CITY CLERK

Clause embodied in Report No. 17 of the Works Committee, as adopted by the Council of the City of at its meeting held on December 4, 5 and 6, 2001.

3

Car Free Day 2002

(City Council on December 4, 5 and 6, 2001, amended this Clause by amending Recommendation No. (3) embodied in the communication dated November 13, 2001, from Councillor Chow, Co-Chair, Toronto Cycling Committee, as embodied in the Clause, to read as follows:

“(3) request the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to include a request in the amount of $195,000.00 for a 2002 Car Free Day event for consideration during the 2002 Operating Budget process.”)

The Works Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Toronto Cycling Committee contained in the communication (November 13, 2001) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Co-Chair, Toronto Cycling Committee.

The Works Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report back to the Committee on the operation of Car Free Days in the City of Rome, including how this is funded and how much of the city is closed off.

The Works Committee submits the following communication (November 13, 2001) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Co-Chair, Toronto Cycling Committee:

Recommendation:

The Toronto Cycling Committee:

(1) requested that the City of Toronto declare the annual Car Free Day a City sponsored event;

(2) invited those interested councillors to join a Car Free Day Working Group, including the Corporate Special Events Department, and interested community organizations, in the organizing effort for Car Free Day 2002; and

(3) requested that the Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services include funds in the 2002 Operating Budget submission for organizing Car Free Day on September 22, 2002. 2 Works Committee December 4, 5 and 6, 2001 Report No. 17, Clause No. 3

Background:

In an effort to draw attention to serious concerns regarding air pollution, smog, inner city traffic and congestion, towns in France and Italy and the canton of Geneva jointly promoted September 22, 1999, as Car Free Day. Since then, the movement has grown to international proportions with the participation of 760 cities and towns in 26 countries around the world.

September 22, 2001, saw Toronto's first Car Free Day. It was a great success with over 1,000 people attending the Celebration. 500 people also attended the Car Free Day Movie Night (two days before September 22) at the Bloor Cinema.

On September 22, 2001, St. George was closed from Bloor to College. The day included a raucous obstacle course that simulated cycling conditions in downtown Toronto traffic. Councillors Joe Mihevc, Jane Pitfield, Betty Disero, and myself squared off against media reps Brad Honywill (Sun), Laurie Monsebraaten (Star), Bob Cox (Globe and Mail), David Nickle (Mirror), and (City TV), to determine whether political balance or media spin was more important for riding the streets of Toronto. Judge Mario Silver and CBC's Yassmeen Khan also took up the challenge.

City of Toronto was one of over 900 cities that participated in Car Free Day on September 22. We hope that September 22, 2002, will be Toronto's first full-scale Car Free Day.

(Communication dated November 13, 2001, addressed to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services from the City Clerk)

The Toronto Cycling Committee at its meeting held on November 12, 2001, had before it a communication (November 9, 2001) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Trinity-Spadina, Ward 20, advising the Toronto Cycling Committee of the success of the City of Toronto’s first Car Free Day and the participation of City Councillors, staff, volunteers, and community organizations in the event; and recommending that:

(1) the City of Toronto declare the annual Car Free Day a City sponsored event;

(2) those interested Councillors are invited to join a Car Free Day Working Group, including the Corporate Special Events Department, and interested community organizations, in the organizing effort for Car Free Day 2002; and

(3) the Car Free Working Group create a work plan for the event and submit the plan for approval in December 2001, the report shall include any necessary budget requirements.

The Toronto Cycling Committee:

(1) requested that the City of Toronto declare the annual Car Free Day a City sponsored event; Toronto City Council 3 Works Committee December 4, 5 and 6, 2001 Report No. 17, Clause No. 3

(2) invited those interested Councillors to join a Car Free Day Working Group, including the Corporate Special Events Department, and interested community organizations, in the organizing effort for Car Free Day 2002;

(3) requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to include funds in the 2002 Operating Budget submission for organizing Car Free Day on September 22, 2002; and

(4) appointed Mr. Dave Meslin, Member, Toronto Cycling Committee, to the Car Free Day Working Group.

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Councillor Olivia Chow, Co-Chair, Toronto Cycling Committee, appeared before the Works Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(City Council on December 4, 5 and 6, 2001, had before it, during consideration of the foregoing Clause, a communication (December 5, 2001) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

In response to your inquiry, the estimated cost to organize and implement a city-wide “Car Free” day in 2002 is $195,000. The cost estimate is comprised of $150,000 for advertising, signage, public consultation and other direct expenses, and $45,000 for part-time staffing to manage the programme. I would emphasize that this is an estimate and the actual costs will be dependant on the size and scope of the project which is yet to be determined.

For this item to be included in the normal budget process you may wish to consider a modification to Recommendation No. 3 of Report No. 17, Clause No. 3 of the Works Committee, as follows:

(3) request the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to include a request in the amount of $195,000 for a 2002 Car Free Day event for consideration during the 2002 Operating Budget process.)