City Councillor

Chin LeeRosewood Taxpayers’ Assoc.

Annual General Meeting

2012 September

Keeping Properties Up to Standards

All property owners in Toronto are expected to keep properties in a state of good repair.

Chapter 629 of the Toronto Municipal Code defines what constitutes good repair.

Continued failure to comply with by-laws could result in City taking court action against property owner.

Chapter 629 – Most Common Infractions

Junk and garbage strewn around property

Grass higher than 20 cms. (8 inches)

Shrubs, trees and other landscaping not being trimmed

Fences and buildings covered in graffiti

Fences falling over.

Exterior of house in need of painting or siding

Why Don’t Some people maintain their properties?

Financial: - Maintaining a property properly is expensive.

- Persons on fixed incomes or out of work may not have the means

Age:

Seniors often find it difficult to do minor repairs needed to maintain a home.

Health Issues:

Lack of mobility or illness can make it difficult to do repairs

Unfamiliarity with Toronto by-laws:

Different jurisdictions have different by-laws and standards.

What if someone is not maintaining their property?

Step 1: Talk to your neighbour about need to maintain his/her property . Encourage them as a well maintained neighbourhood means higher property values for everyone.

Step 2:

Call City of Toronto at 311 or Councillor Lee at 416-392-1375

When a complaint is made to the City…1. A Municipal Licensing and Standards Inspector

/Officer will be dispatched to investigate the property complaint.

2. If a property standards violation is found, the registered owner(s) will be issued with a Notice of Violation. Note: All owners may be fined.

3. Depending on the nature of the violation, the property owner(s) is usually given a reasonable period (average - couple of weeks) to fix the problem.

4. Continued failure to comply could result in hundreds of dollars of fines and re-inspection fees.

How can community associations help?

1. Inform and encourage neighbours to maintain their property in good repairs (increases property values for everyone)

2. Call 311 or Councillor Lee to report the problem.

3. Get neighbour to call Councillor Lee. We can put eligible homeowners in touch with community organizations that do low cost repairs

4. Organize your own programs to assist neighbours

Community maintenance

City cuts grass along city blvds 6 times a year

Local roads are swept every once every two months between April and November

Arterial roads a swept once per week

Walkways are cleaned in early spring once snow is gone and then cleaned approx once per month afterwards

If you believe a city property is in need of extra maintenance, call 311 or Councillor Lee

(Specific) Tree trimming is done on a complaints basis

City working to stop flooding

Enacted by-law requiring homeowners to disconnect their home’s downspout from the City’s sewer system

Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program

Work underway across the City to make improvements to local sewer systems and overland drainage.

Regular inspection, cleaning and maintenance of the City’s sewer system.

Water efficiency programs to reduce wastewater volumes.

Home Flooding…some common causes

A leak in your home’s foundation, basement windows or door

Poor lot drainage

Overflowing eavestroughs

Leaking/plugged downspouts

A blocked connection between your home and the main sewer in the street

What to do if you experience basement flooding

(Consider preventive maintenance – camera scanning of your sewers by a reputable company prior to any flooding)

Call 3-1-1

Check your insurance policy to see if you’re covered. If yes, call your insurance company

Call your plumber or contractor – check yellow pages or search internet

Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy:

A City offers subsidy of up to $3200 to eligible homeowners to install flood protection devices.

Property owner required to have plumber, licensed by the City, conduct a site assessment to determine suitability of isolating their property from the City’s sewer system.

Flood protection devices eligible for subsidy include:

1) Sump Pump:

2) Back flow valve

3) Pipe severance and capping

Flood damage: Can I seek compensation from City?

City is not responsible if cause of flooding was a result of conditions on your own private property.

City could be held responsible for damages if:

1) Installation of water or sewer service was not done in accordance with the engineering practices that prevailed at the time

2) City failed to follow a reasonable maintenance schedule or did not take reasonable proactive measures to prevent water and sewage system failures.

Flood Damage: How to file a claim :email City clerk at: claims@toronto.ca

Write to city clerk at:

City Clerk's Office- ClaimsCity Hall 100 Queen Street WestToronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2

Include the following Info

- Your name and contact info

- Location where flood occurred

- Time and date of flooding

- Nature of damages

- Any supporting documents (i.e. report from your plumber, etc.) of your claim

Transit proposal in June, 2012http://onecitytransitplan.com/

One City Transit Proposal was

NOT introduced at Council in July 2012

due to insufficient support from Councillors

However!!

Long-term TRANSIT plans and funding reports are coming in Fall 2012

1. PG16.16 recommendation 1c - include public transit in OP http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.PG16.16 - includes most of the lines in One City Transit map.

2. PG16.18 East Bayfront LRT - http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.PG16.18 - recommends making this a priority LRT line to support Pan-Am Games.

3. EX21.35 Regional Funding Strategy for transit- http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.EX21.35 - the Mayor's side needs to appear to be in charge of the transit file.

The Scarborough Express Transit Proposal

AMX Trailin FACEBOOK search AMXtrail

Other Fall 2012 issues

• 2013 Budget

• Casino

• TCHC sale of Units

• Search and Hire New CEO for Scarborough Hospital

• Plastic (carry-out) bag ban

• Taxicab Licensing Review

• Traffic Gridlock

Other Fall 2012 issues

• 2013 Budget

• Casino

• TCHC sale of Units

• Search and Hire New CEO for Scarborough Hospital

• Plastic (carry-out) bag ban

• Taxicab Licensing Review

• Traffic Gridlock

Input from community on above issues will help me to represent your views.

Development Apps in Ward 41• New CareFirst Service Centre @ Silver Star Blvd

• Proposed Office @ Silver Star & McNicoll

• FedEx small parcel depot @ Passmore (140 jobs)

• 2+2 condo towers @ Glen Watford & Sheppard

• Chartwell Plaza expansion (2 new traffic signals)

• Rezone 2 properties on Midland to build 24 TH

• New church on Sheppard beside fire hall

• 75 new houses and French School on former TDSB Goldhawk property

• Sale of Police College on Finch

Briefing of the following ABCC’s challenges

• Toronto Police Services Board

• Budget Committee

• Licensing & Standards

• Employee Relations and Labour

• Scarborough Community Council

• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

• Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee

• Golden Horseshoe Food and Farm Alliance

• Exhibition Place BoG

• Sheppard East Village Business Improvement Area

• Scarborough Hospital Board Nomination Committee

Q & A