Item - 2017.LS18.2

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

1. Directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to undertake stakeholder and public consultation on the Framework for a Harmonized Sidewalk Café and Marketing By-law, and on the Fee Structure as outlined in the report (March 31, 2017) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and report with the harmonized by-law following this consultation to the Licensing and Standards meeting in the fourth quarter of 2017. 

2. Directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report, as part of her final report, on the requirement that any new café application pay a non-refundable fee of $1,300.00 for the installation of two trees located either at the café location or other nearby location.  

3. Directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to consult with the General Manager, Transportation Services, in addition to the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, on the harmonized framework proposal to permit year-round enclosed cafes and any associated fees and report as part of her final report in the fourth quarter of 2017.

This report presents a framework for the harmonization of six in-force sidewalk café and marketing bylaws into a single bylaw; proposed new fees; and a consultation plan.

This report aligns with, and supports, the Transportation Services' (TS) report entitled, A Framework for the Toronto Sidewalk Café Design Manual, being presented to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on April 12, 2017. 

Over the past two years, Municipal Licensing and Standards (ML&S) has been working with Transportation Services to review existing regulations and consult with stakeholders, with a view to developing a framework for a harmonized by-law.

In order to balance multiple interests, the following three project objectives have been identified:

1. develop consistent standards for the harmonized by-law (ML&S);

2. update the fee schedule (ML&S); and

3. ensure the sidewalk functions for all users through the permit process and through new sidewalk café design options and opportunities (TS).

ML&S's report includes a framework for the harmonization of existing by-laws into a single by-law, and associated fees. Key provisions include consistent city-wide standards that are easy to understand and provide clarity for decision-making, along with simplified permit fees: one for downtown and one for everywhere else.

Both of the above reports recommend further consultation and a report back to City Council in the fourth quarter of 2017.