Item - 2020.IE14.15

Tracking Status

  • City Council considered this item on July 28 and 29, 2020 and referred this item to an official or another committee or body. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the referral.
  • This item was considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on July 9, 2020 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 28 and 29, 2020.

IE14.15 - Request to Provide Planter Boxes and Other Street Furniture as Part of Public Realm Design for Places of Worship

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Referred
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on July 28 and 29, 2020, referred Item IE14.15 to the General Manager, Transportation Services and requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the financial impacts, processes and number of requests that have been received from places of worship in the past for planter boxes and other street furniture.

Background Information (Committee)

(July 9, 2020) Letter from Councillor Mike Colle on Request to Provide Planter Boxes and Other Street Furniture as Part of Public Realm Design for Places of Worship
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-149674.pdf

Motions (City Council)

1a - Motion to Refer Item moved by Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Carried)

That City Council refer the Item to the General Manager, Transportation Services and request the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the financial impacts, processes and number of requests that have been received from places of worship in the past for planter boxes and other street furniture.

Vote (Refer Item) Jul-29-2020

Result: Carried Majority Required - IE14.15 - Minnan-Wong - motion 1a - Refer the Item
Total members that voted Yes: 19 Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson, John Tory
Total members that voted No: 5 Members that voted No are Mike Colle, Mark Grimes, Josh Matlow, James Pasternak, Kristyn Wong-Tam
Total members that were Absent: 1 Members that were absent are Jaye Robinson

1b - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Redundant)

That if motion a fails, City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to provide assistance to places of worship to enhance pedestrian protection and safety on a cost recovery basis.

Ruling by Speaker Frances Nunziata
Speaker Nunziata ruled motion 1b by Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong redundant due to Council's adoption of motion 1a by Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong.

IE14.15 - Request to Provide Planter Boxes and Other Street Furniture as Part of Public Realm Design for Places of Worship

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Amended
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with other City Divisions to enhance pedestrian protection and safety for the places of worship including:

 

a. making bollards and planters available to enhance pedestrian safety and protection in the immediate vicinity of places of worship.

 

b. exploring, opportunities to deploy street furniture as a means of enhancing pedestrian safety and protection for places of worship.

Origin

(July 9, 2020) Letter from Councillor Mike Colle

Summary

Last year, given that places of worship were being targeted and attacked by criminal acts of hate, I have moved a motion to request that the Toronto Police Services Board examine a possibility of creating a Task Force to help prevent and deal with threats to places of worship that may be targeted of a criminal attack that would seek to harm innocent members of religious congregations.

 

Specifically in my own Ward 8, several places of worship requested to enhance and improve safety and security for communities where there is a vulnerability to possible unprovoked acts of hate on religious institutions.

 

Given that I represent one of the most uniquely religiously diverse areas of our great City that is home to over 100 synagogues and religious school that are finding it more and more financially challenging to provide safety and security for their institutions, on behalf of citizens of Ward 8, I respectfully seek your approval to provide Public Realm improvements and street furniture to enhance pedestrian protection and safety for the places of worship.

 

Something needs to be done in order to protect our places of worship in the City and ensure the safety of the most vulnerable from these unprovoked acts of hate on religious institutions.

Background Information

(July 9, 2020) Letter from Councillor Mike Colle on Request to Provide Planter Boxes and Other Street Furniture as Part of Public Realm Design for Places of Worship
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-149674.pdf

Motions

1 - Motion to Add New Business at Committee moved by Councillor Mike Colle (Carried)

2 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Lost)

That Recommendation 1a be amended by adding the following at the end:

 

"that bollards and planters be available on a cost recovery basis"


3 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Mike Colle (Carried)

That the recommendation be amended so that it now reads as follows:

 

1. City Council direct the Director, Office of Emergency Management General Manager, Transportation Services to work with other City Divisions to enhance pedestrian protection and safety for the places of worship including:

 

a. making bollards and planters available to enhance pedestrian safety and protection in the immediate vicinity of places of worship.

 

b. exploring, with the General Manager, Transportation Services, opportunities to deploy street furniture as a means of enhancing pedestrian safety and protection for places of worship.

Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council