MINUTES - General Committee - 20031021
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
REPORT
NO. 03-15
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Pedersen in the Chair; Mayor Jones,
Councillors Griffith, Kean, MacEachern, Timpson,
Vrancic, Wallace and West.
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Director of Building, Director of
Leisure Services, Director of Planning, Director of
Public Works, Treasurer and Council/Committee
Secretary
Councillor Pedersen called the meeting to order at 9:05 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services
Department be approved as presented.
CARRIED
III DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1, 3, 6 and 9 were identified for discussion.
IV ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Kean
THAT the following recommendations respecting the matters listed as
“Items not Requiring Separate Discussion” be adopted as submitted to
Council and Staff be authorized to take all necessary action required to
give effect to same:
General Committee Report No. 03-15 Page 2
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
2. PL03-105 - Planning Applications Status List
THAT the Planning Applications Status List be received as information.
4. PL03 -107- Draft Plan of Condominium
Wycliffe Westbury Limited
Part of Lots 74 and 75, Concession 1, E.Y.S.
227 Vandorf Sideroad
File Number D07-03-4A
THAT the proposed Plan of Condominium D07-03-4A be draft approved
by the Town of Aurora subject to the conditions on APPENDIX 1 being
met prior to final approval.
5. CS03 - 039 - Request for Street Name
Schickendanz Brothers Ltd. - Elderberry Hill Farm
13990 and 14208 Yonge Street
Part of Lot 72, Concession 1, W.Y.S.
Draft Plan of Subdivision
D12-01-3A
THAT the street name “Jumper Drive”, approved by Council on September
23, 2003 be amended to “Equestrian Drive”.
7. TR03-023 - Policy for a Property Tax Rebate for Vacancies in
Commercial and Industrial Buildings
THAT the “Policy for a Property Tax Rebate for Vacancies in Commercial
and Industrial Buildings” (Appendix “A” - attached hereto) be adopted for
implementation and incorporation into the Town’s Administration
Procedures (No. 61) as a formal policy governing property tax rebates
under Section 364 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001 c.24 as amended
for vacant units in Commercial and Industrial Buildings.
8. TR03-024 - Cancellation, Reduction or Refund of Property
Taxes under Sections 357 and 358 of the Municipal Act
THAT the Property Taxes in the amount of $25,493.61 (Section 357 in the
amount of $25,374.44 and Section 357 in the amount of $119.17) be
adjusted; the Town of Aurora’s portion is $7,410.22; and
THAT the associated penalty/interest be cancelled in proportion to the tax
adjustment; and
THAT the Director of Finance/Treasurer be directed to adjust the
Collector’s Roll.
CARRIED
V DELEGATIONS
Ms Susan Hart, Director of the Alzheimer Society of York Region
Re: Update on Delivery of Service and Education for Alzheimer
and Related Disorders
It was noted by the Chair that the delegate was not in attendance and therefore
the item was withdrawn.
General Committee Report No. 03-15 Page 3
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Mr. Norm Grey-Noble of Grey-Noble Associates Inc. and
Mr. Gary Stanhope of MHPM Project Managers Inc.
Re: Item #1 - New Recreation Facilities/Seniors Centre
Construction Methodology
Mr. Norm Grey-Noble of Grey-Noble Associates Inc. advised that he and Mr.
Stanhope have prepared a detailed comparison between the potential building
strategies being considered by the Town of Aurora to construct the new Seniors
Centre and the new Recreation Facility. Mr. Grey-Noble then provided a
summary of the benefits and draw backs of the Design Build method, and Mr.
Gary Stanhope summarized the benefits and drawbacks of the Traditional
General Contracting method of construction. Mr. Stanhope concluded by
requesting that the Committee provide direction on which method would be
preferred so that staff, in conjunction with Grey-Noble Associates Inc. can carry
out the process in a timely manner.
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to Item #1
on the agenda.
CARRIED
VI CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. LS03-044 - New Recreation Facilities/Seniors Centre
Construction Methodology
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Timpson
THAT Council direct staff to proceed with the Traditional General
Contracting approach for the construction of the new Seniors Centre
and new Recreation Complex and to proceed with the process to
recruit Architects for the preparation of Design and Tender
documents for each project.
CARRIED
3. PL03-106 - Site Plan Amendment Application
Fernbrook Homes (Stonebridge) Limited
Part of Lots 74 and 75, Concession 1, E.Y.S.
Part of Block 1, Registered Plan 65M-3285
Reference Plan 65R-21709
Crossing Bridge Place and Stonecliffe Crescent
(South of Vandorf Sideroad and West of Bayview Avenue)
File Number D11-03-98
Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor West
THAT Report PL03-106 be received as information; and
THAT, subject to a satisfactory review by the Site Plan Committee, the
Director of Planning be authorised to execute a site plan amendment
agreement between Fernbrook Homes (Stonebridge) Limited and the
Town of Aurora, respecting the relocation of three approved townhouse
blocks within Phase II of the subject development.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 03-15 Page 4
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
6. TR03-022 - Financial Outlook (2004-2008)
Operating, Capital, Reserve and
Reserve Fund Forecast
Moved by Councillor Kean Seconded by Councillor West
THAT the Treasurer’s Report #TR03-022 “Financial Outlook (2004-2008)
Operating, Capital, Reserve and Reserve Fund Forecast” be received for
information; and
THAT the 1st draft of the 2004 Operating and Capital Budgets and the
proposed scheduling for consideration of the 2004 budgets be presented
to the incoming Council as part of the Council Orientation package in
December, 2003.
CARRIED
9. Correspondence from the Ontario Federation of
Anglers and Hunters Re: National Fire Arms Registry
Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
We, the undersigned, elected representatives of the Town of Aurora, in
the Province of Ontario, draw the attention of the House to the following:
THAT, the federal government committed to the taxpayers of Canada that
the National Firearms Registry for long guns under Bill C-68 would cost no
more than $2 million dollars;
THAT, the Auditor General's Report submitted to Parliament on December
3, 2002 determined that the minimum cost of the federal firearms registry
for long guns will exceed $1 billion dollars; that a recent administrative
review by a consultant for the Justice Department verified that the gun
registry will cost an additional $541 million before being fully implemented,
and another $1 billion to operate; and that these spending estimates do
not include the cost of associated programs;
THAT, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has recently announced that
they believe that the firearms registry for long guns will cost the taxpayers
of Canada at least $2 billion;
THAT, the Auditor General of Canada determined that the Justice
Department has consistently failed to provide both the Members of
Parliament and the Auditor General with accurate information regarding
cost overruns of the registry;
THAT, the government has failed to provide any conclusive or verifiable
evidence that the registration of long guns is preventing crime or keeping
guns out of the hands of criminals;
THAT, the money spent on the firearms registry for long guns would have
provided MRI's for every hospital in Canada, or provided for the hiring of at
least 10,000 police officers;
THAT, municipalities across Canada are in dire need of funding
assistance to assist with the provision of local services including public
transit, the maintenance of local infrastructure such as roads, bridges,
sewers, hospitals, and local law enforcement;
General Committee Report No. 03-15 Page 5
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
THAT, eight Provinces, three Territories, police associations, police chiefs
and police officers across Canada have withdrawn their support of the
firearms registry for long guns; five recent public opinion polls have
demonstrated that a majority of Canadian taxpayers support the abolition
of the firearms registry in favour of spending on other national priorities;
and that six provinces are refusing to prosecute charges associated with
the firearms registry;
THEREFORE as elected representatives of the Town of Aurora, we call
upon Parliament to retain the licensing component of Bill C-68; to
strengthen the sentencing and penalties associated with the use of a
firearm in the commission of a crime; and abolish the unworkable national
firearms registry for long guns and redirect the tax dollars being spent on
the registry to programs in support of municipal infrastructure, health care,
education, and local law enforcement.
CARRIED
VII OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Kean
THAT the Touch Screens provided for the Municipal Elections, each
display a sign indicating that voters may select up to 8 candidates for the
position of Councillor in this election.
CARRIED
VIII ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Griffith
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
CARRIED
(THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 03-15 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY,
OCTOBER 28, 2002.)
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK