The first fall session of Toronto city council gets underway on Tuesday.

"I personally don't consider what the mayor wants or doesn't want when I cast a vote" and I know...more councillors think the same way." Those are the words of Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow as councillors gear up  for the multi-day meeting following the summer break.  

Matlow tells the Star "the mayor, by allowing himself to be leading the headlines on football and other follies, has impaired himself from being a leader at council."

Among the city council agenda items this week:  the future of the Port Lands and Casa Loma, the 2013 police budget; a possible bid to save the bike lanes on Jarvis Street and an attempt to re-open debate on the bylaw to ban plastic bags January 1st.

On Sunday's edition of The City on NewsTalk 1010, Rob Ford appealed to you to contact your local representative to tell them you're against the ban on plastic bags.

The Mayor has called that ban "outright stupid."

(Some files by D. Agar)