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The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

Monday, July 11, 2016

 

Present:

 

 

 

 

Absent:

Mayor Walter Sendzik

Councillors Sandie Bellows, Mike Britton, Mark Elliott, N. Carlos Garcia,

Matt Harris (left at 11:31 p.m.), Bill Phillips, Mathew Siscoe, Sal Sorrento, Jennifer Stevens, and Bruce Williamson

 

Councillors Joseph Kushner, and David A. Haywood

 

Officials

Present:

Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations

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

Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services

Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services

Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services

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

Larry Jones, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire and Emergency Management Services

John Sim, Manager of Accounting and Payroll, Financial Management Services

Lisa Read, Acting Billing Manager, Financial Management Services

Heather Salter, Deputy Solicitor / Deputy City Clerk

Rebecca Alfieri, Council and Committee Coordinator

 

Mayor Sendzik was in the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 9:50 p.m.

 

1.

Call for Reports to be Brought Forward from Consent

Item 4.7: Improving Efficiency of Council Meetings (Councillor Garcia)

Item 4.9, Sub Item 1: Council Correspondence - Request to Waive Fees - Rankin Cancer Run (Councillor Harris)

Item 4.9, Additional Council Correspondence: Request to Waive Fees -
St. Catharines Wing Fest (Councillor Garcia)

Item 4.9, Additional Council Correspondence: Request to Waive Fees - Grantham Food Truck Festival (Councillor Bellows)

 

2.

Motion to Move Reports on Consent

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

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

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

Nays:             Carried


The Mayor now presented a verbal report on matters of community interest. (see Council Agenda Item 3)

 

3.

Discussion Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of July 11, 2016

 

3.1.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services; Programs and Cultural Services

Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force Update

 

Moved By:  Councillor Williamson

That the report from Financial Management Services dated June 9, 2016, regarding the 2016 Capital Budget be referred to City Council for consideration after the Public Meeting scheduled for August 22, 2016, for which notice will be duly given. FORTHWITH

Carried

 

3.2.

Legal and Clerks Services, Legal Services

By-law to Provide for the Keeping and Licensing of Cats within the City of St. Catharines

This item was discussed and voted on immediately following the Public Meeting (see Council Minutes, July 11, 2016,  Item 7.3)

 

 

3.3.

Legal and Clerks Services, Director

Improving Efficiency of Council Meetings (Item 4.7 pulled from Consent)

 

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That Council authorize the amendments to By-law No. 2015-170 as attached in Appendix 1 excluding Item 6, to change start time of Regular Meetings to 5:30 p.m., to allow In-Camera meeting to be held first; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare a report outlining best practices to delegate authority for certain matters to staff; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law to amend Procedural By-law No. 2015-170. FORTHWITH

...

Councillor Siscoe requested the amendment items in Appendix 1 be voted on separately.

 

 


Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

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., to 11:00 p.m., to complete the business at hand. FORTHWITH
          Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law Section A8.4, to reduce delegations to five (5) minutes; extended by discretion of chair, in order to encourage written submissions to supplement.

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

Nays: Councillor Elliott, and Stevens
           Carried

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law Section A8.6, to require 2/3 Council approval to add a person not listed as a delegate on the agenda.

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

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, and Stevens
            Carried

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law Section A9.1, 9.2, to remove presentations for sports and community recognition from the Council agenda; and

That such presentations be held at a Special Ceremony prior to Council meetings.

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

Nays: Councillor Phillips
            Carried

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law, Section B8, to permit one extension for 30 minutes on a 2/3 vote; and

That any further extension beyond the 30 minutes have a unanimous vote.

Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Phillips, Sorrento, Stevens, and Williamson

Nays: Councillors Britton, Siscoe, and Mayor Sendzik
           Carried

 

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law Section B18, to move a matter to the Discussion agenda, Council must do so only if the purpose is to amend the staff recommendation.

Yeas: Councillors Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Mayor Sendzik

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Carried

Motion to Reconsider Procedural By-law 2015-170, Section B20.3

Council now voted on the request to reconsider Procedural By-law Section B20.3, to add education or training sessions back In-Camera, consistent with the Municipal Act.

Motion to Reconsider Lost

That Council approve amendment to Procedural By-law Section C5, to limit member's time to speak to five (5) minutes for each Councillor on a subject; and

That this time be extended at the chair's discretion.

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

Nays: Councillors Elliott, Phillips, Stevens, and Williamson

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

That Council authorize the amendments to Procedural By-law 2015-170, as voted on separately above, and excluding Item 6, of Appendix 1 of Report; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare a report outlining best practices to delegate authority for certain matters to staff; and

That the City Solicitor be directed to prepare the necessary by-law to amend Procedural By-law No. 2015-170.  FORTHWITH

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

Nays: Councillor Stevens

Carried as Amended

 

3.4.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Council Correspondence (Item 4.9, Sub Item 1, and Additional Correspondence, Re: St. Catharines Wing Fest, and Grantham Food Truck Festival pulled from Consent)

 

 

 

 

 

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

    Sub-Item 1

Grants to Offset Fees for Use of Municipal Facilities and Services

Re: Rankin Cancer Run, May 28, 2016

That Council approve the City's fees be waived for the 2016 Rankin Cancer Run event; and

That the fees also be waived for the remainder of Term of Council.

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

Nays:

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Garcia

     Additional Correspondence - St. Catharines Wing Fest

Grants to Offset Fees for Use of Municipal Facilities and Services

Re: St. Catharines Wing Fest, August 13 and 14, 2016

Whereas all the net proceeds from Wing Fest will go to Community Care and the event will be fun for Port Dalhousie residents, bring visitors to Port and should benefit Port businesses;

Be it therefore resolved that Council waive 50% of the normal park fees for this one time only; and

Further, that staff report back on whether a policy of waiving 50% of the fees for the first year of a not-for-profit event is an appropriate policy for all such cases. FORTHWITH

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

Nays:

Carried

 

 

 

 

 

Moved By:  Councillor Bellows

    Additional Correspondence - Grantham Lions Club

Grants to Offset Fees for Use of Municipal Facilities and Services

Re: Grantham Food Truck Festival, August 6, 2016

That Council waive fees for use of the showmobile for this one time, for the Grantham Food Truck Festival, being held August 6, 2016.

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

Nays:
           Carried

 

4.

Consent Reports

Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of July 11, 2016

 

4.1.

Financial Management Services, Director

2016 Capital Budget and Four Year Forecast

 

That the report from Financial Management Services dated June 9, 2016, regarding the 2016 Capital Budget be referred to City Council for consideration after the Public Meeting scheduled for August 22, 2016, for which notice will be duly given.  FORTHWITH
          Approved on Consent

 

4.2.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Glory Hill Road - Parking Prohibitions

 

That Council approve the prohibition of parking on the south side of Glory Hill Road from Moffatt Street to Hilts Court; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.3.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Heywood Avenue - Parking Prohibitions

 

That Council approve the prohibition of parking on the south side of Heywood Avenue from Niagara Street to Clover Street; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

 

4.4.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Queenston Street / Berryman Avenue - Elimination of Left Turn Prohibition

 

That Council rescind the 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, left turn prohibition from Queenston Street to Berryman Avenue; and

That Council rescind the 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, left turn prohibition from Berryman Avenue to Queenston Street; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.5.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Operations

Winnifred Avenue and Roehampton Avenue - Heavy Vehicle Prohibition

 

That Council approve the prohibition of heavy vehicles on Winnifred Avenue; and

That Council approve the prohibition of heavy vehicles on Roehampton Avenue; and

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

Approved on Consent

 

4.6.

Transportation and Environmental Services, Engineering and Construction

P14-105 - Vine Street Watermain Project - Budget Amendment and Release of Holdback Payment

 

That Council grant approval to release a Completion and Statutory Holdback payment in the total amount of $192,269.98, plus applicable taxes to O’Hara Trucking & Excavating Inc. with respect to Project No. P14-105 Vine Street after July 26, 2016, subject to no Statutory Liens having been filed and any outstanding deficiencies having been rectified to the satisfaction of the City Engineer; and

That Council grant approval to use an amount of $78,535.52 from RN14-05 Lakeshore Road in the Water System Improvement Program funded by the Water Budget; and

That Council grant approval to use an amount of $19,223.78 from the Brownfield Fund Reserve; and

Further, that Council grant approval to use an amount of $14,240.70 from the 2015 Resurfacing Program in the Road and Drainage Improvement Program funded by the Operating Budget. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

 

 

 

4.7.

Brought forward for discussion - see Item 3.3

Legal and Clerks Services, Director

Improving Efficiency of Council Meetings

 

 

4.8.

Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Programs and Cultural Services

Recommendations for St. Catharines Cultural Investment Funding

 

That Council approve the recommendations for investment through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program; and

That staff be directed to make the necessary notifications. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

4.9.

Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk

Council Correspondence

* Sub Item 1, and Additional Correspondence, Re: St. Catharines Wing Fest, and Grantham Food Truck Festival Brought forward for discussion - see Item 3.4

 

That Council receive and file the items listed within the report, save and except Sub Item 1, and Additional Correspondence, St. Catharines Wing Fest, and Grantham Food Truck Festival; and

That Council receive and file additional correspondence distributed for the meeting held July 11, 2016, which is available upon request and includes Niagara Region Animal Services - regarding proposed Cat By-law, and Memo from Planning and Building Services - regarding Rat Protocal. FORTHWITH

Approved on Consent

 

5.

Report Requests and Directions for Staff

 

5.1.

Report Requests

 

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

That staff be directed to prepare a report regarding speeding on Oakmount and Marsdale Drives.

 

 

 

 

 

Moved By:  Councillor Harris

That staff be directed to prepare a report on the feasibility of sidewalks being installed on Lockhart Drive.

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

That staff be directed to report on what residents can do to discourage rats on their property and who residents should contact at the City; and

That staff report on what the City is doing about the rat issue.

Carried

 

5.2.

Report Request

At the meeting of July 11, 2016, Councillor Williamson provided notice that he would request the following report at the meeting of August 22, 2016:

 

That staff prepare a report in regard to moving to a separate charge for storm water which will correspond to the volume of water used by a resident or a business, and the need for drainage related services driven by the volume of storm water generated from a property.

 

 

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. 85-02, and Realty File No. 14-305

         advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

That the time is now 10:59 p.m. and Council has outstanding business, Council move to go beyond the extension of curfew, to complete the business at hand. FORTHWITH

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

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

Carried

General Committee recessed to the In-Camera session at 10:59 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

Adjournment

There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 11:30 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

 

 

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

 

 

 

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Council CoordinatorMayor