Item - 2017.EX27.8

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on October 2, 2017 with amendments.
  • This item was considered by Executive Committee on September 26, 2017 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on October 2, 2017.

EX27.8 - Toronto Ravine Strategy

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on October 2, 3 and 4, 2017, adopted the following:

 

1.  City Council adopt the Draft Toronto Ravine Strategy in Attachment 1 to the report (September 12, 2017) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water.

 

2.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consider incorporating the following in the final Toronto Ravine Strategy:

 

a.  the internationally recognized concept of "Ecological Integrity" to measure the state and health of ravines;

 

b.  using science available at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Forestry or similar centres of research to develop baseline information and address the capacity of the City and its partners to get the work done; and

 

c.  incorporate the Ontario Invasive Species Act into the Strategy.

 

3.  City Council adopt the Ravine Strategy Prioritization Framework in Attachment 2 to the report (September 12, 2017) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, and City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to apply the Prioritization Framework in developing future capital plans for ravine-based projects, beginning with the 2019-2029 capital budget.

 

4.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to coordinate their respective capital plans to establish an interdivisional 10-year implementation strategy and capital plan for the Ravine Strategy and report back to Executive Committee in 2018.

 

5.  City Council direct the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to convene a table of "Ravine Leaders" to develop a vision for philanthropic and public engagement and a framework to raise third-party investment for capital improvements within the Toronto ravine system.

 

6.  City Council direct the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships to identify an appropriate Toronto-based charitable organization to provide administrative and fundraising support to the Ravine Leaders, and City Council authorize the Toronto Office of Partnerships to enter into an agreement with the identified organization on terms and conditions acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

 

7.  City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Ravine Leaders, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee by the second quarter 2018 on Official Plan policy directions to review Toronto's Ravine system in the context of potential development impacts, including shadowing of tall buildings, to ensure the resiliency of the Ravine System and associated ecosystems.

 

8.  City Council direct the General Manager, Solid Waste Management to coordinate with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to develop a regular maintenance and litter strategy for Toronto's Ravine System and to report back through the 2018 Budget Process on the budgetary requirements for such a program.

 

9. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Toronto Water, to report during the 2018 Ravine Strategy Implementation Plan on the funding required to create and complete a biological inventory and an ecological integrity report of Toronto's 10,500 hectares of ravine system.

 

10.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the opportunity for the City of Toronto to implement a program to allow, within its Parks and Ravines, small group, leave-no-trace camping activities for not-for-profit youth serving organizations, and to report to the Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2018.

Background Information (Committee)

(September 12, 2017) Report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Toronto Water on Toronto Ravine Strategy
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106846.pdf
Attachment 1 - Draft Toronto Ravine Strategy
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106847.pdf
Attachment 2 - Prioritization Framework
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106848.pdf

Communications (Committee)

(September 20, 2017) Letter from Debbie Briggs, President, Summerhill Residents Association (EX.Supp.EX27.8.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-71966.pdf
(September 21, 2017) E-mail from Ken Tanenbaum (EX.Supp.EX27.8.2)
(September 22, 2017) Letter from Dave Harvey, Executive Director, Park People (EX.Supp.EX27.8.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-71978.pdf
(September 22, 2017) Letter from Andrew Chisholm, Board Director and Chair of Capital Campaign for the Lower Don (EX.Supp.EX27.8.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72023.pdf
(September 24, 2017) E-mail from Mark Wilson (EX.Supp.EX27.8.5)
(September 24, 2017) E-mail from Sharon Lovett (EX.Supp.EX27.8.6)
(September 25, 2017) Letter from John Plumadore, President, Deer Park Residents Group (EX.Supp.EX27.8.7)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72026.pdf
(September 23, 2017) Letter from Chris Fraser, President, Governors Bridge Ratepayers Association (EX.Supp.EX27.8.8)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72027.pdf
(September 25, 2017) Letter from Karen Yukich, ProtectNatureTO (EX.Supp.EX27.8.9)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72018.pdf
(September 25, 2017) Submission from John Bossons (EX.Supp.EX27.8.10)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72019.pdf
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from Leslie Gooding (EX.Supp.EX27.8.11)
(September 25, 2017) Letter from Susan Aaron (EX.New.EX27.8.12)
(September 26, 2017) Submission from Paul Scrivener, Anqi Dong and Catherine Berka, University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry, Toronto Ravine Revitalization Study (EX.New.EX27.8.13)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72084.pdf
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from David Hrabal (EX.New.EX27.8.14)
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from Gary Bryck (EX.New.EX27.8.15)
(September 26, 2017) Letter from Lenka Holubec (EX.New.EX27.8.16)
(September 26, 2017) Letter from Harry Jongerden, Director, Toronto Botanical Garden (EX.New.EX27.8.17)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72088.pdf
(September 26, 2017) E-mail from Chris Lowry, President, Moore Park Residents Association (EX.New.EX27.8.18)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72090.pdf

Communications (City Council)

(September 26, 2017) E-mail from Don Hogarth, President and Shane Crompton, Director, South Rosedale Residents' Association (CC.Supp.EX27.8.19)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/cc/comm/communicationfile-72361.pdf
(October 2, 2017) Submission from Lenka Holubec (CC.New.EX27.8.20)
(October 1, 2017) Letter from Geoff Kettel and Cathie Macdonald, Co-Chairs, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (FoNTRA) (CC.New.EX27.8.21)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/cc/comm/communicationfile-72482.pdf

Motions (City Council)

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Carried)

That:

 

1.  City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Ravine Leaders, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee by the second quarter 2018 on Official Plan policy directions to review Toronto's Ravine system in the context of potential development impacts, including shadowing of tall buildings, to ensure the resiliency of the Ravine System and associated ecosystems.

 

2.  City Council direct the General Manager, Solid Waste Management to coordinate with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to develop a regular maintenance and litter strategy for Toronto's Ravine System and to report back through the 2018 Budget Process on the budgetary requirements for such a program.


2 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Carried)

That City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Toronto Water, to report during the 2018 Ravine Strategy Implementation Plan on the funding required to create and complete a biological inventory and an ecological integrity report of Toronto's 10,500 hectares of ravine system.

Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Oct-02-2017 3:56 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX27.8 - De Baeremaeker - motion 2
Total members that voted Yes: 38 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Jon Burnside, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Jim Hart, Michelle Holland, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Total members that voted No: 3 Members that voted No are John Campbell, Stephen Holyday, David Shiner
Total members that were Absent: 3 Members that were absent are Ana Bailão, Mike Layton, Giorgio Mammoliti

3 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Out of Order)

That City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to incorporate a plan to connect the Humber River trail, south of Highway 401 to the existing trail at the Humber River and St. Phillips Road.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata ruled motion 3 by Councillor Perruzza out of order as it has to do with transportation and the work was approved a few years ago.


Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)

Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Oct-02-2017 3:57 PM

Result: Carried Majority Required - EX27. 8 - Adopt the item as amended
Total members that voted Yes: 42 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Jim Hart, Michelle Holland, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Neethan Shan, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Total members that voted No: 0 Members that voted No are
Total members that were Absent: 2 Members that were absent are Mike Layton, Giorgio Mammoliti

Rulings (City Council)

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata ruled that Councillor Karygiannis' questions of Councillor Perruzza were not a clarification of Councillor Perruzza's motion.

EX27.8 - Toronto Ravine Strategy

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1.  City Council adopt the Draft Toronto Ravine Strategy in Attachment 1 of the report (September 12, 2017) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water.

 

2.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consider incorporating the following in the final Toronto Ravine Strategy:

 

a.  the internationally recognized concept of "Ecological Integrity" to measure the state and health of ravines;

 

b.  using science available at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Forestry or similar centers of research to develop baseline information and address the capacity of the City and its partners to get the work done;

 

c.  incorporate the Ontario Invasive Species Act into the Strategy.

 

3.  City Council adopt the Ravine Strategy Prioritization Framework in Attachment 2 of the report (September 12, 2017) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, and direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to apply the Prioritization Framework in developing future capital plans for ravine-based projects, beginning with the 2019-2029 capital budget.

 

4.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to coordinate their respective capital plans to establish an interdivisional 10-year implementation strategy and capital plan for the Ravine Strategy and report back to Executive Committee in 2018.

 

5.  City Council direct the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to convene a table of "Ravine Leaders" to develop a vision for philanthropic and public engagement and a framework to raise third-party investment for capital improvements within the Toronto ravine system.

 

6.  City Council direct the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships to identify an appropriate Toronto-based charitable organization to provide administrative and fundraising support to the Ravine Leaders, and authorize the Toronto Office of Partnerships to enter into an agreement with the identified organization on terms and conditions acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

 

7.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the opportunity for the City of Toronto to implement a program to allow, within its Parks and Ravines, small group, leave-no-trace camping activities for not-for-profit youth serving organizations, and to report to the Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Origin

(September 12, 2017) Report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Toronto Water

Summary

Toronto's ravine system is the city's greatest green asset. The scale and scope of this urban green space system - over 300 kilometres and 11,000 hectares - makes Toronto the envy of municipalities across the world. The Toronto Ravine Strategy is a new and inter-divisional framework for managing this precious asset as a natural, connected sanctuary essential for the health and well-being of the City.

 

This strategy provides, for the first time, an intentional and coordinated framework, vision and approach to management of this natural resource through a series of 20 actions under the five guiding principles: Protect, Invest, Connect, Partner, and Celebrate. These actions aim to guide the management of the ravines and ensure the protection of these irreplaceable lands is balanced with their use and enjoyment such that they continue to function and flourish for the next 100 years and beyond.

 

In a growing city, an increasing number of people rely on the ravines as their "backyards". There are also billions of dollars' worth of infrastructure - from roads to pipelines - in the ravines. The anticipated impacts of climate change, such as large scale storms, flooding and erosion will also put stress on the system. Increasing the resiliency of the ravines will, in turn, increase the resiliency of the City to face the challenges of the 21st century.

 

Through the application of the Ravine Strategy Prioritization Framework (Attachment 2), the City will be able to prioritize areas where protecting ecosystems, controlling erosion, managing recreational use, improving access, and meeting and maintaining accessibility standards is needed. The framework will also start to identify opportunities for collaboration with internal and external partners and will identify projects to be considered in the development of the coordinated implementation and capital plan.

 

The Ravine Strategy will also create a philanthropic leaders' table on ravines. The members of this table, the "Ravine Leaders" will develop a vision and framework to catalyze third party investments in the system, as well as support actions to celebrate this unique and precious asset.

 

During consultations on the strategy, we heard from thousands of residents, stakeholders and interest groups. The interest that the development of this strategy generated underscores how important and timely the Toronto Ravine Strategy is. Through the implementation of the actions in this strategy, the ravines will continue to support the high quality of life that the City has to offer to residents, visitors and businesses.

 

The next step will be to develop a comprehensive implementation framework to be presented for council approval in 2018. This plan will include work plans, timelines and deliverables for all 20 actions outlined in the strategy, as well as associated costs to fully implement the strategy.

Background Information

(September 12, 2017) Report from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Acting Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Toronto Water on Toronto Ravine Strategy
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106846.pdf
Attachment 1 - Draft Toronto Ravine Strategy
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106847.pdf
Attachment 2 - Prioritization Framework
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-106848.pdf

Communications

(September 20, 2017) Letter from Debbie Briggs, President, Summerhill Residents Association (EX.Supp.EX27.8.1)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-71966.pdf
(September 21, 2017) E-mail from Ken Tanenbaum (EX.Supp.EX27.8.2)
(September 22, 2017) Letter from Dave Harvey, Executive Director, Park People (EX.Supp.EX27.8.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-71978.pdf
(September 22, 2017) Letter from Andrew Chisholm, Board Director and Chair of Capital Campaign for the Lower Don (EX.Supp.EX27.8.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72023.pdf
(September 24, 2017) E-mail from Mark Wilson (EX.Supp.EX27.8.5)
(September 24, 2017) E-mail from Sharon Lovett (EX.Supp.EX27.8.6)
(September 25, 2017) Letter from John Plumadore, President, Deer Park Residents Group (EX.Supp.EX27.8.7)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72026.pdf
(September 23, 2017) Letter from Chris Fraser, President, Governors Bridge Ratepayers Association (EX.Supp.EX27.8.8)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72027.pdf
(September 25, 2017) Letter from Karen Yukich, ProtectNatureTO (EX.Supp.EX27.8.9)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72018.pdf
(September 25, 2017) Submission from John Bossons (EX.Supp.EX27.8.10)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72019.pdf
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from Leslie Gooding (EX.Supp.EX27.8.11)
(September 25, 2017) Letter from Susan Aaron (EX.New.EX27.8.12)
(September 26, 2017) Submission from Paul Scrivener, Anqi Dong and Catherine Berka, University of Toronto, Faculty of Forestry, Toronto Ravine Revitalization Study (EX.New.EX27.8.13)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72084.pdf
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from David Hrabal (EX.New.EX27.8.14)
(September 25, 2017) E-mail from Gary Bryck (EX.New.EX27.8.15)
(September 26, 2017) Letter from Lenka Holubec (EX.New.EX27.8.16)
(September 26, 2017) Letter from Harry Jongerden, Director, Toronto Botanical Garden (EX.New.EX27.8.17)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72088.pdf
(September 26, 2017) E-mail from Chris Lowry, President, Moore Park Residents Association (EX.New.EX27.8.18)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/ex/comm/communicationfile-72090.pdf

Speakers

Jason Ramsay-Brown, Toronto Field Naturalists
Harry Jongerden, Director, Toronto Botanical Garden
Paul H. Scrivener, Toronto Ravines Revitalization Study (TRRS)
Anqi Dong, Toronto Ravines Revitalization Study (TRRS)
Catherine Berka, Toronto Ravines Revitalization Study (TRRS)
Karen Yukich, ProtectNatureTO
Robert Spindler, Moore Park Residents Association
Joan York
John Bossons, Summerhill Residents Association
Linda Brett, Bloor Street East Neighbourhood Association (BENA)
John Burt, Bloor East Neighbourhood Association
Robert Wallis, Outward Bound Canada
Robin Buxton Potts, Evergreen
Gary Bryck, Friends of Chorley Park
Councillor Janet Davis
Councillor Gord Perks
Councillor Shelley Carroll
Councillor Jim Karygiannis

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Jaye Robinson (Carried)

That City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consider incorporating the following in the final Toronto Ravine Strategy:

 

1. The internationally recognized concept of "Ecological Integrity" to measure the state and health of ravines;

 

2. Using science available at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Forestry or similar centers of research to develop baseline information and address the capacity of the City and its partners to get the work done;

 

3. Incorporate the Ontario Invasive Species Act into the Strategy.


2 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon (Carried)

That City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the opportunity for the City of Toronto to implement a program to allow, within its Parks and Ravines, small group, leave-no-trace camping activities for not-for-profit youth serving organizations, and to report to the Executive Committee in the first quarter of 2018.


3 - Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor John Tory (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council