The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, June 08, 2015

•         Item 4.3: Continuous Improvement Regarding Planning Approvals - Revised Site Plan Approval Process (Councillor Stevens)

•         Item 4.5: Project Number P13-066, Queenston Street Reconstruction - Project Update (Councillor Stevens)

•         Item 4.7: Design and Budget Approval for Welland Canals Fallen Workers Memorial (Councillor Williamson)

•         Item 4.8: New Budget Standing Committee - Pilot (Councillor Stevens)

•         Item 4.9: Grants to Offset Fees for Use of Municipal Facilities and Services - Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines Inc., Father Fest, June 20-21, 2015 ( Councillor Sorrento)

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

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

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

Nays:

Carried

Follow this link to see General Committee Reports of June 8, 2015

Moved By:  Councillor Bellows

That Council approve the request from Mainstream: An Unsheltered Workshop to provide graffiti removal services in 2015 and 2016; and

That staff investigate opportunities to work with Mike Powell, resident of St. Catharines on graffiti removal and ways to engage citizens to take pride in their community; and

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

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council approve the 2015/2016 Schedule of Rates and Fees for the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre; and

That the City Clerk be directed to maintain the list of Rates and Fees for public inspection in the Legal Services and Clerks department; and

That Council grant the Executive Director of FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre delegated authority to negotiate fees, provided the negotiated fees are reviewed and approved by the City Treasurer, for organizations which meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in this report; and

That in the event the annual revenue projections are not met that a full variance report is brought forward to the Budget committee; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-laws. FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillor Harris

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

Garden City Plan Amendment

That Council approve an amendment to the City of St. Catharines Official Plan (the Garden City Plan) for the lands described as Part of Lot 23, Concession 4, Geographic Township of Grantham, St. Catharines, municipally known as 1024, 1032, 1034 and 1036 Vansickle Road North, as follows:

a) That Schedule E6, West Planning District, be amended by:

i) changing the land use designation of a portion of 1024 Vansickle Road North from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential, as identified in Appendix 4 of this report; and

ii) changing the land use designation of 1032, 1034, and 1036 Vansickle Road North from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential, as identified in Appendix 4 of this report.

 Zoning By-law Amendment

That Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2013-283, as amended, for the lands described as Part of Lot 23, Concession 4, Geographic Township of Grantham, St. Catharines, municipally known as 1024, 1032, 1034 and 1036 Vansickle Road North, as follows:

a) That Schedule A, Zone Maps, be amended by changing the zoning of the subject lands from Low Density Residential – Suburban Neighbourhood (R1) to Medium Density Residential (R3), as identified in Appendix 5 of this report;

b) That Section 13.1, List of Special Provisions, be amended to add an additional special provision, as follows:

c) That Schedule B, Lot Specific Maps for Special Provisions, be amended by inserting an additional lot specific map, as illustrated in Appendix 9 attached to this report.

That Council direct staff to pay particular attention to the following site and building design matters through the site plan approval process:

•         a significant landscape buffer strip is to be provided along the westerly lot line to ensure compatibility with existing homes along Huntington Lane, which buffer strip incorporates as many existing, healthy trees as possible (in accordance with the recommendations of a tree preservation and protection plan acceptable to the City), plus wood-board fencing and a variety of new deciduous and coniferous rapid-growth trees.

•         balconies along the north, west and south facades of the apartment building are to be oriented to ensure overlook onto adjacent properties is mitigated;

•         the grading design for the development must demonstrate that proposed grades are no greater than 0.6 metres higher than existing grades (staff estimates the existing grade to be 97.6 metres at the top of the curb in front of 1032 Vansickle Road, based on a 0.15 metre high curb and City construction drawings showing an existing grade of 97.439 metres at the top of the catch basin in front of the same property)

•         architectural and landscape design techniques are to be used to break up the bulk and massing of the building, particularly the front façade, as shown on Appendices 6 and 7.

That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary By-laws to give effect to Council’s decisions; and

That the Notice of Decision required by the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 13, as amended, be processed by staff; and

That upon expiration of the appeal period, staff be directed to forward any appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board for consideration and final decision; and Further, that the Clerk be directed to make all necessary notifications; and

Further, that no further Public Meeting is required as there are no changes recommended to the proposed by-law. FORTHWITH

...

Councillor Elliott requested the motion be voted on separately

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott (Amendment)

That the abutting neighbours, and those across the street be included in the site plan process, and the consideration be given for the construction of solariums, or other alternatives, that trees planted on the western boundary should be large caliper, fast growing tree species.

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Haywood, Kushner, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Harris, and Siscoe

Carried

Council then voted on the original motion, as amended.

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Haywood, Kushner, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Harris and Siscoe

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council waive the site plan approval application fee of $5,000 (2015 Rates and Fees) for a site plan application selected by staff as an appropriate application to test the revised site plan approval process. FORTHWITH

...

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council postpone the site plan approval application fee of $5,000 (2015 Rates and Fees) for a site plan application selected by staff as an appropriate application to test the revised site plan approval process.

FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Britton, Haywood, Kushner, and Stevens

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Lost

Council then voted on the original motion.

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

Nays: Councillors Britton and Stevens

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council receive the report “Project Number P13-066, Queenston Street Reconstruction – Project Update” from Transportation and Environmental Services, dated May 12, 2015, for information purposes. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council approve the design team of Dereck Revington Studio Inc. to be contracted for the design and costing of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial and Parkette; and

That Council approve the three-phased approach to the project; and

That $60,000 be approved in the 2015 Capital Budget under Parks, Recreation and Culture Services for Phase 1 of the project; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law and agreement so that Phase 1 of the project can move forward; and

Further, that the Task Force be directed to report back on fundraising results for Council’s consideration and approval prior to proceeding with Phase 2 of the project. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council approve the establishment of a new Budget Standing Committee as a pilot project which will be reviewed by Council before the end of this Council term to allow members to provide recommendations moving forward; and

That Council approve the Terms of Reference for the Budget Standing Committee; and

That Council defer appointing members of Council to the Budget Standing Committee until the next meeting; and

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Harris, Haywood, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Elliott, Kushner, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That Council direct staff and the Budget Committee to look at creating a three to five year budget plan. FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillor Williamson

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That Council approve the request by the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines Inc. to waive fees associated with Father Fest, not including the costs associated with the Carousel rental of the $1,412.50 per day, which is to be held June 20-21, 2015; and

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

...

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens (Amendment)

That Council remove the waiving of the fees associated with the Showmobile in the amount of $824.90. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Britton, Haywood, and Stevens

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Councillor Kushner was not present for the vote.

Lost

Council then voted on the original motion.

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Harris, Haywood, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillor Stevens

Councillor Kushner was not present for the vote.

Carried

Follow this link to view General Committee reports of June 8, 2015

The following declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary):

•         Councillor Siscoe to cheque numbers 521323, 521342, and 521355 issued to Niagara Folk Arts Festival, his wife sits on the Board

•         Councillor Kushner to cheque numbers 521272, 521285, 521194 issued to his employer, Brock University

•         Councillor Sorrento to cheque numbers 521323, 521342, 521355 issued to Niagara Folk Arts Festival, he sits on the Board

That Council approve the accounts listed on Cheque Register Number Five, dated June 8, 2015, in the amount of $37,080,990.41. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council direct staff to amend Zoning By-law 2013-283 to update the accessible parking standards so that they are in keeping with the province-wide minimum standards established under The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005). FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

That Council approve the following applicants to the Committee of Adjustment:

Greg Redden, David Lucuik, Kerry Leask, Mark Stevens, and David Ringler; and

That Council approve the following applicants to the Property Standards Committee: Haley Bateman, Karen Marquardt Wyers, and Doug Hopkins; and

That the Office of the City Clerk be directed to make the necessary notifications. FORTHWITH                                                                      
                                                                                                      Approved on Consent

That Council receive and file the items listed within the report; and

That Council direct staff to forward the resolution from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regarding Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (see Item 2 below) to the Environmental Sustainability Committee for their review and recommendation; and

That Council receive and file additional correspondence distributed for the meeting held June 8, 2015, including correspondence from Mandy Caughlin, Terry Huisman, Victor Uwaifo, Mike Angaran, Stacey Edgar regarding 1024-1036 Vansickle Road North Condo Development. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council request that staff report back on the recommendations outlined in the Town of Aurora’s endorsement of the City of Hamilton’s resolution regarding the installation of community mailboxes.

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council send letters to federal officials who have authority related to the installation of Seaway fences as well as to our local MPs, clearly communicating our opposition to these fences and asking that all non-essential fences be removed and that plans to put up more fencing which block views and access to the canal be terminated.

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. 80-53

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

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

Carried

General Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 9:42 p.m. General Committee adjourned at 9:49 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

Certified Correct:        Confirmed by: