The Decision Document is for preliminary reference purposes only.  Please refer to the Committee’s Report to Council or to the Minutes for the official record.

This report recommends amendments to the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 447, Fences, regarding the addition of materials for use as a swimming pool enclosure.  These amendments recognize the possible use of a broader range of available fencing materials while maintaining the overall safety provisions of the Municipal Code as it relates to swimming pool enclosures.

Forwarding motion from North York Community Council from its May 25, 2010 Community Council meeting.

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

A.        Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to:

1.         sponsor a seminar for Provincial Members of Parliament representing Toronto ridings to be held at Queen's Park that might include installing the mobile office at Queen's Park; the purpose of such a seminar to:

a.         advise Provincial Members of Parliament and their staff of the proactive measures the City of Toronto is taking to improve conditions for tenants in Toronto;

b.         advise Provincial Members of Parliament on how they can work through their local City Councillors' Offices to assist their tenant constituents;

c.         lobby Provincial Members of Parliament for changes in tenant regulations that would make City efforts, on behalf of tenants, easier and more productive;

d.         invite tenant groups and City of Toronto Councillors to assist in conducting the seminars;

e.         advise Local Members of Parliament at this seminar of the huge shortfall of funds necessary to bring the social housing stock up to a minimum standard;

2.         report back to the Licensing and Standards Committee, in consultation with tenant and landlord groups, on a mechanism to provide notification boxes in multi-residential apartment buildings;

3.         consult with all the City's Agencies, Boards and Commissions to assess their interest in participating in the Multi-Residential Apartment Building (MRAB) Audit Program to expand the utility of the "Tenant Information Box";

4.         consult with 311 Toronto in order to create a single point of call for tenants that want to participate in the MRAB Audit Program;

5.         report in early 2011 on changes to the MRAB communications and engagement activities to ensure that the Program is accessible and multi-lingual;

6.         report on the feasibility of submitting copies of all work orders in apartment buildings to landlords' insurance companies for problem buildings; and

7.         meet with the Ministry of Labour to devise a protocol that will expedite repairs to elevators on an urgent basis.

B.        Requested Deputy City Manager, Richard Butts to report, through the 2011 budget process, on staffing needs for the Multi-Residential Apartment Building Audit Program to ensure adequate enforcement of property standards and tenant engagement.

Bill Blakes, District Manager, Municipal Licensing and Standards gave a presentation to the Licensing and Standards Committee and filed a copy of his presentation.

Councillors Janet Davis and Frances Nunziata addressed the Committee:

The following motion by Councillor Davis lost:

That the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards be requested to report in early 2011 on:

a.         the establishment of a landlord fee that is based on a cost recovery model that includes all the costs related to the MRAB program;

b.         the feasibility of developing a system for evaluating and rating multi-residential building standards to provide better information to existing and prospective tenants;

c.         the feasibility of requesting landlords to provide work order records;

d.         progress in implementing a ticketing system that would provide tenants with copies of notices and orders.

Public notice has been given in a manner prescribed in the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 162, Notice, Public.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Licensing and Standards Committee with an update on the implementation of the enhancements to the MRAB Audit Program designed to improve the housing conditions of tenants in the City, and to describe how these changes address tenant group and advocate concerns.

A number of the enhancements slated for 2010 have already been implemented and staff continue to work with stakeholders to implement those remaining. Many of the enhancements proposed for 2010 were conceived in consultation with tenant groups and tenant advocates.

On June 7, 2010, an additional session with these groups was held to continue to solicit feedback from the stakeholders who most significantly will feel the impact of the proposed changes – tenants. A number of additional suggestions were brought forward and staff will continue to explore both their merit and their feasibility within the parameters of the MRAB Program and the broader legislative framework under which Municipal Licensing and Standards conducts its regulatory functions.

The City of Toronto has been working to improve the standard of living for tenants across the City through the enforcement of property standards in multi-residential buildings. The City is conducting enforcement to bring rental buildings up to the standards set out in the City's by-laws, and landlords are being required to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to rental housing buildings and individual units. The MRAB pilot program utilizes a process of targeted enforcement that successfully identified and improved conditions for tenants in those buildings that have been inspected.

In a recent report (EX 40.4: Multi-Residential Apartment Building Audit Program), the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards outlined plans for the expansion of the program. Tenants across the City have engaged in the process and provided feedback that included ways to improve and enhance this approach, along with ideas for extending the reach of the Program.

MRAB Program staff have been responsive and engaged with tenants on these ideas, and the recommendation above would provide an opportunity for staff to formally report on some of these ideas and provide an assessment of suggestions for further improvement to the program.

(Submitted to City Council on March 31, April 1, 2010 as MM47.2)

The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council request  the Canadian Association of  Zoos and Aquariums to develop an 'Affiliate Accreditation Program'.

The purpose of this report is to explore the feasibility of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) expanding its accreditation program to include organizations such as Earth Rangers. Expanding the accreditation program would permit these organizations, if accredited, to use animal 'Ambassadors' in educational programs which would otherwise be prohibited by Chapter 349, Animals, of the Municipal Code.

Earth Rangers is a non profit organization, located in Woodbridge, Ontario, that focuses, in part, on communicating the importance of protecting  endangered animals and habitats using live animal 'Ambassadors' in  educational programs at schools and community events in Toronto (and across Ontario).

Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 349 Animals does not currently offer a process by which organizations may apply for exemption status. 

CAZA, Earth Rangers, and the Legal Services Division were consulted in the preparation of this report.

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

1.         Requests that City Council give consideration to implementing the Poster By-law at its meeting on July 6, 2010.

Request for a verbal report from Municipal Licensing and Standards staff on actions taken since the Postering By-law was passed in April 2006.

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

1          adopted the motion (June 10, 2010) from Councillor David Shiner to request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health and City Solicitor, to submit a report to the August 13, 2010 meeting of the Committee on recommendations that will permit tenants to have window air conditioners installed where central air conditioning is not available; and

2.         directed that appropriate public notice be given so that the Licensing and Standards Committee will be able to recommend to City Council adoption of this By-law.

Request for a report from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to the Licensing and Standards Committee on a mechanism that will permit tenants to have window air conditioners installed where central air conditioning is not available.

The Licensing and Standards Committee referred the transmittal (June 10, 2010) and recommendations from Etobicoke York Community Council to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards with a request that he submit an update report to the Etobicoke York Community Council.

In its meeting on February 9, 2010, the Etobicoke York Community Council requested the District Manager, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Etobicoke York District, to report to the Etobicoke York Community Council on the following aspects of store front personal loan businesses within the Etobicoke York District:

1.         The nature and operation of this type of business.

2.         The extent of Federal, Provincial and/or Municipal regulations applying to the operation of this type of business.

3.         Issues of a Municipal nature arising from operation of this type of business.

Item EY37.24 was ruled out of order at City Council on June 8 and 9, 2010.

Speaker Bussin ruled that the recommendations of the Etobicoke York Community Council have policy implications that are City-wide and should be considered by the Licensing and Standards Committee.  She ruled the Item out of order in its current form and directed the City Clerk to submit it to the Licensing and Standards Committee for consideration.

Request for report on the feasibility of implementing a muffling of motorcycle noise by-law in the City of Toronto.