City Council to Resume Debate on Signs By-Law This Afternoon or Friday
Yesterday City Council debated the new Signs By-Law and Billboard Tax for about 4 hours until the debate was adjourned to deal with ice rink time allocation. The best place to follow what is happening is at the #TOCouncil hashtag on Twitter, where we will be contributing updates.
We expect the debate to continue either later this afternoon, or, most likely, on Friday.
The debate has been going well. It looks as if Council will adopt the Signs By-Law. The major debate will be over the level of the tax. There is a proposal from Councillor Norm Kelly to cut the tax rate in half.
There are other motions on the table regarding the Signs by-law that are very worrisome, although they have a lesser chance of passing.
This motion from Kelly would permit as-of-right “static” LED video screens in every ward.
This motion from Councillor Mammoliti would strip the Emory Village area of any meaningful regulations on billboards, including allowing an unlimited number of “static” LED video screens. However, it would require property owners to obtain approval from “Emory Village BIA Sign Committee” before building a sign. Blair Murdoch of All-Vision Canada has an exclusive agreement with Emory Village BIA to provide billboard leasing services which explains why Blair was busy at City Hall yesterday. This motion from Councillor Moscoe would refer Mammoliti’s motion to staff for a report.
We are asking City Council to reject the Kelly motion and adopt the Moscoe motion.
