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First, the following members of Toronto City Council ask questions of City Staff:
1) Councillor Michael Walker asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart
2) Councillor Cesar Palacio asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart
3) Councillor Karen Stintz asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart and TTC Chief Gary Webster
4) Councillor Frances Nunziata asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart
5) Councillor Rob Ford asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart
6) Mayor David Miller asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart
7) Councillor Joe Mihevc asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart, TTC Chief Gary Webster, Deputy City Manager Richard Butts and Transportation Services Manager Gary Welsh
8) Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart and TTC Chief Gary Webster
9) Councillor Adam Vaughan asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart and TTC Chief Gary Webster
10) Councillor Doug Holyday asks questions of Toronto Fire Services Chief Bill Stewart and attempts to ask questions of Toronto Fire Services District Chief Bob Leek
Following questions of City Staff, members of Toronto City Council then have an opportunity to speak to the issue, make motions and/or amendments to motions:
That City Council defer consideration of this item pending a review of 16.3.1 (letter of April 9, 2008 from District Fire Chief Bob Leek to Councillor Cesar Palacio) to be conducted as follows:
1) The City Solicitor be directed to submit a report directly to City Council in camera as to whether the City and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have breached the terms and conditions of the Environmental Assessment for this project, and whether any additional liability to the City may arise out of the issues identified in this report (Attachment PW 16.3.1).
2) Toronto Fire Services be requested to report to the September 8, 2008 meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on what alterations and/or minimum clearances are necessary in order for all emergency vehicles to safely use the St. Clair West Right-of-Way and for response times to remain unchanged on St. Clair Avenue West, and to comment whether response times have increased or decreased since the construction on this project.
3) The Auditor General be requested to review PW 16.3.1 and make appropriate recommendations to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
4) Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Fire Services, EMS and the Police Staff be requested to meet immediately to discuss how the existing design may be modified to make it acceptable to all emergency service providers.
5) City Council request the provincial minister of the Environment to hold a meeting of the Transit Community Liaison Committee (TCLC) immediately to discuss this matter.
At this point, Councillor Shelley Carroll takes the opportunity to "call the question" which allows the debate to end and an immediate vote to take place. She failed 13/21.
33) Councillor Frances Nunziata speaks to the item. She also moves a motion to defer, which is ruled "out of order" by the Chair, Sandra Bussin. The Chair was challenged and upheld 21/12.
36) Councillor Rob Ford speaks to the item. He also moves a motion to have the Ontario Fire Marshall inspect the ROW, which is ruled "out of order" by the Chair, Sandra Bussin. The Chair was challenged and upheld 21/12.
37) Councillor Karen Stintz speaks to the item. She also moves a motion requesting Toronto Fire Services Chief, Bill Stewart provide written documentation of the current state of the ROW.
That the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission and the General Manager, Transportation Services be requested to work with Chief, Toronto Fire Services to ensure that any minor changes to curb heights, if necessary, are made, ensuring that fire apparatus can access the right-of-way or street, as necessary along St. Clair and submit a report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the changes made.
[Carried 30/4]
PW 16.3 – Motion 5
Moved by Councillor Stintz
That the Fire Chief be requested to provide to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee a copy of the “signed off” report regarding the St. Clair Right-of-Way that was provided to the General Manager of the Toronto Transit Commission.