The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, July 08, 2013

•         Councillor Burch requested that the report from Planning and Development Services, Status of former General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Sites, Item Number 4.6, be brought forward for discussion.

•         Councillor Stevens requested that the report from Recreation and Community Services, Programs and Cultural Services, Age-Friendly Community Update, Item Number 4.7, be brought forward for discussion.

•         Councillor Siscoe requested that the report from Planning and Development Services, Status Report for Establishing a Downtown Entertainment District and the report from Economic Development and Customer Service, Council Correspondence, Items 4.11 and 4.13, be brought forward for discussion.

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

That Council approve the Consent Agenda, save and except those items brought forward for discussion. FORTHWITH

YEAS: Councillors Harris, Phillips, Secord, Siscoe, Stack, Stevens, Washuta, Burch, Dodge, Elliott and Mayor McMullan

NAYS:

Carried Forthwith

Follow this link to view the reports on the General Agenda for July 8, 2013

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That the Governance Committee seek Council's approval to request that the Region of Niagara apply to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to allow the City of St. Catharines to change its method of electing City and Regional Councillors to the 'Double Direct Method' as outlined in this report, where six members of Council would serve on both Regional and City Council, while six members of Council would serve only on City Council; and

That if the Region agrees to make this request, that the City of St. Catharines reconvene the Governance Committee to decide upon how these Councillors would be elected; and

That a citizen's committee be established to discuss and decide upon the issues related to compensation of these new 'double duty' Councillors. FORTHWITH

...

Moved By:  Councillor Secord

That Council refer the report to two public consultations to be held July 15, 2013 and August 8, 2013; and

That the report come back after those meetings to the meeting of Council August 12, 2013, before AMO; and

That summaries of the two public consultations be forwarded to the Members of Council.

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That staff be directed to hold an additional public consultation for governance in September, 2013.

YEAS: Councillors Burch, Dodge, Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Stevens, Washuta and Mayor McMullan

NAYS: Councillors Secord, Siscoe and Stack

Amendment Carried Forthwith

Moved By:  Councillor Secord

The Motion considered reads as follows:

That Council refer the report to two public consultations to be held July 15, 2013 and August 8, 2013; and

That the report come back after those meetings to the meeting of Council August 12, 2013, before AMO; and

That summaries of the two public consultations be forwarded to the Members of Council; and

That staff be directed to hold an additional public consultation in September, 2013.

Motion to Refer Carried as Amended Forthwith

The Mayor and Members of Council provided the following direction to staff with respect to Governance:

•         That staff explore the option of providing 'live streaming' through the website for public consultation

•         That the future report be 'received for information purposes' with committee recommendations contained in the body of the report

•         That other governance options be included in the next report

•         That term limits be part of the public consultation

•         That cost information be provided for representation by population

Moved By:  Councillor Burch

That Council receive for information purposes the report from Planning and Development Services dated June 24, 2013. FORTHWITH

YEAS: Councillors Burch, Dodge, Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Secord, Siscoe, Stack, Stevens, Washuta and Mayor McMullan

NAYS:

Carried Forthwith

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council direct staff to submit application to the World Health Organization (WHO) for St. Catharines to receive Age-Friendly designation. FORTHWITH

YEAS: Councillors Stevens, Washuta, Burch, Dodge, Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Secord, Siscoe, Stack and Mayor McMullan

NAYS:

Carried Forthwith

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council continue to defer consideration of the proposed amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law (Zone Area 5 Downtown) for the creation of a Downtown Entertainment District; and

That Council direct staff to report back to Council in March/April 2014 regarding the amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. FORTHWITH

Motion to Defer Carried Forthwith

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council receive and file the items listed below, as attached; and

That Council direct staff to correspond via email to Members of Council regarding Item 5, correspondence relating to construction concerns on Lake Street at Louisa Street, Project P12-064 ; and

That Council receive and file additional correspondence distributed for the meeting held July 8, 2013. FORTHWITH

YEAS: Councillors Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Secord, Siscoe, Stack, Stevens, Washuta, Burch, Dodge and Mayor McMullan

NAYS:

Carried Forthwith

Follow this link to view the reports on the General Agenda for July 8, 2013

•         Councillor Dodge declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to Item Number 4.1 for Cheque Numbers 322333, 322546, 322702, 322319, 322336, 322391, 322421, 322498, 322528, 322627, 322651 and 322672. Councillor Dodge advised that she is affilliated with C.U.P.E and is employed by the Niagara Region.

•         Councillor Elliott declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to Item Number 4.1 for Cheque Numbers 322388 and 322613. Councillor Elliott advised that he has entered into a contract with the recipient.

•         Councillor Siscoe declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to Item Number 4.1 for Cheque Numbers 331810 and 331807. Councillor Siscoe advised that the cheques are issued to his employer and his son's school.

•         Councillor Washuta declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to item Number 4.1 for Cheque Numbers 322442, 322331, 322289, 322386, 322458, 322567 and 322697. Councillor Washuta advised that the cheques are issued to the employer of a family member, his wife's employer and his employer.

That Council approve the accounts listed on Cheque Register – Number Six, dated July 8, 2013, in the amount of $22,863,564.75. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That the report from Financial Management Services Department dated June 19, 2013 regarding the Revenue and Expenditure Statements for the five months ended May 31, 2013, be received for information purposes.

Approved on Consent

That Council approve the Façade Improvement Grant Program application for 41 St. Paul Street West to a maximum of $10,000 of which the City’s contribution is $5,000 and the Region’s contribution is $5,000 subject to Regional approval; and

That the Clerk be directed to make the necessary notifications. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That approval in principal be granted for a window replacement project at 3-5 College Street, to a maximum amount of $1,000, subject to the completion of the project to the satisfaction of the St. Catharines Heritage Committee; and

That the Clerk be directed to make the necessary notifications. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council refer the report from Planning and Development Services, Planning Services, dated June 18, 2013, regarding an application for draft plan of condominium (vacant land) approval, for lands known municipally as 77 Avery Crescent to Council for consideration after the public meeting scheduled for July 22, 2013.

Approved on Consent

That Council receive the report for information purposes. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council receive the report from the Planning and Development Services Department dated June 25, 2013, for information purposes. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

• Councillor Burch declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to Item 4.10, 2013 Capital Budget and Four Year Forecasts, to matters referring to the Robertson Hall building which is related to his employer.

That the report from Financial Management Services dated May 22, 2013, regarding the 2013 Capital Budget be referred to City Council for consideration after the Public Meeting scheduled for July 22, 2013, for which notice will be duly given.

Approved on Consent

That Council approve increasing the contract amount by $360,000.00 to $3,431,352.00 excluding HST for Project Number P12-064, Municipal Services Improvements – Lake Street awarded to Peters Excavating Inc. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council direct staff to prepare a report on the option of permitting one day sidewalk Liquor License Extensions.

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council direct staff to prepare a report on the feasibility of providing By-law enforcement downtown after hours.

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council direct staff to prepare a report on the Outstanding Reports List, providing recommendations for reports that can be purged from the document.

Carried

General Committee Adjourned at 7:39 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

Certified Correct:                                                                             Confirmed by: