Community Council Approves 975 Units at Bridlewood Mall on August 17th

Dear Friends and Neighbours

I had originally sent out an e-mail to all my councillor colleagues last month to defer this item until the neighbourhood got a good deal. Not one councillor responded to my e-mail.

I was told point blank by a councillor that my position would not be supported. From this, it was evident that lobbying had occurred by the Developer.

Consulting with members of the Citizen's Advisory Group and Stand Up Bridletowne I embarked to get a visible benefit for our community.

Subject to both City Council and Library Board Approvals:

The Bridlewood Library which is the 3rd busiest Community Library in Toronto will expand. It will move next to Shoppers Drug Mart commencing October 1st. Funding of $2.4 million dollars will be dedicated to the Library with $300,000 coming from Councillor Kelly's ward.

It will temporarily occupy 8,000 square feet with a further 1,200 square feet to be occupied. The Library will sign a 20 year lease.

Further the Advisory Group will have one last opportunity for changes and comments on the Finch Warden Revitalization Report which will go to Council.

The 975 units will be in two phases. The first will be 475 however, the Developer indicated that he would start with a 200 unit building to see how well he can sell units. There is still discussion that the full development can take 2-15 years. In the short term, Any building would commence in 2012. One amendment was accepted by Community Council to provide 1 car spot instead of a .9 spot for all one bed room units. I do not want to see cars overflow onto side streets.

Along with you, I was shocked that any development would occur on a parking lot. Unfortunately the Official Plan allows for this and without any height restrictions. The original proposal asked for about 1400 units with included tall towers of up to 38 stories. The tallest under this plan will be 25.

We could not stop this development and in addition, with the support of the Planning Department we did not have the resources to hire Community Planners and fight this at OMB. With Councillors on side it was a done deal.

I am grateful to Mr. Adam Brown, who while doing his job for the Developer, acknowledged my push to have something of substance (the Library) for the Community. A last minute agreement prior to the Community Council was worked out with the Library Staff, Developer and Mall Management.

The anxiety is over and a conclusion while not popular was rendered. I will have to monitor the effects of Traffic, Sewers, Electric Power,TTC service, social and other issues that may arise from this decision. As always, I ask you to help be my eyes and ears to alert me to problems or potential problems that may arise.

Thank you for working with me to make the best out of a very unpopular situation.

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus

With the warm summer weather also comes mosquitoes. While mosquitoes have always been pests, this year they also post a threat to our health. City Staff have informed me that a mosquito bearing the West Nile Virus has been found near our own ward, in the Birchmount and Sheppard area.

We urge all residents to take extra precautions when going out:
- Apply mosquito repellant to exposed skin
- Wear light coloured clothing
- Avoid being outdoors past dusk if possible
- Drain standing water where mosquitos can breed

For more information, see City's news release concerning mosquitoes below.

What should I know about parking on the street?

Whether it be from the people worried about their neighbours parking on the street, or those who receive tickets themselves, one of the issues we hear most often about concerns parking on the street. We've compiled some of the important information here so you can be prepared; whether it be to keep your streets clear or to avoid fines in the future.

Can I park on the street?
In the City of Toronto, unless otherwise signed, you are allowed to park on the street for up to three hours at a time. If you exceed that limit, whether it be at your house or not, you risk being fined. This includes overnight parking.

What do I do if neighbours are parking on my street for more than three hours?
As a resident, you can call Parking Enforcement at 416-808-6600. Give them all the information you can (where the car is parked, when and how long it's been parked, and if possible, the make, model, and license plate of the car.), and they will send out an officer to investigate.

If it is a recurring problem, call our office at 416-392-1374. We will contact Parking Enforcement on your behalf, and set up an extended parking detail.

What do I do if I've been issued a ticket?
You have two options, pay the fine, or dispute the ticket. You can make the payment online, in person, by mail, or by telephone. If you choose to dispute the ticket, you must bring the ticket to one of four Parking Tag Operations offices, and schedule an appearance in court. More information on both of these can be found in the links below.

I've been parking on the street for years, why did I only get a ticket now?
Parking on the street for over three hours has always been illegal. Because of the complaint-driven nature of enforcement, street parking may not always be ticketed right away.

Can I apply for a parking permit to let me park on the street?
Parking permits allow the holder to park in specified areas on-sreet at designated hours. Unfortunately, parking permits are not issued for the Scarborough area at the current moment. The permit program is only in effect for the cities of Toronto, East York, York, and limited parts of Etobicoke; generally in areas where driveways are not common. Plans for expansion are under consideration.

Why have I received a notice of violation when I was parked on my own driveway?
If you are parking on a widened portion of your driveway, this is a Property Standards violation. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be parking more vehicles side-by-side than will fit in your garage. You may also receive a Parking Enforcement for parking over the sidewalk or on the boulevard portion of your driveway, both of which are City property. We will be exploring both these issues in more depth a future article.

Useful links:
Parking offences that do not require signs
What to do if you've received a parking ticket
Online parking ticket payment system
Permit Parking in Toronto
Toronto Police Services: Parking Enforcement

Valleyview Garden Awards Nominations

We're working once again this year with our friends Valleyview Gardens to present Valleyview Garden Awards to some of Ward 39's best looking gardens. Each of the ten winners of the Valleyview Garden Awards will receive a $25 gift certificate donated by the garden centre. If you or someone you know have a great looking garden, drop us a line at 416-392-1374 or send us an email. Be sure to provide your name, address, and home telephone number so we can contact you. Entries close July 1st, so don't delay!

Useful Links
Valleyview Gardens
Email a nomination

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

Before you wash your car this summer, you should know that the City of Toronto has by-laws regulating what can and can't be done to wash your vehicle. Read on to find out how you can avoid a stiff fine.

June 15, 2010

Washing wisely - what you need to know when washing your car this summer

With the warm weather upon us, many Toronto residents are taking the opportunity to add car washing to their list of weekend chores. Unfortunately, the water that comes from washing your car often contains dirt, oil, grease, heavy metals, hazardous chemicals and soaps - all of which enter local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario and can then harm aquatic habitat.

It is important to be aware that there are two types of sewer systems in the City of Toronto. The sanitary system takes the used water from homes and businesses to a wastewater treatment plant for cleaning. The storm sewer system - the square grates on the side of the road - takes rainwater and melted snow from the streets and releases it, untreated, into local streams, rivers and Lake Ontario.

To avoid having dirty water run into the storm sewer system, consider these options for washing your car:
• Use a commercial car wash facility. These facilities are required to follow a set of practices determined by the City, including treating wastewater and discharging it into the sanitary sewer system where it will receive further treatment.
• Find a location where the wastewater won’t flow into the storm sewer. For example, washing cars on a grassy lawn or gravel surface allows the wastewater to be absorbed by the soil. Washing the car on your lawn doubles the water use by giving your lawn a good watering at the same time.
• Dispose of the wastewater into the sanitary sewer. By using a pail, washcloth and only a small amount of water, and then wiping the car dry, the waste water can be contained in the bucket and disposed of into the sanitary sewer through a laundry sink or toilet.

When choosing one of the above car washing options, here are a few tips to stay green:
• Don’t use soap. Instead, use a small amount of environmentally friendly water-based detergent that is phosphate and NPE free. Many other car-care products also contain harmful chemicals which should be avoided.
• Don’t wash your car during drought conditions.
• Re-think the need to wash your car if rain is in the forecast.

The City of Toronto has a Sewers Bylaw that prohibits the discharge of any water other than storm water or melted snow into the storm sewers.

For more information, visit http://www.toronto.ca/water or call 311.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tax & Water Relief Programs for Low Income Seniors and Low Income Persons with a Disability

The City of Toronto offers tax and water relief programs for low income seniors and low income persons with a disability. If you are a senior and interested in this program, contact our office at 416-392-1374 as soon as possible to request an information package and application form. Application must be submitted by August 31, 2010.

Useful Links
City of Toronto: Property Tax

"Secret" Parking Ticket Cancellation Guidelines Revealed (UPDATED)

Toronto Parking Enforcement's secret parking ticket cancellation policies were made public by City Council yesterday, so here is your chance to take a look.

Download (18 pages, pdf format)

Update! The City of Toronto has published a press release concerning this document. A seperate version of the document can also be found within it.

News Release

June 9, 2010

City of Toronto releases guidelines on parking ticket cancellation

Toronto City Council yesterday approved the public release of the City's parking ticket cancellation guidelines. The guidelines outline the circumstances in which a City of Toronto parking ticket may be cancelled and the evidence required to support a parking ticket cancellation.

The City of Toronto uses established guidelines to help staff make informed, consistent decisions about parking ticket cancellations. Reasons for cancellation may include bylaw exemptions, an error in a parking ticket, an individual having a valid permit, or a medical emergency.

City staff at parking ticket counters review each disputed ticket and the evidence presented to understand the nature of the infraction and the circumstances surrounding the ticket issued, and to determine whether a cancellation is warranted.

Publishing the cancellation guidelines will help streamline the process for disputing a parking ticket and may reduce the number of requests for trials to dispute parking tickets. If a parking ticket does not meet the requirements for cancellation, or the proper evidence cannot be provided, individuals may choose to pay the ticket rather than request a trial.

The guidelines are available at http://toronto.ca/pay-toronto-tickets/pdf/cancellation_guidelines.pdf.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.