Item - 2015.PW5.14
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on May 28, 2015 and was adopted with amendments.
PW5.14 - Coordinated Street Furniture Program - Status Update Year 7
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee:
1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, in the fourth quarter of 2015, with a review of the publication box licensing program, such review to include:
a. an overview of best practices in publication box licensing in comparable cities;
b. current and historical trends in the number and types of publications licensed in Toronto, including non-news or non-community-related publications;
c. a review of 311 service requests concerning unlicensed boxes, pedestrian conflict or relocation requests, City response service levels and responsiveness of publication companies to rectify issues;
d. the number of publication boxes migrated to corrals and multi-publication kiosks;
e. the feasibility of relocating publication box licences, including the migration of boxes to corrals and multi-publication kiosks; and options to accelerate these relocations;
f. in consultation with the BIA where available, the prioritization of high traffic pedestrian areas for the elimination or migration of publication boxes to corrals and multi-publication kiosks;
g. efforts undertaken by staff and publication companies to improve the condition of boxes and the attractiveness of the public realm; and
h. recommendations for bylaw amendments to further improve the location, setbacks, function, attractiveness, and pedestrian use of the public realm with respect to publication boxes.
Origin
Summary
The Coordinated Street Furniture Program is a partnership with Astral Out-of-Home to install, operate, and maintain over 25,500 pieces of street furniture over a 20-year period. The agreement with Astral began in 2007, and follows a fiscal year of September 1 to August 31. This report covers Year 7 of the agreement, for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
As directed by City Council, the annual report outlines the revenues received by the City from the Program, an update on the rollout of the inventory of street furniture elements, and an overview of maintenance performance and issues. The deployment of new street furniture pieces is on schedule. Routine and scheduled maintenance of elements is taking place according to the terms of the agreement, but remains challenging, and the City is working with Astral to improve response times. A new litter bin design is being rolled out to address maintenance challenges experienced with earlier versions, such as broken flaps and pedals.
The report also provides an update on the status of new forms of advertising approved by City Council and now being implemented on transit shelters, namely "creative" advertising that is included within or extends beyond the ad caisson, and "digital" advertising which replaces traditional paper panels in transit shelters with digital screens. Finally, the environmental benefits of the program, such as the avoidance of 920 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions due to energy efficiency measures, have been included in the report.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-80110.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pw/comm/communicationfile-52823.pdf
Speakers
Motions
That
1. The Public Works & Infrastructure Committee request the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the fourth quarter of 2015 with a review of the publication box licensing program, such review to include:
a. An overview of best practices in publication box licensing in comparable cities;
b. Current and historical trends in the number and types of publications licensed in Toronto, including non-news or non-community-related publications;
c. A review of 311 service requests concerning unlicensed boxes, pedestrian conflict or relocation requests, City response service levels and responsivenesss of publication companies to rectify issues;
d. The number of publication boxes migrated to corrals and multi-publication kiosks;
e. The feasibility of relocating publication box licences, including the migration of boxes to corrals and multipublication kiosks; and options to accelerate these relocations;
f. In consultation with the BIA where available, the prioritization of high traffic pedestrian areas for the elimination or migration of publication boxes to corrals and multi-publication kiosks;
g. Efforts undertaken by staff and publication companies to improve the condition of boxes and the attractiveness of the public realm;
h. Recommendations for bylaw amendments to further improve the location, setbacks, function, attractiveness, and pedestrian use of the public realm with respect to publication boxes.