BEAUTIFULCITY.CA - WORK IN PROGRESS
DOCUMENT ARCHIVE (2001 to 2010)

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INDEX - POLITICAL SPHERE
2001 - Culture Plan Youth Consultation Summary
2002 – Art vs. Ads, Fuse Magazine
2004/5 - BCBF Guiding Document
2005 – Pollara Poll
2005 – First Postcard Campaign to Mayor
2005 – NRU Article:
2005 – Media Event at Harbourfront Centre
2007 – Hemson Report Excerpt:
2007 – Start of Second Postcard Campaign
2007 – A Discussion of Public Policy Revenue Tools Excerpt 1
2007 - A Discussion of Public Policy Revenue Tools Excerpt 2
2007 – Presentation to Executive Committee
2007 – Direction from Executive Committee in response to consultations
2007 – Billboard Tax Popularity During 1st Round Consultations
2007 – Presentation to Council: New Taxation Measures
2007 – Environics Poll
2007 – Council Decision Document
2007 – Petition Reaches 573 Names
2007 – Councillor’s Brief
2008 – Petition Reaches 756 Names
2009 – Petition Reaches 1038 Names
2009 – BeautifulCity.ca Animation:
2009 – First Town Hall
2009 -- First Town Hall Photos
2009 – Update on the Status of a New City-wide Sign Bylaw
2009 – Objectives of New Sign Regulation and Revenue Strategy for the City
2009 - Summary, New Sign Regulation and Revenue Strategy for the City
2009 – Petition Reaches 3038 Names
2009 – Planning and Growth Management Committee Photos
2009 – NRU Article
2009 – Petition Reaches 3718 Names
2009 – Economic Impact Analysis of Third Party Sign Tax, Professor D. Amborski
2009 – A slip of the pen by senior staff – part 1
2009 – City Press Release
2009 – A slip of the pen by senior staff – part 2
2009 – EKOS Research Poll
2009 -- Presentation by the Chief Building Official:
2009 – Video Part 1/2 - Excerpts from the Nov 4. PGM and Dec. 7 Council 2009
2009 -- Video Part 2/2 - Excerpts from the Nov 4. PGM and Dec. 7 Council 2009
2009 – Post Vote Articles
2010 -- Policy Document - Recommendation for Dedication of Billboard Tax Revenue through the Budget Process

2010 – NRU Article
2010 – InVoice Town Hall Photos
2010 – Mayor Facebook Update
2010 – Petition Reaches 4669 Names
2010 – Draft – The Arguments Against
2010 – Surplus Press Release

NOTES: This is a work in progress. We have tried our best to make this as accurate as possible to the information we have been given or situations experienced. If you find inaccuracies please contact: bcbf@beautifulcity.ca

START OF DOCUMENT ARCHIVE

2001 - Culture Plan Youth Consultation Summary http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/consult.jpg

2002 – Art vs. Ads, Fuse Magazine http://www.them.ca/devon2/media-fuse-artvsads-2002.htm

2004/5 - BCBF Guiding Document http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/BCBF-outdated.pdf

2005 – Pollara Poll http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/POLLARA.ppt


2005 – First Postcard Campaign to Mayor: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/BCBF-Postcard-OLD.pdf

2005 – Media Event at Harbourfront Centre

2005 – NRU Article: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/NRU-2005.jpg

2007 – Hemson Report Excerpt: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/hemson.jpg



2007 – Start of Second Postcard Campaign

2007 – A Discussion of Public Policy Revenue Tools Excerpt 1: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/chart1.jpg

2007 - A Discussion of Public Policy Revenue Tools Excerpt 2: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/discussion.jpg

2007 – Presentation to Executive Committee: http://www.toronto.ca/finance/pdf/cota_revtoolspres.pdf

2007 – Direction from Executive Committee in response to consultations: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/EC.jpg

2007 – Billboard Tax Popularity During 1^st Round Consultations: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/Consultations.jpg

2007 – Presentation to Council: New Taxation Measures: http://www.toronto.ca/finance/pdf/new_taxation_july16.pdf

2007 – Environics Poll http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/Environics.pdf

2007 – Council Decision Document: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/cc/decisions/2007-10-22-cc13-dd.pdf

2007 – Petition Reaches 573 Names

2007 – Councillor’s Brief: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/BCBF-Brief-v10.pdf

2008 – Petition Reaches 756 Names

2009 – Petition Reaches 1038 Names

2009 – Video BeautifulCity.ca Animation – Go to: http://vimeo.com/4493190

2009 – Video – BeautifulCity.ca Town Hall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zz2Xr7wICc

2009 -- Town Hall Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themanifesto/3896996373/in/set-72157622132233337/

2009 – Update on the Status of a New City-wide Sign Bylaw: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-21576.pdf

2009 – Objectives of New Sign Regulation and Revenue Strategy for the City / Review of Second Round of Consultations: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-24387.pdf

2009 - Summary, New Sign Regulation and Revenue Strategy for the City http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-24387.pdf

2009 – Start of third postcard campaign

2009 – Planning and Growth Management Committee Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themanifesto/4079246200/in/set-72157622132233337/

2009 – Petition Reaches 3718 Names

2009 – Staff Report Draft Bylaw, A Slip of the Pen by Senior Staff – Part 1(October 20)
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-24387.pdf
Notes Part 1: This is what went to PGM Committee on Nov 4, 2009. From the best information we have the Deputy City Manager replaced the words ‘support’ with ‘offset.’ This goes against what was proposed in two rounds of public consultations and Executive Committee and Council’s original direction. The change was either not communicated properly to councillors or Rob Ford is right about a conspiracy against the arts - as illustrated by the further presentations by staff (see following entries when it got to council, consultant’s reports and the video) as well as the press release below eight days later.

2009 – City Press Release http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/9da959222128b9e885256618006646d3/af8393e9a70efb958525765d0050985f?OpenDocument

2009 - New Sign Regulation and Revenue Strategy for the City of Toronto, A slip of the pen by senior staff – Part 2 http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cc/bgrd/pg33.10b.pdf
Notes Part 2: However, the word ‘offset’ was challenged by number of other deputation and Councillors. This does not even show up in the Staff Report for consideration like most other challenges or recommendations. What does show up is that Recommendation 15 goes in as ‘offset’ then comes out with a particular emphasis on ‘offsetting’ community and visual arts. (Weird eh? Is that punishment for participating or something?) When staff was asked about what ‘offset’ meant in Council, they said it could go either way. We were told by the councillors pushing the billboard tax for art forward that it was not something to worry about and we should not actively fight it. Conclusions: (a) Fuzzy wording is the enemy of transparent and democratic processes – always kill it as soon as you see it. (b) Staff needs to communicate what is actually happening in their presentations to the public and councillors or they risk humiliating and misleading everyone. As an aside the ‘offset’ thing is interesting as it is the direction that Budget Committee has continued with, saying that the arts in general were saved a 5% cut in 2010 (More on that in the Arguments Against document). Essentially, this transgression happened due to budget hysteria. Budget hysteria becomes pathological when it undermines citizen led initiatives, long term thinking and is a way of keeping ‘outside’ interests from accessing the pot. Now due to the surplus we clearly see that the hysteria was unfounded.



2009 – Economic Impact Analysis of Third Party Sign Tax, Professor D. Amborski http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/abor.jpg

2009 – EKOS Research Poll – See full set of 3 questions here: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/ekos.pdf

2009 - Presentation by the Chief Building Official: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-25521.pdf Note: woops did someone forget to change the PPT?

2009 – Notices to come to the Council vote (much like the process of getting it there) it kept getting delayed.

2009 - Video Part 2/2 - Excerpts from the Nov 4. PGM and Dec. 7 Council 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYRc4tjGi38

2009 – Video Part 1/2 - Excerpts from the Nov 4. PGM and Dec. 7 Council 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0AyV5zJKiw

2009 – Vote Tally, See Council Decision Document - http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cc/decisions/2009-11-30-cc42-dd.htm
Note: See point 20 under 33.10

2009 – Post Vote, Inside Toronto Article: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/cityhall/article/228272--city-billboards-will-be-under-one-bylaw-council-approves

2009 – CBC News, post vote article: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/12/07/toronto-billboard-tax693.html

2009 – Metro– Post Vote: http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/390798--city-ok-s-billboard-tax-fraction-of-money-may-go-towards-arts
Notes: The transcripts of Council also show that Shelley Carroll stated that it was basically an administrative move (see below). We were told the Budget Process might be difficult but not devastating to the idea as most of the councillors on Budget Committee supported the idea.

1:39:19 Re: “Can I see the amendment again as far as going to general revenue.”
Councillor Moscoe

“Well going to the budget process. My own feeling and through the budget process this would happen would be that we would come back with a recommendation about 2010 year, but as you know the budget committee is transmitted to the executive committee that we through deliberating with the staff that review arts and culture, public realm etc. that we would also bring to executive committee some recommendation about the years going forward that you could look at within the context of the budget and its requirements.
Councillor Carroll

1:40:47 I am sorry I did not hear your response to Moscoe. So I am just wondering, is your initiative to take it away from city beautification and arts and culture and then just have a great big broad discussion on where this money goes?
Councillor Hall

I am glad you asked this question. I think if you heard my comments [see video] you would know that in no way shape or form do I want to take it away from that component of the city’s many operating requirements. A lot of people have forgotten that there is actually a second five years to the culture plan. There is great commitment that council has made in the past to the arts and culture community and we need to carry on with that. All I am saying is that by moving it to the budge process we will make the determinations in the context of those things that council is committed to in the past and also in the context of our financial controls. Which is to say that even in the arts community you don’t just sprinkle free money its money based on what are your economic factors, what are you going to do with the money etc etc. etc. While we want to make a commitment there [the arts] it should be within the context of council’s overall directives. [Did she mean the directive of council from 2007 to implement a billboard tax with the funds going to art, the Agenda for Prosperity, the Culture Plan or…]
Councillor Carroll

2009 – Spacing: Post Vote Article - http://spacing.ca/wire/2009/12/08/billboard-tax-what-really-happened-to-arts-funding/

2010 – NRU Article http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/time/NRU-2010.jpg

2010 - Policy Document - Recommendation for Dedication of Billboard Tax Revenue through the Budget Process http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/BC-BudgetProcess.pdf



2010 – InVoice Town Hall Flyer

2010 – InVoice Town Hall Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/themanifesto/sets/72157622132233337/



2010 – Mayor Facebook Update

2010 – Petition Reaches 4669 Names (twice was what was submitted against the other taxes)

2010 – Draft, The Arguments Against: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/bcarguments.pdf

2010 – 100 Million surplus announced (after the city was fronting dire poverty) release here: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bc/BC-BudgetSurplus-PressRelease.pdf