October 2024 General Members' Meeting Highlights

Guest Speaker - Parking Enforcement

Chris Butterfield #65904 who is the Area Supervisor 51/52 Division for the Parking Enforcement Unit, Toronto Police Service encouraged residents to contact him at [email protected] or 416-808-6638 with any parking issues.  He works with two Community Liaison Officers, Bradley Bentley #66218, email [email protected] and Andrew Cooke #66159, email [email protected], who patrol the area on bicycles during the day or night.  The Parking East Community Liaison Office responds to recurring parking issues reported by residents with directed patrols, as well as assisting with school traffic safety initiatives and special events. 

Bay Street has dedicated bike lanes south of College Street and dedicated bus/taxi/motorcycle/bicycle curb lane north of College.  Three bike lane blitzes have been conducted this year to ensure they remain clear of vehicles.  Parking fines increased August 1st, and one of the top fines is $200 for parking in a bike lane, given the importance of bike lane safety.  Tickets are mailed to any vehicles that are parked in bike lanes when the officer is able to take a photo, but the vehicle leaves before a ticket can be issued. As of September 19th, more tickets were issued to vehicles for parking in bike lanes than all of 2023. 

The department also investigates misuse of Accessible Parking Permits with undercover vehicles and permits can be seized under the Highway Traffic Act. 

Car share vehicles are only exempt from on street permit parking regulations and 3 hour parking limit, and are allowed a 1 hour grace period.  Otherwise the car share vehicles can be tagged and/or towed.  

Mike L. asked if Parking Enforcement could issue tickets to people riding bicycles on sidewalks.  Unfortunately only Traffic Enforcement, Toronto Police Service and Bylaw Officers can issue tickets, since Parking Enforcement can only ticket licenced vehicles, not unlicenced bicycle riders.

Susan R. reported that vehicles are usually illegally parked in the northbound bike lanes on Bay Street, between College Street and Grenville Street.  Typically this is during the late morning.  There is on street parking allowed, but not between 7 am and 7 pm from Monday to Friday.  Parking Enforcement will monitor this problem spot.

​Previous Meeting Items

No one was nominated for the two vacant positions on the Bay Cloverhill Community Association board. Cathy C. was nominated since her director term is ending.

The speed limit on Queen's Park Crescent has been reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

Bicycles and some ebikes are allowed to use the road or bike lanes.  Motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters are only allowed on the street.  The possibility of extending street parking hours and no left turn lane in the summer is being investigated.

A graphic designer has been selected to develop a logo for the Clock Tower Trail.

Residents are encouraged to vote for the installation of commercial and passenger delivery/drop off loading zones on St. Joseph Street on Toronto Centre Projects at https://torontocentreprojects.ca/en/ideas/st-joseph-street-commercial-loading-zone-passenger-drop-off-and-loading.  The matter will be reviewed at the Toronto and East York Community Council later this week.  A letter of support has been sent for consideration.

The owners of the buildings adjacent to Dr. Lillian McGregor Park are not interested in the outdoor mural art projects selected as Toronto Centre Participatory Budgeting Projects 2023.​

Neighbourhood

The City has a program to install street furniture (litter bins, benches, information pillars, automated public toilets, transit shelters, publication box corrals and kiosks, postering structures, bike rings).  An inventory was completed in 2021.  The installation of 2 washrooms, 4 benches, 5 litter bins, 7 bike rings was requested from Transportation Services.  Automated washrooms are no longer part of the street furniture program.  About half of the items have been installed, with 2 benches, 3 bike rings and 2 litter bins pending.  The bike ring installation at 44 St. Joseph Street can only be done if the sidewalk is redone because there is no concrete underneath the pavers.  As an alternative, 3 bike rings will be installed across the street, by 1001 Bay Street and 21 St. Joseph Street.

The City is holding 2025 budget consultations on 150+ municipal services e.g. parks maintenance, garbage collection, public libraries, road repair, TTC, recreation programs, childcare, animal control, water testing, police, fire and emergency medical response.  There will be an in person consultation on Sunday October 27th from noon to 2 pm at Rose Avenue Junior Public School, 675 Ontario Street, to attend register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/budgetto-getting-what-matters-to-you-toronto-east-york-tickets-1028495958097.  Virtual consultations are scheduled for Wednesday October 23rd and Wednesday October 30th from 7 to 9 pm https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/budget-finances/city-budget/.  In addition residents should complete an online survey until Thursday October 31st  at https://cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=415415&d=e&h=6982EBE13122B9C.

Developments

The status of select area developments was reviewed.  8 Wellesley Street West has windows installed up to the 50th floor and estimated occupancy is March 2025. 

There was a Committee of Adjustment hearing for 95 St. Joseph Street which added a storey and some balconies, removed residential parking and increased the number of condo units, with just under half being studio layouts. 

The office portion of the 1075 Bay Street redevelopment will likely be replaced by residential rental apartments. 

Fencing has been installed at 100 College Street, with demolition of the building pending. 

​A community consultation was hosted by St. Mike's on October 3rd.  The Kelly Library will be replaced with a more welcoming design.  The redevelopment will have new student residences, event space and study areas.  The library, print shop, conservation area and Kelly Library Café uses will be be retained.  https://library.stmikes.utoronto.ca/about/rezoning/.  A revitalized campus and landscape plan is under consideration www.stmikes.utoronto.ca/usmc-campus-landscape-plan. 

Community Meetings

The Community Police Liaison Committee meeting on Wednesday September 4th announced that $5,200 raised at the Community BBQ for the Beverly School.  There were reports of serious violence issues at Sankofa Square violence issues, where the safe injection site will be closing.  There were armed robberies at clothing and jewelry stores in Bloor Yorkville.  A panic alarm/whistle promotional item for residents will be available in the near future.

Various South Toronto community issues were discussed at the Federation of South Toronto Residents' Associations, including Ontario Place, Billy Bishop airport runway extensions and the establishment of a Development Committee that will help residents' associations with understanding the building approval process and support their vision of their neighbourhood.  Several Canada Post mailboxes have been removed, which is also an issue in the Bay Cloverhill area.  Some condo buildings have outgoing mail service in their mailrooms.  Christine D. will look into whether Canada Post can offer this service to all buildings, or restore some mailboxes at street locations. 

The Toronto Centre Town Hall was held on September 19th with a reset on the Downtown East Action Plan.  The new protocol was reviewed for encampments.  A new City department has been created to deal with the shortened provincially mandated timeline for development approvals.  The City preference is to install traffic lights instead of crosswalks, as they are safer for pedestrians. 

Councillor Saxe held a University Rosedale Town Hall on parks.  There are 1,500 parks maintained by the City, in addition to trails, community centres, playgrounds and pools.  New parks are only created by developer parkland dedications.  The capital budget has been allocated for the next 10 years.  Budgeted maintenance is still inadequate, but recent news stories uncovered that parks department staff are logging just over 4 hours per shift, with GPS showing over 2 hours per shift.  There are two studies underway, on Equal Access to Parks and about Off Leash Dog Areas.

Councillor Moise and his staff toured the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood on September 23rd and reviewed proposed or planned projects including traffic control boxes, tree surrounds, crosswalks/traffic lights, loading zones, curb extensions on St. Joseph, Breadalbane and Grenville, dog park signage, Dr. Lillian McGregor Park community plaque, outdoor art mural, laneway lighting and paving.

The inaugural quarterly meeting of the Toronto Centre Ward Council will be held in November.  Merick B. will be the designated representative.  Anyone interested in being the alternate representative should contact Christine D. or Cathy C.

Community Concerns

The City has a Commemorative Tree and Bench Program that offers plaques on new or existing benches and trees.  The University of Toronto program has ended.  There are two commemorative benches currently installed in the neighbourhood.  In Clover Hill Park, a bench is dedicated to Dr. Christine Hone-Buske studied behavioural neuroscience at the University of Toronto, fluent in 9 languages and died of cancer in 2019.  The second is at St. Mary Parkette for preschool teacher Wendy Dyer who succumbed to cancer in 2020.  Applications are open at all Bay Cloverhill parks with costs ranging from $738 to $2,530, which are eligible for tax deductible receipts.  For more details, visit
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/tributes/commemorative-items-in-parks/ or https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/find-service-information/article/?kb=kA06g000001cw9aCAA.

The installation of 'no barking' signage at Breadalbane Park is challenging for Bylaw Enforcement because the City's bylaw does not explicitly mention barking as a prohibited noise. Existing “be a good neighbour signage” that is used in other parks may be substituted.

Garbage and debris in private laneways behind St. Joseph Street and St. Nicholas Street have been reported to Bylaw Enforcement.

Water leaks on the sidewalk at the north east corner of Dr. Lillian McGregor Park have been reported to the Parks Department.

Mulch is needed for some of the City trees on the west side of Bay Street.  Since it is difficult for the Gardening Committee to deliver supplies, adjacent condo buildings are asked to help with tree maintenance.

There was an all night unauthorized Nuit Blanche rave held at Queen's Park which resulted in hundreds of partygoers causing damage including graffiti.  The same event has been held the previous two years.  Bylaw Enforcement has been advised and will be proactive to prevent another occurrence at next year's Nuit Blanche.

A parking space on St. Mary Street, west of Bay Street will be replaced with a no stopping zone. Pay and display parking rates on St. Mary Street, west of St. Nicholas Street will be increased from $2.25 per hour to $5.25 per hour.

Residents have noticed that some of the on street Canada Post mail boxes have been removed.  Theresa G. mentioned that Canada Post offers outgoing mail service in her building. 

Community and Special Events

RSVP to attend the 52 Division Community Police Liaison Committee Town Hall on Wednesday November 6th at 6:30 pm, at 52 Division, 255 Dundas Street West.

Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held at Queen's Park and Hart House Circle at the University of Toronto on Friday October 11th. 

The Holly Jolly Fun Run and Santa Claus parade happens on Sunday November 24th.

The St. Mike's Christmas Market on Elmsley Place will be scheduled on the first or second Thursday of December.

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Central YMCA on Monday November 16th, with a special announcement, as well as speeches by local politicians.