Gord Perks City Councillor, Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park

Please find attached the invite for the Design Workshop on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 starting at 1:00 p.m at the High Park Baptist Church, 9 Hewitt Avenue.

Please note the September 15 RSVP date to register for the workshop. You can register by calling Corwin Cambray at 416-397-0244 or email
confirmation of your attendance to ccambra@toronto.ca by September 15.

A copy of the invite will be posted under the “What’s New” section on the web page for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study – www.toronto.ca/planning/bloordundas.htm

Please forward widely! I do hope you come out (again) to share your insight and experiences of living and working in the neighbourhood. Feel free to contact my office should you have any questions.

design-workshop-invite.pdf

As many of you are aware, Jameson Avenue is in need of repair, not only the road surface but also the watermain that runs beneath it. I have been in touch with many of you who have asked when Jameson Avenue revitalization will become a priority project for the City.

Please be advised that the Jameson Avenue Reconstruction will be underway starting next week, Wednesday September 3^rd, 2008. Please see the attached flyer that was distributed to residents on Jameson Avenue, Springhurst Avenue from Cowan Avenue to King Street, Dunn Avenue, Close Avenue, Dowling Avenue, Maynard Avenue, Leopold Street and Laxton Avenue earlier this week.

City Staff have been working with my office on the details of the Jameson Avenue Reconstruction over the past few months: the scope of work involved, the length of the project and my request for clear communication to the residents affected. I have posted preliminary information regarding this reconstruction on my website as soon as it has become available to my office.

The construction will involve complete closures of short segments of roadways during the watermain installation and the road reconstruction. Driveway accesses to the apartment buildings will be maintained and Jameson Avenue will be accessible only to those living on Jameson Avenue, no through traffic will be allowed. The watermain and water services reconstruction is scheduled from September 2nd, 2008 to October of 2008, with the road and sidewalk reconstruction from September to November 2008. As with many other projects to be completed in November, and our ever changing climate, it is likely that the project including the streetscaping work will be carried over to the spring (April/May) of 2009, in such case, the roadway will be made safe for winter traffic. I certainly hope that will not be the case.

Please note that pedestrian access to the waterfront will not be affected during this entire construction period.

I am also pleased to announce that the sidewalks will also be re-done and, thanks to my office, a new exciting community art project will be incorporated to revitalize the Jameson Avenue streetscape. I have been working diligently with the City’s Clean and Beautiful Secretariat to ensure that this streetscape receives some attention and that funding is allocated for a community-focused project. I will be providing details of this project at a later date.

Please also find attached an alternate route map to use during construction. Feel free to share this map with neighbours and friends.

I will post any updated information about the reconstruction on my website.

Thank you for your patience during this time and I look forward to seeing the improvement to this gateway into the vibrant community of Parkdale.

microsoft-word-jameson-avenue-construction-notice-to-affected-residen.pdf

jameson-ave-re-routing.pdf

Please be advised that in mid September, the courts will be closed for renovations.

In the Parks Forestry and Recreation capital projects for the year 2008, they have a project to upgrade the tennis courts at Marilyn Bell Park. The upgrades include the resurfacing and new fencing and net posts.

The courts will be closed for approximately four weeks.

Sign By-law Project Summary

It has been more than ten years since Toronto was amalgamated and, with the exception of some specific amendments, the by-laws of all of the former municipalities governing permanent signs are still in force today.

In response, Toronto Building is working towards the creation of a single Sign By-law to regulate permanent signs. Permanent signs include: roof signs, fascia (wall) signs, free-standing (ground) signs and billboards. A proposed draft by-law and enforcement protocol is expected to be completed by the summer of 2009.

The new Sign By-law will recognize Toronto’s beautification and heritage goals, as well as review ‘special areas’ that reflect unique characteristics throughout the City. The Sign By-law project will also explore ways that signage will support the City’s efforts in climate change and energy conservation. And in response to Council’s recommendation October 2007, the project will consider the potential application of a billboard or public signage tax specifically for the purposes of raising revenue to administer the by-law and raise revenues for city beautification, arts or cultural initiatives

The Sign By-law Project will seek to create regulations for the future rather than harmonize regulations from the past.

New technologies such as digital projection and other electronic signs, as well as the wide spread use of vinyl materials creates a challenge. A thorough review of these matters will be undertaken as part of the Sign By-law project and appropriate provisions will be developed to properly regulate these new technologies and materials.

You are invited to participate in one of the public consultation sessions. Please see attached flyer and/or visit the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/signbylawproject for details about the public consultations.

For more information you can:

Visit www.toronto.ca/signbylawproject

Email signbylawproject@toronto.ca

Phone 416-392-8000.

metro-ad-aug-26-08.pdf

The CNE is opening this Friday August 15th. Modifications to parking in adjacent neighbourhoods have been put in place to accommodate residents during CNE operation. The changes reflect city initiated community consultation with residents, businesses and stakeholders in the area to receive feedback on traffic and parking impacts during the CNE.

Please see the attached Toronto and East York Community Council approved documents, illustrating the location of the Transportation signs that have been erected in your neighbourhood.

backgroundfile-14184.pdf

backgroundfile-14185.pdf

I am pleased to announce that I am in the process of finalizing the Ward 14 annual newsletter that will be delivered to every household and business in the ward this fall. This year’s newsletter will be full of exciting updates on the work we have done together in Ward 14, and will include my work at City Hall and a few of the many exciting new initiatives we have accomplished in each of your communities.

I hope you all with take a look!

This year, I participated in a safety audit with members of the Tibetan Community in the Jameson Avenue area, hosted by South Asian Women’s Centre representatives who were trained by Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence against Women & Children (METRAC). Our walkabout was a very informative session that provided us with an opportunity to identify areas of concern and discuss what we could do to improve the accessibility and safety in this neighbourhood. Photos of this event are posted on the website in my photo album, I encourage all of you to take a look!

If you are interested in community safety please consider attending a METRAC Community Safety Audit Training session this fall, or for more information please refer to the attached PDF.

community-safety-audit-brochure-web.pdf

print-fall-08-community-safety-audit-trainings-poster.pdf

Toronto‘s Personal Vehicle Tax (PVT)

In the coming weeks, you will see advertisements informing Toronto residents about the City of Toronto‘s Personal Vehicle Tax (PVT), approved by City Council in October 2007. The PVT comes into effect on September 1, 2008. The tax will be $60 for a passenger vehicle or light commercial vehicles registered for personal use and $30 for a motorcycle or moped.

If you or your constituents would like more information, please contact the City’s Tax Customer Service Call Centre at 416-338-4829, or visit the website atwww.toronto.ca/taxes.

YIMBY

Yes in My Back Yard is coming to the Gladestone this fall. For more information please see the PDF below. Looking forward to seeing you there!

http://www.gladstonehotel.com/yimby2008.pdf

Parkdale Youth Festival

The annual Parkdale Youth Festival is back this Saturday August 23rd from 2:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at Masaryk-Cowan Park, Queen and Cowan. It’s a day of family entertainment to raise awareness for various Parkdale youth service organizations.

The Festival will be comprised of various components, including an “Interactive Art Zone” where individuals can contribute to a “mural of street art”. At the end of the day these pieces will be offered to various community organizations in hopes that they are proudly displayed. Throughout the day there will also be a variety of performances, a children’s activity area and wading pool, a Marketplace of local artisans and vendors, and a Community Information Fair with displays of materials from various youth organizations.

For more information please refer to attached flyer: pyf-web-image.jpg

The West End Heat Registry and Heat Response Network became active this year. The registry was developed in response to deputations to the Board of Health on the illnesses and deaths that have occurred in extreme heat conditions, particularly residents at risk in marginalized housing. A number of recommendations came out of the Board of Health and, as a result of motions that I passed, include a recommendation for a local heat registry. The city, through its Shelter, Support & Housing Administration, has provided the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre with a small amount of money to develop the registry.

I encourage all of you to take a look at the following two links to find out more about this very important initiative:

http://www.thestar.com/article/462613

Click on this link and scroll down to the “Heat Busters”video

http://www.thestar.com/videos

The City of Toronto has re-opened Budapest Park and the surrounding area in the Lakeshore Boulevard West/Parkside Drive community. The area was fenced off for almost three weeks to allow for clean-up efforts after the July 8 storm.

The storm caused sewer surcharging and excessive flooding and damage in the area from Sunnyside Pool west to the Palais Royale. City crews conducted a thorough clean-up including debris removal, removal of the damaged boardwalk, replacement of sand in the playground and the beach as required, as well as disinfection of the playground equipment, wading pool and picnic tables.

The extensive clean-up project involved City staff from Toronto Water, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and Toronto Public Health, with support from the City’s Transportation Services.

Some work related to the clean-up project may still be needed (e.g. removal of fencing, etc.), but residents can be assured they can return to the park and take full advantage of the amenities. Additionally, re-construction to re-build the boardwalk and level the sand in the beach area will continue.