The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

Eighth Meeting, Regular, Monday, April 14, 2014  

Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:30 PM

His Worship Mayor Brian McMullan takes the Chair and opens the meeting

1.

Invocation

2.

Opening Remarks, Mayor McMullan

3.

Presentations

4.

Adoption of the Agendas

5.

Declarations of Interest

6.

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

7.

Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee)

7.1

Seventh Meeting of City Council held Monday, March 31, 2014

7.2

Seventh Meeting of General Committee held Monday,March 31, 2014

8.

Delegations

8.1

Diane Foster, Co-chair, Bob Asham and Chantal Barrette, Members of Mayor's Advisory Committee on Accessibility; Re: Annual Update for 2013 Year-end Report on 2013-2015 Accessibility Plan (see General Committee Agenda, April 14, 2014, Item 3.1)

8.2

Elaine Manocha, Co-Chair, Member, Clean City Committee; Re: Annual Update and Pitch In Week

8.3

Maria Brigantino, Manager of Tobacco Program, and Gillian Chappell, Health Promoter of Tobacco Program, Niagara Region Public Health; Re: Update on Approved Regional By-law Restricting Smoking on all Municipally and Regionally Owned Properties

8.4

Leo DeFabio, Applicant; Re: Proposed Demolition of Existing Dwelling and Accessory Structure at  22 Pine Street (see General Committee Agenda, April 14, 2014, Item 3.2)

8.5

Bob Seguin, Director, Niagara Economic Development; Re: Manufacturing Jobs and Investment Strategy (see Council Agenda, April 14, 2014, Item 10.1)

8.6

Mike Whatling, Past Chair, Niagara Industrial Association; Re: Manufacturing Jobs and Investment Strategy (see Council Agenda, April 14, 2014, Item 10.1)

8.7

Walter Sendzik, CEO and Kithio Mwanzia, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce; Re: Manufacturing Jobs and Investment Strategy (see Council Agenda, April 14, 2014, Item 10.1)

9.

Call for Notices of Motion

9.1

Request to Niagara Regional Police Services Board to Increase Access to Taxis in the Downtown

10.

Motions

10.1

Manufacturing Jobs and Investment Strategy

Councillor Burch will present the following Motion:

WHEREAS the division of priorities with respect to manufacturing business and jobs in Niagara’s Two-Tier system of municipal government is business retention and expansion only for City of St. Catharines economic development staff and business attraction for Niagara Region staff;

WHEREAS an effective strategy and collaborative approach to the attraction of manufacturing business and jobs is currently lacking;

WHEREAS the Niagara Region is currently restructuring, providing an opportunity for a more collaborative approach between levels of municipal government in Niagara;

WHEREAS Manufacturing has played a critical role in the St. Catharines-Niagara economy accounting for 14% of the region’s gross domestic product, employing over 20,000 individuals;

WHEREAS the investment attraction landscape is becoming increasingly competitive with other jurisdictions moving aggressively to attract manufacturing investment and create high-paying jobs by marketing a suite of incentives for new investment;

WHEREAS providing reliable access to cost-competitive infrastructure and utilities, identifying job and investment ready sites and minimizing a company’s time searching  for the right property is paramount to attracting new manufacturing investment and accelerates the decision to invest in our community;

WHEREAS a prosperous and competitive St. Catharines-Niagara requires an innovative manufacturing investment attraction strategy that will help market and develop new investment in our community;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of St. Catharines and Region of Niagara recognize the need for a targeted manufacturing investment strategy in coordination with institutional and provincial / federal partners;

AND that this strategy be developed immediately with strict timelines, targets and an outcome / performance measurement strategies to measure the success of taxpayer investments in such initiatives as industry trade / investment attraction missions, bringing procurement missions to the Niagara Region and the continued support and development of the Niagara Industrial Association;

AND that the City of St. Catharines supports and encourages expediting such municipal actions as (1) making permanent the reduced Regional Industrial Development Charge Rate; (2) completing the Regional Employment Lands Strategy; (3) reviewing the Region’s CIP priorities with a view to include industrial development; (4) developing a comprehensive marketing strategy that focuses on key emerging markets; (5) reviewing and reducing industrial tax ratios; (6) joining the Ontario Automotive Communities Alliance; 

AND that City of St. Catharines Staff provide progress reports to St. Catharines City Council quarterly detailing actions, outputs and outcomes of the joint Targeted Manufacturing Investment Strategy beginning in June 2014;

AND that City Staff provide a comprehensive inventory of current and potential manufacturing job and investment ready sites in the City of St. Catharines in a report to Council by June 2014;

AND that City Staff and their Regional counterparts work with all levels of government, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Ontario International Marketing Centres to build stronger relationships, improve lead generation and expand business opportunities in emerging foreign markets. 

11.

Resolve into General Committee

12.

Motion Arising from In-Camera Session

13.

Motion to Ratify Forthwith Recommendations

14.

By-laws

14.1

Reading of the By-laws

By-law List

15.

Agencies, Boards, Committee Reports

15.1

Committee Minutes to Receive - To view minutes, click on links provided:

•         Clean City Committee 03 18 14

•         Culture Committee 02 04 14

•         Public Art Advisory Committee 02 20 14

16.

Adjournment