Toronto's city council met Tuesday to finalize a series of proposed service cuts, after a tense debate failed to produce a consensus on how to close the city's projected budget gap.

Councillors began voting by mid-afternoon on whether to adopt a scaled-back series of cuts. The following motions were among those carried by council:

  • banning paid-duty police officers at construction sites
  • selling three city theatres
  • halting the distribution of free garbage tags
  • postponing the closure of city museums until other options have been explored
  • avoiding the privatization of Toronto Parking Authority
Council also voted to sell off the Toronto Zoo, which has been owned by the city since it opened in 1974. On the matter of Riverdale Farm, council voted to help find a business plan that will allow it to remain in the city's hands.

A number of motions were rejected, including two on instituting road tolls and another to approach the province about de-amalgamating the city.

City Manager Joe Pennachetti presented a lengthy list of money-saving measures to council last week. His proposal is based on the results of a controversial city service review conducted by consulting firm KPMG.

However, a number of the more controversial cost-savings ideas are not being considered for the time being.

At the start of the two-day session on Monday, Mayor Rob Ford said the city faces a projected budget shortfall of $774 million.

"This number is absolutely the real number," he told council, addressing suggestions that the projected budget gap could be considerably lower.

Left-leaning councillor Adam Vaughan repeatedly countered Ford's projection, saying the number was inaccurate.

Whatever the exact size of the shortfall, it became clear Tuesday that the cuts adopted by council wouldn't come close to eliminating it. Earlier on Tuesday, Pennachetti said the proposed cuts being debated would reduce costs by an estimated $29 million. After council adjourned, Ford put the value of the cost-savings at $93 million, hailing them as "a win-win for everyone."

Cuts draw protesters

The debate on whether to adopt service cuts drew thousands of protesters to the edge of Nathan Phillips Square along Queen Street West on Monday evening.

But Coun. Karen Stinz said she believes the cuts would be reasonable even though the proposed savings have been met with opposition.

"The executive committee listened, they balanced the interests of residents and the opinions that we heard from across the city," she told reporters.

In the midst of council's Monday discussion, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday resurrected a revenue-generating idea that council rejected roughly 10 years ago.

He asked council to consider creating two extra lanes on the Don Valley Parkway -- one north and one south. Holyday said the city could generate extra funds by charging drivers to use the express lanes.

"We need revenue, we know there's a problem with traffic on the expressway and we'd like to get our buses downtown quicker," he told CTV Toronto.

Holyday's suggestion created some infighting among members of the mayor's executive, and it was ultimately rejected by his fellow councilors.

The entire review process has stretched on for roughly three months. It has involved lengthy meetings, including two public consultations that each lasted more than 20 hours.

Coun. Shelley Carroll referred to the review as a "pageant" and said she'd like to see city council move forward with some solid decisions.

"The budget chief and the mayor need to go upstairs with staff, sit down and go line by line and build a budget like we do every year," she said.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson