The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Present: | Mayor Walter Sendzik Councillors Sandie Bellows (arrived at 5:32 p.m.), Mike Britton (arrived at 5:32 p.m.), Mark Elliott, N. Carlos Garcia, Matt Harris, David A. Haywood, Joseph Kushner, Bill Phillips (arrived at 6:14 p.m.), Mathew Siscoe, |
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Officials Present:
Guests: | Dan Carnegie, Chief Administrative Officer Heather Salter, Director of Legal and Clerks Services/City Solicitor Dan Dillon, Director of Transportation and Environmental Services Bonnie Nistico-Dunk, City Clerk Rebecca Alfieri, Council and Committee Coordinator
Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit Commission Rick Werner, Chair, St. Catharines Transit Commission Board Henry Bosch, Board Member, St. Catharines Transit Commission Board Laura Campbell, Board Member, St. Catharines Transit Commission Board Dawn Dodge, Board Member, St. Catharines Transit Commission Board Chris Fullerton, Board Member, St. Catharines Transit Commission Board |
Mayor Sendzik took the chair and called the meeting to order in Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the Mayor recognized the traditional territories of the First Nations where Council meets today, the territory of the Haudenasaunee, and Anishnabeg and nearby Six Nations of the Grand River. The Mayor said Mii'gwech. |
1. | Opening Remarks, Mayor Sendzik |
Mayor Sendzik went over the evenings proceedings for the public and Council.
2. | Adoption of Agenda |
2.1. | Suspension of Rules |
That Council suspend the rules in accordance with Procedural By-law 2015-170, as amended, Section A4, Suspension of the Rules, to allow for all additional delegations, and to allow for an opportunity for the St. Catharines Transit Commission Board Members to partake in the meeting's public discussion.
Motion to Suspend Rules Carried
2.2. | Adoption of the Agenda |
Seconded By: Councillor Sorrento
That Council adopt the agendas for the Special Meeting of February 22, 2017, as presented.
Carried
3. | Declarations of Interest |
There were none.
4. | Presentations |
4.1. | Dan Carnegie, CAO, City of St. Catharines, and Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit Commission Re: Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy (see Item 6.1 for related report) |
Dan Carnegie, CAO, City of St. Catharines, and Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit Commission addressed Council regarding Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy.
Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Sherlock explained how Transit relates to the Strategic Plan, and the City Council Recommendation, passed at the meeting of June 5, 2015. Mr. Carnegie described what the Inter-Municipal Transit Working Group would be responsible for, the feedback from the Dillon Report, and gave a comparison of the Transit Model options, one being the Status Quo, Consolidated, and Regional models. Next steps for the Transit Steering Committee, Transit Working Groups, and timelines were provided, as well as potential costs and funding opportunities.
Mr. Carnegie, and Mr. Sherlock then answered questions from Council.
5. | Delegations |
Council heard from the public regarding the following matter: Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy
Mayor Sendzik asked Council to receive and refer, once all delegates have presented.
NOTE: For all delegations see Special Council Agenda, February 22, 2017, Item 6.1
5.1. | The following individuals representing various organizations in the Niagara Region spoke in favour of an Inter-Municipal Transit Service and generally supported the recommendation in this report: CAO-045-2017 - Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy. Each presentation dealt with specific needs that were not being met by the present Transit System, and provided comments on what service enhancements would improve the present transit system, and make it more user friendly. |
• Mishka Balsom, President/CAO, and Hugo Chesshire, Policy & Government Relations Manager, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
• Alex Digenis, Owner/General Manager, Henley Honda, Subaru, and Skyway Fine Cars
• Diane Foster, Co-Chair, City of St. Catharines Accessibility Advisory Committee
• AliceMary Nakiwala, Niagara College Student Administration
• Angela Browne, Legal Advocacy
• Kyle Rose, Former President, Brock University Student Union (BUSU)
• Patrick Foster, President, Faisal Hejazi, VPFA, President Elect, and Chris Green, General Manager, Brock University Student Union (BUSU)
• Robert Llord, and Steve Beaudry, Local 846
• Shane Malcolm, Former President of Niagara College Student Union
• Brandon Harinck, Resident
Seconded By: Councillor Elliott
That Council receive and refer the presentations, regarding the Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy for consideration later in the evening. (see Council Agenda, February 22, 2017, Item 6.1)
Carried
5.2. | The members of the St. Catharines Transit Commission Board: Henry Bosch, Laura Campbell, Dawn Dodge, and Chris Fullerton now asked their questions of Dave Sherlock, General Manager, St. Catharines Transit, and Dan Carnegie, CAO. |
Council now resumed into Regular Council, according to the Procedural by-law
6. | Discussion Items |
6.1. | Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Administration Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy |
Seconded By: Councillor Haywood
That St. Catharines City Council endorse in principle the creation of a consolidated transit system in partnership with St. Catharines Transit Commission, the cities of Niagara Falls, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara to develop a regionally integrated transit system, as outlined in the St. Catharines Strategic Plan 2015-2025; and
That St. Catharines City Council hereby requests that the Regional Municipality of Niagara Region become formally and directly involved in the provision of public transit through a Triple Majority process and supportive of the consolidated transit model as recommended in the January 2017 Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy Report and endorsed by the Inter-Municipal Transit working group; and
That staff be directed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the cities of Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara including a governance framework, communication and implementation plan and specify how key issues are to be addressed by all parties along with next steps and timelines by the end of 2017; and
That Council supports the transition of the current Inter-Municipal Working group to a Transit Steering Committee made up of representatives of the cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara until a new governance framework is established in the pending Memorandum of Understanding; and
That Council supports the formation of a Transit Working Group with representation from the 12 area municipalities and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, to further the implementation of a consolidated transit model; and
That the costs associated with any initiatives identified by the Inter-Municipal Working Group be approved by City of St. Catharines Council prior to moving forward; and
That the Transit Working Group meaningfully consult with St. Catharines Transit employees as represented by their local union; and
That the integration of the GO Bus system be included in the process; and
Further that the Steering Committee consider all of the options. FORTHWITH
...
That Council remove the word Consolidation from the motion.
Yeas: Councillors Britton, Garcia, Haywood, Kushner, Stevens, and Bellows
Nays: Councillors Elliott, Harris, Phillips, Siscoe, Sorrento, Williamson, and Mayor Sendzik
Lost
That St. Catharines City Council endorse in principle the creation of a consolidated transit system in partnership with St. Catharines Transit Commission, the cities of Niagara Falls, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara to develop a regionally integrated transit system, as outlined in the St. Catharines Strategic Plan 2015-2025; and
That St. Catharines City Council hereby requests that the Regional Municipality of Niagara Region become formally and directly involved in the provision of public transit through a Triple Majority process and supportive of the consolidated transit model as recommended in the January 2017 Niagara Transit Service Delivery and Governance Strategy Report and endorsed by the Inter-Municipal Transit working group; and
That staff be directed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the cities of Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara including a governance framework, communication and implementation plan and specify how key issues are to be addressed by all parties along with next steps and timelines by the end of 2017; and
That Council supports the transition of the current Inter-Municipal Working group to a Transit Steering Committee made up of representatives of the cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland and the Regional Municipality of Niagara until a new governance framework is established in the pending Memorandum of Understanding; and
That Council supports the formation of a Transit Working Group with representation from the 12 area municipalities and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, to further the implementation of a consolidated transit model; and
That the costs associated with any initiatives identified by the Inter-Municipal Working Group be approved by City of St. Catharines Council prior to moving forward; and
That the Transit Working Group meaningfully consult with St. Catharines Transit employees as represented by their local union; and
That the integration of the GO Bus system be included in the process; and
Further that the Steering Committee consider all of the options. FORTHWITH
Yeas: Councillors Siscoe, Sorrento, Stevens, Williamson, Bellows, Britton, Elliott, Garcia, Harris, Haywood, Kushner, Phillips, and Mayor Sendzik
Nays:
Carried
7. | Adjournment |
Seconded By: Councillor Sorrento
There being no further items of business, this meeting be adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Carried
Certified Correct:Confirmed by:
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City ClerkMayor