Item - 2020.IE11.11

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate and enter into an advertising agreement with the Toronto Parking Authority and Astral Media Outdoor L.P. pursuant to the terms and conditions approved by the Board of Directors of the Toronto Parking Authority on December 12, 2019, Item PA11.8, and including such other terms and conditions as may be satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council direct that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the Decision Letter (December 12, 2019) from the Board of Directors of Toronto Parking Authority remain confidential in its entirety, as it pertains to ongoing negotiations by the Toronto Parking Authority and the City of Toronto.

Bike Share Toronto is a bicycle-sharing system operated by the Toronto Parking Authority, providing access to 5,000 bicycles at 465 docking stations for 2.34 million trips (2019). Slightly more than 400 stations are currently placed within the City's transportation right-of-way, each containing two 15 square-foot, non-illuminated display panels, one of which is reserved for rider information. The second panel, which typically faces away from the station, is proposed by the Toronto Parking Authority for use as third-party advertising.

Advertising on City streets is currently governed by the Street Furniture Agreement with Astral Media, and Chapter 694, Signs, General, of the Municipal Code. In 2013, City Council authorized that Bike Share Toronto panels could include third-party advertising subject to negotiation with Astral Media, which has now been substantially completed by the Toronto Parking Authority. City Council further authorized that no additional approvals would be needed under the bylaw. A tri-partite agreement between the City of Toronto, Toronto Parking Authority, and Astral Media would allow for the implementation of the aforementioned authorities and revenue generation from third-party advertising to financially support Toronto Bike Share.

The Board of Directors of Toronto Parking Authority, on December 12, 2019 considered the report (December 2, 2019) from the Acting President, Toronto Parking Authority.  The Toronto Parking Authority:

1.  Directed that its decision and the report (December 2, 2019) from the Acting President, Toronto Parking Authority, be forwarded to City Council for consideration.

2.  Authorized the President, Toronto Parking Authority, to negotiate and enter into an advertising agreement with Astral Media Outdoor L.P. and the City of Toronto pursuant to the terms and conditions in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (December 2, 2019) from the Acting President, Toronto Parking Authority, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and subject to the approval of Toronto City Council.

3.  Directed that the confidential information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (December 2, 2019) from the Acting President, Toronto Parking Authority, remain confidential in its entirety, as it pertains to ongoing negotiations related to assets of Toronto Parking Authority and provides confidential information to the Board of Directors of Toronto Parking Authority regarding the details of these negotiations.