The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Second Meeting, Regular, Monday, January 21, 2013
Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:30 p.m.

His Worship Mayor Brian McMullan takes the Chair and opens the meeting

 
1.
Invocation
2.
Opening Remarks, Mayor McMullan
3.
Declarations of Interest
4.
Adoption of the Agendas as Presented
5.
Public Meetings Pursuant to the Planning Act (Commencing at 7:30 p.m.)
a)
Amendment to Zoning Area By-law 6609 (Zone 8), to Remove Regulations for Recreational Vehicles on Residential Lands; Applicant: City of St. Catharines; File: 60.35.1 Vol. AAF (General Committee Minutes, January 7, 2013, Item 3.1) (Report Attached)
6.
Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee)
7.
Presentations
a)
Bob Marshall, St. Catharines Hydro; Re: Cheque Presentation
8.
Delegations
a)
Ron Brydges; Re: Bill 140, Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011 (See General Committee, January 21, 2013, Item 3.1)
b)
Maggie Buckley; Re: Folk Arts Festival (See General Committee, January 21, 2013, Item 3.2)
c)
Karrie Porter, Our Community Food Store; Re: Market Study Results and Status Update
9.
Call for Notices of Motion
10.
Motions
a)
Councillor Phillips
Re: 24 Hour Shift Model for the City of St. Catharines Fire Department

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 2 of the Municipal Act, 2001, municipalities are created by the Province of Ontario to be responsible and accountable governments with respect to matters within their jurisdiction and each municipality is given powers and duties under this Act and many other Acts for the purpose of providing good government with respect to those matters; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 224 of the Municipal Act, 2001, it is the role of Council to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality; to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality; and to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 2 of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, every municipality shall provide such fire protection services as it determines may be necessary in accordance with its needs and circumstances; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 6 of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 the Council of the municipality shall appoint a fire chief for the fire department and a fire chief is the person who is ultimately responsible to the Council of a municipality that appointed him or her for the delivery of fire protection services; and

WHEREAS the conditions of work for firefighters and collective bargaining rights, among other things, is governed by Part IX of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 and whereas Section 43 of the Act imposes certain requirements regarding the hours of work for firefighters, including the option to implement 24 hour shift rotations, but does not require that this model be implemented leaving the management of resources including the determination of appropriate work schedules and staffing to the discretion of the employer; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 25 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, every employer is obligated, among other things to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker; and

WHEREAS Council believes that: 
  • No conclusive peer-reviewed medical studies have been conducted to measure the effects of 24 hour shifts on firefighters, including how the impact of sleep deprivation impacts the cognitive abilities of firefighters;
  • Such studies have been conducted in other professions to measure the effect of extended shifts on those professionals and employees and the results have not been supportive of extended shifts;
  • No conclusive peer-review studies have been conducted to confirm the subjective benefits which have been argued to be associated with 24 hour shifts for firefighters;
  • The potential risks associated with 24 hour shifts include, among other things, a reduction in the ability of firefighters to perform physically and mentally demanding tasks, a reduction in on-the-job stamina and increased rates of technical errors all of which may contribute to increased occupational injury, accident and/or loss of life and ultimately reduced public safety;
  • 24 hour shifts have the potential to create onerous operational and administrative burdens and financial costs associated with the management of sick leave, overtime, training, and discipline and impair the ability to ensure adequate numbers of firefighters available for callback in the event of major incidents;
  • 24 hour shifts may disconnect firefighters from their workplace for extended periods, resulting in reduced employee engagement, loss of mentoring opportunities and low levels of commitment to the profession; and
  • 24 hour shifts may have a disproportionate effect on older workers who generally have a more difficult time adjusting to significant schedule changes and have the potential to cause increased job stress and strain on family life for some firefighters

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipal Council of the City of St. Catharines does not support the implementation of a 24 hour shift model for the City of St. Catharines fire department as there is insufficient evidence at this time to refute real concern that this deployment of firefighter resources represents an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of firefighters and the public; and furthermore that implementing this change would be detrimental to the continued efficiency and effectiveness of the fire service.
11.
Resolve into General Committee
12.
Motion Arising from In-Camera Session
13.
Motion to Ratify Forthwith Recommendations
14.
By-laws
15.
Agencies, Boards, Committee Reports, and Extras
a)
Committee Minutes to Receive: Clean City Committee, Culture Committee, and Mayor's Advisory Committee for Black History
16.
Adjournment