MINUTES - General Committee - 19990617
TOWN OF AURORA
General Committee Meeting No. 09-99
Council Chambers Time: 7:00 p.m.
Aurora Town Hall Thursday, June 17, 1999
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Hinder the Chair; Mayor Jones,
Councillors, Hartwell, Healy, Hinder, Hogg (arrived at
8:30 p.m.), Morris and West
Councillor McKenzie was absent for medical reasons
and Councillor Griffith was also absent.
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Corporate
Services, Director of Planning, Director of Public
Works, Fire Chief, Treasurer, and Council/Committee
Secretary.
WAIVE PROCEDURAL BY-LAW
#1. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the provision of the Procedural By-law with respect to the notice of
meeting be waived.
CARRIED
IN CAMERA
Legal Matter
#2. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the Committee proceed In Camera at 7:00 p.m. to address a legal
matter.
CARRIED
The Committee resumed in Public at 7:40 p.m.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Morris declared an interest in Report PL99-056-163 Planning Applications
Status List - Pending Report #15, due to the employment of her spouse in a subsidiary
of Magna and did not take part in or vote on any questions in this regard or attempt in
any way to influence the voting on such questions.
R E P O R T
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 2
Thursday, June 17, 1999
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
#3. Moved by Councillor Hinder Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services
Department be approved as outlined herein.
CARRIED
DELEGATIONS
John McArthur re: Sale of Land from Town of Aurora to
Residents of Ransom Court - Report CO99-030-161
Mr. John McArthur, resident of Ransom Court introduced himself and explained that he
was representing the other residents of Ransom Court who posses property which
backs on to the lands being considered for purchase from the Town of Aurora. Mr.
McArthur commented that the residents felt that the appraised value of the lands
proposed for sale was much higher than they are worth. He explained that it was felt
that the lands are difficult to access, the slope and small size of the land decrease the
possible uses for it. It was also expressed that pollution in the form of sediment has
been detected in a stream located on these lands and it was expected increase over
time.
Mr. McArthur advised that the residents have already submitted a proposal to the Town
of Aurora for the purchase of the lands at a cost which the residents felt was more
reasonable and expressed hope that this proposal would be considered and accepted
by the Town.
#4. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Healy
That Report CO99-030-161 be brought forward for discussion and
consideration along with the comments of the delegate.
CARRIED
CO99-030-161 - Proposed Purchase from Town of Aurora Part of Block A,
Registered Plan M-80 (Ransom Court) and Delegation from John McArthur
#5. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Morris
That staff be directed to meet with residents to negotiate the value of the
lands in question, aiming to raise the proposed offer to meet common
ground and return with a proposal.
CARRIED
CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority re: Agreement
with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
#6. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the correspondence be received as information.
CARRIED
Tournament of Champions re: Participation in the Equestrian Tour
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 3
Thursday, June 17, 1999
#7. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the correspondence be referred to Staff to review the Grant Policy.
CARRIED
Mr. Frank Malito, Resident re: Benville Crescent (Bayview/Vandorf Phase II)
Ditch Complaints
#8. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the depth and maintenance of the ditches remain as constructed in
keeping with the plans as originally approved for the subdivision.
CARRIED
Ms. Delania Munro, Resident re: Request for Donation for
Miss Canada International Pageant
#9. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the correspondence be referred to Staff to review the Grant Policy.
CARRIED
ADVISORY AND AD HOC COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Committee Report No. CC99-007 Monday, April 26, 1999
Communications Committee Meeting
#10. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the Committee Record of the Communications Committee Meeting
held on April 26, 1999/May 3, 1999 be held for consideration until
Councillor Hogg arrives.
CARRIED
Special Events Advisory Committee Report No. SE99-005
Tuesday, April 27, 1999 Special Events Advisory Committee Meeting
#11. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight loss group established
in Aurora since 1986 be permitted to set up an information booth at our
July 1st celebrations.
CARRIED
STAFF REPORTS
CO99-027-160 - By-law to License Cats
There was some discussion as to the possible difficulty of enforcing this by-law and it
was determined that the process of placing a microchip in the straying cats might assist
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 4
Thursday, June 17, 1999
in determining repeat problems which might require action, and could assist in the
reduction of cat-related complaints and strays over time.
#12. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Committee endorse the principal of establishing a by-law to
licence cats and prohibits their trespassing on private property beginning
in January 2000.
THAT the draft by-law attached to the report be received by the
Committee, circulated to interested parties for comment and considered
by Council for adoption in the fall.
CARRIED
FI99-014-162 - Response Service Level and Staffing/ Fire & Emergency Services -
Master Plan
#13. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the Committee support Option #3 listed the report which
recommends the Staging of hiring four people by hiring two additional
emergency responders for employment commencing in October 1999 and
two more for April 2000.
DEFEATED
There was discussion regarding the immediacy of the need for improved fire response
services and the financial implications on the Town. It was suggested that
consideration could be given to a public input process, where residents might be asked
what level of service would be most appropriate for the Town, and that residents are
informed of the varying financial impacts resulting from these service improvements.
#14. Moved by Councillor Morris Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the Committee support Option #1 listed the report which
recommends the hiring four additional emergency responders for
employment commencing in October 1999; and
THAT Draft Number 1 of the Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan be
received as information.
CARRIED
#15. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the C.A.O. be requested to bring back the Town’s previous motion
with respect to the amalgamation of Regional Fire Services, to be included
on the Council meeting agenda scheduled for Wednesday June 23, 1999.
CARRIED
Communications Committee Report No. CC99-007 Monday, April 26, 1999
Communications Committee Meeting
#16. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Committee Record of the Communications Committee Meeting
held on April 26, 1999/May 3, 1999 be received as information.
THAT the Communications Committee purchase four bulletin boards at a
cost of $2,196.96.
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 5
Thursday, June 17, 1999
THAT the draft Corporate Communications Policy be considered by the
committee and feedback forwarded to the Communications Committee for
refinement and subsequent presentation by the Communications
Committee at a future Council Meeting.
THAT the draft Corporate Communications Policy and Tactical Initiatives
be referred to staff for comments and response to the Communications
Committee.
THAT the Noticeboard proposal be approved.
CARRIED
PL99-056-163 – Planning Applications Status List
#17. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the Planning Applications Status List be received as information.
CARRIED
Councillor Morris, having previously declared an interest in PL99-056-163, did not take
part in the vote called for regarding pending report #15.
PW99-032-164 – Proposed Guidelines for the Reconstruction of Town Roads
It was requested that staff be requested to investigate the varying road widths; and that
a similar list of proposed guidelines from 1993 or 1994 be found to compare with the list
of guidelines shown on page 5 of this report.
#18. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT Council endorse the guidelines for the reconstruction of Town roads
as outlined in Report PW99-032 and that staff be directed to take these
factors into consideration for the next submission of the 10 Year Capital
Roads Program;
THAT specific annual consideration be given by Council to reconstructing
streets without the provision of sidewalks where traffic levels are low and it
is deemed to be in the Town’s interests.
CARRIED
PW99-036-165 – Proposed Parking Restrictions Along Yonge Street
#19. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Mayor Jones
That the existing “No Parking Sundays, 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.” regulation
on the west side of Yonge Street from Orchard Heights Boulevard to Golf
Links Drive be repealed; and
That the balance of the proposed changes to the parking regulations on
Yonge Street as described in Report PW99-036 be referred to the Core
Review Committee for their comments.
CARRIED
PW99-040-166 - Transit Implementation Plans
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 6
Thursday, June 17, 1999
It was noted that in previous reports there was a listing of Town subsidizing per rider
and a request was made to include such statistics in this and upcoming reports
regarding this issue.
It was also suggested that monitoring be conducted prior to, during and after the
implementation of these changes to the Transit service for the Town of Aurora.
#20. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor West
THAT Council approve the implementation plans for Community Transit,
GO Train Transit, and Access Transit Services as outlined in this report
commencing as soon as practical but no later than September 7, 1999;
THAT an implementation plan for a Student Transit Service be tabled for
consideration by Council prior to the start of the 1999/2000 school year;
THAT Council direct staff to prepare the necessary contract documents
between Aurora and Newmarket for further Council review;
THAT Council approve the revised 1999 Conventional Transit Budget.
CARRIED
At this point in the meeting the Chair suggested the consideration of Item B from Other
Matters for Consideration, regarding a memo from the Director of Public Works, due to
the late hour to accommodate a resident who was in attendance.
Memorandum from Director of Public Works re:
Traffic Safety Study – Council Resolutions #344 and #345
#21. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the item be deferred to the July 21st Council meeting agenda and
that George Timpson, Chair of the Traffic Safety Advisory Board, be
invited to attend that meeting to briefly explain these aspects of the Study
and answer any questions which might arise.
CARRIED
PW99-041-167 - Stone Road Bicycle Lane
#22. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT Stopping be prohibited at anytime along the easterly side of Stone
Road from Bayview Avenue (North) to Bayview Avenue (South);
THAT the Clerk be directed to introduce the necessary bill for two
readings and to give notice to the affected people; and
THAT the Public Works Department be directed to make such
arrangements as necessary to have the bicycle lane implemented as
described within this report after the by-law has been passed.
CARRIED
TR99-014-168 - Town of Aurora Web Site Policy
#23. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor West
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 7
Thursday, June 17, 1999
THAT the Town of Aurora Administrative Procedure No. 53 Web Site
Policy be approved.
THAT Council approve July 1, 1999 as the official web site launch date.
THAT staff submit a web site progress report to Council, before the end of
the year; and
THAT the Communications Report be referred to the Website Committee
for consideration and report on possibility of integrating the Tactical
Initiatives into the Website.
CARRIED
TR99-019-169 - Bill 79 Update
#24. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Healy
THAT the Treasurer’s Report TR99-18 entitled “1999 Tax Rates” be
received.
THAT Bill 4078-99.F, establishing the 1999 tax rates for the Town of
Aurora, the Regional Municipality of York and the York Region District
School Boards be approved and given three readings at the June 23,
1999 Council Meeting.
CARRIED
OTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION
Extract from Council Meeting Held on May 26, 1999
re: Solid Waste Management Options
#25. Moved by Councillor Healy Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the Town of Aurora communicate to the Region of York that the
Town supports option #3 of the 5 options provided in the Region’s
“Analysis of Future Solid Waste Diversion Options”, given the information
available at this time and pending the results of a proposal request
recently issued by the Region.
CARRIED
Fax/Memorandum from Councillor Hartwell re: Smoking
Within Municipal Premises By-law 3351-91
#26. Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT this communication be referred to the Smoking By-law Review Ad
Hoc Committee.
The motion was withdrawn with the consent of the mover and seconder.
#27. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT this communication be referred to the Smoking By-law Review
Committee for response by the 21st of July.
CARRIED
IN CAMERA
Legal and Personnel Matters
General Committee Report No. 09-99 Page 8
Thursday, June 17, 1999
#28. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT this Council proceed In Camera to address legal and personnel
matters.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
#29. Moved by Councillor Morris
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
CARRIED
(THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 09-99 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON JUNE 23,
1999 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RECOMMENDATION #9, WHICH WAS AMENDED
AND RECOMMENDATIONS #12, #20 and #22 WHICH WERE DISCUSSED AND
ADOPTED AS SUBMITTED.)
___________________________
____________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, MUNICIPAL CLERK