City Council Meeting Summary

High-level overview - The meeting covered multiple ongoing DI14.x initiatives and related council items, focusing on accessibility, equity, and public-space planning. Key decisions included motions to receive information presentations, deferments for further consultation, and several items advanced to stay on track with staff-led work plans. Public input opportunities were highlighted through formal consultation channels and targeted contact points (e.g., reducewaste@toronto.ca).

Five most important topics discussed

1) Expansion of the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program to include students with disabilities (DI14.6) - The council considered broadening the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program to include students with disabilities, aligning with inclusion goals for underrepresented groups. Meyers explained, "We have various youth fellowships at the city of Toronto for Black, Indigenous, Filipino, Tamil, Muslim students. This is expanding this to include students with disabilities." - This topic directly affects youth engagement in city governance and accessibility in program eligibility.

2) Definition of inclusion for students with disabilities (DI14.6) - Nav'i raised questions about what is meant by inclusion within the program, signaling ongoing definitional work as the program evolves. Staff indicated the definition would be developed as the program is fleshed out, underscoring early-stage planning. - Public comment/support focused on ensuring broad self-identification and equity considerations.

3) Data collection and program impact (DI14.6 discussion; cross-cut with public comments) - Liv stressed the importance of data to measure reach and impact, saying, "I would encourage and I would ask if as staff put this together, they can include data collection as part of this so that we know how many students are being reached." Dedra confirmed data collection is a priority, with lessons drawn from prior fellowships. - The emphasis on metrics affects transparency and program effectiveness for residents.

4) Eligibility criteria and intake process (DI14.6) - Miranda asked about intake, eligibility, and referral by community organizations; staff indicated details would be clarified as the program is developed, with a note that part-time participation is a key difference. This topic shapes who can access the program and how referrals work.

5) Collaboration with community organizations (DI14.6) - The council discussed pathways for community organizations to refer participants, with Dedra noting past fellowship models often rely on a lead organization to coordinate groups. This influences partnerships and outreach strategies for inclusive programming.

Other notable topics (briefly) - Bylaw/DI process updates and staff presentations were repeatedly deferred or held for staff discussion (e.g., DI14.2, DI14.3, DI14.4, DI14.5), indicating ongoing staff-led consultation phases before council decisions.

File numbers referenced - DI14.6: Expanding the Diversity Youth Fellowship Program - Related discussions referenced DI14.2 through DI14.5 in the broader meeting context, with multiple items held for staff presentation or further discussion.

Opportunities for public input - Public input opportunities were noted through ongoing staff consultations and invitations for input as the programs develop. Specifically, residents may participate in upcoming phases and should monitor staff announcements for input windows. - Email and contact channels mentioned include reducewaste@toronto.ca for waste/bylaw-related outreach and general consultation channels on toronto.ca/singleuse for DI14.2 materials (Single-Use and Takeaway Items bylaw). Public input is encouraged during these consultation phases.

Motions passed, rejected, or deferred (titles and outcomes) - Motion to Confirm Minutes of September 8, 2025 Meeting - Outcome: Passed unanimously. - Motion to Receive Smile Canada Presentation - Outcome: Passed; next steps include submitting a written explanation or attending in person for a follow-up presentation. - Motion to Receive Item for Information (Rental Replacement/Vulnerable Tenants DI section) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Expand the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Bylaw (DI14.2) - Outcome: Deferred for further consultation and stakeholder input. - Motion to Approve Education and Communication Strategy (DI14.2) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Prioritize Replacement of Accessible Units (DI14.3) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Reassess Terminology for Vulnerable Populations (DI14.3/related sections) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Update the Rental Replacement Process for Vulnerable Tenants (DI14.x) - Outcome: Deferred; staff to report back after additional stakeholder consultation. - Motion to Receive Tenant Equity Item for Information (DI14.x) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Approve Guidelines for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Measures (DI14.5) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Establish Public Consultation Process for HVM Guidelines (DI14.5) - Outcome: Deferred. - Motion to Receive the Item for Information (Encroachment/HVM coordination) - Outcome: Passed. - Motion to Adopt Recommendations/Letter (as referenced in related sections) - Outcome: Passed.

Councillors present - Jamal Meyers (Chair) - Liv - Nav'i - Miranda - Dana - Kate - Richard

Notes - The meeting included staff presenters and external participants (e.g., Dedra, Christine Ono, Johanna Hashim, Emily Marmorio, Irwin Pasqual, Matt Marmorio) but the above list focuses on council members explicitly named in the provided summaries. - Public input opportunities are tied to ongoing consultations and the explicit channels cited above.

If you’d like, I can tailor this report to focus on a specific DI14.x item or restructure it to prioritize resident-day-to-day impacts for a particular neighborhood.