Item - 2026.MM39.14

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that:

1. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Heritage Toronto on a one-time basis by $10,000 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained in the development at 40 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700065), secured for local area streetscape improvements, for the production and installation of a heritage plaque recognizing the late Claude Cormier at 35 Wellington St E. (Cost Centre: HG0001).

2. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Non-Program for the purpose of forwarding funds to the Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Area for the development of the following projects, as outlined in Appendix A:

a. $5,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the purpose of installing ten heritage street banners within the heritage conservation district of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. (Cost Centre: NP2161);

b. $500,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the purpose of installing the Shoreline Commemorative Sidewalk Etching project on Front Street from Yonge Street to Parliament Street. (Cost Centre: NP2161); and

c. $80,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the production and installation of Advanced Shoreline Commemoration Plaques at two intersections of Yonge and Front Street, and Parliament and Front Street (Cost Centre: NP2161).

3. City Council direct that the $585,000 be forwarded to the Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Area subject to the Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Area signing an Undertaking governing the use of the funds and the financial reporting requirements.

4. City Council amend the 2026-2035 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services to create a new capital sub-project for the development of the following projects, as outlined in Appendix A:

a. $4,000.00 gross, $0 debt, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the purpose of installing ten heritage street signs recognizing cultural corridor locations along Queen Street between Yonge Street and Parliament Street. (WBS Element: Needed from Transportation Services);

b. $4,000.00 gross, $0 debt, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the purpose of installing ten heritage street signs recognizing cultural corridor locations along Front Street between Yonge Street and Parliament Street (WBS Element: Needed from Transportation Services); and

c. $2,400.00 gross, $0 debt, fully funded by Section 37 (Planning Act Reserve Fund) community benefits at 177, 183, and 179 Front Street East and 15-21 Lower Sherbourne Street and 200 The Esplanade (Source Account: XR3026-3700943) for the purpose of installing heritage conservation district street signs at the six locations outlined in Appendix A (WBS Element: Needed from Transportation Services).

Participatory Budgeting is a system of direct democracy where residents imagine how their neighbourhood could be improved, suggest potential ideas and then vote on how funds are spent to improve their community through capital projects.

Between April 1 and November 1, 2025, my office hosted online and in-person engagements with local residents and business improvement areas to crowdsource ideas. These ideas were then vetted for cost and feasibility with City staff and presented to the local community to vote on which projects they would like to see funded.

In the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood, seven projects supported by the local community fit within the allocated budget of $750,000:

a. heritage Plaque at Berczy Park for Late Claude Cormier;

b. new Heritage Street Signs for Front Street between Yonge Street and Parliament Street;

c.new Heritage Street Banners in St. Lawrence neighbourhood;

d. installation of Advanced Shoreline Commemoration Plaques at Yonge Street and Front Street, and Parliament Street and Front Street;

e. new Heritage Street Signs for St. Lawrence Heritage Conservation District;

f. new Heritage Street Signs for Historic Queen East between Yonge Street and Parliament Street; and

g. new Shoreline Commemoration Sidewalk Etching Project from Yonge Street to Parliament Street.

The release of funds for these projects will allow for locally supported capital projects to move forward in a timely manner.