The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Regular, Monday, August 12, 2019 Council Chambers, City Hall, 6:00 PM
His Worship Mayor Walter Sendzik takes the Chair and opens the meeting |
1. | Mayor's Report |
2. | Adoption of the Agendas |
3. | Declarations of Interest |
4. | Adoption of the Minutes (Council and General Committee) |
| 4.1 | Regular Meeting of Council, Minutes of July 15, 2019
|
| 4.2 | General Committee, Minutes of July 15, 2019
|
5. | Public Meetings Pursuant to Planning Act |
| 5.1 | Planning and Building Services 170 Church Street, 26, 28, & 30 Niagara St Agent: Better Neighbourhoods Inc Zoning & Official Plan Amendment
|
6. | Public Meetings Pursuant to Notice By-Law |
| 6.1 | Planning and Building Services / Transportation and Environmental Services Request to Establish and Name a Public Street as David S Howes Way
|
| 6.2 | Parks, Recreation and Culture Services, Programs and Cultural Services St. Catharines Farmers Market Rates and Fees (Report contains links, copies available upon request)
|
7. | Special Presentations |
| 7.1 | Fiona Peacefull and Chris McQueen, Disruptive Ideology Inc. Re: Strategic Plan Updates
| ||
8. | Resolve into General Committee | |||
9. | Motions Arising from In-Camera Session |
10. | Motion to Ratify Forthwith Recommendations |
11. | Motions |
| 11.1 | Vacant Home Tax Councillor Miller will present the following motion:
WHEREAS St. Catharines currently has a years-long waiting list for social housing, extremely low apartment vacancy rates, rising apartment costs, a need for more shelter spaces and transitional housing, and a residential real estate market that has seen house values grow exponentially in a short period of time; and
WHEREAS these factors combined have resulted in St. Catharines becoming an unaffordable place to live for many, particularly those on fixed incomes, social assistance and those who earn less than the living wage; and
WHEREAS jurisdictions such as British Columbia and Vancouver have successfully implemented vacant property taxes to not only collect more revenue for social housing projects, but also to encourage real estate speculators to rent out vacant homes; and
WHEREAS the Regional Municipality of Niagara has the authority to implement a vacant home tax in St. Catharines (and all other lower-tier municipalities within Niagara);
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of St. Catharines endorse the concept of a vacant home tax and call upon the Niagara Region to investigate, create, and implement a vacant home tax that specifically: Addresses vacant residential units in St. Catharines Encourages turning empty St. Catharines homes into good housing for people Raises revenue that will directly support affordable housing in St. Catharines
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be circulated to the the Office of the City Clerk at the Niagara Region, Niagara Region Housing, the local area municipalities and the City of St. Catharines City Treasurer / Director of Financial Management Services and the Director of Planning and Building Services.
|
|
| 11.2 | Wildlife Population Councillor Garcia will present the following motion:
WHEREAS residents are concerned about what seems to be an increasingly large coyote and coywolves population, particularly, in the area of Jaycee and Westcliffe Parks parts of the City; and
WHEREAS residents report these animals are not intimidated by human presence and have been reported to be seen at all times of the day;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that staff work with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), along with any other organizations that may have appropriate expertise and urge them to take immediate action that will mitigate the threat to residents without harming the wildlife population;
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that staff report back to Council in September with options and an on-going plan including the cost to implement it. FORTHWITH
|
12. | Call for Notices of Motion |
13. | Report Requests to Council |
| 13.1 | That staff initiate the process outlined in the Naming Policy for Parks, Trails and Recreation Facilities to name the parkette at 91 York Street, including consultation with the public, the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Fitzgerald Neighbours, and prepare a report for Council to consider a name for the parkette. (Councillor Siscoe)
|
| 13.2 | That staff report back on the feasibility of expanding the downtown CCTV initiative with the NRP to include the Yates neighbourhood, the area around Montebello Park and the Queen St. area, including costs associated with an expansion into these areas and whether exterior funding sources exist to help defray costs. (Councillor Siscoe)
|
14. | By-laws |
| 14.1 | Reading of By-Laws
|
15. | Agencies, Boards, Committee Reports |
| 15.1 | Minutes to Receive: Accessibility Advisory Committee, Minutes of April 24, 2019 Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, Minutes of June 4, 2019 Transportation Advisory Committee, Minutes of June 25, 2019 Accessibility Advisory Committee, Minutes of June 26, 2019 Heritage Permit Advisory Committee, Minutes of June 27, 2019 Heritage Advisory Committee, Minutes of July 11, 2019 (Draft) Advisory Committee on Older Adults, Minutes of July 23, 2019 (Draft) Accessibility Advisory Committee, Minutes of July 24, 2019 (Draft)
|
16. | Adjournment of Regular Council Meeting |
| 16.1 | That the Regular Council Meeting of August 12, 2019 be adjourned.
|