Status of the City-Wide Postering Bylaw (Chapter 693, Signs, Article IV, Posters on Public Property)

At its meeting of July 25, 26 and 27, 2006, Council adopted the Municipal Licensing and
Standards report on postering on public property. City Council recommended that the
City Solicitor be directed, once the street furniture postering boards and columns had
been installed, to prepare the necessary bill substantially in the form of the draft Postering
Bylaw.

On August 27, 2010, Council enacted Bylaw No. 1074-2010 to amend Chapter 693
(Signs) of the Municipal Code to bring into force the postering regulations. MLS
developed an enforcement plan, in collaboration with Transportation Services and Solid
Waste Management (SWM), to implement a pilot program in an area with an extensive
amount of posters. The pilot focused on an area bounded by Front Street West, Spadina
Avenue, Bloor Street West and University Avenue.

The pilot lasted approximately 12 weeks and commenced the week of February 4, 2011 –
involving MLS and SWM staff teams engaged in evidence collection and poster removal
in the designated area. This pilot resulted in staff identifying a total of 5,654 posters,
preparing 1,180 charges and removing 18,569 posters. Since the pilot ended, staff have
periodically revisited these main streets to sustain the results.

Given the lessons learned in the initial project area, staff of MLS is shifting the focus to
an area east of University Avenue. This area will be generally bounded by University
Avenue, Davenport Road, Yonge Street and Queens Quay.

As part of this effort staff have commenced working in partnership with the Downtown
Yonge BIA. In this initiative, MLS staff will be gathering evidence for the purpose of
laying charges while the Downtown Yonge BIA crews will carry out its regular poster
removal activities.

Staff report for action on A Graffiti Management Plan for Toronto 17
Going forward, MLS expects to use both reactive and proactive initiatives. A large part
of the success will rely on the work done by SWM to remove posters at these locations
after MLS has gathered the necessary evidence for charges.

MLS continues to respond to complaints across the city, using the approach of gathering
evidence for charges and coordinating for the removal of posters by SWM. MLS, in
collaboration with other divisions, will identify areas with high concentrations of posters
and conduct Targeted Enforcement Actions to enforce the city-wide Postering Bylaw.
With TABIA, MLS will seek opportunities to have MLS enforcement actions support any
existing clean up activity undertaken by individual BIAs.

CONTACT
Jim Hart
Executive Director
Municipal, Licensing & Standards
Tel: 416-392-8445
Fax: 416-397-5463
E-mail: jhart@toronto.ca
Elyse Parker
Director, Public Realm Section
Transportation Services
Tel: 416-338-2432
Fax.: 416-392-8805
E-mail: eparker@toronto.ca
SIGNATURE
_______________________________ _______________________________
Jim Hart Andrew Koropeski
Executive Director Acting General Manager
Municipal, Licensing and Standards Transportation Services
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Graffiti Management Plan – 4 Key Action Areas (2011)
Attachment 2 – Public Consultation and Review of Other Municipalities
Attachment 3 – Toronto Police Service Graffiti Management Program