Item - 2014.LS30.1

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to develop a policy on appropriate enforcement actions for multiple violations under the Provincial Offences Act for violations of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs, Article II, Election Signs.

2.         City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs to provide that election signs may be erected/displayed for federal, provincial and municipal elections, 14 days prior to election day.

3.         City Council amend Appendix C – Schedule 12 of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, by:

a.         deleting the $250.00 Removal and Storage Fee for improperly displaying elections; and

b.         adding a $125.00 Removal and Storage Fee for improperly displaying election signs during the Election Sign Period.

4.         City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs by:

a.         adding a new subsection D in Section 693-6 – General Requirements, as follows:

 § 69                              § 693-6. General requirements.

D.        No person or his or her agent shall erect, attach, place, display or permit the erection, attachment, placement or display of an election sign on public or private property unless:

(1)      The candidate to whom the sign relates has paid the fee set out in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, for the service of removal and storage of improperly displayed election signs during the Election Sign Period; or

(2)      The person has paid the per sign fee set out in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, for the service of the administration, review, inspection and enforcement of improperly displayed election signs during the Election Sign Period.

b.         replacing subsections B(1) and (2) in Section 693-10 – Removal of Unlawful Election Signs with the following:

§ 693-10. Removal of unlawful election signs.

B.        Costs for removal and storage of signs.

(1)       If an election sign is removed for being erected or displayed in violation of this article outside of the Election Sign Period, in addition to any fine or other penalty which may be imposed for an offence under this article, the candidate to whom the sign relates will be charged the fee for removal and storage of improperly displayed election signs prior to or after the Election Sign Period, as set out in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges;

(2)        If a candidate has not paid the fee described in § 693-6D, and an election sign is removed for being erected or displayed in violation of this article during the Election Sign Period, in addition to any fine or other penalty which may be imposed for an offence under this article, the candidate to whom the sign relates will be charged the fee for removal and storage of improperly displayed election signs during the Election Sign Period, as set out in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges.

5.         City Council approve amendments to Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 693, Signs, Article II, Election Signs, substantially in accordance with the administrative design contained in Attachment 1, as amended, in the report (August 1, 2014) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

6.         City Council approve amendments to Appendix C, Schedule 12, of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, substantially in accordance with the administrative design contained in Attachment 2, as amended, in the report (August 1, 2014) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

7.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendations, subject to such stylistic and technical changes as may be required.