The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines

SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES

Monday, December 12, 2016

Councillor Siscoe presented the Chair's report after the Reading of the By-laws, Item 13.1.

Councillor Siscoe addressed Council with an overview of the Budget Standing Committee meetings to date regarding the departmental budget presentations, advised of the public town hall meetings in January, 2017, and notified Councillors that are not on the Committee that they are welcome to meet with the budget Chair if they have any questions. Councillor Siscoe noted the community are able to email questions, comments or concerns to [email protected], and advised that the Budget Standing Committee meetings are now all live streamed.

There were none.

There was none.

Council did not adopt agendas as this meeting was a continuation of the December 5, 2016 agenda.

There were none.

There were none to adopt.

There were none.

There were none.

Moved By:  Councillor Britton

Seconded By:  Councillor Sorrento

WHEREAS the Mayor held a community forum for older adults on Wednesday,
November 30, and an expressed concern raised by the participants was the high cost of hydro in Ontario and the ability for seniors to remain in their homes in St. Catharines; and

WHEREAS, Niagara Regional Housing’s (NRH) Waiting List is presently upwards of 5000 households, representing over 10,000 people; and

WHEREAS, NRH’s 2013-2016 Strategic Plan is intended to demonstrate the organization’s commitment to the Plan’s vision and to Regional Council's focus on Niagara as a "healthy community, that supports a safe, healthy, diverse, culturally rich community where people of all ages and incomes enjoy a high quality of life."; and

WHEREAS, between 2011 and 2031 seniors 65 years and older will represent 60 per cent of the population growth in Niagara; and

WHEREAS, the target populations that the Province requires the final Regional Housing and Homelessness Action Plan to include for specific consideration within the community in order to ensure the plan is reflective of their unique housing needs includes the demographic of Niagara’s Seniors; and

WHEREAS, Niagara Regional Housing has stated in public literature that the “majority of the community” to be housed in the new building at 527 Carlton Street will be “those with the greatest wait for housing on the Centralized Waiting List – single, non-seniors.”;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that City Council request that NRH expand its consideration of those to be housed at 527 Carlton Street in order to include St. Catharines senior population; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk make the necessary notifications. FORTHWITH

Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Kushner, Siscoe, Sorrento, and Bellows

Nays: Councillors Elliott, Haywood, Stevens, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Siscoe

Seconded By:  Councillor Britton

That Council direct the Office of the City Clerk to take the necessary steps to host a public meeting on the Dual Duty proposal, and

That this meeting be scheduled for December 19, 2016, starting at 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., and

That an invitation to all City and Regional Councillors be extended. FORTHWITH

...

Moved By:  Councillor Stevens

That Council defer this meeting until the second meeting in January for a staff report, showing guidelines for a special meeting, giving at least three options showing formats, and to give 14 days notice to the public.

Lost

Council then voted on the original motion.

Yeas: Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Williamson, Britton, Garcia, and Haywood

Nays: Councillors Bellows, Elliott, Kushner, Stevens, and Mayor Sendzik

Carried

City Council recessed at 6:37 p.m. and General Committee convened. General Committee adjourned at 7:49 p.m. and City Council reconvened.

There were none.

Moved By:  Councillor Kushner

Seconded By:  Councillor Elliott

That Council adopt those items approved FORTHWITH by the General Committee on Monday, December 12, 2016.

Carried

Moved By:  Councillor Bellows

Seconded By:  Councillor Williamson

That the following by-law be read a first time, considered and passed; and

That it be signed and executed by the Mayor and the City Clerk.

By-law No. 2016-310 A By-law to confirm the proceedings of council at its meeting held on the 12th day of December, 2016. (One reading - with respect to confirming the proceedings of the meeting held on December 12, 2016.) File: 10.12.1

Carried

There were none.

Moved By:  Councillor Elliott

Seconded By:  Councillor Kushner

There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Carried

Certified Correct:Confirmed by:

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City ClerkMayor