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

Friends,
 

The Toronto Library Board has received a list of proposed reductions, put forward by the Chief Librarian in response to Mayor Ford’s demand for a 10% reduction from the Toronto Public Library. These reductions will have an adverse effect on our Public Library system – a system that has seen growing demand and must be protected.
 

The suggested service reductions that would affect Ward 14 residents include:

• Fewer new titles and copies of books, audiobooks, DVDs and magazines available in library branches; and
• Reduced open hours in branches across the city.
  • Parkdale Public Library Branch: a 13 hour reduction each week from 69 to 56 hrs/wk, and
  • High Park Public Library: a 6 hour reduction each week from 62 to 56 hrs/wk.

 
I have asked the Toronto Public Library Board to provide an evening of discussion for the residents of Ward 14 to share their concerns and comments. Please come share your story about how the library enriches your life and your community and share your concern about cuts to services.

Monday November 7, 2011, 7 PM

Parkdale Library Branch

1303 Queen Street West

All are welcome!
 
 
Due to time constraints, this will be the only meeting for Ward 14. If you are unable to attend, please complete the TPL survey and tell them how you feel about the proposed budget cuts:

Toronto Public Library Survey

You can also contact the Toronto Public Library Board directly to tell the members your position on the proposed service reductions: The Secretary – Toronto Public Library Board, at 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 2G8 Phone: 416-393-7215 Fax: 416-393-7083 Email:  Nancy Marshall at nmarshall@torontopubliclibrary.ca

An on-line petition is also available at Petition .

If you would like a hard copy of this invitation please see:  Library Meeting Flyer
 

 
Sincerely,

Gord Perks

Toronto City Councillor

Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park

Metorlinx/GO Transit will be conduction overnight work at the West Toronto Diamond Grade Separation.

This overnight work will begin on Friday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m. to Monday, October 31st at 4 a.m. to move the GO track to the west to accommodate the next phase of construction.

Metorlinx/GO Transit are also planning weekend work from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Novermber 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20.

For more information please see the attached flyer:  WTD Metrolinx Update

Children’s Services will be conducting a meeting to inform parents about significant changes taking place regarding child care and all day kindergarten.

This meeting is a great chance to better understand the transition to ‘Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten’. Parents, Child Care Operators, Board Members, Owners, Administrators and Supervisors are invited to an evening of networking and discussion to talk about the changes to the child care system in Toronto and the impact on local child care centers.

Meeting will focus on District specific information:

South and West Districts

Tuesday November 1st

7:00 – 9:00 Pm

Metro Hall

Room 308/309

For Registration See: Child Care Community Meeting

The City of Toronto is seeking public input

for a new five-year plan for parks, trails and natural areas.

The City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation division is seeking public input for the new five-year Parks Plan. This plan will guide decision-making and investment in City parks in order to meet the diverse needs of Toronto residents, including:

• designing beautiful, unique and sustainable park spaces

• protecting and expanding natural areas

• balancing park uses to include play spaces, natural areas, sport activities, urban agriculture and cultural expression

• engaging the community through stewardship, volunteering and partnerships

• ensuring that the City’s parks and trails are available and accessible to all residents
 
 

Residents are invited to attend one of four public consultation meetings:

Toronto East York – Thursday, November 24, 7-9 PM, Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne St.

Scarborough – Monday, November 7, 7-9 PM, Warden Hilltop Community Centre, 25 Mendelssohn St.

North York – Wednesday, November 16, 7-9PM, Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave.

Etobicoke York – Thursday, December 1, 7-9PM, Amesbury Community Centre, 1507 Lawrence Ave. W.
 
 
You can also provide feedback about parks services through an online survey:  Parks Survey
 
For more information about about the new Parks Plan, visit: Parks Plan Information

The City of Toronto is seeking public input

for a new five-year plan for parks, trails and natural areas.

The City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation division is seeking public input for the new five-year Parks Plan. This plan will guide decision-making and investment in City parks in order to meet the diverse needs of Toronto residents, including:

• designing beautiful, unique and sustainable park spaces

• protecting and expanding natural areas

• balancing park uses to include play spaces, natural areas, sport activities, urban agriculture and cultural expression

• engaging the community through stewardship, volunteering and partnerships

• ensuring that the City’s parks and trails are available and accessible to all residents
 
 

Residents are invited to attend one of four public consultation meetings:

Toronto East York – Thursday, November 24, 7-9 PM, Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne St.

Scarborough – Monday, November 7, 7-9 PM, Warden Hilltop Community Centre, 25 Mendelssohn St.

North York – Wednesday, November 16, 7-9PM, Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Ave.

Etobicoke York – Thursday, December 1, 7-9PM, Amesbury Community Centre, 1507 Lawrence Ave. W.
 
 
You can also provide feedback about parks services through an online survey:  Parks Survey
 
For more information about about the new Parks Plan, visit: Parks Plan Information

Friends,

I would to invite everyone out to a community meet and greet to celebrate the wonderful new improvements to the Spencer-Cowan Parkette.

Please feel free to come by Spencer-Cowan Parkette (80 Spencer Ave.)  at 11:00 AM, this Saturday October 29th/2011.

Flyer:  Spencer Cowan Parkette

Sincerly,

Gord.

Hello,

Last night at the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents Association meeting there was an update on the development of the Howard Park Lofts (22-66 Howard Park Ave).

Dan Nicholson (the City are area planner), along with Roland and Carsten from RAW design gave an overview of the development process and their building plans for the site.

Here is a copy of the presentation that the representatives from RAW Design gave: Howard Park Lofts Presentation

Generally, the main concerns residents had were with the density/height of the units and terracing, issues regarding parking and increased traffic, employments space, and the use of plants.  I have attached a more in-depth write up for download here: RMRA Meeting Notes

Finally, I have included Staff Report which has been written for this development: Staff Report

The Report can also be found at:  Preliminary Report – 24, 28, 30, 60 and 66 Howard Park Avenue – Zoning Amendment Application

And here is the Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study

The City’s final report: Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study

The Consultant’s final report: Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study Consultant Report

Thank you to everyone who came out.

Hello,

Once again I would like to thank everyone who made it out to the two community development meetings we had last week for the proposed developments at 2376 Dundas St. West and 2797/2803 Dundas St. West.

Both meetings lead to great discussions with many ideas and concerns being raised.

• Many people were interested in information regarding the Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study.  Here is a link to the .pdf of the city planning’s final report: Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study . As well, here is a link giving some background to the study bloordundas.htm

2376 Dundas St. West

• For proposed development at 2376 Dundas St. West here is the original flyer:  Dundas-West-Info-Session-Flyer.-Oct-20-2011 ,  and  the meeting minutes: Meeting Minutes .
• As the .pdf of the presentation is quite large please look at the following instructions for a copy:

Open ‘My Computer’ and paste the below link in the address bar:

ftp://dundaswest:torx11026@connect.urbanstrategies.com

username: dundaswest

password: torx11026

2797/2803 Dundas St. West

• For the proposed development at 2797/2803 Dundas St. West here is the original flyer: 2803-Dundas-Notice ,   the presentation: .pdf 2803 Dundas West Presentation pr .pptx 2803 dundas west , and the meeting minutes: Meeting Minutes 2797/2803

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Friends,

I am writing with an urgent request. Under pressure from Mayor Ford, the Library Board is poised to make dramatic cuts to our precious library services. I am urging you to speak up for our libraries. You can either attend the library board meeting and make a deputation (details below) or call or email one of the City Councillors on the Library Board.

The proposed cuts include: an 11% cut to the collections budget meaning falling behind on books and other media; cutting 163 staff thus reducing service quality; increased user fees; and cutting hours of operations. This last is of great concern. The Parkdale branch may lose all Sunday hours: a terrible blow to Parkdale kids who use the Library as a study hall.

To read the report on proposed cuts:  library

The meeting will take place:

October 17, 2011, 6:00 p.m.

Toronto Reference Library, Board Room, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto

While it is preferred that you sign up to make a deputation at the meeting, it is not mandatory.

Three of the Board members who you might want to call or email are:

Councillor Ainsle

Phone: 416-392-4008
Fax: 416-392-4006

Email:  councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca

Councillor Palacio

Phone: 416-392-7011
Fax: 416-392-0212

Email:  councillor_palacio@toronto.ca

Councillor Robinson

Phone: 416-395-6408
Fax: 416-395-6439

Email: councillor_robinson@toronto.ca

Please forward this to anyone you know who cares about the role of a strong public library system in Toronto.

We must speak up now.

Gord

Just encase you missed it, there is a great piece in the New York Times showcasing Roncesvalles.

See: Roncesvalles NYT

Through the work of local residents, businesses, and city staff, Roncesvalles has emerged from construction and is flourishing. Please make sure to visit the Roncesvalles Renewed website (and hopefully get involved), they are a great group who are working to help Roncesvalles continue to prosper.

See: roncesvallesrenewed.org