EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
COMMITTEE ROOM ONE, CITY HALL
9:30am, TUESDAY MARCH 25

Will the Executive Committee allow property taxes to rise 4.08 per cent? Homeowners have been bracing themselves for a 3.75 per cent increase — nobody said anything about breaking the number four! As both the Toronto Sun and the Globe and Mail report, the additional hike comes after city staff realized that they failed to take into account a new program that shifts the tax burden from business to residents. Everyone — including Budget Chief Shelley Carroll — seems aghast over the possible 4.08 per cent increase, but what would that extra 0.33 per cent increase (3.75 + 0.33 = 4.08) actually translate into for taxpayers? According to the Globe, it would mean that the average homeowner would have to pay an additional $7.19. Instead of forcing us to pay an extra seven bucks and change, Carroll has said that she would rather take $5 million from the city’s precious surplus funds. Will her colleagues play along? Find out when the Executive Committee meets this Tuesday at 9:30am in Committee Room one.


TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION MEETING
COMMITTEE ROOM ONE, CITY HALL
1pm, WEDNESDAY MARCH 26

When the TTC convenes on Wednesday, it’ll be treated to a presentation on the most recent “cleanliness audit update.” (Have something to say about this? Public presentations are scheduled for 2pm — but make sure you sign up to speak by noon the day before.) According to the report, complaints about public washrooms have decreased by 40 per cent since 2006; a painting program will now take place every three years, instead of every seven; and there are no matching spare wall tiles for those stations needing replacements (but talks with a firm that might be able to “colour match” existing tiles are underway). See how the TTC commissioners respond to the presentation (and, presumably, recent outrage over the state of Toronto’s stations), on Wednesday (March 26) at 1pm in Committee Room one.

POLICE SERVICES BOARD MEETING
40 COLLEGE STREET, 2ND FLOOR
1:30pm,  THURSDAY MARCH 27

The Police Services Board has a full agenda this month. Items up for discussion include: 2007’s Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report, the Processing of Human Rights Complaints, and 2007’s annual report on the use of Tasers (For those who are interested: in 2007, TASERS were deployed 404 times as an intermediate force option during 368 incidents). Learn more about this and more on Thursday (March 27), 1:30pm at 40 College Street (2nd floor).


TORONTO WATERFRONT – “RISE OF THE NEW DON”
ST. LAWRENCE HALL (157 KING STREET EAST)
10am-3pm, SATURDAY MARCH 29

The revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront seems to get more bad press than good. Considering the competing agencies that own land there, the large egos involved and the sheer scope of the project (which includes contaminated lands, flood plains and the promise of iconic architecture, affordable housing and sprawling green space), it’s no wonder things go awry from time to time. What Waterfront Toronto has been good at, however, (according to some active community members I’ve spoken to) is public consultation. This Saturday (March 29) the agency will be holding a public “presentation, discussion and drop-in” to provide information on efforts to naturalize the mouth of the Don River and build flood protection areas (which translates into green space).  It all takes place at the St. Lawrence Hall (157 King Street East) from 10am – 3pm.