The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, February 29, 2016

There were no items on the Consent Agenda this evening.

None to move this evening.

Items 3.1 to 3.7 have been deferred from the meeting of February 22, 2016

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of February 29, 2016

Councillor Siscoe requested to go In-Camera for the purpose of: Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That General Committee move In-Camera for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege regarding Planning and Engineering staff's technical recommendation about the second planning opinion advisory on Page 13 of this Report.

Carried

General Committee recessed to In-Camera at 6:56 p.m. and reconvened at 7:10 p.m.

After receiving advice from the City Solicitor, Councillor Haywood made a request to defer the report.

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

That Council defer this report and to direct staff to meet with the current and previous developers, two ward Councillors, City staff, and include resident representation to discuss the proposed vehicular traffic issue and to come to an agreement; and

That staff report back to Council.

Motion to Defer Carried

No members of Council put their names forward to fill the vacancy on the Master Fire Planning Committee.

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That Council approve no further appointments to the Master Fire Planning Committee. FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillor Stevens

Carried

Mayor Sendzik declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary), as he has personal business with one of the insurance companies in the RFP, and left the Chair.
Councillor Siscoe took the chair.

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council approve the 2016-2017 Corporation Insurance Coverage; and

That Council authorize the Director of Financial Management Services/Deputy Treasurer to bind insurance coverage for a 12-month period up to the premium amount of $956,285.00, submitted by BFL Canada Risk and Insurance Services Inc.; and

That Council approve the additional three-month premium of $239,071.25 in order for the yearly annual renewal to take place as of July 1, 2017, and yearly thereafter; and

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

...

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That General Committee move In-Camera for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege regarding questions about the Corporation's insurance coverage.

Carried

General Committee recessed to In-Camera at 7:17 p.m. and reconvened at 7:24 p.m.

Following the In-Camera meeting, Councillor Kushner put the following amendment on the floor to be considered as a separate motion.
Councillor Britton was not present for the vote.

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That staff investigate the concept of pooling insurance services with other regional municipalities and report back to Council.

Yeas: Councillors, Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Siscoe, Stevens, and Williamson

Nays: Councillor Sorrento

Carried

Council then voted on the original motion.

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council approve the 2016-2017 Corporation Insurance Coverage; and

That Council authorize the Director of Financial Management Services/Deputy Treasurer to bind insurance coverage for a 12-month period up to the premium amount of $956,285, submitted by BFL Canada Risk and Insurance Services Inc.; and

That Council approve the additional three-month premium of $239,071.25 in order for the yearly annual renewal to take place as of July 1, 2017, and yearly thereafter; and

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

Yeas: Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, and Williamson

Nays: Councillor Bellows

Carried

Councillor Britton was not present for the vote.

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That Council approve the City of St. Catharines Outdoor Aquatic Facilities Strategy (Appendix 1); and

That Council direct staff to amend the 2013 Capital Budget for the purpose of reallocating $1,110,000, previously designated for the renewal of facilities at Lancaster Park and Burgoyne Woods to implement the Outdoor Aquatic Facilities Strategy including:

1. Costs associated with the decommissioning and demolition of pools located at Lancaster Park, Arthur Street and Burgoyne Woods.

2. The construction of a splash pad to be located at the north end of the city. FORTHWITH

...

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That General Committee move In-Camera for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege regarding questions on keeping Burgoyne Woods Pool open until the decision for the location of the destination pool is made.

General Committee recessed to In-Camera at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:43 p.m.

After receiving advice from the City Solicitor, Councillor Sorrento made a request to defer the report.

Moved By:  Councillor Sorrento

That Council defer the report regarding Outdoor Aquatic Facilities Strategy and Capital Budget Amendment to after the March 7, 2016 Budget meeting.

Motion to Defer Carried

Mayor Sendzik returned to the chair.

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That Council allow the organization ultimately selected for the Port Dalhousie Farmers/Supper Market be required to offer all members of the Port Dalhousie BIA the opportunity to participate, on the same basis as other participants, if they choose to do so. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council approve the Proposed 2016 Construction Programs funded by 2016 Operating Budget, Capital Budget and Water / Wastewater Budget subject to the approval of the 2016 Capital, Operating and / or Water / Wastewater Budgets; and

That the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services / City Engineer be authorized to proceed with the projects listed in Appendix 1, Schedule T, Early Budget Approvals to be funded from the 2016 Budgets; and

That Council approve the addition of the roof repair at the St. Catharines Museum at the Welland Canals Centre to the early budget approval; and

That staff be directed to report quarterly to Council on all completed infrastructure projects detailing expected budgeted costs, amounts the contract was awarded, and then the final project costs that go over $100,000 of awarded costs; and

That staff be directed to report on what 2015 Capital Projects the $250,000 Federal Gas Tax was allocated to, and what these monies will go to in 2016; and

That the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services / City Engineer be authorized to proceed with engineering services, utility relocations and design for those projects identified in Appendix 1, Schedules A to S to be funded from the 2016 Budgets. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried as Amended

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council approve the application for a Tax Increment Finance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 45% tax rebate over a 10-year time period, for the application for 155 Ontario Street and 4, 6, 10 Adams Street; and

That Council approve the application for a Tax Increment Finance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 45% tax rebate over a 10-year time period, for the application for 271 Merritt Street; and

That Council approve the application for a Brownfield Tax Assistance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 100% tax rebate over a three-year time period, for each of 282 Ontario Street, 285 Ontario Street, and 10 Pleasant Avenue; and

That applications for Tax Increment Finance under the 2015CIP pertaining to 60 Canterbury Drive and 19 Beard Place not be approved; and

That the request to shift CIP incentives under the 2004 CIP pertaining to 51 Lake Street and 136 James Street not be approved unless CIP funding is increased by Council accordingly; and

Further, that the base amount of the funding model for the CIP program be amended, beginning in 2017, to sustain adequate funding of existing commitments made under the 2004 CIP, as well as funding to support approval of projects under the 2015CIP as recommended in this report. FORTHWITH

...

Councillor Sorrento asked that Council vote on 60 Canterbury Drive and 19 Beard Place separately.
Councillor Siscoe declared a Conflict on parts of the motion relating to Tax Increment Finance incentive program, and 19 Beard Place, as it relates to a business interest.
Councilor Elliott declared a Conflict on 19 Beard Place, as it relates to a business interest.
Councillor Kushner requested that Council vote on each paragraph in the motion separately.

Councillor Siscoe did not vote on Part One and Part Two of the motion.

Part One

That Council approve the application for a Tax Increment Finance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 45% tax rebate over a 10-year time period, for the application for 155 Ontario Street and 4, 6, 10 Adams Street; and

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

Nays:

Carried

Part Two

That Council approve the application for a Tax Increment Finance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 45% tax rebate over a 10-year time period, for the application for 271 Merritt Street.

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

Nays:

Carried

Part Three

That Council approve the application for a Brownfield Tax Assistance incentive under the 2015CIP, equivalent to a 100% tax rebate over a three-year time period, for each of 282 Ontario Street, 285 Ontario Street, and 10 Pleasant Avenue.

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

Nays:

Carried

Councillor Siscoe left the meeting during this discussion and the vote on this part of the motion.

Part Four A

That applications for Tax Increment Finance under the 2015CIP pertaining to 60 Canterbury Drive not be approved.

Yeas: Councillors Bellow, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik.

Nays: Councillors Britton, Sorrento, and Stevens
                                                                                     Carried

Councillor Siscoe left the meeting during the discussion of this part of the motion.
Councillor Elliott did not vote on Part Four B

Part Four B

That applications for Tax Increment Finance under the 2015CIP pertaining to 19 Beard Place not be approved.

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, and Williamson

Nays: Councillors Britton, Sorrento, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik
                                                                                                                               Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That General Committee move In-Camera for advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege regarding CIP incentives pertaining to 51 Lake Street and 136 James Street.

General Committee recessed to In-Camera at 8:37 p.m. and reconvened at 8:43 p.m.

After receiving advice from the City Solicitor, Mayor Sendzik stated Council vote on Part Five of the motion. If it was not carried, a second amendment will be put on the floor for Council's consideration.

Part Five

That the request to shift CIP incentives under the 2004 CIP pertaining to 51 Lake Street and 136 James Street not be approved unless CIP funding is increased by Council accordingly.

Yeas: Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Stevens, and Williamson

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

Carried

Part Six

Further, that the base amount of the funding model for the CIP program be amended, beginning in 2017, to sustain adequate funding of existing commitments made under the 2004 CIP, as well as funding to support approval of projects under the 2015CIP as recommended in this report. FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillor Britton
                       Carried

There were none this evening.

Directions for staff have been noted and will be provided to the appropriate members of staff.

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That staff report on eliminating Rail/Road grade crossings and to investigate shared funding possibilities with rail partners.
            Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That staff be directed to compare with other municipalities, to see how their Councils address revisions and voting on report recommendations, and forwarding amendments to motions prior to the Council meetings.
            Carried

Council will meet In-Camera for the following purposes:

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

•         litigation, or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board. Councillor Haywood asked that he be allowed an opportunity to speak on a second issue as it relates to this purpose.

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

The Mayor called for adjournment following the In-Camera session.

There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 9:45 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

Certified Correct:       Confirmed by: