Toronto Council meets today! Compared to watching the U.S. President in that debate last night, this will be high art. It’ll be poetry. The words will sing.

It will stream live on YouTube here:
As I predicted with my keen insight, the mayor has named the item calling for the provincial and federal governments to support 3,000 new affordable homes as the key matter, so it should be up first. Second item will be the COVID stuff. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.PH16.8
First Council meeting since the pandemic that’s partially taken place in the chamber. A few members are there while others are conferencing in. Mayor and several councillors are wearing orange shirts in support of survivors of residential schools.
We start with a tribute to now-retired Clerk Ulli Watkiss. She wasn’t even supposed to be here today (she retired last week) but here she is! Mayor says she’s great, and I agree. Standing ovation.
Watkiss leaves city hall with these words: “I hope our paths cross again, and that soon we will return to a period of normality, whatever it will look like. Toronto the good. Toronto the best.” Another standing ovation.
Councillor John FIlion is appearing twice in the virtual council screen — one head-on view and one profile view. Mayor John Tory jokingly wonders if this means he’ll get two votes.
Toronto Council is now onto the first item, about housing. The item requests the prov and feds provide about $727 million+ to create 3,000 affordable homes over next two years. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-156597.pdf (PDF)
Here’s the current funding picture for the $23.4 billion HousingTO plan. City has made decent province getting federal cash, but the provincial gov has been slower.
Housing Secretariat Abi Bond says the City still doesn’t have a comprehensive list of surplus provincial and federal land in Toronto, which is kind of maddening.
Councillor Gord Perks moves that Council urge the province to reinstate a moratorium on evictions.
Council’s on lunch until 2 — vote on housing and homelessness item will happen after that.
Toronto Council is back from lunch but I’m not getting any audio. Can you fix, @TorontoCouncil?
The dulcet tones have returned. Sound is restored. Council’s live stream is here:
Council votes by a show of hands to have city hall IT staff push the COVID-19 app to all city-managed smartphones. Staffers will still have to opt to activate the app. (Which they should — the app’s great.)
Back to the housing/homelessness item. There are 65 items left on Council’s agenda.
This has prompted quite a discussion about whether it’s advisable for councillors to be in the chamber today. Layton cites language from city website recommending people avoid “non-essential trips” out of their homes. https://twitter.com/mattybing/status/1311370024536494082
Councillor Perks’ motion urging the province to reinstate the moratorium on evictions CARRIES 22-1, with only Holyday opposed.
Housing item as amended CARRIES 22-1, with only Holyday opposed.

Request now official to province and feds: come forward with funds to create 3,000 affordable homes.
So far this hybrid format where some councillors are in the chamber and some are virtual seems more chaotic than the previous all-virtual format. Councillor Mike Colle, participating virtually, says he tried to submit a motion but it was never delivered.
But we press on. Up now: this COVID-19 item from the Board of Health, which, among other things, recommends these new rules for bars & restaurants. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.HL20.1
Whenever I see a government-type person talking with a white board in the background: zoom in, zoom in, zoom in. (These appear to be speaking notes.)
Mayor John Tory moves a series of recommendations to support restaurants, including winter patios and requesting province continue to let restaurants sell booze for take out and delivery.
Councillor Cressy moves to urge province and feds to provide financial support to businesses and workers affected by new COVID-19 restrictions.
Councillor Mike Colle moves to have Dr. de Villa look at what Taiwan is doing to successfully control the pandemic.
Councillor Frances Nunziata moves to look at ways to boost Municipal Licensing and Standards so they can handle all this COVID-19 stuff.
Voting time! Tory’s motion calling for increased restaurant restrictions CARRIES unanimously.
Tory’s motion of various recommendations to support the restaurant industry CARRIES unanimously.
Cressy’s motion requesting feds and prov provide some money to support workers and businesses facing Covid restrictions CARRIES unanimously too. Very agreeable bunch.
Councillor Mike Colle’s motion to look at what Taiwan is doing to fight the virus CARRIES — you guessed it — unanimously.
Councillor Frances Nunziata’s motion to look at ways to augment Municipal Licensing & Standards during this COVID fight CARRIES by a slight margin… — just kidding, it was unanimous.
And the COVID item as amended carries unanimously.
A twist! Mayor John Tory moves to defer the decision of how to fill Councillor Jim Karygiannis’ seat until the October meeting of council.
Tory’s motion to defer consideration of the Karygiannis seat until October CARRIES via a show of hands. Mayor said without a deferral a potential by-election would have been scheduled too close to Christmas and New Years.
Council now on to a garbage item. Staff want to look at “thermal processing” of Toronto’s waste. Letter from Toronto Environmental Alliance says this is basically the same as incineration and is urging council to vote against it. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.IE12.4
Councillor Gord Perks moves to receive the item, which means directing staff to take no action on this. He ALSO has a backup motion if that fails, which asks staff to consider options that don’t use thermal treatment for trash.
Perks’ motion to receive the garbage item and take no action FAILS 9-14

FOR: Carroll, Fletcher, Layton, Perks, Cressy, Filion, Matlow, KWT, Colle

AGAINST: Nunziata, Perruzza, Bailao, Holyday, McKelvie, DMW, Grimes, Bradford, Lai, Crawford, Tory, Ford, Thompson, Ainslie
Perks’ amendment to look at both burning garbage and non-burning garbage options CARRIES via a show of hands. So does the item as amended.
Up now: a planning report that includes a request for a review of Queen Street between Bathurst and Roncesvalles “to improve the safe and efficient movement of pedestrians, cyclists, and transit along the West Queen Street West corridor.”
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves to include that the review of Queen Street also look at the efficient movement of cars.
Perks’ motion to conduct the West Queen West review as staff recommended, without Holyday’s car addition, CARRIES 19-3 with Holyday, Minnan-Wong and Tory opposed.
And the West Queen West planning item as amended CARRIES 21-1, with Holyday opposed.
Following @BenSpurr’s story about the program getting suspended in March because of COVID, Councillor Anthony Perruzza has added an item about the TTC Fair Pass to the Council agenda.
Council recesses for the day. Back at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. There are 55 items left on the agenda, plus a few that just got added.
Council’s back. Back again. There are now 63 items left on the agenda. Big items up soon include police reform, Dundas Street renaming, and ranked ballots. Streaming live here:
We start with a presentation. The City of Toronto has won the 2020 CHAMPION OF TREES award from the Arbor Day Foundation. We are the TREE CHAMPION and we will be FIGHTING CHAMPIONS.
Here is why the Arbor Day Foundation decided to award Toronto this CHAMPION OF TREES title. https://www.arborday.org/programs/awards/2020/
Later, the Council representing our CHAMPION OF TREES city will hold three debates over whether to remove three individual trees.
I was wondering about this. Tory is acknowledging that he voted the wrong way on this item yesterday. He was on the phone during the vote and apologizes. They’re going to hold a re-vote now. Re-vote carries 21-2 with Holyday & Ford opposed. https://twitter.com/GraphicMatt/status/1311421197457002502
First debate will be about holding consultations to look at renaming Dundas Street and other streets/buildings/etc.

Former GG Adrienne Clarkson has written to Council: “Dundas is not a name that I think we should perpetuate in a city like Toronto.” http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.EX16.3
Councillor Stephen Holyday moves a… confusing motion asking staff to develop a “standard plaque” that could be installed along Dundas Street. He says it’s important for “both sides” to agree on the facts re: history.
The gist of Holyday’s motion is that he’s worried about a scenario in which councillors use Sec 37 or similar funds to install plaques on Dundas Street that don’t use agreed-upon language re: the history. He wants everyone to use the same plaque.
Perks to Holyday: Do you believe there’s structural racism embedded in Toronto and Canada?

Holyday: “Yes, I believe there’s all sorts of structural issues, including racism and different things that affect people’s chances to be successful in society — it’s all over the place.”
Voting time! Holyday’s motion to develop a “standard plaque” to be placed along Dundas Street FAILS 1-23, with only Holyday voting in favour of the Holyday motion.
And via show of hands Toronto Council APPROVES moving forward with a consultation process to look at renaming Dundas Street.
Councillors expressing many concerns about this Metrolinx item, which delegates a lot of authority to staff re: negotiating transit-related matters. Deputy City Manager Tracey Cook says she’s accountable to council and this won’t change that. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.EX16.4
Councillor Ana Bailao has a motion to get things moving on the West Toronto Railpath.
Councillor Mike Colle has a motion to get quarterly updates on the GO Transit expansion program.
Council is on lunch until 2 p.m. 60 items left on the agenda — 36 member motions and 24 regular items.
Toronto Council is gearing up to come back and mics are broadcasting while councillors are unaware. They’re talking pleasantly about the weather. “The sun always shines in Scarborough!” says Councillor Mike Colle. Seriously, why can’t they say something scandalous.
Now Councillor Gary Crawford is talking about the importance of staying hydrated. Come on, talk about secret deals. Give me something.
Council is officially back! Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has re-opened the Dundas renaming item to move this recommendation from the Accessibility Advisory Committee. It carries via show of hands.
Back on the Metrolinx item, Councillor Wong-Tam moves to develop community benefit agreements for the GO Transit expansion project.
Good catch from @CycleToronto — Councillor James Pasternak’s motion to look at increasing the Bike Share time limit and adding a low-income membership option carried yesterday without debate. Report due back Q4. https://twitter.com/CycleToronto/status/1311734835644334085
Councillor Paula Fletcher has moved a long motion about Metrolinx’s intention to build a GO Train layover yard in the Don Valley. @BenSpurr wrote about concerns about this plan here: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/03/planned-go-train-facility-could-undermine-years-of-don-valley-restoration-efforts-conservationists-warn.html
Voting on the Metrolinx/GO item. Councillor Bailao’s motion to get things moving with the West Toronto Railpath CARRIES unanimously.
Councillor Colle’s motion requesting the City Manager provide quarterly updates on the Metrolinx GO expansion project also CARRIES unanimously.
Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion for a framework for community benefit agreements as part of the GO expansion project CARRIES 22-2, with Colle and Thompson opposed.
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion calling for Metrolinx to conduct a study on impacts and look at alternatives re: the layover yard in the Don Valley CARRIES unanimously.
And the Metrolinx GO expansion item as amended is adopted unanimously.
Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong’s “Call Me Maybe” motion that’d require all city divisions and agencies to post staff directories online is added to the agenda. It looked like Council passed it, but now Councillor Gord Perks wants to debate it. They’ll come back to it later.
This Member motion from Councillor Mike Colle and Councillor Mark Grimes looking to STOP sidewalk installation on streets in their wards doesn’t make the agenda. Vote was 15-7, but needed two-thirds. It’ll now go to Infrastructure & Environment Committee. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.7
Motion from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Councillor Paul Ainslie asking City Manager to look at reducing taxi renewal fees for 2020 gets added to the agenda. Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong holds it for debate. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.9
Councillor Josh Matlow and Councillor Mike Layton’s motion calling for an update on the city’s winter snow plans, including plans to clear sidewalks and bike lanes, doesn’t get added the agenda. Vote to add was 11-13. Goes to Infrastructure Committee. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.23
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Councillor Paul Ainslie’s motion calling for Council to support a federal bill banning conversion therapy carries via a show of hands. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.32
Councillor Anthony Perruzza and Mayor John Tory’s motion calling for staff to report in November on the status of the Fair Pass program (after it was suspended to new users during COVID) carries via a show of hands. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.34
Up now: a report updating Council on police reform efforts. Acting Chief of Police James Ramer is on the line to answer councillor questions. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.EX16.1
The substantive action from this report is the creation of an Anti-Black Racism Council Advisory Body. 15 members — one councillor and 14 volunteer members from general public.
In June, Council voted to direct the City Manager to work with the police board to establish an accountability office for Toronto Police. This report is negative on the idea. Asked about it, acting Chief of Police James Ramer says, “I feel we have sufficient oversight.”
Councillor Michael Thompson: “Is the oversight that’s in place, that you’ve indicated is sufficient, is it effective — and if it is effective, who is it effective for?”

Ramer dodges a bit, says he thinks the police board, SIU, OIPRD, etc. are doing a good job.
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam moves to establish an honourarium program for public members of the Anti-Black Racism Advisory Board, and for staff and legal to take another look at the creation of a police accountability office.
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s motion to establish a compensation/honourarium program for people who serve on the new Anti-Black Racism Council Advisory Board CARRIES unanimously.
Wong-Tam’s motion to request a report on potential additional oversight areas for the police CARRIES unanimously.
Wong-Tam’s motion to get a second opinion on whether the city can establish a police accountability office FAILS 9-15.

FOR: Fletcher, Wong-Tam, Bradford, Perks, Cressy, Filion, Matlow, Layton, Ainslie

All others opposed.
Police reform update item as amended is adopted unanimously.
There’s been an error! Clerk says this item re: Colle and Grimes trying to block sidewalk installation in their wards actually DID have the votes to make the agenda. It’s now being held by Councillor Shelley Carroll for debate later. https://twitter.com/GraphicMatt/status/1311745138679570433
31 items left on the agenda. It’s 5 p.m. Approaching the time when things tend to get silly.
Councillor Holyday asks staff to confirm they found the above-ground Eglinton West LRT would have conflicted with north-south traffic.

Director of Transit & Transportation James Perttula does not confirm it: “The impact at those intersections was not seen to be significant.”
On this item about Metrolinx major transit projects, Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to advance the priority of the Sheppard Subway “in light of approved transit-related densities.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher has a long motion that, among other things, calls for a report on cost comparisons between underground vs. above ground Ontario Line and Eglinton West LRT.
Fletcher has some photos comparing the surrounding areas of the above ground Ontario Line vs. the underground Eg West LRT.
Councillors Carroll, Lai and Pasternak all speaking in support of the Sheppard Subway. A bit jarring after almost a decade of some supporting the Sheppard East LRT as an alternative. Feels like that option is truly dead and buried.
Councillor Mike Colle has a motion that straight-up asks the Transportation Minister to justify spending an extra $1.8 billion to bury the Eglinton West LRT.
Speaker Frances Nunziata doesn’t like the tone of the Colle motion and has ruled it out of order. Councillor Gord Perks challenges that decision.
Nunziata’s ruling that the Colle motion is out of order is UPHELD 15-7. ( @TorontoCouncil had 16-6 but I think I’m right.)

OPPOSED: Fletcher, Perruzza, Colle, Perks, Cressy, Matlow, Layton.
Councillor Gord Perks has basically reintroduced Colle’s motion with a different tone, calling for the province to NOT spent $1.8 billion on burying the Eg West LRT. This version is ruled to be in order.
Carroll’s motion requesting the province prioritize the Sheppard subway CARRIES 18-6.

AGAINST: Holyday, Perks, Colle, Wong-Tam, Matlow, Ainslie.
Fletcher’s motion requesting a report on price comparison between overground and underground Ontario Line and Eg West LRT CARRIES 21-2, with Holyday and Ford against. Report due in November.
Wow. Perks’ motion for prov to NOT spend $1.8 billion burying Eg West LRT FAILS 11-11

FOR: Carroll, Perruzza, Bailao, Layton, Cressy, Filion, Matlow, KWT, Colle, Perks Ainslie

AGAINST: Nunziata, Holyday, Pasternak, Bradford, McKelvie, Grimes, Lai, Crawford, Tory, Ford, Thompson
(Motions lose on a tie vote.)
Looks like Council will be coming back tomorrow for a fun-filled Friday meeting. They’re wrapping up for the day now.
And it is indeed a three-day meeting. Council recesses until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. There are 25 items left on the agenda.

Note to electoral reform fans: the ranked ballot item is currently set to be up first. (But things could change.)
Dawn of the final day.

— 25 items remain —
Council votes 15-4 to DENY a permit to remove this North York tree. Nunziata, Holyday, Pasternak, Colle opposed.
Vote on this tree is a TIE, 10-10, which means no action will be taken.

In favour of tree removal: Nunziata, Holyday, Grimes, Filion, McKelvie, Lai, Minnan-Wong, Crawford, Pasternak, Colle
Council votes 17-3 to SAVE this North York tree, with Nunziata, Holyday, and Pasternak opposed.
Council is now onto the item from the Clerk’s office concluding there’s no possibility of using ranked ballots for the next city election due to COVID-related delays. Electoral reform advocates not happy about this. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.EX16.8
Whoops, spoke too soon. Staff having tech issues, so they’re holding off on the election item for now.
A Councillor Wong-Tam motion on this item directing shelter staff to look at buying supplies from local sources CARRIES 20-2 with Holyday and Minnan-Wong in opposition. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.GL15.5
Okay, NOW we’re on the electoral reform item. Responding to questions, staff say the new vote-counting machines they procure for 2022 are likely to support ranked ballots — their challenge is there isn’t enough time to develop methodology and thoroughly test ranked choice voting.
Councillor James Pasternak has examples of ranked ballots from Minneapolis and San Francisco and says it took him “several minutes” to figure out how they’d work.
The other big reason staff are recommending Council NOT consider ranked ballots for 2022: the provincial legislation requires city to hold consultations, and in-person events are impossible right now. And not everyone has internet, etc.
Councillor Josh Matlow asks why the City has opted to hold online consultations for a range of issues since pandemic hit but won’t do the same w/ ranked ballots? What’s the difference? Answer: “It’s the absolutely fundamental nature of the subject — it’s the basis of democracy.”
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves that Clerk go forward to meet the preconditions for a potential ranked ballot municipal election in 2026.
Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong moves for a review of the city’s rules for election signs.
Councillor Anthony Perruzza moves for a report on increasing election spending limits in wards with low voter turnout.
Perruzza says his previous support of ranked ballots was “the biggest mistake I ever made.” He says ranked ballots make things more confusing and suppress the vote. “It’s good for incumbents. It’s not good for democracy.” No idea what he’s basing any of this on.
Perruzza says he’s won four elections by defeating incumbents and never would have beaten any of them under a ranked ballot system. I am… not sure the math supports that. He got 50%+ in one of them!
With the Perruzza/Mammoliti election, for example, decent chance most of progressive candidate Tiffany Ford’s 14% would have Perruzza has a second choice. He’d get a chunk of Sgro’s votes too. I think he would have got to 50% in subsequent rounds without too much drama.
Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report on making sure ESL people aren’t put at a disadvantage with ranked ballots.

She also a second motion but it’s been ruled out of order, which sparks some controversy. Speaker decides to pause this debate while it’s all figured out.
On a budget variance item, Councillor Gord Perks moves for the TTC to immediately recall all laid-off staff and increase service to pre-pandemic levels. Also asks for ongoing operating funding from the provincial gov.
Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, who sits on the TTC board, argues against Perks’ motion to restore all service, arguing that the pandemic situation is fluid and the TTC CEO should be able to make decisions re: service levels based on ridership, etc.
Part one of Perks’ motion, to request TTC immediately recall laid-off workers and restore all service to pre-pandemic levels, FAILS 8-15.

FOR: Carroll, Perruzza, Perks, Fletcher, KWT, Colle, Layton, Cressy

All others against.
Remainder of Perks’ motion, requesting provincial cash for transit, carries via a show of hands. As does the operating budget variance report.
We’re back to ballots. Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report on the number of municipal polling places in each ward, compared to fed and prov elections.
Councillor James Pasternak is again holding up a ranked ballot and talking about how confusing it is.
Councillor Shelley Carroll’s motion to move forward with the preconditions for a potential ranked ballot election in 2026 CARRIES 18-6, with Perruzza, Holyday, Grimes, Lai, Crawford and Ford opposed.
Minnan-Wong’s motion calling for a review of the rules for election sign carries via show o’ hands.
Perruzza’s motion calling for a report on spending limits in low-turnout wards carries via show of hands. So does Fletcher’s request for report on ranked ballots and ESL voters, and her request for report on number of poll locations.
Election item as amended is ADOPTED 20-4 with Perruzza, Holyday, Grimes and Lai opposed.
Minnan-Wong’s motion directing all divisions and agencies post staff directories online is ADOPTED via a show of hands.
Council needs to conclude by 5:30 today to allow for religious observance. Council now debating on whether to work through lunch to get this done. It has DESCENDED INTO CHAOS as everyone is talking over one another and no one knows what motions are on the floor.
Vote to work straight through lunch FAILS 10-13.

FOR: Nunziata, Carroll, Perruzza, Holyday, Bradford, Grimes, DMW, Thompson, Colle, Lai

AGAINST: Bailao, McKelvie, Crawford, Perks, Pasternak, Matlow, Filion, KWT, Ford, Tory, Layton, Ainslie, Fletcher
Vote to take a 30-minute lunch (instead of regular 90-minute lunch) CARRIES via show of hands. The contentious ideological issue of LUNCH has been settled. They’ll be back at 1:05 p.m.
Council is BACK and it’s time to debate city-owned golf courses. Should Toronto be in the golf business or should they look at repurposing all this public land? Hundreds of people have written in backing the latter. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.GL15.14
1,749 communications on the golf course item. A lot of people watching this issue.
Here’s a list of city golf courses. Report recommends extending lease agreements through at least 2022.
Councillor Mike Layton moves to defer voting on the golf course item until December, giving time for the parks department to consult.
Layton also has a backup motion if the defer tactic fails, that’d direct staff to look at ways to use these golf courses for public recreation year-round.
Colle argues the city golf courses are great sanctuaries for birds and wildlife. “Maybe we don’t want too many people on these golf courses!” He says consultation on golf courses would be a farce: “you’re not going to get regular people, you’re going to get Twitter people!”
Councillor Gary Crawford argues if Council lets contracts with golf course vendors expire on November 30, city would have to start over with an RFP and that typically takes a long time. “We’ll have empty golf courses for the next 18 months.”
Councillor Stephen Holyday says he’ll oppose both of Layton’s motions. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re POISON PILLS. They’re there to disrupt and cast doubt on whether or not this is a GOLF CITY!”
Councillor Holyday: “I can’t even understand how somebody would tie the narrative of urban farming and the need for space to golf courses. They have nothing to do with each other! There’s open space all over the city if you want to start urban farming — knock yourself out!”
A very fired-up Holyday says the Canadian Open is coming to his ward and he worries they might never come back if the city shuts down its golf courses and sends an anti-golf message. “I’m FURIOUS about this!” I am not sure I’ve ever seen him angrier than he is here, about golf.
Sidebar: While we’re talking about golf, can we get some old-school mini golf courses in some parks? With windmills and stuff? I’d be all over that.
Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to defer consideration of extending the leases for the city golf courses til December (and do some consultation) FAILS 3-21.

In favour: KWT, Perks, Layton.
With the deferral motion defeated, we’re back to the regular portion of this golf course debate.

Councillor Gary Crawford has a motion calling for staff to assess alternate uses of city-operated golf courses.
Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong has a motion to make sure staff consult with the “golf community.”
Councillor Mike Colle has a motion for staff to develop a winter use plan for the golf courses.
Councillor Wong-Tam moves for consultation with the Indigenous Affairs Office and Aboriginal Affairs Committee regarding the golf courses.
Holyday is speaking on this issue again. “I am going to vote against ANYTHING on this docket here that casts doubt on our commitment to golf courses.”
Councillor Mark Grimes worries that repurposing golf courses could lead to repurposing other sports fields, like baseball diamonds and soccer pitches. This debate has been going on for nearly two hours.
Councillor Paula Fletcher needs some extra time to prepare some motion, so Councillor Anthony Perruzza has volunteered to tell us a story about golf.
Dave summed up the story better than I could. https://twitter.com/dmrider/status/1312107095710339074
Taking another break from the golf course debate, Council quickly adopts the $23.4 billion HousingTO 2020-2030 implementation plan without any debate, 21-1, with Holyday opposed.
Back to GOLF. Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for consideration of how to apply the Welcome Policy (which subsidizes rec fees for lower-income residents) to the golf courses.
18th hole. Time to vote. Councillor Mike Layton’s motion to explore options for year-round golf course use CARRIES 18-4, with Holyday, Grimes, Ford and Minnan-Wong opposed.
Councillor Crawford’s motion to report back on alternate uses for city-run golf courses CARRIES 20-2, with Holyday and Grimes opposed.
Minnan-Wong’s motion to make sure any consultation also talks to the “golf community” CARRIES 21-1, with Carroll opposed.
Councillor Wong-Tam’s motion to consult with Indigenous people re: golf courses CARRIES 20-2 with Holyday and Grimes opposed.
Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion to report on Welcome Policy subsidies for the golf courses carries via show of hands.
Fletcher’s motion authorizing expanding the scope of the coming consultant report on the golf courses carries 17-5 , with Holyday, Grimes, Filion, Pasternak and Ford opposed.
And the golf course item as amended is adopted via a show of hands. At last.
Nine items left on the agenda and about 90 minutes before this meeting has to end for Shabbat. Race against time!
Up now: should Council request a report on banning leaf blowers and other two-stroke gas engine garden equipment? Councillor Stephen Holyday is against it. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.IE15.8
“At the end of the day, you have a large enough lawn, you’ve got to use the gas-powered equipment to get the job done,” explains Holyday.
Councillor Josh Matlow moves to also report on the noise impacts of electric leaf blowers and gardening equipment, in addition to the gas variety.
Councillor Holyday’s motion to block the request for a report on banning two-stroke gas-powered gardening equipment like leaf blowers FAILS 7-14, with Holyday, Grimes, Lai, Crawford, Minnan-Wong, Ford and Ainslie in favour.
Matlow motion to also look at impacts of electric gardening equipment CARRIES 12-10.

FOR: Matlow, Filion, Bradford, Fletcher, KWT, Perks, Cressy, Filion, Layton, Ainslie, Bailao, Colle

AGAINST: Nunziata, Carroll, Holyday, Perruzza, DMW, McKelvie, Grimes, Lai, Crawford, Ford.
And the request for a report on banning noisy gardening equipment (as amended) CARRIES 16-5, with Holyday, Minnan-Wong, Grimes, Crawford and Ford opposed
Up now: A Councillor Mike Colle motion to look at including bike lanes on mid-town Yonge Street as part of future bike plans. Colle has tweaked his language a bit to request staff also look at routes that run parallel to Yonge. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.IE15.11
Councillor Josh Matlow moves to extend the scope of the potential midtown Yonge bike lanes, down to Bloor Street instead of St. Clair.
Council votes via a show of hands to ADOPT a motion from councillors Colle and Grimes to deny installation of sidewalks on two streets in their wards. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.MM24.7
Back on the Yonge Street bike lane item, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has now moved to extend the potential lane all the way down to Gerrard Street.
But there’s a lot of questions about this item and Council is almost out of time! Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to defer it until the next meeting. That vote CARRIES 13-9.

Against: Holyday, Bradford, Wong-Tam, McKelvie, Grimes, Filion, Matlow, Colle, Layton
With just minutes to spare before they have to recess, Council polishes off the agenda. The September meeting of Council is OVER.

If you were to represent this meeting as a pie chart, a big slice would be golf. But anyway. It’s done!
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