Toronto Council meets today!

Even more Carroll motions:

- $45K for banners in Little Iran
- $80K for Malvern community initiatives
- $15K for vehicle theft prevention pilot
- $150K parks in Don Valley West
- $100K for drop-in centres
- $185K for legal services for tenants

And yet more motions from Carroll:

- $7K for Thorncliffe Park Sports
- $50K for micromobility in Greektown
- $90K for pest removal at Toronto Seniors Housing.

"There's nothing there! Nothing but the hiring plan and the collective bargaining agreement," says Carroll of the police budget increase. She says that's also true of many other departments.

"I hope you will keep that in mind and not plunder these budgets," she adds.

Councillor Holyday has three motions, all in service of reducing draws on reserve funds:

- Eliminate the new fare capping policy on TTC
- Start charging fares for kids under 12
- Increase TTC fares

Councillor Holyday requests that the City Clerk install a red warning light on the desks of councillors. "I want that red light to show that the gas tank is empty. We're running on fumes. That's the fuel warning light — that we're drawing down on reserves to make the budget appear as it does here."

On behalf of Deputy Mayor Malik, who is not in the chamber, Councillor Morley moves to add $450K to fix up the Amsterdam Bridge on the waterfront, and $2.125 million to revitalize Victoria Memorial Square. Both funded via dev fees.

Councillor Mike Colle takes a moment to encourage people to visit their local Italian bakery.

And that, appropriately, brings us to lunch. Back at 2 p.m. to polish off this budget debate.

Council is back. Councillor James Pasternak moves to remove $4 million in near-term funding for a new homeless shelter on Wilson Avenue, saying the project needs more time for consultation.

"We're the leading producer of housing in this country, yet we were cut by $10 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund based on a petty dispute over sixplexes," complains Pasternak.

Pasternak ends by apologizing to the police for his earlier question about "hiding behind the charter." He says he has "high regard for them and high respect for their work."

Bravo asks Pasternak if he's concerned that his motion could delay the opening of the Wilson Ave shelter by 12-18 months, and/or force the city to break design and construction contracts, and/or cost $340K per month as the city is forced to shelter people in hotels. Pasternak is not concerned.

Here's my ongoing motion tracker for this city budget debate, if you want to play along at home. I'll update it with motions as they come and the results of the votes when we finally get there. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GqDUo/2/

Councillor Lily Cheng laments that "every year I have to advocate for economic and cultural investments" in North York Centre.

She warns that without those investments, the North York Centre Secondary Plan and resulting population growth will turn the area into a "vertical suburb."

"There have some people that are saying, 'OK, the police budget, why did you increase it?'" notes Councillor Mike Colle. "And I say, 'Where the heck have you been?' The policework has meant there's a significant decrease in criminal activity in Toronto."

Councillor Parthi Kandavel moves a pair of motions: one to accelerate playground and splashpad construction at Bluffer's Park, and one to speed up a rec centre project.

Councillor Bradford moves to move some capital dollars up to speed up the Main Square Community Centre project.

"Mayor Chow is using one-time reserve draws to paper over operating costs. The same operating costs that she has ballooned since taking office," says Bradford. "It's not that we've never used reserves — it's to the extent and what we are using them for."

Bradford calls Chow's budget "financial malpractice."

"This budget is mortgaging the city's future to make an election-year budget look better on paper today."

"I do have an announcement for everyone — it's raining!" says Councillor Fletcher, metaphorically. "We have somebody south of the border creating a lot of storms!"

She points to tariffs and the economic situation as reasons to prioritize affordability in this budget.

Before Council voted on the budget motions, Councillor Mike Colle declares a conflict of interest on any TTC-related portions and says he won't vote on those parts. His son Josh works for the TTC.