The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, November 30, 2015

Item No. 4.7 - Review of Uber and Standard Taxi Services (Councillor Siscoe)

Item 4.10, Sub-Item 4 - Council Correspondence, Re: Bike Lanes on St. Paul Street West (Councillor Elliott)
 

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

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

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Carried

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of November 30, 2015

Mayor Sendzik asked the Clerk to call the roll for Items 3.1 and 3.2 together.

That Council authorize the stopping up and closing of the un-named Street (Part of PIN 46255-0172 (LT) lying west of Harcove Street 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; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law and documents. FORTHWITH

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council authorize the stopping up and closing of 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; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law and documents. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Councillor Elliott declared a conflict of interest as the following vacancies were his former committees.

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Mayor Sendzik be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Economic Sustainability Committee; and

That Councillor Siscoe be appointed to fill the vacancy on the Cultural Funding Task Force; and

That the City Clerk’s office be directed to implement the revisions to the committee structure as approved. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Phillips

That Council approve the Terms of Reference that establish the committee as an advisory committee to the report (attached as Appendix 1); and

That the Committee disband at the end of this term of Council. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillor Britton

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That Council receive the supplementary report CO-318-2015 regarding Lake Street Service Centre – Operations Facility Consolidation; and

That Council endorse the consolidation of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Services department’s field operations into the Lake Street Service Centre (LSSC); and

That Council amend the 2015 Capital Budget to include the amount of $4,575,000 originally requested for the LSSC facility consolidation; and

That Council approve the use of remaining funds from projects No. P10-143 and
P09-143 as partial funding for the LSSC consolidation project; and

That approval be granted to engage the firm of Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. for the design and construction administration services for the Renovations and Alterations to Lake Street Service Centre – Project Number P15-142 at a total estimated cost of $274,500 excluding HST; and

That within the month of the completion of the renovations, a report to come back to Council to declare the Geneva Street facility as surplus; and

Further, that the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law and agreement. FORTHWITH

Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Britton, and Garcia

Carried

That Council take a short recess.

Council recessed at 8:52 p.m. and reconvened at 9:00 p.m.

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

That Council approve the recommendations in the report to initiate the Seymour-Hannah rehabilitation works, the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for rink repairs as stipulated within the report; and

That staff prepare a detailed report including the following:

1) A brief history of the pre-qualification and the tendering process for the initial build;

2) History of mechanical deficiencies upon commission;

3) Service history of all mechanical equipment including capital replacements;

4) History of glycol leaks including initial date (documentation provided by service provider);

5) Who authorized the decommissioning of the glycol loop;

6) Environmental issues resulting from the glycol leak;

7) Formation of a construction committee to include Councillors to oversee the repairs and award the tender; and

8) To investigate possibility of engaging a construction manager to help oversee (pricing/schedule);

9) History of the communication between staff and council documenting issues with the fourpad;

10) Include deficiency report of pads 1 & 2 in arena and forecast this in report;

11) How site was selected, any deficiencies reported during process; and

That Council authorize early budget approval the inclusion of $2 million in the 2016 Capital Budget, and $2 million in the 2017 Capital Budget to complete the necessary repairs to the facility; and

That the City Solicitor prepare the necessary by-laws and agreements. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

Whereas Uber has become a relied upon service in many cities across North America;

And Whereas the low cost, ease of use and efficiency of service has benefited consumers looking for a safe, affordable alternative to traditional transportation options;

And Whereas additional affordable transportation services operating in St. Catharines can help combat issues related to impaired driving;

And Whereas additional affordable transportation services would aid in more quickly dispersing downtown nightlife patrons, an ongoing concern in St. Catharines;

Be it Resolved that St. Catharines endorse the operation of a ride share service provider within St. Catharines; and 

That City Council request that the police services board find ways to level the playing field for taxis in Niagara; and

That the Niagara Regional Police Services Board be notified of this endorsement in writing. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Sub-Item 4 - Paul Pattison; Re: Bike Lanes on St. Paul Street West

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council request the Region to install bike lanes on St. Paul St. West between First Street and Louth Street; and

That this be brought before the Parking Committee in the case that parking needs to be removed to make room for bike lanes; and

That this be brought forward to the Active Transportation Committee. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays:

Carried

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of November 30, 2015

That Council appoint the citizen applicants to the advisory committees of Council as recommended by the Cultural Sustainability Committee for the remainder of the term of Council as follows:

•         Arts and Culture Advisory Committee: Rosemary Hale; and

•         Museum Advisory Committee: Michael O’Neill; and

That the Office of the City Clerk notify the successful applicants. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That the report from the Budget Standing Committee (BSC) dated November 30, 2015, regarding the 2016 Schedule of Rates and Fees be referred to City Council for consideration after the public meeting scheduled for December 14, 2015, save and except the building permit fees as highlighted in the Appendices 1 and 2: and

That a second public meeting be held on January 11, 2016, to enact the building permit fee increases as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the 2016 Schedule of Rates and Fees; this will meet the requirements for notice in the Building Code Act. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council receive the report for information purposes and no further action be taken. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council approve St. Catharines Transit Commission to be authorized to use funds provided from the Provincial Gas Tax Funding Dedicated to Public Transit funds to:

(1)Purchase five (5) new accessible buses (40 feet long, standard diesel) at an estimated cost of $2,500,000 inclusive of taxes and;

(2)Utilize remaining funds (approximately $93,011) to be allocated to the Hybrid Battery Replacement Reserve. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council receive the report for information purposes. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council approve the staff recommendation to not install an all-way stop at the intersection of Wanda Road and Rountree Road. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council adopt the consultation process for proposed new wireless telecommunications facilities outlined in this report and attached as Appendix 2; and

That Council approve an application review fee of $1,500 for the review of new proposal for telecommunication facilities, which will be part of the 2016 rates and fees deliberations on December 14, 2015. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council approve the selection of Brook Recognition as the firm to consult, design and install the Donor Wall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre by the end of February 2016 at a cost not to exceed $45,000 (exclusive of HST); and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law and agreement; and

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

Approved on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That staff prepare a report regarding the feasibility of Council creating a low-income transit subsidy program, including best practices in other communities; and

That staff liaise with the Niagara Regional Poverty Network (NRPN) on this issue.

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

That staff collect one year of data as to how one less ice surface in the city is accommodated in order to see if it is feasible to keep one less ice surface within the city even after all issues with Seymour-Hanna four-pad arena are rectified; and

That the one ice surface to be considered for removal be the Rex Stimers Arena - which would be converted into a dry facility; and

That, if the above is deemed feasible, the Haig Bowl Arena be declared surplus.

Carried

Council will meet In-Camera for the following purposes:

•         a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board, Realty File No. 12-20, Realty File No. 15-86, and Realty File No. 91-59

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That this meeting of the General Committee be adjourned to the In-Camera session.

Carried

General Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 10:07 p.m. General Committee adjourned at 10:25 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

Certified Correct:       Confirmed by: