Minutes To be Confirmed

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:  

1. Received the report (June 30, 2026) from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry for information.

Toronto’s Ravine Strategy (the “Strategy”) provides a long-term framework for protecting, restoring, and enhancing Toronto’s ravine system as a key component of the city’s green infrastructure. The Strategy guides how the City manages and invests in ravines to support ecological health, improve access to natural areas, and expand opportunities for recreation and active transportation.

"Connect" is one of five guiding principles of the Strategy. Toronto’s ravines provide opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with nature, the city’s rich history and each other, and to access these spaces in a safe and sustainable manner. The Strategy envisions a more connected network of trails and greenspaces such as linking the Loop Trail, The Meadoway, and Rouge National Urban Park into a continuous, city-wide system.

This report provides an overview of the existing trail networks and outlines key physical and jurisdictional considerations to the planned trail connection between the Loop Trail and The Meadoway. Through coordinated efforts between the City of Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and many community and funding partners, infrastructure improvements are well underway with new sections open to the public in summer 2026. The new safe and accessible connection between The Meadoway and the Loop Trail is anticipated to be completed and open to the public by the end of 2027.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the "Policy for Accepting Potentially Contaminated Lands to be Conveyed to the City as a Condition of Approval of a Development Application", May 2026 as described in Attachment 1 to the report (June 29, 2026) from the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, amended by the following:

a. Section 3.3.1.2 is amended by adding the words “does not include bus shelters, garages, or similar at-grade structures”, so it now reads:

3.3.1.2 conveyance of easement interests in favour of the City in respect of that part of pedestrian entrance connections located at and below the surface of the ground which provide access to and from the existing subway and existing light rail transit owned and operated by TTC does not include bus shelters, garages, or similar at-grade structures;

b. Section 3.3.1.3 is amended by adding the words “subway and light rail transit”, so it now reads:

3.3.1.3 conveyance of fee simple and easement interests in favour of the City in respect of existing tunnels and all other existing areas located below the surface of the ground which provide for access to and from and the use of the existing subway, existing light rail transit and all existing related subway and light rail transit operations infrastructure owned and operated by TTC;

c. Section 3.3.2.1 is amended by adding the words “below-grade”, so it now reads:

3.3.2.1 subsurface investigations and testing of soil and groundwater and remediation within 3.0 metres of existing below-grade TTC transportation infrastructure, including tunnels and related infrastructure used for the purpose of operation of the subway and light rail transit owned and operated by TTC;

d. Section 3.3.2.2 is amended by adding the word “linear” and “and all associated appurtenances”, so it now reads:

3.3.2.2 subsurface investigations and testing of soil and groundwater in respect of existing municipal water and wastewater linear infrastructure and all associated appurtenances other than to the extent of vertical and horizontal clearances as set out in Table 1 of this Policy;

e. Section 3.3.2.3 is amended by adding the words “below-grade”, “linear”, and “and all associated appurtenances” so it now reads:

3.3.2.3 remediation of the area comprising new, expanded or replacement easement interests required to be conveyed in respect of existing below-grade municipal water and wastewater linear infrastructure and all associated appurtenances identified in Table 1 of this Policy;

f. Section 5.11 is amended by adding the word “any”, so it now reads:

The Risk Assessment must consider any future use of the Conveyance Lands including, but not limited to, construction workers in trenches as potential receptors, and the presence of underground municipal services and private utilities; 

g. Section 5.13.3 is amended by removing the word “intended”, so it now reads:

"5.13.3 Requirements for risk management measures or conditions that will impact or restrict the intended use of the Conveyance Lands or...". 

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to amend the City Policy entitled "Policy for Accepting Potentially Contaminated Lands to be Conveyed to the City under the Planning Act" (the Policy). This report has been prepared in consultation with Development Review, Transportation Services, Toronto Water, Parks and Recreation, City Planning, TTC, Corporate Real Estate Management, and Legal Services.

The amendments are captured in the updated Policy now titled "Policy for Accepting Potentially Contaminated Lands to be Conveyed to the City as a Condition of Approval of a Development Application". The amendments are summarized as follows:

- Revision of the Record of Site Condition requirements for Subdivision Applications to be consistent with Ontario Regulation 153/04 as amended.

- Renaming of the Policy to better reflect conveyance of land to the City in a land development context that may be authorized through legislation other than the Planning Act, such as through the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and the Condominium Act,1998.

- Inclusion of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) Stratified Site Condition Standards (excluded from the 2015 Policy), to permit conveyance of lands where the quality of the surface soil (above 1.5 metre depth) standards are set to protect future intended uses, while less stringent standards are applied to the subsurface soil (below 1.5 m depth) while still being protective of the applicable receptors.

- Expansion of the Policy to include new below-grade easements for existing City infrastructure.

- Exemption for conveyance of lands subject to existing TTC transit related infrastructure.

- Clearer description of the Applicant's responsibilities

- New language that clearly outlines the Peer Review Process.

- Detailed description of situations that are exempted from the Peer Review Process.

Adoption of the amended Policy will align City processes with recent Provincial regulatory changes, clarify the application and language of the Policy, and address feedback from internal and external stakeholders. The changes introduce additional flexibility for applicants to demonstrate that environmental conditions meet the City’s intended use, further aligning the Policy with Provincial legislation and environmental quality standards. Additional refinements include new exemptions, as well as clearer descriptions of processes and responsibilities for all parties involved. Collectively, these improvements enable a more streamlined and efficient development approval process for the conveyance of potentially contaminated lands, while maintaining the City’s existing level of environmental risk protection.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to negotiate, enter into and execute on behalf of the City an agreement with the Toronto Transit Commission for the recovery of all City costs for the design and construction of structural lining for sanitary sewer SL50048, including engineering, consulting, permitting, tendering, construction, bypass pumping, mobilization, access works, site restoration, inspection, contract administration, applicable taxes, contingency, and close-out costs, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Toronto Water, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, to amend, on behalf of the City, the agreement, as required, to address changes, including changes to scope, budget, schedule, milestones, permitting requirements, and / or implementation details, provided that any amendment continues to require recovery from the Toronto Transit Commission of all City costs for the design and construction of structural lining for sanitary sewer SL50048, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Toronto Water, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

This report seeks City Council authority for the General Manager, Toronto Water, to negotiate, enter into and execute an agreement with the Toronto Transit Commission for the recovery of all City costs associated with the design and construction of structural lining for sanitary sewer SL50048 near St. Clair West Station.

The work is related to Toronto Transit Commission fire ventilation system upgrades at St. Clair West Station under the Line One Capacity Enhancement Program. Toronto Transit Commission has proposed a new below-grade structure above a deep sanitary sewer. Toronto Water has no objection to the proposed structure in relation to the existing Toronto Water infrastructure, provided Toronto Transit Commission funds the structural lining and associated work required to protect the sewer asset.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the installation of traffic control signals at Victoria Park Avenue and Wakehood Street.

2. Subject to the approval of Recommendation 1 above and in conjunction with the installation of new traffic control signals, City Council prohibit eastbound through movement at all times at Victoria Park Avenue from the private driveway access on the west side of Victoria Park Avenue to Wakehood Street.

3. Subject to the approval of Recommendation 1 above and in conjunction with the installation of new traffic control signals, City Council prohibit westbound through movements at all times at Victoria Park Avenue from Wakehood Street to the private driveway access on the west side of Victoria Park Avenue.

4. Subject to the approval of Recommendation 1 above and in conjunction with the installation of new traffic control signals, City Council prohibit southbound left-turns at all times at the intersection of Victoria Park Avenue and Wakehood Street.

As Victoria Park Avenue borders two Community Council areas, City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to install traffic control signals at the intersection of Victoria Park Avenue and Wakehood Street. Additionally, authorization is being requested to prohibit the east-west through movements between Wakehood Street and the plaza at the west side of Victoria Park Avenue as well as the southbound left turn movement from Victoria Park Avenue onto Wakehood Street. These prohibitions would be in effect at all times.

The traffic control signals and turn restrictions will provide enhanced safety for all road users and are justified based on the assessment undertaken.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to negotiate and sign an agreement to extend the existing non-exclusive nominal fee licensing agreement to Parkrun Canada, to provide nominal fee permits for a community running program on the Martin Goodman Trail at Budapest Park, Sunnyside Park, and Sir Casimir Gzowski Park ending at Humber Bay Arch Bridge, for a term of up to two (2) years with two optional renewal terms of one year each, in compliance with the Non-Profit / Charitable Special Event Guidelines for City of Toronto Parks and Trails, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor commencing in the fall of 2026.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council authority to extend the existing nominal-fee licensing agreement with Parkrun Canada to continue operating a community-based running program on the Martin Goodman Trail. The extension is recommended based on a successful pilot with strong participation, no identified operational or park impacts, and alignment with City priorities for accessible public recreation.

For over 20 years, Parkrun has operated globally as a free, volunteer-led, weekly 5 kilometres run, jog, or walk held on Saturday mornings in communities around the world. Local events are organized by community volunteers and promote healthy, active lifestyles for participants of all abilities. There is no cost to participate, making the program accessible to residents of all income levels.

Parkrun requires organizers to follow established "Event Location and Course Design Guidance," including obtaining permission from landowners to use event locations at no cost.

The proposed route along the Martin Goodman Trail is accessible to participants of all abilities, including wheelchair users and those with strollers. Low-impact signage is installed at the start and finish areas for a maximum of two hours during each event. Events are operated by approximately five to 15 volunteers, providing opportunities for local community involvement, including for high school students completing community service hours.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Received the report (June 30, 2026) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and the Director, Revenue Services for information.

This report responds to City Council’s direction from November 2025 (2025.IE25.4) for the General Manager, Toronto Water, in consultation with the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, Director, Revenue Services, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and the Chief Technology Officer, to retain a billing systems industry expert to assist in:

a. gathering requirements, analyzing options and preparing a recommendation for a modern utility billing system;

b. establishing a governance framework to ensure alignment of needs and responsibilities;

c. developing a detailed implementation and procurement strategy in alignment with the work underway as part of recommendation 1 (align billing system Advanced Metering Infrastructure implementation strategies); and

d. reporting back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the second quarter 2026 the resulting recommendation and implementation plan for a modern utility billing system, as well as funds necessary to support the implementation.

In 2026, Toronto Water retained a billing systems industry expert to support this work. In order to ensure a new billing system would meet the needs of the City, Toronto Water established a multi-divisional steering committee and a working group to develop a comprehensive framework to guide this work. The working group participated in a series of workshops led by the industry expert to assess the current utility billing process and determine areas of improvement. Staff also reviewed procurement options and implementation strategy to align with ongoing meter transmission unit replacements and next generation water metering [Advanced Metering Infrastructure] implementation.

After analyzing the current system and collecting feedback from the steering committee and the working group, Toronto Water, Solid Waste Management Services, Revenue Services, and Technology Services plan to replace the City's legacy Water Management and Collection System with a modern utility billing system and billing portal. Water Management and Collection System was implemented in 1999 and has become increasingly inefficient due to aging technology, limited integration capability and manual workarounds. Consistent with recommendation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure industry expert that Toronto Water retained from 2024-2025 to develop the strategy for next generation water metering (2025.IE25.4), staff plan to replace the utility billing system before the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure meter transmission units, currently planned to begin field deployment by 2032. This sequencing reduces the risk of implementing two major systems at the same time and ensures the modern utility billing system is ready to support future Advanced Metering Infrastructure functionality.

Initial implementation will focus on replacing core Water Management and Collection System functionality with a stable, modern and reliable utility billing system, while enabling customer service improvements through a modern billing portal. The billing portal will offer customers immediate value through self-service access to billing information, payment options, billing preferences, paperless billing, alerts, and reminders. The portal would also allow customers more flexible options, including the ability to have separate bills or combined bills (as they are now). This improvement would reduce customer confusion and enhance overall operational efficiency. Additionally, the self-serve nature of the billing portal is also expected to reduce routine call volumes, decrease reliance on paper-based processes, improve reporting, and strengthen access to billing data.

Additional improvements, including automation and system enhancements, will be addressed through later phases once a modern utility billing system and portal are in place. This phased approach is designed to manage risk, ensure operational continuity and organizational readiness, and allow staff time to adapt, while supporting the City's broader modernization and maintaining critical Advanced Metering Infrastructure timelines.

Replacement of Water Management and Collection System with a modern utility billing system and billing portal is expected to take approximately five years and would consist of the following key steps:

- 2026-2027: Retain an industry advisor to support the procurement and implementation planning for a modern utility billing system and billing portal

- 2027-2028: Procure a modern utility billing system that supports the City's rate-based divisions and facilitates future enhancements, as well as a billing portal that meets customer expectations and aligns with corporate strategy from overall customer experience perspective.

- 2028-2029: Procure system integration services to configure and integrate the selected modern utility billing system and portal.

- 2029-2031: Implement a modern utility billing system and portal and switch over from the existing Water Management and Collection System billing system. This step must be completed after the ongoing meter transmission unit replacements (expected to complete in 2028), and before the end of 2031 to avoid impacts to Advanced Metering Infrastructure timelines.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Referred the item to the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services.

City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025, referred Item AU10.9 to the December 4, 2025 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee for consideration.

At its meeting on July 23 and 24, 2025, City Council adopted Item 2025.AU9.7, titled “Audit of Transportation Services: Improving the Utility Cut Permit Process and Inspection Processes”.

This supplementary report provides an update on the continued implementation of enhancements to the City’s Road Disruption Activity Reporting System (RoDARS), including the requirement for utility companies to submit post-completion forms with before‑and‑after photos once work has been completed.

This report also provides an update on permits, scheduling and coordination of utility work in Ward 14, specifically on Woodfield Road, Riverdale Avenue, Grant Street, and Danforth Avenue. In addition, it outlines updates regarding the removal of traffic control devices following the completion of construction.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Referred the item to the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and requested that they undertake a broader review of snow clearing options, specific to laneways with laneway housing, with financial implications and include as part of the report back as directed by City Council's decision on item IE29.1.

A number of families have accepted the city’s encouragement to build laneway homes in Ward 11, whose only road access is via a public lane. However, the city does not provide snow clearing services to such lanes, creating serious access issues for their residents during severe winter weather.

In 2026.IE29.1, City staff declined to recommend snow removal for the 2,744 public laneways in the City of Toronto, but did not provide any alternative solution for even pedestrian access to the comparatively small number of laneway houses. This motion is focussed on a small number of laneway houses whose residents had serious access issues during winter weather in 2025 and 2026.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, to consult the community and to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of  2027 with recommendations how to improve the speed and reliability of the College Streetcar through transit priority measures that are within the control of the city.

More than half of Ward 11 residents do not have private vehicles and depend on transit and active transportation. Key transit arteries in Ward 11 include the busy Dundas, College, Bathurst and Spadina streetcar lines. International research has shown that Toronto streetcars are the slowest in the world, due primarily to the vehicles being stuck in mixed traffic and lacking appropriate transit priority. Transit priority measures (including signal changes, and parking and turn restrictions) that have been rolled out on Spadina, Bathurst and Dundas have demonstrated that considerable improvements are possible when transit gets the priority it deserves. Now it’s time to learn what is possible and achievable on College Street.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, and the General Manager, Engineering and Construction Services, to strengthen the existing post-completion process within the Road Disruption Activity Reporting System, and to require each Road Disruption Activity Reporting System applicant to fully reinstate all safety markings within the public right-of-way within two weeks of closing the excavation between April 30th to October 31st, weather permitting, and at other times of the year as soon as weather allows.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, and the General Manager, Engineering and Construction Services, to require any Road Disruption Activity Reporting System applicant, as a condition of permit closeout following work within the public right-of-way, to prove, with photographic documentation, that it has fully reinstated all pavement markings within two weeks of closing the excavation between April 30th to October 31st, weather permitting, and at other times of the year as soon as weather allows.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, and the General Manager, Engineering and Construction Services, to require anyone else who cuts or restores pavement within the public right-of-way to fully reinstate all safety pavement markings as soon as practicable.

There are a variety of road markings that make important contributions to the safety of vulnerable road users, such as crosswalk markings and bike lane markings. When utility companies or city contractors cut into a road, they typically destroy the safety markings. When they subsequently pave or patch the excavated location, they often do not restore the lost safety markings in a timely manner. The cumulative effect can be substantial elimination of essential road safety markings to the serious detriment of vulnerable road users.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, in consultation with Toronto Hydro, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the General Manager, Transportation Services, to evaluate the New York City pilot project and include those findings with recommendations on options and resources required to to increase the availability of non-polluting power supplies for mobile food cart vendors in the report-back on reducing emissions generated by street vendors from 2026.EC27.2 expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.

A few mobile food vendors in Toronto use clean, silent, inexpensive grid electricity to power their operations. However, most mobile food vendors in Toronto rely on noisy, polluting, gas or diesel generators to provide the power they need. In areas crowded with mobile food vendors, the cumulative effect of these fossil fuel generators can cause noticeable air pollution, and enough noise to disturb those living or working nearby. The cost of the generator and the fuel can also be a material financial burden for the food vendors.

The city of New York has launched a pilot project in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park that allows mobile food cart vendors to inexpensively rent clean, rechargeable batteries instead, according to the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. When one battery is exhausted, it can be instantly swapped for a charged battery. Toronto should consider a similar pilot program or other means of increasing the availability of non-polluting power supplies for mobile food vendors.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the Executive Director, Development Review, in consultation with other City staff as appropriate, to engage with Canada Lands Corporation to discuss the following operational matters related to current construction on Keele Street by Canada Lands Corporation and its construction partners: 

a. the need for a Canada Lands construction notice explaining the project to be distributed in an agreed catchment area affected by the construction project;

b. a plan to accelerate the project and review options to minimize disruption to traffic during the school year, with noise exemptions and extended work hours to be explored;

c. the designation of a single point of contact (with phone number and e-mail address) at the City of Toronto and Canada Lands and that such contact information be disseminated widely to ensure that intake of comments, concerns and notifications of local residents can be managed and acted upon;

d. a plan to inform 311 with the appropriate level of information for a project of this nature; and

e. a plan to ensure that lane closures not be allowed when there is no work taking place in such lanes and that every effort be made to open up such lanes from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, where feasible.

I bring this motion to the Committee as a matter of urgency as third party construction takes place along Keele Street north and south of Sheppard Avenue. My office has fielded a wide range of calls questioning unjustified lane closures, traffic and project management and project purpose.  The project is managed by nearby property owner Canada Lands Corporation and its construction partners. 

The construction is related to sanitary sewer work and other infrastructure that will connect to the Black Creek Tunnel Project, slated to commence in 2027.  There is no indication that a construction notice was sent to residents for this project.

Road Occupancy Permits have been issued by the City of Toronto for work South of Sheppard Avenue West, near Wycombe Road (Tor-RD1S2026) and near Maryport Avenue (Tor-RD1S2026-677).

There has been a flurry of complaints about road lane closures when there are no signs of digging, workers, debris or equipment present. My office has been sent pictures of draconian lane closures and no work taking place. This has created traffic mayhem. Keele Street is a major arterial roadway that services York University, numerous schools and businesses and access to and from the 401.

Also, as this is a third-party construction project (Canada Lands Corporation) there has been no central point of contact for residents, no construction notice and a long timeline that will go into the school year. My office has received a wide range of complaints.  

This project needs an immediate course correction. This motion attempts to better manage these issues so residents understand the project objectives, the project completion time line and who to contact with concerns.  Moreover, it is vital that construction flexibility be granted such that all work can be done by early September in advance of the return of the school year.  We seek options for noise exemptions, evening and weekend work permissions so the project can be accelerated. 

Announcements

The Chair acknowledged that the Infrastructure and Environment Committee was meeting on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Chair also acknowledged that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Chair Paula Fletcher, during the morning session of the meeting, addressed the Infrastructure and Environment Committee and expressed her appreciation to the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, City staff and to the Members of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee for their support during her time as Chair.

Where the Members of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee listed in the attendance for this meeting participated remotely, they were counted for quorum as permitted by Section 189(4.2) of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and City Council's Procedures.