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The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, February 22, 2016

 

Present:

 

 

 

 

 

Absent:

Mayor Walter Sendzik

Councillors Sandie Bellows, Mike Britton, Mark Elliott, Matt Harris,

David A. Haywood, Joseph Kushner, Bill Phillips, Mathew Siscoe,
Sal Sorrento (arrived at 7:00 p.m.), Jennifer Stevens, and Bruce Williamson (left at 11:30 p.m.)

 

Councillor N. Carlos Garcia

 

Officials

Present:

Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer

Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations

Nicole Auty, Director of Legal and Clerks Services/City Solicitor

Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services

Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services

Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services

Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services

David Oakes, Director of Recreation and Community Services

David Wood, Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk

Heather Salter, Deputy City Solicitor

Rebecca Alfieri, Council and Committee Coordinator

 

Mayor Sendzik was in the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 10:08 p.m.

 

1.

Call for Reports to be Brought Forward from Consent

Item No. 4.1 - 2016 Operating Budget (Councillor Siscoe)

 

2.

Motion to Move Reports on Consent

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of February 22, 2016

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

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

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

Nays:                                                      Carried

3.

Discussion Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of February 22, 2016

 

3.1.

Legal and Clerks Services, Legal Services

Update to Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) to include Accessible Parking

(Deferred by General Committee at the meeting of February 8, 2016)

 

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council approve the proposed amendment to the Administrative Monetary Penalty System by-law to include accessible parking infractions; and

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

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

Nays:

Carried

3.2.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Recreation Business Development

Niagara Folk Arts Festival Fee-for-Service Agreement

 

Councillor Siscoe left the meeting for this item due to a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary), as his wife is on the Board.
Councillor Stevens asked for a recorded vote and that she be noted as opposed.

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That Council refer this report to staff for them to contact the spokesperson or president of the multi-cultural clubs to report back by the March 21, 2016 meeting to ensure there is support for the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre to continue to operate the Folk Arts Festival for 2016. FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillors Elliott, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Motion to Refer Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

Seconded By:  Councillor Phillips

That the time is now 10:30 p.m. and Council has outstanding business, Council move to go beyond the curfew of 10:30 p.m., not to exceed past 11:30 p.m., to complete the business at hand. FORTHWITH

Carried

3.3.

Budget Standing Committee

2016 Operating Budget

Mayor Sendzik requested Council deal with General Agenda Item No. 4.1 that was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Councillor Siscoe at this time.

Councillor Siscoe, Chair of the Budget Standing Committee took the opportunity to remind Council to please submit any amendments they have to staff prior to the March 7, 2016 budget meeting, so they can determine financial implications in order to have a timely meeting. A second night of March 8, 2016, if necessary, has been approved by Council so as not to be making important financial decisions on behalf of the City in the late hours.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That the report from the Budget Standing Committee dated February 10, 2016, regarding the 2016 Operating Budget be referred to City Council for consideration after the public meeting scheduled for March 7, 2016.

FORTHWITH

Motion to Refer Carried

 

3.4.

Legal and Clerks Services, Legal Services

Award of Animal Control Services Request for Proposal

Councillor Kushner declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) as he sits on the Board of the related item, and left the meeting during the discussion and vote.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That Council award the portion of the Request for Proposal for animal control services for: Licensing Services (Option 3) to DocuPet Inc., for a five (5) year term commencing May 12, 2016, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal; and

That Council directs staff to cancel that portion of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Animal Control Services for Option1 (Animal Control and Enforcement Services) and Option 2 (Shelter and Adoption Services with no award of contract; and

That Council directs staff to prepare a new RFP for animal control services being dog catching and kenneling to be provided month to month on a fee for service basis; and

That staff be directed to report back with Terms of Reference for a Task Force to explore the costs of delivering animal control services in house. FORTHWITH

 

...

Councillor Britton presented the following motion and requested it be voted on separately.

Part One

That Council award the portion of the Request for Proposal for animal control services for: Licensing Services (Option 3) to DocuPet Inc., for a five (5) year term commencing May 12, 2016, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal.

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

Nays: Councillors Elliott, and Stevens

Carried

Part Two

That Council directs staff to cancel that portion of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Animal Control Services for Option1 (Animal Control and Enforcement Services) and Option 2 (Shelter and Adoption Services) with no award of contract; and

That Council directs staff to prepare a new RFP for animal control services being dog catching and kenneling to be provided month to month on a fee for service basis; and

That staff be directed to report back with Terms of Reference for a Task Force to explore the costs of delivering animal control services in house.

Yeas: Councillors: Britton, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Harris, Haywood, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Lost

Councillor Elliott then put the staff recommendation on the floor, with Councillor Siscoe making a friendly amendment and requesting the motion be voted on separately.

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council award the portion of the Request for Proposal for animal control services for: Animal Control and Enforcement Services (Option 1), and Shelter and Adoption Services (Option 2) to Niagara Region Animal Services Inc. for a five (5) year term commencing May 12, 2016, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal; and

That Council approve the use of animal control fundraising campaign funds in the amount of $100,000 to cover the projected shortfall of the 2016 expenditures for animal control services; and

That an annual staff report be brought before Council to report on the metrics related to all animals dealt with the Niagara Region Animal Services as well as conflicts: and

That the City create a dropbox, email and phone number posted on the City's website so that residents can easily report on animal concerns and/or complaints related to the animal control service to the City; and

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

...

Part One

That an annual staff report be brought before Council to report on the metrics related to all animals dealt with the Niagara Region Animal Services as well as conflicts: and

That the City create a dropbox, email and phone number posted on the City's website so that residents can easily report on animal concerns and/or complaints related to the animal control service to the City.

Yeas: Councillors Elliott, Harris, Haywood, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Carried

Part Two

That Council award the portion of the Request for Proposal for animal control services for: Animal Control and Enforcement Services (Option 1), and Shelter and Adoption Services (Option 2) to Niagara Region Animal Services Inc. for a five (5) year term commencing May 12, 2016, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal; and

That Council approve the use of animal control fundraising campaign funds in the amount of $100,000 to cover the projected shortfall of the 2016 expenditures for animal control services; and

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

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That the hour is now 11:30 p.m. and there is still business on the agenda; Council will reconvene on Monday, February 29, 2016, to complete the agenda; and

That the Clerk be directed to prepare notice and an agenda accordingly. FORTHWITH

Carried

Items 3.5 to 3.11 will be deferred to the Special Council meeting to be held on Monday, February 29, 2016

 

3.5.

Fire and Emergency Management Services, Fire Chief

Councillor Vacancy on Master Fire Planning Committee

 

 

3.6.

Financial Management Services, Collections

Corporate Insurance Coverage – April 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017

 

 

3.7.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Programs and Cultural Services

Outdoor Aquatic Facilities Strategy and Capital Budget Amendment

 

 

3.8.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Enterprise Services

2015 Port Dalhousie Supper Market Review

(Deferred by General Committee at the meeting of February 8, 2016)

 

 

3.9.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Engineering and Construction

Early Budget and Approval of Proposed 2016 Construction Programs Funded by 2016 Operating Budget, 2016 Capital Budget and 2016 Water / Wastewater Budget

 

 

3.10.

Planning and Building Services, Planning Services

Follow-up Report - Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval for Residential Development – 54 Mackenzie King Avenue; Sycamore Construction; Weston Consulting (Jane McFarlane)

 

 

3.11.

Planning and Building Services, Planning Services

Community Improvement Plan - Evaluation of New Applications and Municipal Budget Implications

 

 

4.

Consent Reports

 

4.1.

Brought forward for discussion - see Item No. 3.11

Budget Standing Committee

2016 Operating Budget

 

 

4.2.

Financial Management Services, Accounting and Payroll

Quarterly Investment Report – Operating Fund as at December 31, 2015

 

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

 

4.3.

Financial Management Services, Accounting and Payroll

Hulse & English Memorial Forest Reserve Fund

 

That Council receive the report for information purposes and that Hulse & English Funeral Home Inc., be advised of the status of the Hulse & English Memorial Forest Reserve Fund; and

That Council authorize an amendment to the agreement between the City of St. Catharines and Hulse & English Funeral Home Inc. regarding the annual reporting requirement; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.4.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Hartzel Road / Lincoln Avenue / Keswick Street Traffic Signal – Request For Additional Funding and Budget Amendment

 

That Council grant approval to fund an additional $42,713.41 for the additional costs associated with the installation of the traffic signal at Hartzel Road / Lincoln Avenue / Keswick Street; and

That Council grant approval to transfer an additional amount of $42,713.41 from the 2015 Capital Road and Drainage Improvement Program – 2015 Resurfacing Program – Part 2. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.5.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Award of Consulting Services for the Downtown Parking Study

 

That Council direct staff to engage IBI Group to undertake the Downtown Parking Study at a total estimated cost of $110,279 excluding HST; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.6.

Corporate Support Services, Information Technology

Open Data Initiative Update

 

That Council direct staff to enter into a joint project with the Niagara Region to use their newly created open data catalogue to publish the City’s datasets; and

That the City solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.7.

Legal and Clerks Services, Legal Services

FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre – Governance Structure

 

That Council approve in principle the creation of a new municipal service board to undertake the operations of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre; and

That Council direct staff to proceed with the steps identified in the staff report. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.8.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Council Correspondence

 

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

That Council receive and file additional correspondence distributed for the meeting held February 22, 2016, which is available upon request. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

5.

Report Requests and Directions for Staff

There were none this evening.

 

6.

In-Camera Session (General Committee)

These items have been deferred to the Special Council meeting to be held on February 29, 2016

 

Council will meet In-Camera for the following purposes:

         litigation, or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board

         personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees

         acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board, Realty File No. 12-20

 

7.

Adjournment

General Committee adjourned at 11:34 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

 

 

Certified Correct:         Confirmed by:

Council Coordinator

Mayor