Cover Image

The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, April 18, 2016

 

Present:

 

 

 

 

Absent:

Mayor Walter Sendzik (left at 9:46 p.m.)

Councillors Sandie Bellows, Mark Elliott, N. Carlos Garcia, Matt Harris,

David A. Haywood, Joseph Kushner, Mathew Siscoe, Sal Sorrento (arrived     at 6:52 p.m.), Jennifer Stevens, and Bruce Williamson (left at 9:05 p.m.)

 

Councillors Mike Britton and Bill Phillips

 

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

Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services

David Wood, Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services

Phil Cristi, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services

Jeffery Silcox-Childs, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services

Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk

Deanna Haine, Council and Committee Coordinator

 

Mayor Sendzik was in the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 8:46 p.m.

 

 

1.

Call for Reports to be Brought Forward from Consent

Item 4.3: Urban Forestry Management Plan Annual Update (Councillor Kushner)

Item 4.4: Emergency Medical Tiered Response Agreement between City of St. Catharines Fire Services and Regional Municipality of Niagara (Councillor Garcia)

Item 4.8: 101 South Drive Property Task Force - Revised Terms of Reference (Councillor Elliott)

 

2.

Motion to Move Reports on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

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

 

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

Nays:

Carried

 

Council next heard the staff presentation regarding the Urban Forestry Management Plan (see Council Agenda, April 18, 2016, Item 1.2)

 

3.

Discussion Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of April 18, 2016

 

3.1.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Engineering and Construction

P15-101 Broadway / Lakeshore - Award of Tender and Capital Budget Amendment

 

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

Council award the tender for P15-101 Broadway / Lakeshore to Vic Vatrt Contracting Limited in the amount of $799,074.31 plus HST; and

That Council grant approval to use $25,000 from RN14-05 Regional Road 87 - Lakeshore Road (Phase 2) funded by the Water Budget; and

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

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

Nays:

Carried

 

3.2.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Engineering and Construction

Seymour Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre – Ice Pad Replacement and Associated Mechanical Modifications – Phase 1 Award

 

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That Council award the tender for Project P16-164, Seymour Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre – Ice Pad Replacement and Associated Mechanical Modifications – Phase 1 to the lowest acceptable bidder, Schilthuis Construction Inc. in the amount of $1,548,000 plus HST; and

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

...


Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council defer the report regarding Seymour Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre – Ice Pad Replacement and Associated Mechanical Modifications – Phase 1 Award to the meeting of May 2, 2016.

Motion to Defer Carried

 

3.3.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Parks, Cemeteries, Forestry and Horticulture

Urban Forestry Management Plan Annual Update

This item was discussed and voted on immediately following the staff presentation (see Council Item 1.2), which was held prior to the start of the discussion reports.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That Council receive this report for information purposes; and

That stump removal be considered as part of the Urban Forestry Management Plan. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

Councillor Williamson left the meeting at 9:05 p.m. and was not present for the vote.

 

3.4.

Fire and Emergency Management Services, Deputy Fire Chief

Emergency Medical Tiered Response Agreement between the City of St. Catharines Fire Services and the Regional Municipality of Niagara

 

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That Council approve a Tiered Response Agreement between the City of St. Catharines (Fire Services), and the Regional Municipality of Niagara (Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS)), authorizing the activation of Emergency Medical Tiered Response calls within the geographical boundaries of the City of St Catharines; and

That the Fire Chief be authorized to execute the Agreement; and

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

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

Nays:

Carried

 

 

3.5.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

101 South Drive Property Task Force - Revised Terms of Reference

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

         Councillor Haywood

         Councillor Siscoe

         Mayor Sendzik

Mayor Sendzik left the chair for the remainder of the meeting. At the request of the Mayor, Councillor Harris took the chair.

 

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council adopt the revised 101 South Drive Property Task Force Terms of Reference in Appendix 1 of this report; and

That the Task Force be directed to contact Artscapes in Toronto for advice on potential development of cultural / community uses for the school. FORTHWITH

Yeas:Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Kushner, Stevens, and Councillor Harris

Nays:Councillor Sorrento

Carried

 

 

4.

Consent Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of April 18, 2016

 

4.1.

Financial Management Services, Billing

Cancellation, Reduction, Refund of Property Taxes

 

That Council approve the necessary tax reductions, cancellations and refunds pursuant to Section 357 and 358 of The Municipal Act in the amount of $11,506.49 in accordance with the list submitted by Financial Management Services, dated April 18, 2016 (see Appendix 1 attached); and

That pursuant to Section 354 of The Municipal Act the City Treasurer be hereby authorized to write off outstanding taxes for properties where a tax sale would be ineffective or inappropriate, in the amount of $9,808.13, in accordance with the listing submitted by Financial Management Services, dated April 18, 2016 (see Appendix 2 attached). FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

 

 

 

4.2.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Parks, Cemeteries, Forestry and Horticulture

Amendment to License Agreement between City of St. Catharines and District School Board of Niagara

During Council Item 5, Declarations of Interest, the following declared an interest to this item, for the reasons stated:

         Councillor Haywood

         Councillor Siscoe

         Councillor Williamson

         Mayor Sendzik

 

That Council approve a temporary amendment to the original License and Operating Agreement (Agreement) between the City, and the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) regarding the DSBN’s use of City owned lands located at Catherine Street Park for school use dated September 26, 2013; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.3.

Brought forward for discussion - See Item 3.3

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Parks, Cemeteries, Forestry and Horticulture

Urban Forestry Management Plan Annual Update

 

 

4.4.

Brought forward for discussion - See Item 3.4

Fire and Emergency Management Services, Deputy Fire Chief

Emergency Medical Tiered Response Agreement between the City of St. Catharines Fire Services and the Regional Municipality of Niagara

 

 

4.5.

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Accessibility

Accessibility Plans and Updates

 

That Council receive, for information purposes, the report from the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Accessibility, dated March 26, 2016, being the:

         2016-2020 Accessibility Plan;

         2015 annual report on the previous 2013-2015 Accessibility Plan;

         Renewal of the Accessibility Advisory Committee’s Sidewalk Action Statement; and

That Ontario’s Accessibility Directorate, under the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure be so advised and provided with this report. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.6.

Planning and Building Services, Planning Services

Port Dalhousie Secondary Plan and Heritage District Guidelines Update Studies

 

That Council approve the retention of the firm of Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd. to complete the Port Dalhousie Secondary Plan and Heritage District Guidelines Update Studies in accordance with their proposal, dated February 16, 2016, for a price not to exceed $124,970, excluding GST; and

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

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.7.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Special Events: “In the Soil” Arts Festival and Niagara Folk Arts Festival

During Council Item 5, Declarations of Interest, Councillor Siscoe declared an interest to this item, stating his wife is a member of the Folk Arts Board

 

That Council direct staff to enter into License Agreements with Suitcase in Point Arts Performances and Niagara Folk Arts Festival detailing the conditions and requirements for the provision of a three day community event as generally described in this report and to the satisfaction of the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services; and

That Council authorize Suitcase in Point Arts Performances to license a portion of the closed area of James Street between St. Paul Street and King Street (as shown in Appendix 1) in order to provide a community event; and

That the public be notified that the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services will temporarily close James Street between St. Paul Street and King Street (as shown in Appendix 1) on Friday, April 29, 2016, at 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, May 1, 2016, at 10:00 p.m., to permit a community event (In the Soil Arts Festival); and

That the public be notified that the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services will temporarily close St. Paul Street between James Street and Carlisle Street (as shown in Appendix 2) on Friday, May 27, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, May 29, 2016, at 9:00 p.m., to permit a community event (Niagara Folk Arts Festival); and

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

Approved on Consent

 

 

 

 

 

4.8.

Brought forward for discussion - See Item 3.5

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

101 South Drive Property Task Force - Revised Terms of Reference

 

 

4.9.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of 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 March 21, 2016, which is available upon request and includes: (1) a memorandum from the Director of Planning and Building Services regarding the report on the Lakeside Park pavilion advising it has been re-scheduled to the May 16, 2016 meeting of Council; and (2) a memorandum from the Director of Planning and Building Services regarding additional comments received respecting the application for Official Plan Amendment & Zoning By-law Amendment at 88 Merritt Street. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

5.

Report Requests and Directions for Staff

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

 

5.1.

Garbage Concerns

 

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

That staff be directed to prepare a report outlining who is responsible for litter caused by wind-strewn garbage and what kind of remedial action can be taken to prevent this from happening in the future; and

That staff be directed to contact the Region to see if there are different types of containers available in the market place with a lidded bin, rather than an open bin, to help keep the garbage inside the bins.

Carried

 

6.

In-Camera Session (General Committee)

There was no session this evening.

 

7.

Adjournment

Councillor Harris called for adjournment.

There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 9:58 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

 

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

 

________________________________________________________________________________

Council CoordinatorMayor