COVID-19 - May 20 Update - Ana Bailão 2021

I'm sure everyone is looking forward to a relaxing and well-deserved holiday long weekend. Please enjoy the weekend safely with members of your own household. Despite a positive trend in our COVID case count, we should remain vigilant as we work to vaccinate everyone. With the warmer weather now here and following a very challenging winter, I understand the strong desire to meet with our friends and families but it is important that we continue to follow public health guidelines for a while longer. With 60% of adults vaccinated and thousands more getting vaccinated every day, we will soon be able to see the changes we have all been waiting for and see a gradual return to normalcy.

As we continue to work towards providing everyone with a vaccine, the Provincial government has just today outlined their roadmap to reopening, which is a three-phase approach to allow larger gatherings, activities and services. While the timelines have not been fully set, the Premier mentioned that we are expected to enter the first phase on June 14, which will allow for 10 person outdoor gatherings, limited religious services and shopping, camping, pools and splash pads, and outdoor sports. You can see further detail on all phases here.

This week, we also received a positive announcement from the provincial government that all people 18 years or older are now eligible to get vaccinated. To meet new demand, the City opened 120,000 new vaccination appointments at our City clinics earlier this week and will open an additional 19,000 for the long weekend. I encourage all of you who have not booked an appointment to do so at a City mass-vaccination clinic or at one of the many pop-up clinics in and around our community. As the information on pop-up clinics evolves quickly, I have been working on putting out information through my social media channels. You can also follow Vaccine Hunters Canada, which has partnered with the City and regularly shares updates on vaccination opportunities.

Recently, the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for those 12-17 years of age. I understand that many parents and guardians have questions. To ensure you have all the information you need, the City has organized three vaccination town halls to provide you with information to address any concerns. These town halls will be on May 25, May 26 and May 29. You can learn more and register here. If you cannot make it, a recording will be uploaded at the same link.

Our office continues to work to serve you remotely. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 416.392.7012.

In community,

Ana

Question from the Community!

Each day, we are working to answer important questions from our community. To keep you all informed, we will feature some of these questions in each newsletter. Have a question you think would be good to share? Reach out to us at [email protected].

How is the City working to provide equitable access to vaccine?
The City has established the COVID-19 Accessibility Task Force, Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity, and Vaccine Engagement Teams. You can learn more about the work they are doing here. Further, Team Toronto Sprint Strategy mobile and pop-up clinics continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine access and improve vaccine equity in priority communities. Learn more.

Key Updates

Sidewalk Snow Clearing Coming to Our Community!
For many years, I have been working with my Council colleagues to secure the harmonization of sidewalk snow clearing for our community. While we have not been successful in advancing this in the past, this week the Mayor announced the City’s plan to expand sidewalk snow clearing to all neighbourhoods starting this winter. City staff have recommended the expansion of this service following a successful trial program over the last two winters. This will mean 103,626 households will now receive this service – including 91% which would now receive mechanical sidewalk snow clearing and around nine percent which would be manually cleared due to sidewalk obstructions.

The expansion of the service aims to improve safety for residents in winter, provide more equitable snow clearing service to all areas of the city, and support improved accessibility.

Geary Works Planning Study
City Planning and Economic Development and Culture staff brought forward a report on Geary Works, a study I initiated with the community to determine how to best support businesses and creative enterprises on Geary Avenue and improve public realm. While a lot of work has been done on this study, I deferred this item to give more time for staff and the community to shape our next steps.

Toronto and East York Community Council Update
Yesterday was Toronto and East York Community Council, below are some important updates for our community.

Improving Safety on Dufferin
At December City Council, I had approved a motion that directed Transportation Services to conduct a review of the safety and operational concerns for cyclists and pedestrians on Dufferin Street.

In April, we designated Dufferin between College and Bloor a community safety zone, to allow for the installation of an automated speed enforcement camera.

At Toronto and East York Community Council this week, we took the next significant step to make Dufferin safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Consultations on the Bartlett Havelock bike lanes this summer, with installation in 2022
The installation of 20 new hydro polls and 180 fixtures this summer and fall to improve lighting
The expedition of consultation and implementation for bus priority lanes on Dufferin Street
The addition of a signal at Lindsay Avenue, to be installed in 2022
Further investigation on the feasibility of adding a red-light camera at Dufferin Street and College Street, with a report back in June

Reducing Speed Limits in Toronto and East York
We know that speeding on our roadways jepordizes the safety and well-being of all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. In an effort to ensure safety is the first priority, we voted to complete the reduction of speed limits on all local roads in the Toronto and East York Community Council area to 30 km/h.

290 Old Weston Road - Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment Applications
This is an application that proposes a 29-storey mixed-use building, including a 4 to 6-storey base building, with 277 dwelling units and 4,643 square metres of commercial office space. This application was appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) in December 2020. Staff do not support the proposal in its current form.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor, together with City Planning staff, and other appropriate City staff, attend the LPAT hearings in opposition to the current proposal. Staff are also recommending that discussions with the appellant and the community continue, including consultation through the Keele St. Clair Local Area Study and the Municipal Comprehensive Review of the Official Plan, to determine an acceptable land use framework and built form.

Improving Communities and Affordability in the Downtown Core
Late last week, I joined with Mayor John Tory, Councillor Joe Cressy and staff from CreateTO as we announced plans for a significant redevelopment leveraging a City-owned site at 260 Adelaide Street in the downtown core, creating approximately 652 residential units with a target of 30% being affordable rental units.

By realizing creative and innovative solutions, we are also able to relocate and modernize the busiest Toronto Fire facility in the country at no cost to the City, house a new EMS post, a significant new park, and provide 10,000 square feet of community space.

This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we bring different City interests together in a project, including the creation of complete communities and expanded affordable housing.

Davenport Diamond Guideway and Greenway Public Information Session – June 1
On June 1 at 6:00 P.M., Metrolinx will be hosting a public meeting on the Davenport Diamond Guideway, which will include an update on the Public Realm elements, known as the Greenway. You can register and submit your questions through the link above.

Planning Application for 316-336 Campbell Avenue
The City of Toronto Planning Division has received an application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to redesignate the subject site from Neighbourhoods to Mixed Use Areas to permit a 28-storey (95.2 metres to the top of the mechanical penthouse) residential building with a 6-storey base building.

A public meeting will be held on June 15 at 6:30 P.M. You can pre-register for this event here.

Lansdowne Station Main Entrance Open
I am happy to see that the TTC has completed their work on the façade of Lansdowne station! The TTC has informed us that the escalators have been turned re-started and they are on schedule to complete the elevator work in 2022.

New Modular Housing Site - 7 Glamorgan Avenue
Safe, stable and comfortable housing is essential to a person’s dignity and self-worth. We are providing this stable, affordable housing and around-the-clock support services to 57 new homes at 7 Glamorgan Avenue in Scarborough.

The homes are part of the second phase of Toronto's Modular Housing Initiative. They will be dedicated to women, Indigenous residents, seniors, people with disabilities and other people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Help Shape Toronto over the Next 30 Years!
The City of Toronto is reviewing its Official Plan to develop a revised vision for City Planning over the next 30 years, through to 2051. The City is calling this Official Plan review process “Our Plan Toronto” because it is a plan for everyone and requires input from all.

The Province of Ontario’s “A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe” came into effect on May 16, 2019. All municipalities, including the City have until July 1, 2022 to update their Official Plans to align with the 2019 Growth Plan.

Our Plan Toronto presents an opportunity to address, through planning policy, a number of the growth-related challenges facing Toronto today and in the future.

Get involved in the TTC’s Fare Policy
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and York Region Transit (YRT) are working together to develop a fare policy for the next five years. We need a new fare policy to reflect recent changes such as growing populations, shifting travel, commuting patterns, and financial landscapes. This update will allow us to continue to provide safe, convenient, and reliable transit service for customers today while meeting the needs of future riders. This is important because the policy will help us make decisions on matters like how to set fares, what concessions are needed, and what loyalty programs to create.

Want to get involved? Complete the survey before June 2, or join the May 19 virtual town hall at 6:30PM.

Have your say on Implementing Garden Suites in Toronto
The Garden + Suites project is one of several studies that the City of Toronto is leading through its Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods initiative. A Garden Suite is a detached housing unit, usually located in the rear yard, and is separate or detached from the main house. Garden Suites, like Laneway Suites, are generally smaller than the main house on the lot and are intended to function as a rental housing unit. We have already had over 2,700 survey entries! Find more information and a survey link above, to be completed before June 1.

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