Item - 2021.MM31.10
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on April 7, 2021 with amendments.
MM31.10 - Improving Virtual Community Consultation Meetings for Development Applications - by Councillor Jaye Robinson, seconded by Councillor James Pasternak
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on April 7 and 8, 2021, adopted the following:
1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to review virtual planning consultation meetings, in consultation with members of the public, and report back to Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2021 with recommendations for improvement, including:
a. guidelines and practices to ensure that virtual community consultation meetings are consistent and effective;
b. strategies to improve opportunities for members of the public to participate in virtual community consultation meetings;
c. best practices related to virtual consultation in other jurisdictions;
d. opportunities to improve accessibility for members of the public and, in particular, members of the public participating by phone;
e. opportunities to enhance and expand details and images contained in the public meeting notices which are mailed out to the community;
f. opportunities to enhance signage which is placed on development sites, including images, plans and other drawings, by either the City or the applicant as requested by the City;
g. the feasibility of a "print-to-mail on demand" option for physical supporting materials such as slide presentations which may not be available for residents without computer access; and
h. options to share the responsibility of consultation supports with applicants.
Background Information (City Council)
Communications (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130247.pdf
(April 5, 2021) Letter from Sheila Harrison, Secretary, South Armour Heights Residents' Association (MM.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130251.pdf
(April 6, 2021) E-mail from Jane Fitzwilliam (MM.New)
(April 6, 2021) E-mail from Ian Anderson (MM.New)
(April 6, 2021) E-mail from Cindy Weiner, President, St. Andrew's Ratepayers Association (MM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130401.pdf
(April 6, 2021) Letter from Andy Gort, President, South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (MM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130383.pdf
(April 6, 2021) E-mail from The Valleyanna Residents’ Association (MM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130385.pdf
(April 7, 2021) E-mail from Tom Weinberger (MM.New)
(April 7, 2021) E-mail from Geeske (Heska) Cruickshank (MM.New)
(April 7, 2021) E-mail from Peter Suchanek, President, Uptown Yonge Neighbourhood Alliance (MM.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/mm/comm/communicationfile-130411.pdf
(April 7, 2021) E-mail from Eric Melis (MM.New)
Motions (City Council)
Speaker Nunziata advised Council that the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, require that Motion MM31.10 be referred to the Planning and Housing Committee. A two-thirds vote of the Council Members present is required to waive referral.
That City Council amend Recommendation 1 by adding the four new Parts below so it now reads as follows:
1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to review virtual planning consultation meetings, in consultation with members of the public, and report back to Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2021 with recommendations for improvement, including:
a. guidelines and practices to ensure that virtual community consultation meetings are consistent and effective;
b. strategies to improve opportunities for members of the public to participate in virtual community consultation meetings;
c. best practices related to virtual consultation in other jurisdictions; and
d. opportunities to improve accessibility for members of the public and, in particular, members of the public participating by phone.;
e. opportunities to enhance and expand details and images contained in the public meeting notices which are mailed out to the community;
f. opportunities to enhance signage which is placed on development sites, including images, plans and other drawings, by either the City or the applicant as requested by the City;
g. the feasibility of a "print-to-mail on demand" option for physical supporting materials such as slide presentations which may not be available for residents without computer access; and
h. options to share the responsibility of consultation supports with applicants.