The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
SPECIAL MEETING OF GENERAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
Monday, December 12, 2016
Present:
Absent: | Mayor Walter Sendzik Councillors Sandie Bellows, Mike Britton, Mark Elliott, N. Carlos Garcia, David A. Haywood, Joseph Kushner, Mathew Siscoe, Sal Sorrento,
Councillors Matt Harris, and Bill Phillips |
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Officials Present: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Shelley Chemnitz, Commissioner of Corporate Services Bryan Shynal, Commissioner of Operations Jeanette Pillitteri, Director of Corporate Support Services Brian York, Director of Economic Development and Government Relations Kristine Douglas, Director of Financial Management Services David Wood, Director of Fire and Emergency Management Services Nicole Auty, Director of Legal and Clerks Services/City Solicitor Phil Cristi, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture Services Jim Riddell, Director of Planning and Building Services Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Rebecca Alfieri, Council and Committee Coordinator |
His Worship Mayor Walter Sendzik takes the Chair and opens the meeting at 6:37 p.m. |
1. | Call for Reports to be Brought Forward from Consent |
2. | Motion to Move Reports on Consent |
There were no reports on Consent.
3. | Discussion Reports |
Follow this link to view General Committee Agenda reports of December 12, 2016
(The following discussion reports were deferred by General Committee, December 5, 2016 for discussion at the Special Meeting of December 12, 2016)
Budget Standing Committee City Transitional Grant Program for Ethno-Cultural Organizations and Niagara Region’s Tax Policy |
That Council endorse a City transitional grant program for ethno-cultural organizations registered as charitable and that own property in the city, as recommended by the Budget Standing Committee; and
That this grant be administered under the existing City of St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP); and
That Council request the Niagara Region consider changing its tax policy for the purpose of providing a tax rebate program for eligible organizations. FORTHWITH
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That Council refer the report from the Budget Standing Committee regarding the City’s Transitional Grant Program for Ethno-Cultural Organizations and Niagara Region's Tax Policy back to Council to be considered during the budget deliberations.
Motion to Refer Carried
3.2. | Fire and Emergency Management Services, Fire Chief St. Catharines Master Fire Plan Report – Update |
Moved By: Councillor Williamson
That Council receive this report for information only. FORTHWITH
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That Council allow an extension to the Fire Master Planning Committee in order to complete the extensive report until the second Council meeting in February, in order to allow the Committee to complete a comprehensive report. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillor Bellows, Elliott, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays: Councillor Britton, Garcia, and Haywood
Carried
3.3. | Legal and Clerks Services, Office of the City Clerk Frivolous, Vexatious and Vindictive By-law Enforcement Complaints |
That Council direct staff to prepare a by-law for the City of St. Catharines for the enforcement of City by-laws; and
That this by-law define ‘frivolous, vexatious and vindictive’ complaints, delegating appropriate authority to the Director for oversight; and
That all current complaints not be acted upon until an interpretation is made as to whether they are vexatious, frivolous or vindictive; and
That the by-law contain a definition of what constitutes a pattern of conduct; and
Further that the City Solicitor prepare the necessary by-law. FORTHWITH
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That this by-law define ‘frivolous, vexatious and vindictive’ complaints, delegating appropriate authority to the Director of Legal and Clerks Services for oversight.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Bellows
Nays: Councillors Elliott, Kushner, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik
Carried
Council then voted on the original motion, with the inclusion of the Director of Legal and Clerks Services.
Yeas: Councillors Elliott, Garcia, Kushner, Sorrento, Williamson, Bellows, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays: Councillors Britton, and Haywood
Carried as Amended
3.4. | Planning and Building Services, Planning Services Update: Phase I Interim Summary Report, Niagara GO Hub and Transit Stations Study |
Moved By: Councillor Williamson
That the report from Planning and Building Services be received for information; and
That Council direct staff to pursue improved GO Bus hub amenities, schedules, and periodic express GO Bus runs to the Burlington GO Train Station with MetroLinx. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Sorrento, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried as Amended
3.5. | Corporate Support Services, Human Resources Chief Administrative Officer’s Performance Evaluation Process |
That Council refer the report back to staff for information on the cities of Guelph and Windsor models, specifically on how Guelph includes their whole Council in the process, the costs of third party involvement in Guelph, examples of which external stakeholder Windsor involves and the process by which those external stakeholders are included. FORTHWITH
Motion to Refer Carried
3.6. | Niagara Region - Change to Composition of Regional Council - Double Direct *Note: Councillor Siscoe removed Council Correspondence Item 4.11, Sub-item 5, from Consent for Discussion. The item was subsequently deferred to the Special meeting of December 12, 2016. |
This Item was dealt with in Council Agenda, December 12, 2016, Motions, Item 9.2.
3.7. | Outstanding Reports List as at 11 25 16 *Note: Councillor Haywood removed Council Correspondence Item 4.11, Outstanding Reports List, from Consent for Discussion. The item was subsequently deferred to the Special meeting of December 12, 2016. |
That Council add to Report request from March 30, 2015: That four of eight personnel currently positioned on the rescue truck be re-utilized within fire suppression to cover training, sick leave, vacations, and public out-reach event/educational opportunities as mandated provincially and municipally. Moreover, if applicable, that no staff reduction as a result of removing the rescue truck be achieved through lay-off; but instead will be achieved solely through attrition; and
That staff provide an update on the progress of outstanding report request from August 22, 2016, #50, regarding 2016 Capital Budget report (staff report and bring to Budget Standing Committee for 2017 budget cycle to see what a five year plan to address a 5 million deficit regarding parks / rehabilitation. FORTHWITH
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That Council refer the motion to the Fire Master Planning Committee. FORTHWITH
Motion to Refer Carried
4. | Consent Reports |
There were none.
5. | Report Requests and Directions for Staff |
Directions have been noted and will be provided to the appropriate members of staff.
(The following item was deferred by General Committee, December 5, 2016 to be discussed at the Special Meeting of December 12, 2106)
5.1. | Report Request At the meeting of November 21, 2016, Councillor Elliott provided notice of the following report request: That Council direct staff to prepare a report on the Corporate policy that restricts staff from recommending the waiving of fees associated with events that are in the best interests of the community and how that policy can be changed to reflect community interests. |
Councillor Elliott advised that the Clerk notified him that this report was already being prepared, therefore, his request from November 21, 2016 is not necessary.
6. | In-Camera Session (General Committee) |
There was no In-Camera Session.
7. | Adjournment |
There being no further items of business, General Committee adjourned at 7:49 p.m. and City Council reconvened.
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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Council CoordinatorMayor