December 2016 COUNCILLOR WARD 4 C O M M U N I T Y U P D AT E Email Twitter Facebook Website With these newsletters, we try to keep you informed of neighbourhood events and changes, future developments and decisions of interest by your city government. We invite your feedback and welcome an exchange of ideas. For a city councillor, communication to local residents is a critical part of the role. It is also a way for us to let you know about the work of our office. This month s Canada Post mailing of our newsletter will enable us to reach out to all tenants and homeowners across Ward 4. If there is information that you would like to see published on our website, in our electronic newsletter or mailed-out newsletter, please let us know. Table of Contents Developments City Hall Update Remembrance Day Roads and Traffic Flood Zone Notice Toronto Water Rosethorn Park Bell Canada 2017 Garbage and Recycling Calendars Events Have you say DEVELOPMENTS 4650 EGLINTON AVENUE WEST SHANNEX SENIORS RESIDENCE The proposed future site of a 272 unit seniors residence and care facility located on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West, east of Kipling Avenue and west of Wincott Drive, south of the Richview Plaza was approved last month by Community Council. Three community meetings were held, the last being in June to discuss the Shannex proposal. In September we met with residents from the Richmond Gardens Ratepayers and Residents Association to get more feedback and answer questions. The developer has reduced the height of the original plan by two floors from 11 stories to 9, and reduced the unit count. Shannex also improved the setback from Eglinton to create room for trees. Many of the units will be for seniors for assisted living. In discussions with Shannex, the developer, we have secured substantial cash in a Section 37 agreement to be used toward community benefit and a private daycare on-site which will serve 35-40 families. The final staff report recommending approval will be on the agenda at the December meeting of City Council. C O M M U N I T Y U P D AT E 1
4000 EGLINTON PLANT WORLD SITE The new owner of the site at Plant World, Lanterra, has modified their development proposal by removing one tower and inserting some town houses to eliminate shadow impacts on the neighbouring school. However, the remaining four buildings in their plan all are in excess of 19 stories (two at 30) and the overall scope of development remains, in my view, too dense. We hope to see a revised proposal in the new year. SMART TRACK EGLINTON LRT City Council approved the expenditure of over $70 million to continue feasibility work and planning on Smart Track and the Eglinton West LRT. Citing other, more urgent transit priorities, I attempted to suspend further planning and technical analysis work on the Eglinton line until staff has reported on the transit needs along the waterfront from Etobicoke in the west to East Bayfront (defeated 10-32). In a complete reversal, the provincial government, has dropped all financial support for this project. Work will continue, but the real funding for its construction is not in place. CITY HALL UPDATE WARD BOUNDARY REVIEW In 2014 Toronto City Council launched the Toronto Ward Boundary Review. With the increase in population the current ward structure implemented approximately 15 years ago has become unbalanced. Various public consultations were held and a report written by an independent committee. The committee gave a few options for Councillors including increasing the size of Council. Council voted to increase in the number of councillors from 44 to 47, I voted against the increase. The vote to increase the size of Council passed 28-13. The Clerk s office suggests that the new boundaries will be in effect for the 2022 election. For more information on the report, please visit this link http://www.drawthelines.ca/. GARDINER AND DON VALLEY PARKWAY ROAD TOLLS No doubt you may have heard this discussion on the news! When I ran for office, I pledged that I would always let people know where I stand on the major issues of the day. I authored the motion at Council to ask for a report on road tolls. As a member of the Budget Committee, I have become very familiar with the financial challenges of the city. As someone who is very fiscally conservative, I do not believe in planning for what you cannot afford. 110,000 vehicles take the Don Valley Parkway daily. 228,000 vehicles travel on the Gardiner. Roughly 120 million vehicles annually create a sizable maintenance pressure. Over $2.3 billion is earmarked for the Gardiner Expressway alone over the next ten years. COMMUNITY UPDATE 2
A nominal charge of $1 to $2 per trip should not result in changes to driver behaviour. As much as $250 million per year will go directly into road improvements and to build better transit. Toll revenue will add more money into repairing the TTC signalling and track and will help pay for busses and subway cars. A better TTC service means more riders, more satisfied riders, less drivers and hopefully fewer cars on our roads. The money from those tolls will eventually mean that your property tax dollars aren t going to fix highways that are used heavily by non-toronto residents (40% of cars come from Peel and York regions). I hope that the money will enable us to speed up the resurfacing of roads that presently seem to have to almost be crumbling before getting attention. I am a big believer in user-pay. The TTC riders pay 70% of the operating cost of the TTC and, in effect, subsidise the highways cost. No one likes tolls, me included. However, in the absence of other funding, this revenue generating tool is necessary. REMEMBRANCE DAY I was pleased to take part in the 2016 Remembrance Day ceremony at the Etobicoke Cenotaph to lay a wreath with my colleagues on behalf of the City of Toronto. Following the ceremony at the Cenotaph I had the privilege to meet Mr. Leslie Webb, a resident of Ward 4 for over 60 years, and witness him receive the Legion of Honour. Leslie Raymond Webb, born in Ottawa on January 31, 1922, was one of four Webb brothers who served. He landed in Normandy on June 21st, 1944 and served in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Many medals were awarded to Leslie including the Defence Star and the Commander-in -Chief s Certificate for good service from Field Marshal Montgomery. In recognition of his service, Colonel Roger Vendomme deputy Defence Attache was sent by the French Consulate to bestow the Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour on Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb received the award in recognition of his personal involvement in the liberation of France during WWII. The National Order of the Legion of Honour is the highest French order for military and civil merits. The Order was established in 1802 by Napoléon Bonaparte. ROADS AND TRAFFIC SLOW DOWN SIGNS Thank you to the residents who took part in the Slow Down Sign campaign this year. As the campaign is over for 2016 we ask anyone who has a sign to put it away for the season (snow plough season) and pull it out when the 2017 campaign begins in April. Just a note, even though the signs are not up, please take extra caution and slow down on our local roads. COMMUNITY UPDATE 3
SNOW PLOUGHING The winter is fast approaching and that means that the snow is not far away. If you would like to track where the snow-removal trucks are in the City, use the link below to find out what streets have been cleared. http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=e00aa24f6a05f410vgnvcm10000071d60f89rcrd ROAD REPAVING IN RICHMOND GARDENS During the month of November, road repaving took place on Corbridge Court, Summitcrest Drive from Waterford Drive to Islington Avenue, Strathdee Drive from Waterford Drive to Wincott Drive, and Waterford Drive from Holgate Street to Wincott Drive. Once this work is complete, Transportation Services will be conducting vehicle speed and volume measurements to see if traffic calming measures are warranted in the area. EGLINTON AVENUE WEST AND MARTIN GROVE ROAD The Eglinton Avenue West and Martin Grove Road intersection is considered one of the top 10 most congested intersections or hotspots in Toronto. So far at this intersection signal timings have been optimized and upgraded, an upgraded traffic signal controller was installed, a northbound left turn priority feature was implemented, and the overall signal cycle length has increased. In 2017 a CCTV camera, to allow staff to remotely monitor traffic incidents at intersections and respond as necessary, will be installed. As part of future capital programs dual eastbound left turn lanes, to accommodate more vehicles turning left in the intersection, will be implemented. GREEN P MOBILE PAY PARKING Mayor John Tory and Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) have announced that customers can pay for on-street parking in Toronto through the Green P mobile app. The rollout began in November and will be complete by the end of the year. To learn more please visit www.greenp.com. FLOOD ZONE NOTICE It has been brought to our attention that residents have received a door-hanger advisory notice from the Toronto Basement Flooding Hotline. Please note that this is not a City of Toronto notice! The services outlined on the notice are provided by a third party, not by the City of Toronto. For trusted and accurate City information regarding Basement Flooding, please visit http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/ contentonly?vgnextoid=f041ffa6ee33f310vgnvcm10000071d60f89rcrd COMMUNITY UPDATE 4
TORONTO WATER Toronto Water manages one of the largest water and wastewater systems in North America, providing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2016, the average Toronto household paid $2.65 a day for all drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services. This is among the lowest water fees in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The revenue the City receives from residents and businesses goes toward continuous service delivery and meeting the future needs of Toronto communities. ROSETHORN PARK A new playground will be coming to Rosethorn Park in 2018. The park will be designed in 2017 and will incorporate the relatively new existing swing set and slide into the overall design. A group of enthusiastic residents in the Rosethorn Park area are dedicated in their efforts to raise funds in addition to City allocated monies of $150,000 towards the rejuvenation of the Rosethorn Park and Playground. COMMUNITY UPDATE 5
BELL CANADA If there is any outstanding work to be done on your property as a result of the fibre optic cable installation by Bell Canada, please call the Buried Wire department at Bell Canada directly at 1-800-268-4213 and lodge a ticket. Home owners need to contact Bell individually regarding unfinished work. 2017 GARBAGE & RECYCLING COLLECTION CALENDARS Delivery will start in early December. There are no collection schedule changes. If you have not received your calendar by December 19, 2016, call 311 and a calendar will be mailed to you. EVENTS ETOBICOKE CENTENNIAL CHOIR S 50TH ANNIVERSARY Date: Saturday, December 10, 2016 Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m. Location: Humber Valley United Church (76 Anglesey Blvd) Join the Etobicoke Centennial Choir (ECC) on December 10th to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This joyful celebration includes A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, a selection of contemporary carols by former ECC conductor Barry Gosse, and audience sing-alongs to help kindle the holiday spirit. Joining the ECC are gifted harpist Angela Schwarzkopf and the Etobicoke School of the Arts Chamber Choir. Doors will open for the Christmas Marketplace at 6 p.m. Don t miss the delicious baked goods, seasonal gifts, and arts & crafts! Please see below for more details. The concert will commence at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each (group and family rates are available). For more information call 416-769-9271 or visit www.etobicokecentennialchoir.ca. COUNCILLOR CAMPBELL SKATING PARTY Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016 Time: 2:15 3:45 p.m. Location: Westway Outdoor Rink (175 The Westway) Bring your skates and a helmet, grab a friend or two, and enjoy a free public skate with us! Hot chocolate, prizes, music and more (while supplies last). 2017 BUDGET CONSULTATIONS Date: Thursday, January 5, 2017 Time: 3:00 p.m. onwards Location: Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall) As Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee I will be hosting budget consultations at the Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall) on January 5 from 3:00 5:00 p.m.; and 6:00 p.m. onwards. Please check the link below for details on the 2017 budget process. COMMUNITY UPDATE 6
HAVE YOUR SAY DECEMBER SURVEY Please take a moment to fill out our brief survey for December. This month s survey focuses on taxes. https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/w92sncy OCTOBER SURVEY RESULTS Please find below the results of the October Ward 4 Survey. Municipal issues in order of most to least importance as rated by respondents. 1. Traffic volume and speed 2. TTC and mass transit 3. Local development pressures 4. Solid waste and water rates 5. Property taxes 6. Affordable housing 7. Downtown development The weighted average, on a scale of 1 to 5, for the performance of: Mayor Tory: 3.37 City Council this term: 3.19 Suggestions made by respondents on how the City can save money: Audit how money is spent Eliminate City services Get rid of the Gardiner Expressway Cutback TTC funding Monitor City staff Increase taxes (property, water) Do not invest in costly studies to have the next administration cancel the work Better coordination of City services Reduce the number of Police monitoring traffic Reduce the number of City managers and councillors Pay City staff less Outsource City services Developers should pay more No legacy stoplights Greater fines for not paying TTC fares 54% of respondents do not agree that Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale should be treated as tourist areas similar to the Eaton s Centre and Yorkville and be allowed to remain open on holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, Labour Day and New Years Eve. COMMUNITY UPDATE 7
Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday season! Amber, Christine, Laila and John Share Feel free to share this e-newsletter in an effort to keep Ward 4 residents informed about what is happening locally and at City Hall. Ask your friends and neighbours to send in their email addresses so they can be added to the list! Unsubscribe Should you wish to stop receiving these updates, please let us know by calling or emailing our office and we can remove you from the list. Contact Us Councillor Campbell, alongside his staff Amber, Christine and Laila, are here to be of assistance to residents on municipal related issues. You can get in touch between Monday and Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm. 311 is also available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The benefit of calling 311 is that they will record the complaint and provide you with a reference number. This will assist staff in better serving residents. Phone: 416-392-1369 Fax: 416-696-4138 Email: councillor_campbell@toronto.ca Website: johnfcampbell.ca COMMUNITY UPDATE 8