Item - 2021.MM35.19
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 14, 2021 with amendments.
MM35.19 - Taking Action to Protect Tenants from Extreme Heat - by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 14, 15 and 16, 2021, adopted the following:
1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Director, Environment and Energy, the Chief Resilience Officer, and request the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with other appropriate Divisions, to report back to the Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2021 on the feasibility of the following outstanding from Item LS25.1:
a. require that all existing apartment buildings provide air conditioned units or an air conditioned cool room in the building;
b. require that all new apartment buildings have air conditioning and add measures that enable passive cooling; and
c. require that all apartment buildings undergo retrofits, such as new windows, heavy-duty screens, cladding and other passive and active cooling systems, and updated heating systems to mitigate the negative health impacts of heat on tenants.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to identify and implement increased access to cool spaces that meet the needs of vulnerable individuals for the summer of 2021, considering COVID-19 restrictions and closure of regular cooling centers and drop-ins.
Background Information (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
Speaker Nunziata advised Council that the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, require that Motion MM35.19 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 words "the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat" so that it reads as follows:
1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Director, Environment and Energy, the Chief Resilience Officer, and request the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with other appropriate Divisions, to report back to the Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2021 on the feasibility of the following outstanding from Item LS25.1:
a. require that all existing apartment buildings provide air conditioned units or an air conditioned cool room in the building;
b. require that all new apartment buildings have air conditioning and add measures that enable passive cooling; and
c. require that all apartment buildings undergo retrofits, such as new windows, heavy-duty screens, cladding and other passive and active cooling systems, and updated heating systems to mitigate the negative health impacts of heat on tenants.
That:
1. City Council direct the City staff in Recommendation 1 to include the following in their report back to the Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2021:
a. the individual and collective costs of providing air conditioning units in all existing apartment buildings; and
b. the ability to charge tenants for capital improvements related to air conditioning.
2. City Council request the Board of Directors, Toronto Community Housing Corporation to direct the President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation to provide an estimate on the cost of providing air conditioning in Toronto Community Housing's properties and how this would affect their capital program.
3. City Council request City staff to ensure that tenants, landlords and relevant stakeholders are given notice when the report in Recommendation 1 is considered by the Planning and Housing Committee.
That Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong be permitted to withdraw his motion 2.