Billboard Tax Vote Resumes Friday: Councillor's Motion Disrespects Majority
of Torontonians

Controversial motion by Councillor Norm Kelly guts staff recommendations and discounts public input: Tax halved, number of billboards allowed effectively doubled. Kelly also pushes for electronic billboards everywhere, closer to intersections, to be bigger and lax light pollution standards

TORONTO , Dec. 3 /CNW/ - Voting on the billboard tax for art and enforcement is set to resume on Friday Dec. 4 . (Estimated start time 10am ). Currently on the floor is a controversial motion by Councillor Kelly that would:

    
    -  Half the tax devoted to beautifying the city with arts and culture -
       after reducing the amount twice already.
    -  Allow LED/electronic copy billboards in all neighbourhoods - trusting
       the industry not to use them as video boards.
    -  Reducing the required distance of billboards to intersections from 30
       to 6 meters - opening up hundreds of new billboard locations in
       suburban neighbourhoods and impacting driver safety.
    -  Increasing the allowable height of all wall signs to a colossal 20
       meters.
    -  Reducing the lights-off provision - designed to reduce light pollution
       in protect the health of apartment dwellers and migrating birds.

    The motion goes against staff recommendations, over 1000 public
submissions, a 4500 strong petition as well as 7 out of 10 Torontonians who in
an earlier Environics Poll supported "the city working to reduce the number of
billboards in general." BeautifulCity.ca encourages concerned residents to
call their councillor and the mayor to let them know what they think about
such measures.

    /RESOURCES/

    Kelly's Motion: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/KellyMotion1.pdf
    OMAC Circular: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/omacneeds.pdf
    Environics Poll: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/Environics.pdf
    EKOS Poll: http://www.beautifulcity.ca/ekos.pdf
    Economic Impact Study: http://tinyurl.com/ylcy5c8
    'Why Art' http://www.beautifulcity.ca/bcbf/BC-WhyArts.pdf
    Watch on TV: http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?rid=16&lid=12&sid=1030
    

For further information: Devon Ostrom, [email protected], [phone]; Julia Che, Agents of Change, [email protected], [phone]