The CaféTO program supports Toronto's neighbourhoods and local economy by providing expanded outdoor dining opportunities for bars and restaurants. Since 2020, the program has continued to improve and evolve with each outdoor dining season (May 1 to October 15) based on a commitment to the city's economic recovery and balancing the diverse needs of Toronto's communities. While the City has expanded outdoor dining programs to include permitting programs for sidewalk and curb lane cafes, hardscaped surfaced parks, and through zoning provisions on private property, the focus of this report will be curb lane cafés located on the right-of-way, which is led by Transportation Services with support from Economic Development and Culture. Since the CaféTO program became permanent in 2023, staff have implemented the Council-approved BIA Curb Lane Pilot Program. This initiative also enhances the efficiency of program rollout by allowing Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to design streetscape and curb lane closures that meet the unique needs of their neighbourhoods. Throughout the 2024 CaféTO season and during the implementation of the Pilot Program, staff frequently engaged BIAs, restaurant operators and industry associations for feedback. This input will be used to inform improvements for the program in 2025. Following an evaluation of the BIA Curb Lane Pilot Program, this report recommends that the pilot program become permanent and include recommended improvements identified over the 2023 and 2024 implementation seasons. In addition, staff have developed a second pilot program to provide the opportunity for retail businesses to temporarily use public parklets within the BIAs that are part of the Curb Lane Pilot program. It is recommended that this second pilot program be extended for another year to collect additional data. The report also outlines the 2024 CaféTO Property Improvement Program and introduces the new Dining District Grant. Furthermore, this report recommends technical updates to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays. The recommended changes include: -Adjusting the timeline to cancel a café permit application if permit fees have not been paid — -Amending the community notification process for flankage café applications — -Allowing permit holders on King Street East and West, between Jarvis Street and Bathurst Street, the option to apply for and operate curb lane cafes seasonally, from both October 16 to April 30, and from May 1 to October 15. Additional technical and wording amendments to Chapter 742 and 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, Chapter 27, Council procedures and Chapter 441, Fees and Charges are also proposed.
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