Item - 2022.GL31.17

The General Government and Licensing Committee:

1. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing Services, and the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, to consider opportunities to have enhanced development application public information signs with more and better information.

2. Directed the City Manager to contact the appropriate Provincial Government Staff to explore options for modifying and enhancing statutory notices and report to the appropriate Committee of Council in the first quarter of 2023.

This report responds to a request from the General Government and Licensing Committee for information on measures the City has taken to improve how it provides public notices.

Under the Municipal Code and legislation such as the Planning Act, the City is required to give public notice regarding certain matters, including heritage designations, licensing by-laws, City infrastructure changes, and statutory public meetings such as those required for Official Plan amendments and the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.  The Municipal Code or legislation may include requirements for the content and format of public notices.

City of Toronto Divisions provide public notice in various ways and often in multiple languages, according to legislative requirements, consultation with Members of Council, applicable City policies, demographic information and project resources. This report highlights recent steps the City has taken to make public notices more engaging and accessible to the public.

The City Manager's current review of the City's public engagement strategies may result in additional recommendations on potential measures to enhance public notices along with other forms of engagement.