all Torononians visitors all age groups groups, all abilities, and all generations to come. Thank you very much for your time and interest in caring for Queens Park North. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> No, I'll just ask one, which I always ask now, the urban forest management plan that wasn't in place in March and now is in place with the hard work of everybody involved. Um, that's a significant improvement. Would you agree with that? I would agree that there seem to be some some very notable compromises on the table. Uh I would I I would wonder why some um middle road considerations might not have been considered. And what's coming to mind is I attend I attended on behalf of a res I attended on behalf of a residents association a meeting with the University of Toronto and I asked about the plan for the food and beverage service and I suggested that perhaps we might consider something like a pilot project with a food truck like we have on St. George and I was thinking that perhaps this would be a good way to gauge the level of interest for food and beverage within the park because as noted there are so many food and beverage possibilities outside the park and we're still talking about a structure and I know that people who are purists believe that any kind of structure whether it be a restaurant or a cafe might be dilitterious to the roots of the trees. I'm not an expert on that matter. I'm reflecting what I've heard through many many meetings. thing. I just asked you though about the urban forest management plan that was not in place and is now in place based on the hard work of the community councelor city staff western foundation that that's a gamecher. Do you not agree with that? >> It's huge. Okay. >> Absolutely huge. Thank you. I thought I mentioned that. Maybe I just didn't say it with enough emphasis. >> You talked about the restaurant which is no longer a restaurant. So I understand, but I just wanted to clarify that that is an incredible new basis for all decision making for Queens Park North and you would agree with that. >> It has been an excellent addition to this conversation. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, no more deputants. We'll bring this back into committee and I'm sure there'll be some questions of staff. Councelor Saxs, do you have some? I bet. >> Uh, yes, I have I have questions of staff. Um so first of all to our two deputy city managers um you gave me a guarantee in March that when you brought this back it would do no harm to the significant trees of this park has the report that you've produced today met that guarantee >> to the chair to start yes I believe it does meet that guarantee and as has been expressed today the development of the urban forest management plan at the core at the lead of all decisions that are made around design uh reinforces that. >> Well said, deputy. I would say the same. >> Right. And the the two buildings that are proposed, the food and beverage building and the washroom, um are they going to do any harm to the significant trees of Queens Park North? So through the chair uh the urban forest management plan has guided all aspects um of this project uh so that the park revitalization is in service of tree protection enhancement and maintenance uh not the other way around. Uh so very specifically the two buildings uh the food and beverage building as well as the washroom um have uh been placed within um the urban forest management uh phase one work and we feel confident that it will do no harm to the significant trees in the area. >> Okay. Um and the directions given by council in March uh about no road certified vehicles in the park um for delivering to the restaurants, those directions remain in place and will be complied with. Correct. I think I sent that back to the deputy city manager. >> Yes, that's correct. So the decisions and the direction we received from council in March continue on and will be abided to. >> Right. And similarly no servicing for these uh buildings will be allowed to damage the significant trees in the park. Correct. >> So through the chair the work of phase two the detailed design ahead will ensure that the servicing and construction of any of these elements will be respectful of uh the enhanced tree protection zones uh as identified in appendix 3 in the report. >> Right. It won't be allowed to do any damage to the to the distinctive trees. Correct. >> That's correct. Um, now in terms of the the well-loved great white oak bench, um, that was donated by the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association at their expense to commemorate this beloved tree. Um, I guess um, uh, well, I know back to parks. Um, if you agree that this is an important element of the park and it will be preserved >> through the chair. Yes, that is the case. >> All right. And similarly u the the fountain which is at least as well loved um you're going to review every option for preserving conserving bringing back to life if that's possible and safe. Correct. Yes, counselor. That's correct. Right. And uh we also heard um you know very clear and vivid evidence again from from Katherine Holden about the ser the very large events that occurred in Queens Park North and we heard from Sandy Smith that that very likely contributed to the significant decline in the significant trees which we've seen over the last decade. um what precautions have been taken so that we don't have similar we so that we don't do you know people in trees how do we keep the people from damaging the trees what do you propose moving forward so through the chair um while work is ahead uh with the detailed design working group and the advisory body um there's uh um and guided by guided by the urban forest management plan it will also have a lens upon the programming um and activation of the park There is no intention in the uh uh work that's been done uh that's in front of committee today uh to resurrect any large-scale events uh in this significant park uh being respectful of the urban forest that that exists and the opportunities to enhance uh through restoration moving forward. And do you agree with Professor Smith that large numbers of people in the park damage the trees? >> Absolutely. So back to parks. Um I I know that there was a motion a decade ago to stop to put a moratorum on large permitted events in the park. Um would it uh might it be helpful to for this committee to re for council to refresh and bring up to date that direction >> through the chair? Uh counselor, you're you're absolutely welcome to do so. existing motion is still in effect and we do not issue large-scale event permits at this time, but reinforcing that could only strengthen the same. >> And you and your staff have suggested wording for that, correct? >> Yes, counselor. >> Okay. Um, thank you. >> They keep going, but you didn't. Okay, you're done. Uh, thank you, Councelor Mley. You have questions and I am putting your clock on >> in five minutes. Thanks madam uh chair through you. I will hopefully be less than the five minutes. Uh we heard a lot about how urban forestry uh will be taking a more proactive role in approach in excuse me in uh the tree management and making that central to this. Can you explain what is meant by planning for long-term tree succession and what will be what will that mean for the park in the next 10 or 20 years? So through the chair, the third phase um deliverable of the urban forest management plan is to come up with this long-term management framework um uh with specific eye to uh preserving and uh uh longating the mature trees that are there now, but also to be respectful of um that succession. uh one of the deputants spoke of, you know, trees that needed uh to to uh be planted to to regenerate uh the area and that's uh that's part of the work to come. Uh we know that the uh forest canopy in this park uh now uh is a mix of ages. It's also a mix of species uh with just over half being native species. Uh and so we will turn our eye to increasing the ecological integrity of the urban forest through that phase of work. >> Wonderful. Thank you for that. Uh I'm sure that's welcomed by the community and certainly from future generations as well. Um in the in the report before us, it talks about a 10 member working group and we did hear from a number of deputants today about ongoing interest in further details uh related to implementation and oversight. Uh how will the participants for that working group be selected? Sorry, that'll be one of the DCMS there. Thanks for the question, counselor. So, what we've included in in the recommendation is a list of groups um that we would be selecting uh potential members for that working group. So, it includes neighborhood institutions, cultural institutions um the project focus groups um as as well as other experts. I think what we will be doing as a team is working to identify areas of expertise that would be beneficial in looking at the detailed design and ensuring representation across those groups. I think it would be helpful for us to get input as well um particularly as we work through we will be actively working on this between now and city council um and can provide more details on that. This was a more um recent addition as a way to provide further opportunity to really get into detailed design which which wasn't reflected in the advisory body. So it's a smaller kind of nimble group to be engaged with sooner than later to get into a more detailed level of discussion. >> Fantastic. Um thank you for that clarification. Um I will skip my questions about how some of the buildings uh and those concepts have changed. I think we've gotten into that extensively through um through our discussion so far. Um so I'm just going to move to u my last two-part question which came forward from the last deputent as well as councelor Matlo. Um can you uh further clarify what the requirements or parameters are for accepting a donation at this uh at this scale and then I have a follow-up question if anyone has that information. Sorry, who's going to answer that? It has to be a deputy city manager here. >> Sorry, if you could pause my >> Okay, we'll just pause your time. >> I'm following your time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, in terms of um questions around parameters. So, we have an office of partnerships at the city that's coordinated through the city manager's office who provides sort of guidance um related to our policy and procedures related to accepting donations. Um the office of partnerships has been and continues to be involved in this discussion as well. Um I think you know one of the things that is unique is the magnitude and scope of this donation right which has been part of part of the discussion um moving forward but it is through our city manager office partners and that office specifically. >> Thank you um deputy city manager I appreciate that clarification. Uh my last question is just with respect to the amount of the donation for enhancing this park. Um if we find ourselves in a scenario where the final concept that is agreed upon by the community, the donors and the city um doesn't require the full amount, we don't need to accept it. Is that a fair statement? I know it's not likely because cost of construction and all of the things. Um >> money back. >> Just curious. >> We don't statement. >> Yeah, I think it's a fair statement. I, you know, I think we Yeah, we don't anticipate it, but I think that's a fair statement certainly. Okay, that's helpful. Um, those are my questions, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, councelor Trunos, >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Um many of the deputants have raised concerns around transparency and um I don't want to say not obfiscation but trans like the lack of transparency the lack of um sense of how decisions are being made on this and I I very much appreciate that there are recommendations here that are guiding um a working group and all of that and I just wonder if staff could speak to the process moving forward and how we're going to be making sure that the public um feels that we're answering those concerns around transparency. >> Thank you for the question counselor and through the chair. Um should council adopt the concept plan um we will as mentioned earlier strike a detailed design working group which would have membership from the city u of the donor residents neighborhood um neighborhood institutions and subject matter experts. Uh the role of that group will be to provide input on finalizing detailed design details. Um, we're also planning to continue with our ongoing indigenous engagement and at two checkpoints during the detailed design, so 30% and 60%, we'll be expanding that engagement um that I've already described to broader stakeholds in the general public to collect input at 30% and 60% and take that feedback um back to help inform the detailed design And uh just to follow up on that, um because the the um committee or working group that you're going to have is going to be of no more than 10 people, which I can appreciate in the sense that you want to be able to make sure it stays on task and is moving forward. those two opportunities that you mentioned, are those going to be um in-person consultations or have you not decided yet on what those will look like at 30% and 60% or can you expand a little bit on that just so that I think it's important like for the public to understand that how we're providing in future opportunities for them to weigh in and give feedback because that's been clearly a concern. concern that's been raised here today by many of the delegates >> uh through the chair. The details of those engagements haven't been worked out yet, but I would in certainly envision in-person um opportunities to have thorough discussion and help inform the design. That is the intent. >> Okay. And how will that be publicized? So through the chair we have an established list serve uh for this project. We've engaged over 6,000 people to date. So we'll certainly work those networks but also work with the councelor institutions and other parties who've been party participating in the project from the beginning to get the word out. I would just say that the the two check touch points that were referenced by Terry are a minimum and we mean to establish a broad engagement program. Leverage the focus groups. We have five focus groups. Leverage the different formats that we've had to date and get in front of as many people as possible. Can I just add to that that I think one of the things that we've also heard loud and clear is the need for greater clarification around governance more broadly. So I know we're talking about some specific uh consultations but in terms of how are decisions made what are the various roles of everyone who is part of this and that we will be taking away to come back with something that is crisp in terms of clarity of because it it has changed over the course of the project as well right and so we need to I think reflect that and be clear about roles and governance and decisions. >> I very much appreciate both of those answers. Thank you. Past. >> Oh, okay. I'm just uh Thank you. I'm just going to ask uh a few questions. I'm just going to go back. I can't remember who asked about the partnership office versus parks partnerships. That was you, Deputy Mayor. That I I can't remember such a large donation that's come into the city uh in a long time. Who can remember that? and generally for such a large donation to be part of the parks partnership office. What's the largest donation that you've had to date? >> Uh through the chair, this is the largest with Land uh at 25 million coming in second. >> Well, Land was uh coming to Waterfront Toronto to start with. Wasn't directly to the city. So, it's not a city donation. This is the largest donation. Let's be clear. Do you agree with that? Land was to Waterfront Toronto, not to the city partnerships office until it transferred. >> You're correct. This is the largest donation. >> Well, let's be clear. What's the after Land where are we at? 100,000 150,000. >> I don't have that number on hand, counselor, but >> let's have that for council then. I think that's important that this is tremendously uh generous and not something it's not a basketball court. It's not it's a it's $50 million. So, uh, I'm wondering asking the deputy city manager if in future this really such a donation of this nature would not go to the city manager's office and the partnership office directly rather than to a division because now we see that it's parks, it's forestry, it's planning. It actually isn't just a parks project. >> To you, chair, that's correct. I mean, this, you know, when you look at the number of divisions that this crosses, right? and and the magnitude of this this is not simply one division right it is of a scale and requires that collaboration across the city so I'm just wondering where that decision was made and how it was made we're not going back on it but for future how would such a donation come in it just seems to be mismatched with not the thinking of a partnership office to take in a $50 million donation >> so I think you're right for future as these are coming in sort of that decision point early on given magnitude and scope across the divisions of where that appropriate lead is while still involving all of those divisions. Right. I think I think it's around the the overall um leadership. >> I'm just referring as well to the $25 million donation not to Land but for the Bentway under the gardener which was $25 million from the Matthews family and that actually was led by the deputy city manager was not led by any director. So, do you think that through this report and actually some of the motions that we may have that we're just going to elevate that to that leadership level at the city for such a large donation? I think that's helpful and I think the models you're speaking to are good ones to learn from of what worked well >> um for the just going to appendices two my favorite one the uh design which is a concept design and I've asked a few times just that this is the concept design many of the things are already there and some of the features are new but then this is what will go to detailed design that these are just concepts that would still have to go to detailed design again being informed by the new uh urban what's it called the urban uh >> urban forest >> urban forestry management plan is that correct >> to you chair that is correct what's uh before committee today is the concept uh that has been informed and guided uh by uh a number of elements including the urban forest management plan and what's ahead is uh working through the detailed design on uh uh sighting servicing uh and uh and construction So the servicing I guess I'm just going to go to you to the deputy city manager issues like servicing utilities not necessarily the trees uh that's forestry but the TTC the all of the different factors that would go into construction of a new building will be something that will be done in the detailed design the concepts there but it is how that can be realized size everything would be dependent on quite a number of things. >> You are correct, Chair. Yes. >> And the roll out of the operator and all of that, is that been determined already? Sounds like it's already been decided. >> Uh to the chair, an operator for food and beverage operation is uh part of the next steps in the process and would um would be part of a transparent and open competition. >> Okay. That wasn't clear to me today. the um just going to go to the design review panel. I don't know. Oh, you're over there and you're so tall and I can't see you. Uh that the design review panel, is it helpful to have a continued relationship with the design review panel, Mr. Thorne, as this proceeds? >> Yes, it is. They've been engaged to date. Um and a commitment has been made to return to them with some of the detailed design work as well. And just for I know the heritage piece is under you, but there this is also I would I just call given the nature of this park um being the oldest one and its relationship to the community very much a I'll call it a public realm exercise as well not simply just a park because it plays such an important role for for city planning um and thinking about spaces. I can't remember what it's called, but it's the three downtown wards, University Rosedale, Trendy Spadina, and um Toronto Center, and it's all got to do with the downtown plan. What's the name of that again? Can you remind me? >> I believe you're referring to the downtown public realm plan. >> The downtown public realm plan. >> Can this also be guided? There's also another one, tall buildings, everything for the three wards because it's so dense that uh is it possible to also add this exercise in from a planning point of view for the downtown public realm plan because that really is part of the role that it plays here um in in the system of green spaces. >> Yes, it is. And and that's been an important part of how we've been looking at this opportunity from an urban design lens is is the connectivity outwards uh and the connectivity to some of the spaces around the park. I think is actually one of the very strong elements of the design that's in front of us. >> Great. And then just for the public art point of view and that this is an opportunity and I've said this more than once that that hasn't been identified yet and this is a considerable donation. So the storytelling part here outside of and I'm not sure their QR codes or whatever it's going to be that that's still to come in a certain phase. And I just look at the um public art. I think that's you, Mr. Tobin. You do public art or deputy city manager. How are we going to proceed on the public art? We have the um we have Land, but that came in through the Waterfront Toronto and the pieces will be developed by the Land family. to you as chair. The uh the city would develop a public art plan in collaboration with the donor. There are plans for 1% of capital construction costs to be applied to public art. And as you imply, there's opportunities for storytelling and reinterpreting u the uh the site, its history, and a significant component of indigenous placemaking and consultation to come. >> Thank you very much. My time's up. Great. Okay, bringing this into committee, madame counselor. >> Yes, thank you. So, this is one of the small number of large parks in my ward. Um, it is one of the least used of the large parks in my ward and mostly people walk through it. I mean, there are people who sit in it, but mostly people just walk through it because first of all, it's surrounded by busy busy roads. Um, and secondly, >> have motions. Council, >> I'm sorry. >> It's okay. >> Yes. Hello. I know you do. I have motions. >> Uh let me start this again. I have advanced circulated uh uh >> two motions. Um the first uh the first one is in response to the requests from the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association. As as we heard from Katherine earlier, the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association is the only resident association within whose territory Queens Park North sits. Um they have been very active for many years. in particular residents such as Alzinski uh a well-loved former servant of the city uh who's been very active for the last 15 years in protecting and loving and looking after and arguing for Queens Park North and taking a very v active role in bringing to an end the really destructive major events that were taking place in this park which as we've heard even now is damaging the trees that everybody loves. Um, so very glad to uh um listen carefully to what they have to say. I'm glad I was able to get them a spot on the advisory board when the two specific requests that I had from them was first of all to make sure that the great white oak bench which was their gift to the people of this city will be preserved and will have a continuing role in the park. Glad to have support from that from staff and from the donor. Um, and secondly, that we do everything practical to save what we can of the fountain. I do recognize that the plumbing and and wiring and everything are 70 years old. Um, safety standards have changed since then. It may not be possible. Probably isn't legal to do anymore what was done in the 50s. They didn't worry so much about people drowning uh in public space at the time. But we should do what we can to save what we can of it. It's beautiful. Admittedly, it's not what we see today, which is still beautiful, isn't the way it was designed. It was designed with brick with with decorative brick, which the city in some cost cutting measure at some point stripped off and threw away. Um, but in any event, uh, it's important to the to the Bay Clover Hill Residents Association um, and to me to do what we can to save it. So, again, I've worked with staff on on this wording. Um the second motion is again responding to this question about how do we reconcile people entries. They can't and this has been one of my concerns since the beginning of the of the vision. Um said okay we're going to have everything. This is going to be fabulous for trees and it's going to be the place for civic engagement by everybody. We cannot have both. We cannot have tens of thousands of people trampling on the roots of very old and fragile and failing trees and not lose the trees. And so I am very glad myself I'm I'm a tree fanatic as you can tell from my keepa and from me you know a whole lifetime of work. I agree that this is a place where the tree should come first and I'm very glad that through the work of the community and staff and Sandy Smith and Sue Dexter and many others we uh and of course Philip Devoser and Kim Stithm that we have recognized that the well-being of the trees has to come first. Uh and that's also in relation to what human events we allow. How do we animate it? What do we allow? We've done enormous amount of work to make sure that the cafe and the washroom are not going to damage the trees. Okay. But what about the people? And so the second, again, this drafting came from the parks department. We need to not only think about the programming here, but also our permitting framework. And if we're going to make the trees first, the trees have to stay first because otherwise the trees decline. We're talking about very old trees. at least some of them are very old trees, very well-loved trees and trees that are fragile and susceptible to damage. Um, okay. So, that was my motions. Thank you for the reminder, Madam Chair. Um, you know, a lot of people, some of the, you know, a lot of people in this room, a lot of people aren't in this room have put in vast amounts of love, care, passion, and attention. Um, not to mention the Western family. You know, we have the representatives, but we don't have the actual donors here who stepped forward to donate nearly hund00 million to this park. Now, we had lots of talk about, gee, you know, when people offer us money, we should have a strategy. Listen, people are not knocking on our door every day trying to give us $100 million for our infrastructure. I I wish we did. Yes, there are challenges in in handling public money. Yes, private money. Yes, there are challenges in how to accept private money. well for public space and I know that I have worked and councelor Fletcher has worked and the staff the two deputy city managers the city manager so many of the staff have worked really and the university have worked very very very hard to how do we get the best possible result out of a challenging situation where not all wishes can be achieved and I think the what we've got here today. 54page report. Um, you know, we've you've done a good job. You've done a really good job. Yes, we could always say we could do it differently, but you've done a good job and I'm glad to support this report. Um, and I can't wait until we see some mulch going out on those trees because the L Lord knows they need it. Um, let's preserve the trees. Let's make this park as good it can be. and um and let's be grateful to the donor and to everyone else who made this a success. So, thank you. >> Thank you, councelor uh councelor Pastnac. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I'd like to first of all thank staff uh for all the work that's gone into this project. It is not an easy piece. I think I'm looking at a 54 >> 54 >> 54 page report. I have never seen this on a park like this. enormous amount of work and and they're to be thanked and commended. I'd like to thank the local counselor, councelor Saxs, for her uh tireless efforts to try and get this right, try and uh listen and learn and of course I understand councelor Fletcher played a supportive role as well. We heard u some comments about the process here about the consultation. Uh there is no doubt in my mind uh that it has been comprehensive, thorough and fair uh community engagement phase one. Approximately 1,700 participants contributed input across different engagement activities including a thousand online survey responses and over 600 park popup participants. When it came to uh community engagement phase two, during the community engagement phase two, approximately 1,200 participants contributed input across different engagement activities. Uh this is quite uh quite remarkable participation. Obviously, uh the neighborhoods are are quite passionate about their park. As far as working groups, uh there was a steering committee, there was an executive directory, there was an advisory body, uh there was an indigenous leadership and stewardist circle. I I used to say that I'm on so many working groups, I can't get any work done. Uh but this is uh certainly participation in democracy uh at its best. Um the opportunity here for a transformational uh park is is great. Um with city support and design as well as private sector funding. I think this will be a remarkable site. Uh that will be a destination park that will service the uft community and of course the local residential community as well. I've looked at some of the draft concepts and I think it's amazing. It's going to be wonderful. I would finally um I I would say uh on my final remarks about private sector funding and uh earlier this year I moved a motion to council. I think it was during budget for the city staff city manager to uh bring a proposal to create a major gifts office at the city. Hospitals and universities have been doing it for many years. I think we have to do it uh at the city. Uh the government uh alone cannot meet the needs of our local communities to enhance our parks, to enhance our recreational assets. And I think the private sector wants to invest in its city where its employees live, where it operates, uh where in most cases it makes lots of money. uh and why not why not uh invest in a city uh that's been so so good to them and you know I had a I had uh a jumpstart project in in my ward in Earl Bales Park it was a massive playground um and it is packed every week uh fully accessible playground uh it is shaped in a triangle uh with uh with a red uh a red triangle the corporate corporate logo Um, and they can sell tires there for all I care. Uh, but it is enjoyed by hundreds of kids every week. Um, and and this is what the private sector can do for our city. It can it can fill gaps that we can't fill. We can create transformative projects and I think this will u be one of them. So, I'm very excited. I I hope uh I get an invitation to the ribbon cutting. >> Yes, I invite you. >> Yes. No, thank you very much. Uh I think I it's exciting to to go along and I commend uh the two counselors that have been involved, the local counselor and of course city staff for bringing to this. It's a comprehensive report with great recommendations that deserves our support. >> Thank you councelor. Any other speakers? Deputy Mayor Morley. >> Thanks Madam Chair. through you. I want to echo the comments of my colleagues across the table um to just congratulate staff and the local community for the important advocacy work that you've done that I do believe has resulted in some really really helpful uh updates and and procedural um improvements in terms of how this project moves forward to ensure that not only the community's very important voice is honored but also that we are centering um and honoring the historical uh significance of this park as well as the old forest trees that are growing there. Uh it is no secret to anybody about me either. I am a big tree hugger. Uh and it's been a a privilege and a pleasure to work alongside this committee and particularly councelor Saxs with her storied career in environmental stewardship and protection. And it's exciting to see this work being stood up uh on behalf of the city with uh a wonderful private uh donor who's at the table and along the journey um to be a collaborator and to make sure that this gets done in a good way. We heard about the importance of historical heritage and we heard about the importance of recognizing and honoring that. One of the things that I just wanted to comment on is the important um ways in which indigenous communities have always known um the wisdom of uh our natural world, the inherent value that it brings and the importance to it for our own survival, not just for our enjoyment and our well-being, but this is literally a matter of survival. And I think when we contemplate the things that we are reclaiming and getting back to uh at this point in our history, uh there's a lot that was lost uh through the the colonization experiment that we have all uh been part of that we are now understanding uh holding space for and moving forward in a really good way. uh that I think is clearly necessary with our climate crisis and all the other sort of global uh impacts uh that we are navigating and we need to come forward. We need to be able to appropriately come together uh and work towards resolutions so that future generations uh are able to live in a thriving sustainable community, including enjoying their time here at Queens Park North, but certainly in our wider city. Uh reclaiming knowledge that was lost uh and implementing that in our important work in support of the public good is something that's critically important to me and I'm really proud to do that work alongside each of you. So again, congratulations to everybody. I also hope to be invited to the ribbon cutting here uh and look forward to enjoying the future of this park for many generations. Thanks, Madam Chair. >> You councelor Chosen. >> Thank you. So I would just echo uh my thanks to all those involved um particularly to councelor Saxs, the local counselor who I gather has been dealing with this for many years. And there is certainly a long history here on this issue. um and to uh councelor Fletcher who um has has also brought significant uh work to the table on this. Uh and I just want to say I very much appreciate all of that to get us to this point. Um this is this is one of those interesting projects where so many people have a tie to a park um through different stages of life. Uh, I spent four years at uft and can't tell you how many times I walked back and forth from University College to Victoria College to St. Michael's College uh, and beyond as well as I think ran through there during frost week on scavenger hunts and many other things. And I think there's hundreds of thousands of students that have done that over the years. Um, I hope as one of the pieces in this consultation, you will consider talking to students about um their thoughts on this on this place because I think it is a place that is um one of the places that students do walk through and that is meaningful to them. And I noticed they're not specifically mentioned in the recommendations, but I I didn't want to change it. Uh but I hope that that will happen. I think what is exciting about this park is it is um everybody has an idea about Queens Park uh in different ways as we've heard today. Um but what's going to happen in the future is so many people are going to have a hand through this working group uh and through the consultations to come so that when you put so many heads together, you will come up with something truly exceptional. And and it certainly seems to be shaping up that way. Um, so when I think of my parents who walked through that park when they were at University College and then I walked through it, my my kids did not and counselor Saxs walked through it and so many of us here who spent time there. But I think about all those generations to come who will enjoy it in its newfound um imagination and you know how it will move into the 21st century and 22nd century and beyond is is truly special and I really look forward to it and I too will love to be at the opening. Thank you. >> A lot of invites just get them ready now. Thank you. Um I'll I'll speak and I do have some motions and I did pre-irirculate they're on the CMP. Um for the first second recommendation I just want to add the chief planner and executive director city planning not only the general manager of parks and the executive director of climate but also the chief planner onto that thinking group for overseeing this project. Please, that's the first one. Then I have some new ones. And it's only to really uh have that notion of the vibrant urban forest and green oasis as the core notion that we've come to since since March and that we also have the detailed design phase that the up-to-date information is available about servicing which I spoke about earlier because we're not sure exactly we know one thing that's down there and that's the TTC but we don't know everything else. line line one I think is running under line two whatever that one is under one thank you Diane and that also that we have uh interdivisional city governance structure um again that relates to the second because since March this has now been changed a bit that it's not just through parks planning but there is other divisions that are very involved here creme and um environment and climate and city planning and then look at whether or not because there are now so many divisions that having an executive uh project manager at no cost to the city would be something that would be helpful because there are many many moving parts here and um that on the working group as well that the chief planner be added on to that working group. So I think those are the four new ones. Um just looking at that and then also a supplementary report just to let us know what the approval process will be for the detailed design and the current concept plan and speaking earlier there's the concept plan which is great but it's the detailed design that the working group will look at and then any opportunities to really showcase the revitalization their own separate website I'm very familiar with waterfront Toronto and Vasa Gay and just ways of promoting such an incredible um signature project. So, those are the motions I'd like to place here. And probably wondering why I'm so interested because I love parks as we all know because I've been very involved with major parks in the city and I think this is his signature park and because I thought after we had the executive which was very fractious that we would try to come together and have a clear pathway today that really honored the fact that this is an incredible opportunity and as chair of the committee I don't like to have fights at my committee. I like to have everything fixed before we get here. So, I think we're in pretty good shape for that. This is the oldest park in the city. We've learned that there is a 999year lease, and I think there's I forget how many years are left on the 856 or something, but I've never come across that before. My earliest one was Bridgepoint Hospital with a 99-year lease with the city, which basically meant that uh they, as the CEO would tell me, that's our that's our hospital, not yours. So there's a certain ownership with the 999year lease for the city and I do want to just commend everybody from March IE March uh executive to our in infrastructure environment committee today that I do believe that the forest forestry urban forest management plan that was really developed uh by urban forestry and with the leadership our executive director of climate and our DCM that that's a very exciting shift and it's allowed us to just shift and come to some common cause there as to the importance of this green oasis or the tree temple as it was called by John Rston Saul that it gives us a a focal point for how everything else will roll out here which of course is really incredible. So I would just like to thank um the Weston Foundation for that donation. And I think councelor Pastor Knack you said 54 pages. I think it's just about a million dollars a page. So that's what that's very big donation and it also for me and I think a couple of us have raised that um whether it's through a special foundation or whether it's through the partnership office at the city manager's office whether or not a donation of that size would ever go to the parks partnership office. Not that they know don't know what they're doing, but it is a mega donation. And it is going to entail not just parks, as we've learned. It's got forestry, it's got planning, it's got parks. So, it crosses so many divisions in the city. It would not be the natural starting point just for a park. I've had park donations for my park, basketball courts, baseball upgrades, but this is something very specific. And I think it would have been great if it had started there because the umbrella for this park revitalization is a very big one covering a whole number of departments in the city. I everybody who's worked on it so far from before March till now and going forward what an opportunity that is to really galvanize and and be part of this very very exciting plan. Appendices two, the concept plan is pretty exciting. The devil is always in the details and the detailed design will rely on a whole number of things and in particular the forest management plan as to what's possible to proceed with to do to actually make happen. I'll note that the restaurant has become a cafe because how do you cook? How do you have a full course meal? Where is your grease trap? all of those practical things. When we started talking about just a restaurant compared to a cafe, which would probably have, we all know our favorite cafes. You can get your sandwich there, but they're not making and cooking things there. This really is a uh I I don't think we have a plan for signature projects or signature parks in the in the city yet. I don't want to move that, but maybe at council because it is a signature project. It is a signature park and we have a number of those. The process for that should be a little different than just my neighborhood parkquette or a small park. I am so lucky to and I think a few of you have come down to Vadas. That's a major millions and multi-millions of dollar park with a model through waterfront Toronto that's very broad very broad wings to get to that. And as I've mentioned earlier, the Bentway, it's another good model because it was definitely it was Deputy City Manager John Libby that was the co-chair of that committee. Not that there's anything wrong with what we've done so far, but now we're just going to lift this up to take this across the finish line to be as successful as possible. So, a thank you to our deputy city managers and chief planner that have been so thoughtful about this project, the Western family, all the community, Queens Park North, and everybody else who so loves this space so much that we have to love it together and make it extremely successful. Uh just an asterisk for a PPS or a PS is when I heard about the raves that somebody spoke about today. Um I was shocked by that but not really because in Riverdale Park there's raves, there's callouts, there's secret ways that people come together and thousands of people come together. So councelor Sachs, you have your idea about permitting. These are not permanent events and it as we're going through this process, I just want to make sure that our MLS and parks operations are totally on top of this space for those types of unplanned events and quite damaging events to a project that we're trying to advance in such a great way. So, thanks everybody for all your great work. Thank you, Councelor Saxs, for your stewardship around this project. And those are all of our motions that we have here today. And when we're finished with that, we only have one more little piece of business. So there they are. And I have from our great clerk how we're going to vote on them because we have five things. And so that's it. Are we ready to take those to the vote? Yep. So he tells me, Mr. Green says 2A the amendment to add on chief planner and executive director. That's the first. All in favor, unless you have questions. Uh 1 A, Councelor Sachs, amend don't see it up. I'll just wait for that. There's your first amendment, councelor Saxs, for the water fountain and for the oak bench, which are very beautiful. All in favor? Opposed? That's carried. Uh councelor Saxs, your second motion, I believe, on permitting and programming. We should put raves in there, but you could overseeing making sure they don't happen. There it is. All in favor? Opposed? That's carried. 2B, which is the amendment for we're waiting. Pardon? The fourparter the new the new ones kind of the elevated structure. >> We'll wait for you. There it is. There. Oops. It was almost there. The green oasis city council recognizing that um detailed design utilities, the um interdivisional governance and looking at the executive project manager to cover off all the many divisions that we have. All in favor? Opposed? And that's carried. And the last is the two reports to go to council. How we showcase this project and the approval process for detailed design and the concept plan. All in favor? Opposed? And that's carried. So do we need to do that as amended? That is the item as amended. All in fa like a recorded vote on item as amended. That's great. Okay. Would you like to carry out that vote? Okay. Uh, all in favor, councelor Saxs, councelor Pastronac, councelor Fletcher, councelor Chernos Lin, Deputy Mayor Mley. Unanimous. Thank you very much. Done. Next. Phase two. On to that. One more. We have to just >> You're not leaving. Okay. Our last one is the item seven, which is sent to council without recommendation. I think it is. It's pretty simple. It's the one >> that can be forwarded to city council without recommendation. >> Where are you? Sorry. We need our one more voter. Council deputy mayor Mley. >> Deputy mayor. We just have one more vote. We just need that and then we're done. >> Then we are done. >> Mr. Wait, wait, wait. two. >> We can't. We only have three. >> Everybody has jumped up. We're just going to finish this off. I'm gonna do my thing. >> Thank you. We Thank you. All in favor? Opposed? That's carried. Okay. Now, it's over. Thank you very much. >> Before four. That was okay. >> Peruta. Uh, Councelor Fletcher. Um, Chair Fletcher, this is Peruta. I've been on the