6D6F45AF4BFA4E968FDFCC4552D1773C-Regular Council

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The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

REGULAR COUNCIL MINUTES

Monday, July 08, 2013

Present:

Mayor Brian McMullan

Councillors Jeff Burch, Dawn Dodge, Mark Elliott, Matt Harris, Bill Phillips, Peter Secord, Mathew Siscoe, Len Stack, Jennifer Stevens, and

Greg Washuta

Absent: Councillors Joseph Kushner and Bruce Williamson

Officials

Present:

Colin Briggs, Chief Administrative Officer

Dan Carnegie, Director of Corporate Support Services

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk

David Oakes, Director of Economic Development and Customer Service

John Sim, Manager of Accounting and Payroll, Financial Management Services

Mark Mehlenbacher, Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services

Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Development Services

Rick Lane, Director of Recreation and Community Services

Ron Tripp, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services

Nicole Auty, City Solicitor

Carol Coull, Council Coordinator

Mayor McMullan took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 6:32 p.m.

1.	Invocation

The meeting began with an Invocation by Councillor Stevens

2.	Opening Remarks, Mayor McMullan

Mayor McMullan presented a verbal report on matters of community interest.

3.	Presentations

None this evening

4.	Adoption of the Agendas

• Councillor Stevens requested that Fred Stevens, Chair of the Older Adults Committee be added to the Delegations.

Moved By: Councillor Siscoe

Seconded By: Councillor Stack

That Council adopt the Agendas, as amended

Carried as Amended

5.	Declarations of Interest

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

• 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 affiliated 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 recipients are an employer of a family member, his wife's employer and his employer.

6.	Public Meetings Pursuant to the Planning Act (Commencing at 7:30 p.m.)

None this evening

7.	Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee)

7.1.	Fifteenth Meeting of City Council, June 24, 2013

Moved By: Councillor Secord

Seconded By: Councillor Stack

That Council ratify and adopt the minutes of the Fifteenth meeting of Council held Monday, June 24, 2013, copies having been previously distributed.

Carried

7.2.	Fifteenth Meeting of General Committee, June 24, 2013

Moved By: Councillor Secord

Seconded By: Councillor Burch

That Council ratify and adopt the minutes of the Fifteenth meeting of General Committee held Monday, June 24, 2013, save and except for Item 3.5, copies having been previously distributed.

...

Councillor Burch asked that Item 3.5 from the June 24, 2013 Minutes be removed and voted on separately.

Moved By: Councillor Burch

Seconded By: Councillor Dodge

That the report from Transportation and Environmental Services, Parking on Queenston Street at the Niagara Health System Site, Item 3.5, be amended by removing "15 minute parking" from the resolution and inserting "2 Hour Parking".

Carried as Amended

8.	Delegations

8.1.	Fred Stevens, Chair of the Older Adults Committee, Re: Age-Friendly Community Update

Fred Stevens addressed Council in support of the report from Recreation and Community Services in its application to the World Health Organization for age-friendly designation. Mr. Stevens commended the City of St. Catharines for its programs offered for older adults and the subpart of staff.

Moved By: Councillor Stevens

Seconded By: Councillor Elliott

That Council receive and refer the presentation by Fred Stevens to the General Committee for consideration later in the evening. (See General Committee Minutes, July 8, 2013, Item Number 3.3.)

Carried

9.	Call for Notices of Motion

9.1.	Resumption of Train Whistling at the Moffatt Street Crossing

Moved By: Councillor Stevens

Seconded By: Councillor Burch

WHEREAS this Council endorsed and passed a duly recorded motion regarding the concerns over the resumption of train whistling at the Moffatt Street crossing; and

WHEREAS the motion called for immediate action by the Director of TES, the CAO and the Mayor; and

WHEREAS no communication regarding this problem has been forthcoming; and

WHEREAS the City of Brantford is considering an Anti-Whistling By-law to solve a similar concern; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Director of TES report on any communications between his department, Transport Canada and CN since the motion of June 24, 2013 was passed; and

That the Director of TES provide a report on the installation of crossing arms and other safety measures that were approved by this Council; and

That the Director of TES provide a report on the feasibility and effectiveness of the City of St. Catharines instituting an Anti-Whistling By-law similar to that of Brantford; and

That these reports be provided to Council for the next scheduled meeting.

...

9.2.	Suspension of the Rules

Moved By: Councillor Dodge

Seconded By: Councillor Washuta

That Council suspend the rules in accordance with Procedural By-law 2007-311, as amended, Article A4, Suspension of the Rules to allow the motion to be put at the Regular meeting of July 8, 2013.

Carried

9.3.	VIA Rail Service to Niagara

Moved By: Councillor Burch

Seconded By: Councillor Phillips

WHEREAS a passenger rail network is an integral and essential part of Canada's national transportation infrastructure and is vital to economic prosperity; and

WHEREAS many communities in Canada have been trying to increase VIA service and improve scheduling to meet the economic and development needs of their regions; and

WHEREAS VIA Rail has reduced the service to the Niagara area and has cancelled the train service to St. Catharines; and

WHEREAS VIA Rail's mandate is to provide safe, efficient, more environmentally sustainable and cost effective passenger transportation; and

WHEREAS a reduction in rail service makes the region less accessible and could negatively impact tourism, business and property values; and

WHEREAS the Niagara Region has been chosen as a host location for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am games requiring thousands of people to travel to the region; and

WHEREAS effective rail service to the region would serve as a foundation for integrated Regional Transportation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality of St. Catharines express its support for affordable, accessible and reliable rail service to the Niagara Region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the municipality urge the Federal government to invest in infrastructure and provide the necessary funding to ensure that the Niagara Region is effectively served by rail service.

...

9.4.	Suspension of the Rules

Moved By: Councillor Elliott

Seconded By: Councillor Phillips

That Council suspend the rules in accordance with Procedural By-law 2007-311, as amended, Article A4, Suspension of the Rules to allow the motion to be put at the Regular meeting of July 8, 2013.

Carried

10.

Motions

10.1.

Resumption of Train Whistling at the Moffatt Street Crossing