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AlvinofDiaspar
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And the Globe:
Council approves more clout for mayor
Neighbourhoods also gain power in changes to government's operating structure
JENNIFER LEWINGTON
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF; With a report from Jeff Gray
A move to streamline how Toronto is governed, with a little more clout for the mayor and a larger voice for neighbourhoods, won easy approval after several hours of debate at council yesterday.
After council voted 27-13 to adopt the measures, Mayor David Miller disputed the view of some members that the changes will mean little to residents.
"This will allow this city to act on citywide priorities . . . and allow local issues to be decided much more on a neighbourhood basis," he told reporters.
Yesterday was the first day of a three-day meeting.
Council also voted 26-6 to adopt a controversial plan to seek bids on a 20-year deal to rehabilitate the city's "street furniture," including benches, transit shelters, garbage cans and newspaper boxes.
In exchange for a share of advertising on the new structures, a company will be hired to modernize the current mishmash on the city's streets.
City bureaucrats will now begin drafting a request for proposals for the project.
Works committee chairwoman Shelley Carroll praised council's decision as a move to beautify the city.
"We spend so much time caring about the design of buildings," she said. "We need street furniture that doesn't fight with them."
She added that the deal likely won't be awarded until after the Nov. 13 election.
But it was the debate on how the city is governed that preoccupied council yesterday.
The measures approved yesterday complement provincial legislation passed this month to give Toronto more control over its future.
The changes, which will take effect for the next council, include:
Explicit power for the mayor to name chairs of committee, a slightly stronger role compared to the informal influence exerted at present;
A new 13-member executive committee that would include committee chairs, the mayor and the deputy mayor. As well, four councillors would be elected for half terms by council as a whole. This group, somewhat stronger than the current policy and finance committee, would set broad policy directions;
A Speaker and deputy Speaker, elected by council, a move to speed the flow and decorum of debates among the 44 councillors;
Community councils having more say over clearly local routine matters, such as speed bumps. At present, some local issues tie up council for hours.
Despite the lengthy debate, council deferred until next year a decision on a possible increase in the number of community councils to eight from four.
But several councillors questioned the need for yesterday's debate, suggesting the city faces more pressing issues elsewhere.
"There is absolutely nothing here the public would have any interest in," said Councillor Case Ootes (Toronto-Danforth).
"This is inside baseball talk about dividing up turf. The public won't see anything of substance that will make any difference to it."
But Mr. Miller, who rejected calls for a U.S.-style "strong mayor" system that centralizes authority in the office of mayor, insists that local residents will see a difference.
"This isn't a strong mayor system," he said of the changes.
"But it does give the mayor more ability to steer the agenda."
"People will have a much better opportunity to be part of decisions affecting their neighbourhood," he said, with the opportunity to debate issues on recreation and development.
But citywide development policies would still be decided by council as a whole.
As well, council approved calls for reports on how to engage local residents in city matters.
AoD
Council approves more clout for mayor
Neighbourhoods also gain power in changes to government's operating structure
JENNIFER LEWINGTON
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF; With a report from Jeff Gray
A move to streamline how Toronto is governed, with a little more clout for the mayor and a larger voice for neighbourhoods, won easy approval after several hours of debate at council yesterday.
After council voted 27-13 to adopt the measures, Mayor David Miller disputed the view of some members that the changes will mean little to residents.
"This will allow this city to act on citywide priorities . . . and allow local issues to be decided much more on a neighbourhood basis," he told reporters.
Yesterday was the first day of a three-day meeting.
Council also voted 26-6 to adopt a controversial plan to seek bids on a 20-year deal to rehabilitate the city's "street furniture," including benches, transit shelters, garbage cans and newspaper boxes.
In exchange for a share of advertising on the new structures, a company will be hired to modernize the current mishmash on the city's streets.
City bureaucrats will now begin drafting a request for proposals for the project.
Works committee chairwoman Shelley Carroll praised council's decision as a move to beautify the city.
"We spend so much time caring about the design of buildings," she said. "We need street furniture that doesn't fight with them."
She added that the deal likely won't be awarded until after the Nov. 13 election.
But it was the debate on how the city is governed that preoccupied council yesterday.
The measures approved yesterday complement provincial legislation passed this month to give Toronto more control over its future.
The changes, which will take effect for the next council, include:
Explicit power for the mayor to name chairs of committee, a slightly stronger role compared to the informal influence exerted at present;
A new 13-member executive committee that would include committee chairs, the mayor and the deputy mayor. As well, four councillors would be elected for half terms by council as a whole. This group, somewhat stronger than the current policy and finance committee, would set broad policy directions;
A Speaker and deputy Speaker, elected by council, a move to speed the flow and decorum of debates among the 44 councillors;
Community councils having more say over clearly local routine matters, such as speed bumps. At present, some local issues tie up council for hours.
Despite the lengthy debate, council deferred until next year a decision on a possible increase in the number of community councils to eight from four.
But several councillors questioned the need for yesterday's debate, suggesting the city faces more pressing issues elsewhere.
"There is absolutely nothing here the public would have any interest in," said Councillor Case Ootes (Toronto-Danforth).
"This is inside baseball talk about dividing up turf. The public won't see anything of substance that will make any difference to it."
But Mr. Miller, who rejected calls for a U.S.-style "strong mayor" system that centralizes authority in the office of mayor, insists that local residents will see a difference.
"This isn't a strong mayor system," he said of the changes.
"But it does give the mayor more ability to steer the agenda."
"People will have a much better opportunity to be part of decisions affecting their neighbourhood," he said, with the opportunity to debate issues on recreation and development.
But citywide development policies would still be decided by council as a whole.
As well, council approved calls for reports on how to engage local residents in city matters.
AoD