The Toronto Community Council reports having requested the City Treasurer to submit a report directly to Council for its meeting to be held on February 4, 1998, on establishing a policy which would extend this needed benefit to senior citizens in the same circumstances across the City.

Re: Request to Move Hydro Pole at 30 Gates Avenue

Attached for your perusal is a copy of a letter from Toronto Hydro in response to my request on behalf of the residents at the above-noted address. Mr. and Mrs. Rana are elderly and have limited mobility who are applying for disabled front yard parking. They have requested to have the hydro pole adjacent to their property moved to allow for more room to negotiate the vehicle.

I am requesting that they not be charged for the move of the hydro pole and would like this issue addressed at the next City Services Committee meeting.

The Toronto Community Council also submits the following communication (November 6, 1997) from Anne Shephard, Communications Officer, Public Relations, Toronto Hydro, addressed to Councillor Jakobek:

Re: Hydro Pole at 30 Gates Avenue

I am in receipt of your letter dated October 20, 1997 requesting Toronto Hydro to investigate the feasibility of moving the hydro pole adjacent to 30 Gates Avenue. Upon receiving your letter I made an appointment to visit the Rana=s. I am now pleased to provide you with the following information.

On inspection we noted that the hydro pole is about 20 years old and in good condition. At present Toronto Hydro would not have just cause to replace this pole unless it became defective or until such time as the neighbourhood is scheduled for new poles under our 13.8kV System Upgrade Project. Our records indicate that there are no plans for this work in our current five year time table. Unfortunately, if the Ranas want to have the pole relocated now (subject to field conditions and stake-outs), they would have to pay the costs of relocating the pole, which is estimated to be in the $5,000 range.

During our conversation, Mr. Rana said he would like the pole relocated a few feet to the west. However on inspection, this would present a conflict with a mature city tree and the underground water supply to their home. It appears that the only alternative would be to move the pole to the front of their next door neighbours house at 32 Gates Avenue, subject to the neighbour=s agreement and that the new distance between the poles is within our installation standards.

Mr.& Mrs. Rana do plan to submit an application for front yard parking. Perhaps we should wait for the Rana=s to submit their application to the City and proceed in evaluating their request at that time.

Please let me know if further information is required.

CCCC

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also before it communications from the following, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk:

- (October 23, 1997) from the Assistant City Clerk of the former City of Toronto forwarding City Council=s decision respecting a report (October 3, 1997) from the Commissioner of City Works Services respecting AAppeal - Driveway Widening at 17 Lynwood Avenue (Ward 14)@;

- (January 20, 1997) from Gina Tapper

(Copies of the foregoing communications are on file in the office of the City Clerk)