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The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, April 04, 2016

 

Present:

 

 

 

 

Absent:

Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips

Councillors Sandie Bellows, Mike Britton, N. Carlos Garcia, Matt Harris (left

at 8:52 p.m.), David A. Haywood, Joseph Kushner, Mathew Siscoe,

Sal Sorrento, Jennifer Stevens, and Bruce Williamson

 

Mayor Walter Sendzik and Councillor Mark Elliott

 

Officials

Present:

Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer

Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations

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

Sandra Burrows, Chief Building Official/Manager of Building and Development

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

Brian York, Manager Economic Development

Heather Salter, Deputy Solicitor/Deputy Clerk

Deanna Haine, Council and Committee Coordinator

 

Deputy Mayor Phillips was in the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 8:41 p.m.

 

1.

Call for Reports to be Brought Forward from Consent

Item 4.4, Sub-item 1: Council Correspondence, Resolution - Operation Lifesaver regarding Public Rail Safety Week (Councillor Williamson)

Item 4.4, Sub-item 2: Council Correspondence, Resolution - Niagara Region regarding Municipal Vehicle Registration Tax in Niagara (Councillor Siscoe)

 

2.

Motion to Move Reports on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

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

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

Nays:

Carried

 

3.

Discussion Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of April 4, 2016

 

3.1.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services; Programs and Cultural Services

Recognition of Afghanistan Mission Service on City Cenotaphs

 

Note: Council passed a motion to discuss this item immediately following the delegation (see Council Minutes, April 4, 2016, Item 7.1)

Carried in Council

 

3.2.

Financial Management Services, Accounting

2016 Water and Wastewater Budget and Associated Rates

 

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council approve the 2016 Water and Wastewater Budget at the same rates as 2015 and as attached in Appendix 1 of the report from the Financial Management Services Department, Accounting dated March 1, 2016; and

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

Yeas:Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, and Deputy Mayor Phillips

Nays:Councillor Harris

Carried

 

3.3.

Fire and Emergency Management Services, Prevention

Fireworks By-law – Sale and Discharge of Fireworks

(Deferred by General Committee, March 21, 2016, Item 4.11)

Note: Council passed a motion to discuss this item immediately following the public meeting (see Council Minutes, April 4, 2016, Item 7.4)

Carried in Council

 

3.4.

Fire and Emergency Management Services, Prevention

Fireworks By-law – Sale and Discharge of Fireworks – Supplemental Report regarding Sale of Consumer Fireworks from Tents with Commercial Cube Vans used as Point of Storage

 

Note: Council passed a motion to discuss this item immediately following the public meeting (see Council Minutes, April 4, 2016, Item 7.4)

Carried in Council

 

 

3.5.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services; Business Planning and Strategic Services

Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program - Funding Approval

 

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council authorize the City to enter into a contribution agreement for funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program with Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for project 807827, Improvement of West Park, for a contribution of up to $500,000; and

That Council authorize the City to enter into a contribution agreement for funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program with Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for project 808007, Improvements to Lakeside Park, for a contribution of up to $150,000; and

That Council authorize the City to enter into a contribution agreement for funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program with Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for project 808299, Improvement of Rotary Park, for a contribution of up to $50,000, in partnership with the Rotary Club of St. Catharines; and

That Council grant early 2016 Capital Budget approval for $115,000 to satisfy the West Park project matching dollars; and

That Council grant early 2016 Capital Budget approval for $112,500 of the Special Projects budget, funded from the Infrastructure Levy, to be allocated to support the West Park project ($100,000) and the Rotary Park project ($12,500); and

That, if required, Council authorize staff to apply for a minor variance for the improvement of West Park; and

Further, that Council direct the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary by-laws authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute the contribution agreements. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.6.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Council Correspondence, Sub-item 1 and Sub-item 2

 

Sub-item 1

Operation Lifesaver

Re: Resolution - Public Rail Safety Week, April 25 to May 1, 2016

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That Council endorse the resolution from Operation Lifesaver requesting support for national Public Rail Safety Week, to be held from April 25 to May 1, 2016.

Yeas:Councillors Bellows, Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, and Deputy Mayor Phillips

Nays:

Carried

Councillor Harris left the meeting and was not present for the vote

Sub-item 2

Niagara Region

Re: Resolution - Municipal Vehicle Registration Tax in Niagara

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council support the resolution from the Niagara Region to NOT support the implementation of Vehicle Registration Tax in Niagara; and

That this position be communicated to the Niagara Region; and

That this position be communicated to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Yeas:Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, and Deputy Mayor Phillips

Nays:

Carried

 

4.

Consent Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of April 4, 2016

 

4.1.

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Economic Development

Hotel Feasibility Study for Downtown and Port Dalhousie

 

That Council receive this report for information purposes. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.2.

Planning and Building Services, Building and Development

Building Services Annual Report on Revenues, Expenses and Stabilization Reserve Fund for 2015

 

That Council receive for information the Building Services Annual Report on Revenues, Expenses and the Stabilization Reserve Fund for 2015; and

That Council refer the proposed 3% increase in building fees to the Budget Standing Committee for consideration of the Rates and Fees By-law review for 2017. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.3.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Citizen Appointment to Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

 

That Council appoint Robert Speck to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee as recommended by the Cultural Sustainability Committee for the remainder of the term of Council; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.4.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Council Correspondence

Note: Sub-item 1 and Sub-item 2 brought forward for discussion, See Item 3.6

 

That Council receive and file the items listed within the report, save and except Sub-item 1 and Sub-item 2; and

That Council receive and file additional correspondence distributed for the meeting held April 4, 2016, which is available upon request, and includes a request from the Niagara Nutrition Partners, along with the Education Foundation of Niagara, to waive the fees for the DSBN Road Race to be held April 24, 2016. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

5.

Report Requests and Directions for Staff

 

5.1.

Resolution - Association of Municipalities of Ontario

Re: Request for Broader Municipal Investment Powers

*Note: On March 21, 2016, Councillor Britton removed Council Correspondence Item 4.13, Sub-item 2, from Consent for Discussion. The item was subsequently deferred to the meeting of April 4, 2016

 

 

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

That Council direct staff to obtain more details regarding AMO's resolution respecting Broader Municipal Investment Powers and what would it mean for a municipality (i.e. increased revenues), in addition, to look at other potential sources of revenue, such as grants, and report back to Council.

Carried

 

5.2.

Resolution - City of Niagara Falls

Re: Trans Pacific Partnership

(referenced by Bruce Allen, President, Unifor Local 199, during delegation at the meeting of March 21, 2016)

*Note: Council requested the motion from the City of Niagara Falls regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership be brought back to the next meeting of Council, being April 4, 2016, for the consideration of Council

 

Moved By:  Councillor Haywood

That Council direct staff to obtain more information from federal partners regarding Niagara Falls’ resolution respecting the Trans Pacific Partnership, as referenced by Bruce Allen, President, Unifor Local 199, during a delegation on March 21, 2016, and report back to Council.

Carried

 

5.3.

Request to Waive Fees - Niagara Nutrition Partners, along with Education Foundation of Niagara

Re: DSBN Road Race

Prior to the Adjournment in Council, Councillor Stevens put a motion on the floor regarding the DSBN Road Race.

The following declared a Conflict of Interest (Pecuniary) to this item and left the room for consideration of the matter:

         Councillor Haywood

         Councillor Siscoe

         Councillor Williamson

 

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council grant the request from the Niagara Nutrition Partners, along with the Education Foundation of Niagara, to waive the fees for the DSBN Road Race, to be held on April 24, 2016, for an estimated amount of $500.

Yeas:Councillors Garcia, Bellows, Sorrento, Kushner, Britton, Stevens, and Deputy Mayor Phillips

Nays:

Carried

 

6.

In-Camera Session (General Committee)

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. 86-120, Realty File No. 15-98, Realty File No. 05-36, and Realty File No. 06-06)

Moved By:  Councillor Bellows

That this meeting of the General Committee recess and reconvene In-Camera.

Carried

General Committee adjourned to the In-Camera session at 9:05 p.m.

 

7.

Adjournment

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

There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 9:49 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

 

 

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

 

 

 

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Council CoordinatorMayor