Toronto Council meets today!

Councillor Pasternak has FOUR motions. ("It was a late night," he says.)

1. Report on creating a "Major Gifts Office"
2. Accelerate design for Downsview Community Centre
3. Report on DVP/Gardiner negotiation status
4. "Vigorously" oppose $10 million cut to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund

Councillor Burnside moves to ask the TTC to consider increasing fares by ten cents, with the extra revenue going toward providing better service and expanding eligibility for the low-income Fair Pass.

Councillor Bradford moves to increase the tax break for small businesses to 25%. "I don't think small businesses want half measures. I think they deserve our whole-hearted support."

Councillor Bravo has a VERY interesting motion. She wants the police to report on how much the Toronto Police have saved via moves like the establishment of the community crisis service and the transfer of the crossing guard program from the cops to city hall.

Councillor Anthony Perruzza continues his annual tradition of asking the provincial government if Toronto can just keep the education portion of the property tax. Running up that hill.

Immediate loud GROANS from councillors as Councillor Stephen Holyday stands up and moves to bring back mechanical leaf collection.

Credit where it's due: "Guy who is skeptical of every single government service except the truck that drives around with a big vacuum to suck up the leaves" is a good, unique character for this drama.

Councillor Paula Fletcher moves for a report on a "long-term, sustainable future" for the Applegrove Community Centre.

Councillor Crisanti moves for a report on offering discounted off-peak and weekend rides for seniors using Wheel-Trans.

Time to vote! The end is night. But there are lots of motions, so council takes a five-minute recess to let the clerk get everything in order.

(The end is NIGH, I meant. But "the end is night" seems kind of poetic? Eh, I'll leave it.)

Councillor Brad Bradford's motion to increase the small biz property tax break to 25% (instead of 20%) FAILS 5-20.

Councillor Carroll's motion to increase the small biz property tax break to 20% CARRIES 23-2.

Councillor Matlow's motion requesting the City Manager start negotiations on getting Toronto a slice of HST revenue CARRIES 24-1.

Councillor Morley's motions to report on ways to improve conditions at drop-in sites and offer better snow clearing services for seniors CARRY 24-1.

Councillor Pasternak's motion to tell the federal government that the city "vigorously opposes" the $10 million cut to the Housing Accelerator Fund that came following council's refusal to legalize sixplexes citywide CARRIES 22-3.

Councillor Bravo's motion requesting the police explain the budget impacts of various moves in recent years to transfer services from the cops to city hall CARRIES 23-2.

Councillor Perruzza's motion requesting the province let the city keep the education portion of property tax revenue CARRIES 22-3.

Councillor Holyday's motion calling for the mayor to consider bringing back mechanical vacuum leaf collection FAILS 9-16. Getting closer.

Councillor Myers' motion to report on formalizing and strengthening the relationship between City Hall and the TTC CARRIES 24-0.