Item - 2019.EX9.7

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships, in coordination with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, General Manager, Transportation Services, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager Parks, Forestry and Recreation to negotiate and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of University Avenue regarding the implementation of Phase One on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate and sign an encroachment agreement with the Friends of University Avenue and/or its partners on terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to administer the provision of the necessary permits and approvals to proceed with Phase One of the Project, subject to all requirements of the General Manager, Transportation Services being satisfied.

4.  City Council request the Friends of University Avenue and/or the Friends of University Avenue Steering Committee submit the proposed temporary public art installation to the Toronto Public Art Commission for review and comment.

The purpose of this report is to request that City Council approve the implementation of Phase One of a potential multi-phase initiative to illuminate and animate University Avenue, which will require coordinated efforts and ongoing support from City staff.

The City of Toronto received an unsolicited proposal from a citizen-led organization called the Friends of University Avenue. The proposal includes three phases of enhancements to University Avenue. Phase One would include the implementation of a temporary public art installation, funded through philanthropic contributions at the intersection of University Avenue and Gerrard Street. The proposed public art installation is internally lit and its intent is to illuminate the Avenue as a 'beacon of light and hope'. Phase Two would include enhanced landscaping and year round illumination of existing monuments. Phase Three would include a curated program of rotating public art, commissioned or loaned by Friends of University Avenue. At this time, approval is only sought for Phase One.

A Steering Committee, comprised of the Friends of University Avenue and representatives from City Divisions including City Planning, Economic Development and Culture, Transportation Services, and Parks Forestry and Recreation, has been established to assess the feasibility of implementing this public art installation on University Avenue. City staff support the project in principle and, with City Council support, will continue to collaborate with the Friends of University Avenue with the aim of realizing the temporary public art installation. City staff are working through issues related to the proposed project to ensure that all of the City's requirements are met. This report summarizes these issues and the recommended actions that have been identified by staff, including but not limited to protecting heritage views, Phase One installation, and preparing a Memorandum of Understanding for the Friends of University Avenue and the City to enter into.