The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

Regular, Monday, November 30, 2015 

Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:30 PM

His Worship Mayor Walter Sendzik takes the Chair and opens the meeting

1.

Presentations

1.1

Shelley Stewart and Bob Asham

Re: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 10th Anniversary Champion Award

1.2

Jack Lightstone, President, Brock University

Re: Brock University Update, Overview and Future Goals

1.3

Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations, City of St. Catharines

Re: Lake Street Service Centre - Operations Facility Consolidation - Supplementary Report (See General Committee Agenda, November 30, 2015, Item No. 3.5)

2.

Public Meetings Pursuant to Planning Act

3.

Opening Remarks, Mayor Walter Sendzik

4.

Adoption of the Agendas

5.

Declarations of Interest

6.

Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee)

6.1

Regular Meeting of Council, November 16, 2015

6.2

General Committee Minutes, November 16, 2015

6.3

Budget Standing Committee, November 4, 2015

7.

Delegations

7.1

Ellen Balmain, CEO and Shirley Cordiner, Chair, Niagara Regional Housing

Re: Affordable Housing in Niagara

7.2

Public Meeting (Pursuant to Notice By-law 2007-310, as Amended)

Transportation and Environmental Services, Geomatics

Stopping up and Closing of the Un-named Street (Part of PIN 46255-0172(LT)) lying West of Harcove Street and between Lots 11 and 12, Registered Plan 552 in the former Geographic Township of Grantham, now in the City of St. Catharines, Regional Municipality of Niagara (see General Committee Agenda, November 30, 2015, Item No. 3.1)

7.3

Public Meeting (Pursuant to Notice By-law 2007-310, as Amended)

Transportation and Environmental Services, Geomatics

Stopping up and Closing Part of the Road Allowance between Concessions 9 and 10, across Lot 23 shown as Part 2 on Plan 30R-14612, being Part of PIN 46414-0548(LT) in the former Geographic Township of Grantham, now In the City of St. Catharines, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Municipally known as 30 Power Glen (see General Committee Agenda, November 30, 2015, Item No. 3.2)

8.

Call for Notices of Motion

9.

Motions

9.1

Property Taxes Paid by Niagara Regional Housing

At the meeting of November 16, 2015, Notice of Motion was given. Mayor Sendzik will present the motion this evening.

Whereas the current rent geared to income (RGI) waiting list for affordable housing as of September 30, 2015 is 4,705 households which represents 8,337 individuals in Niagara;

Whereas St. Catharines City Council has identified economic prosperity as a strategic objective with specific goals to be an affordable city for young people, families and retired older adults in the City of St. Catharines Strategic Plan;

Whereas Niagara Regional Council has identified the reduction of the waiting list as a strategic priority;

Whereas Niagara Regional Housing has allocated $8.3 million of the latest Investment in Affordable housing funds from the Provincial and Federal governments, towards building new units;

Whereas Regional Council has allocated the Niagara Regional Housing 2014 operating surplus to the Niagara Regional Housing own unit reserve to build new units;

Whereas any future savings in the Niagara Regional Housing operational budget can be allocated to a dedicated own unit reserve to build new units;

Whereas the Region of Niagara and Niagara municipalities have eliminated Development Charges for Niagara Regional Housing projects built in the past to reduce building costs and making projects more sustainable;

Whereas at the last Niagara Regional Housing Board meeting on October 30, 2015, the Board unanimously supported a request that the Region of Niagara eliminates municipal property taxes on Niagara Regional Housing owned units;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That St. Catharines City Council direct staff to prepare a report that outlines the budget implications and process to implement elimination of property tax collection for all Niagara Regional Housing properties located in the City of St. Catharines and direct uncollected property tax funds to Niagara Regional Housing capital budget to invest in creating additional affordable housing units for consideration in the 2016 budget. FORTHWITH

10.

Resolve into General Committee

11.

Motion Arising from In-Camera Session

12.

Motion to Ratify Forthwith Recommendations

13.

By-laws

13.1

Reading of By-laws

By-law List

14.

Agencies, Boards, Committee Reports

14.1

Minutes to Receive

•         Heritage Permit Advisory Committee, September 24, 2015

•         Museum Advisory Committee, September 22, 2015, and October 27, 2015

15.

Adjournment