City Council met for the final time until September on July 23 and 24. While much time was spent discussing the possibility of accelerating the state of good repair work on the Gardiner Expressway, attention was also given to the City’s housing delivery and flood mitigation.
The Toronto Association of Community Centres (AOCCs) is made up of 10 City-owned, community-operated service spaces. These centres are distinct from the City’s Community Recreation Centres, which are operated by Parks, Forestry and Recreation. The community-centred AOCCs model aims to foster social connectedness, community resilience and health and wellbeing. In Toronto Centre, the 519 operates as part of the AOCCs program.
City Council has adopted the Association of Community Centres Expansion Framework to drive community development outcomes. As the AOCCs portfolio expands for the first time in 30 years, procedural, financial and legal considerations will be made, as well as considerations regarding equity and location. Currently, most of the 10 AOCCs are located within the boundaries of pre-amalgamation City of Toronto. This expansion will allow more communities to benefit from the AOCCs program.
The Toronto Island Park Master Plan has been in development over the past several years and was co-created by the City, Indigenous rights holders, the local community and the public through extensive consultation. City Council has officially adopted the Master Plan, which aims to:
The Heads and Beds Levy on institutions applies to colleges and universities, public hospitals and correctional facilities. Since 1987, the levy has been fixed at $75 per provincially rated hospital bed, full-time student or resident place. City Council has requested that the Province increase the levy annually by the rate of inflation. Such an increase would bolster tax revenue by $27.2 million for 2024.
I hope everyone is well. As the weather gets colder and winter gets closer, let’s use this time to recharge, stay connected, and keep showing up for each other, our schools, and our communities.
The Dundas and Sherbourne Community Action Plan is part of the City's broader Dundas–Sherbourne Neighbourhood Revitalization Plan, which focuses on creating social and economic equity as the neighbourhood grows and develops. Working with the Moss Park Coalition, this plan brings together residents, agencies, and service providers committed to safety, wellbeing, and inclusion.
The October City Council meeting involved lengthy discussion about the Automated Speed Enforcement program which, which was recently banned by the Provincial government. Despite this focus, we discussed several other ways to enhance safety; on the TTC, on our roads and sidewalks, and at home.