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

The Parks and Environment Committee requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation:

1.         to report further on Toronto's tree canopy to the Parks and Environment Committee for the next term of City Council in 2011 when 2009 data becomes available;

2.         to explore means of improving communications and timely service to customers related to the Front Yard Tree Planting Program;

3.         to consult with the City Solicitor and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) on additional tools needed to prosecute persons who break the Private Tree By-law and report back to the Committee; and

4.         in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and City Solicitor, assess and report back to the Committee for the next term of City Council in 2011 on any process improvements, including changes to Provincial enabling legislation that may be required to better coordinate tree protection requirements with development applications, including Committee of Adjustment.

Staff Presentation on "Every Tree Counts - A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest"

The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:

1.         upon legislation by the Government of Ontario, City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the Built Environment Standard and determine the applicable components of the standards that apply to playground design.

2.         City Council request funding from the Government of Ontario to implement the City's strategy of making City playgrounds fully accessible.

The Parks and Environment Committee requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to City Council, for its meeting on July 6, 2010, on the membership composition of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Playground Equipment Committee.

The purpose of this report is to provide information on making existing City playgrounds fully accessible to the benefit of all.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 requires the province to be accessible by 2025 through the development of five mandatory accessibility standards.  One of the five standards to be developed, the Accessible Built Environment Standard, is expected to provide direction on new construction and extensive renovations.

Currently Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PF&R) has an inventory of over 850 playgrounds located in every park category city-wide and has limited resources to maintain these assets.  Although PF&R is already incorporating a number of accessible initiatives for new playgrounds and renovations to existing ones, PF&R will finalize a strategy based on the financial impact of retrofitting current playgrounds and constructing new ones when the new standards are announced.

The Parks and Environment Committee requested:

1.         the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report to the Parks and Environment Committee on the City's strategy to operate cafes and food service operation in City parks specifically:

a.         on methods to enhance efficiency and quality of the directly operated food services outlets;

b.         on opportunities to provide for enhanced community partnership agreements;

c.         to what extent food services in Parks is a core activity of the Division, giving reasons for yes or no;

d.         to outline the criteria used to establish food services in parks; and

2.         that this report be submitted as part of the City's Food Strategy for the next term of City Council in 2011.