The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Regular, Monday, June 26, 2017 Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:30 PM
His Worship Mayor Walter Sendzik takes the Chair and opens the meeting |
1. | Mayor's Report |
2. | Adoption of the Agendas |
3. | Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee) |
| 3.1 | Regular Meeting of Council, Minutes of June 12, 2017
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| 3.2 | General Committee, Minutes of June 12, 2017
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| 3.3 | Special Meeting of Council, Minutes of June 7, 2017
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| 3.4 | Budget Standing Committee, Minutes of April 12, 2017 and May 31, 2017
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4. | Declarations of Interest |
5. | Public Meetings Pursuant to Planning Act |
6. | Delegations |
7. | Presentations |
8. | Call for Notices of Motion |
| 8.1 | Merritton Labour Day Fireworks Funding The following motion will be presented by Councillor Stevens at the meeting of July 10, 2017:
WHEREAS the Port Dalhousie Lions Club supports an annual fireworks display in Port Dalhousie; and
WHEREAS fireworks in Port Dalhousie will occur again this year on July 1; and
WHEREAS Merritton Lions also support an annual fireworks display in Merritton on Labour Day and hope to do so again this year; and
WHEREAS, at the City Council meeting of June 12, 2017, a motion was approved to cover a shortfall in funding for Port Dalhousie fireworks in the amount of $2,000; and
WHEREAS, at the City Council meeting of June 12, 2017, it was also stated that individual donors would receive recognition on the City's web page; and
WHEREAS funds used for the Merritton Labour Day fireworks are funded by and subsidized through the generosity of local businesses and residents; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, should a shortfall in donations for the Merritton Labour Day fireworks occur, approval be granted to cover such a shortfall similar to that given to Port Dalhousie;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all donors who contribute to the Merritton Labour Day fireworks receive recognition on the City's web page. |
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| 8.2 | Demolition of Old General Hospital Site - Queenston Street The following motion will be presented by Councillor Stevens at the meeting of July 10, 2017:
WHEREAS the old General Hospital site on Queenston Street remains vacant and in a derelict condition; and
WHEREAS complaints and concerns continue to be expressed to Ward Councillors from area residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS various owners and various development plans have been put forth over the years but no definite or concrete action has transpired; and
WHEREAS a recent communication from the City's planning department stated "A new owner had preliminary discussions with City staff a number of months ago on options for residential development. There has been no formal preconsultation meeting requested nor formal planning applications submitted"; and
WHEREAS the City has received no planning applications on this site; and
WHEREAS the city is currently reviewing a demolition permit application; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of St. Catharines expedite the process required to grant a demolition permit;
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the demolition permit contain a clause or an agreement that demolition will occur forthwith so that area residents and businesses can receive some level of assurance that some level of progress is occurring on this site.
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9. | Motions |
| 9.1 | Flood Relief Funding Deferred by Council at the meeting of June 12, 2017. Councillor Garcia will present the following motion:
WHEREAS the level of Lake Ontario is the highest in 100 years and this has caused unprecedented and major flooding and erosion damage along the full shoreline of the City of St. Catharines and, particularly at the City's beaches; and
WHEREAS at the May 8, 2017 Council meeting, Councillor Williamson requested That staff "report back to Council regarding the costs that were incurred as a result of the damage done by the high lake water levels and heavy rains, as it pertains to emergency fund applications"; and
WHEREAS the lake levels have not yet receded so the costs cannot be fully quantified but costs to the City for flood clean-up, shoreline protection and other required services are expected to significantly exceed the capability of our taxpayers to fund them;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Council request our Provincial and Federal elected representatives to work with their respective government authorities to provide all available flood relief funding to help the City cover the unprecedented emergency costs that will be incurred. |
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| 9.2 | Stop Nuclear Waste in Great Lakes (see General Committee Agenda, Item 4.7, Sub-item 1, for correspondence related to this item) At the meeting of June 12, 2017, Councillor Siscoe provided notice that he would present the following motion:
WHEREAS St. Catharines City Council supported a resolution in January 2014 to stop the "Great Lakes Nuclear Dump" respecting Ontario Power Generations' plan to build a nuclear waste repository beside the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS the City of St. Catharines is a member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a binational coalition of Canadian and US mayors and elected officials working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River; and
WHEREAS a decision on this matter is expected in 2017;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of St. Catharines urges the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to reject (and seek alternatives to) Ontario Power Generations’ proposal to bury radioactive nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin. |
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| 9.3 | Protecting Automotive Sector in St. Catharines (see General Committee Agenda, Item 4.7, Sub-item 2, for correspondence related to this item) At the meeting of June 12, 2017, Mayor Sendzik provided notice that the following motion would be presented:
WHEREAS the auto sector directly employs over 101,000 people in Ontario, and indirectly supports the creation of more than 300,000 good jobs in communities nationwide; and
WHEREAS St. Catharines is a member of the Auto Mayors Roundtable and Niagara’s industrial sector directly and indirectly employs thousands of employees that support the automotive industry; and
WHEREAS the automotive industry represents Canada’s largest manufacturing sector, Ontario’s chief export and the economic lifeblood of hundreds of Canadian communities; and
WHEREAS a thriving auto sector is an essential part of St. Catharines’ local economy and the Niagara regional economy, stimulating growth, innovation, and good, high-paying jobs; and
WHEREAS Canada’s auto sector has been deeply integrated with that of the United States since the early-20th century, as indicated by the 1965 Canada-US Auto Pact; and
WHEREAS the North American Free Trade Agreement governs nearly every aspect of Canada and the United States’ economic relationship, including the import and export of auto parts and vehicles; and
WHEREAS even minor changes to the established trade relationship between Canada and the United States could have enormous consequences for workers and consumers on both sides of the border; and
WHEREAS in 2016 the government of Ontario and Michigan signed a Memorandum of Understanding calling for increased cooperation and partnership between their two automotive sectors; and
WHEREAS the United States has announced its intent to renegotiate NAFTA; and
WHEREAS Canada’s economic future and the continued wellbeing of St. Catharines’ local economy depend on a thriving automotive sector;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that St. Catharines City Council:
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| 9.4 | Passenger Ferry Service - St. Catharines-Toronto Councillor Garcia will present the following motion:
WHEREAS Lake Ontario Express has submitted a letter to Council outlining their proposal for a "passenger ferry service, utilizing specially designed and built for Lake Ontario conditions, Canadian made Hovercraft, between Port Dalhousie (PD Pier Marina) and Toronto, making about 7 round trips / day at 45 minutes / crossing"; and
WHEREAS a reliable water link to Toronto would provide a transportation alternative that is complementary to the planned GO rail service and would benefit residents of St. Catharines and the region and also bring visitors to the area; and
WHEREAS the Town of Lincoln has already expressed support for a water transportation service between the Niagara region and downtown Toronto which would reduce carbon emissions by eliminating car trips and reducing traffic congestion;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council supports in principle the concept of a water link service between St. Catharines and downtown Toronto. |
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| 9.5 | Property Tax Relief - Branscombe Mental Health Centre Councillor Harris will present the following motion:
WHEREAS the Pathstone Foundation recently opened the new Branscombe Mental Health Centre at 1338 Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines to support mental health and wellness for children, youth and families in Niagara; and
WHEREAS Pathstone Mental Health and the Pathstone Foundation are both not-for-profit charitable organizations operating under the Child and Family Services Act; and
WHEREAS Pathstone owns two additional buildings in Niagara which have been classified as property tax exempt as a charitable organization for the nature of the activities and services provided;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that St. Catharines City Council supports Pathstone Mental Health’s application to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to recognize the new Branscombe Mental Health Centre as a charitable organization and eligible for property tax exemptions and / or rebates as defined by MPAC and to allow the Region of Niagara to waive development charges for the new property based on this classification. |
10. | Resolve into General Committee |
11. | Motion Arising from In-Camera Session |
12. | Motion to Ratify Forthwith Recommendations |
13. | By-laws |
| 13.1 | Reading of By-laws
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14. | Agencies, Boards, Committee Reports |
| 14.1 | Minutes to Receive: Outdoor Aquatics Facility Task Force, June 6, 2017 Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, May 2, 2017
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15. | Adjournment |