Monster rail bridge, affordable housing, Gardiner, refugees on Toronto council agenda

The last session of 2015 starts Wednesday, with a proposed overpass through old west-end neighbourhoods looming controversially, and much deliberation expected on city staff’s recommendations for the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

Thestar.com
Dec. 8, 2015
By Jennifer Pagliaro

The last council meeting of 2015 kicks off Wednesday with expected debates over a controversial rail bridge, budgets and councillor expenses.

City councillors will need to decide how to proceed with the province’s plans for a $120 million rail overpass that is part of the Barrie GO line. Plans for the bridge have garnered protest from the local community, where some fear the infrastructure’s size and imposing character will have a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood.

Last month, the planning and growth committee forwarded the item to council without approving staff recommendations to seek clarity from Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency, about recently accelerated plans.

Though the community has argued for a tunnel, Metrolinx has cited time and money constraints on taking the rail line underground at the section near Davenport Rd. north of Bloor St. W.

The community organization Options for Davenport group has said they’re not opposed to the transit expansion but don’t support the current overpass idea.

“Metrolinx has been ignoring the voice of our community and the expert opinion of city planning staff, as they plan to force through a controversial rail overpass plan,” said a statement from the group Tuesday.

“Davenport residents are calling on Mayor John Tory to stand up to Metrolinx bullying, by voting in support of the city staff recommendations.”

Tory told reporters Monday that he respects Metrolinx has a schedule to meet, but that he expects discussion with the city to continue.

“The people in that neighbourhood, and our own planners, have some real concerns about how that train line goes through those neighbourhoods, especially in an environment where there’s going to be more frequent trains and so on,” Tory said, adding there is not yet consensus on whether an elevated overpass or tunnel would best serve all involved and acknowledging Metrolinx’s concerns over cost and timeline for Regional Express Rail.

Tory noted that this section of the province’s expansion plans have nothing to do with SmartTrack, his own plans to build more frequent service along existing GO corridors with more stops in Toronto. The mayor is, however, relying on the province’s support for those plans that have not yet been fully-fleshed out with Metrolinx or approved by council.

“What we want to do, I think, at the end is do something that’s good for better transportation and good for the neighbourhoods and I’m sure we can come to some resolution,” Tory said.

What the city chooses to do next in the back-and-forth with Metrolinx will be one item to watch this week. Here are eight other items of note on this month’s agenda:

Gardiner gift: Council is expected to officially receive a $25 million private donation to build extensive public space under the Gardiner Expressway. Staff must now navigate building parks and other amenities and how to coordinate planning and fundraising for future operating and maintenance costs.

Community hub: The planned Weston Community/Cultural Hub on John St. near Weston Rd. is expected to pass a final funding hurdle to see a unique partnership between the city, developer and ArtScape that includes affordable housing for artists, farmer’s market and other redesigned amenities.

Affordable housing: Council is expected to approve the Tory-backed push for a new program that offers incentives to developers to build more affordable housing and to seek new opportunities to use government land for affordable housing developments. Staff are also expected to be asked to develop a set formula for the program to create the template for a transparent process.

Waste, water and parking budgets: After moving though budget committee, council will be tasked with approving the city’s rate-supported budgets, with both the water rate and the garbage levy expected to .
Syrian refugees: As the city prepares to receive thousands of refugees, council will be tasked with passing staff recommendations on resettlement, which includes sporting local sponsoring agencies.

Ahead of a an informational meeting for sponsors Tuesday night, where he is expected to speak, Tory told CBC’s Matt Galloway that the city is ready to receive families.

Board appointments: Council will consider public appointments to several boards including Toronto Community Housing and Toronto Hydro. Notable mentions include TCHC chair Bud Purves, who is up for re-appointment, and former deputy mayor Case Ootes’ newly-proposed appointment to the hydro board after serving as head of Tory’s transition team at city hall last year.

Councillor travel expenses: After undergoing further rounds of chemotherapy, Councillor Rob Ford is back to his old ways of challenging councillor spending. Currently councillors are afforded a $100 per diem when attending conferences, seminars and during other sanctioned business travel. Ford, by way of a member’s motion, would like to still allow for the $100, but make councillors submit claims for the money so that they are forced to provide receipts.

Parking pads: Councillor Shelley Carroll would like to see the moratorium imposed on downtown parking pads extended to the suburbs to deal with water runoff and further prevent basement flooding. Carroll’s member’s motion may be an easy sell with the support of deputy mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong who seconded the proposal.