That the Community Services Committee recommend to City Council:
Whereas Action Item number 35 of the Downtown Area Action Plan recommends that staff investigate the revitalization of the southern gateway such as the placement of flower planters; and,
Whereas the southern extent of the streetscape beautification program begins at Memorial Park; and,
Whereas, as part of the streetscape beautification program, the City’s downtown annual horticultural program currently consists of growing, planting and maintaining flowers for 358 planters within the downtown core; and,
Whereas extending the planter program further south along Simcoe Street South from John Street to Bloor Street is approximately 1.6 km and would require 64 additional planters, with two planters placed side by side at each location, to have any aesthetic impact; and,
Whereas the current planting program has reached maximum capacity for optimizing operational efficiencies the expanded program will require 2 temporary labourers for 6 months to install, plant, water, maintain and remove the planters, and additional equipment; and,
Whereas additional planters, materials and equipment will also be required; and
Whereas the planters will be smaller than existing planters and will need to be removed during the winter months; and,
Whereas the size, placement and spacing of the planters will need to consider a number of factors, such as available space so as not to restrict accessibility; block site lines or hinder existing infrastructure, on street parking or bus stops, which may limit the aesthetic value of the planters along this stretch of Simcoe Street; and,
Whereas the placement and positioning of the planters will require approval by the Region; and,
Whereas construction along the 401 and the Simcoe Street off ramp may pose additional challenges;
Therefore be it resolved an additional $102,000 for staff, materials, and equipment, necessary for the implementation of an enhanced gateway horticultural program along Simcoe Street South, pending Regional approval, be referred to and considered as part of the 2022 budget deliberations.