Moved by:	Councillor Fletcher
Seconded by:	Councillor Lindsay Luby

"WHEREAS at its meeting of September 28, 29, 30 and October 1, 2004 Toronto City Council passed By-law No. 854-2004 adopting Municipal Code Chapter 608 which harmonized the Parks By law City-wide, including strengthening the section related to dogs; and

WHEREAS Chapter 608 limited to three the number of dogs one person can walk in a park, consistent with the limit of three dogs permitted in and about any dwelling unit within the City; and

WHEREAS the Parks, Forestry and Recreation By-law Enforcement Unit was established in October 2004, at which time they began approaching dog owners who were violating the code and educating/advising them of the new pending Parks By-law; and

WHEREAS By-law No. 854-2004 came into effect March 24, 2005, and Officers are now beginning to lay charges to those owners who have been warned previously, with an associated set fine of $255.00, plus a victim surcharge of $60.00, totalling $315.00 for violating section 34C of the By law; and

WHEREAS no formal consultation process occurred as part of the Parks By-law harmonization process other than that accorded through the submission of the covering report and by-law to the Economic Development and Parks Committee; and

WHEREAS professional dog walkers and the many members of the community who use their services to walk and care for beloved family pets are seriously affected by the new by-law;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, in accordance with §27-49 of Chapter 27 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Economic Development and Parks Committee Report 6, Clause 10, headed 'Consolidation of By-laws Regarding Toronto Parks (City-wide)', adopted by Council on September 28, 29, 30 and October 1, 2004, be re-opened for further consideration only as it relates to the number of dogs one person can walk in a park;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City Council direct the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards to report, as a matter of urgency, to July 2005 meeting of City Council on amendments to the above mentioned by-law that would establish a regulatory and licensing scheme for professional dog walkers, with a recommendation for an appropriate limit on the number of dogs that a professional dog walker would be permitted to walk on-leash in a public park, and that the any licensing recommendations be considered at a public meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT until the report is considered by City Council, that

1. the maximum number of dogs on-leash to be walked by professional dogwalkers before enforcement be set temporarily at 5; and
2. that violations of the poop and scoop bylaw be strictly enforced at all times

June 15, 2005

According to Chapter 27 of the Municipal Code, the foregoing Notice of Motion: Notice was previously given   Meets Municipal Code provisions and only requires a simple majority to introduce and debate   Requires two-thirds to waive notice (v) Requires two-thirds to re-open (v) Fiscal Impact Statement provided * Should have Fiscal Impact Statement prior to debate Requires two-thirds to waive requirement if Council wishes to debate * Should be referred to the Economic Development and Parks Committee Requires two thirds to waive referral if Council wishes to debate   Recommendations are time sensitive

*   Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to advise.