MINUTES - General Committee - 20050215
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
REPORT
NO. 05-04
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Wallace in the Chair; Mayor Jones,
Councillors Buck, Gaertner, Hogg, Kean, Morris,
Vrancic and West.
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Morris was absent.
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, Town Solicitor, and
Council/Committee Secretary.
Councillor Wallace called the meeting to order at 7:00 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
General Committee recommends:
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, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were identified for discussion.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
IV ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
General Committee recommends:
THAT the following recommendations respecting the matters listed as
“Items not Requiring Separate Discussion” be adopted as submitted to the
Committee and staff be authorized to take all necessary action required to
give effect to same:
3. TR05-015 - 2005 Budget 2nd Meeting
THAT Council receive for information report TR05-015, the first draft of the
2005 Operating Budget and the second draft of the 2005 Capital Fund
Budget for information; and
THAT all recommendations adopted by Council as a result of input
received at the February 19th, and 26th budget meetings on the Town’s
2005 Operating and Capital Fund Budgets be referred to staff for
incorporation into the final draft of the 2005 Operating and Capital Fund
Budgets; and
THAT Council direct staff to advertise the March 7th public budget meeting
for a staff presentation and public input on the proposed 2005 Operating
and Capital Fund Budgets.
CARRIED
V DELEGATIONS
(a) Mr. Jim Jones, Regional Councillor, Town of Markham
Re: A Super High-Speed Highway Fibre Backbone
Community Infrastructure
Mr. Jim Jones, Regional Councillor, Town of Markham, provided an overview
of a regional initiative called One 1 York, which would involve the installation
of a fibre optics network throughout the Region. Mr. Jones advised that this
ultra high-speed infrastructure would enable public organizations to share
equipment, facilities, resources and information. Mr. Jones advised that
several organizations including both School Boards are on line with this plan,
and outlined the many benefits of this initiative, emphasizing the value of
such a rapid integration of new technologies, through the elimination of
service duplication and significant cost reduction throughout the Region of
York. Mr. Jones outlined a plan of action and requested that the Town of
Aurora endorse the concept, become a member of One 1 York and support
the process to the next stage.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received and referred to staff for a
comprehensive report on the proposed One 1 York initiative.
CARRIED
Councillor Hogg - Arrived at 7:10 p.m.
General Committee Report No. 05-04 Page 3 of 6
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
(b) Mr. Les Kerr of Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School
Re: Support for School’s Trip to Europe in March, 2005
Mr. Les Kerr of Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School advised that his school
has planned a ‘WWI and WWII Battlefield Tour’ from March 9 to 18, 2005.
Mr. Kerr advised that the 10 day trip will span through Holland, Belgium and
France, and will include visits to many significant historical sites including,
the home of Anne Frank, Arnhem, “Flanders Fields”, Vimy Ridge, Dieppe
and the new Juno Beach Centre. Mr. Kerr advised that 30 students, 4
teachers and 5 parents will be participating in this event. Mr. Kerr introduced
4 students who will be attending. Each student advised of the significance of
this unique opportunity and speculated on the personal knowledge and
experience they expect to gain from the WWI and WWII Battlefield Tour. Mr.
Kerr advised that throughout the trip a log will be kept and many pictures will
be taken, and he suggested that upon their return a follow up visit to Council
to share their experiences would be planned. Mr. Kerr advised that the Town
of Aurora has kindly donated pins for each participant to proudly wear during
the trip, and he requested that the General Committee consider showing
further support for this initiative by providing a financial contribution to help
offset the many costs anticipated to arise.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
(c) Ms Lydia Schuster, Aurora Seniors’ Association, Secretary
Re: Request for Reconsideration regarding the Extension
of the Canopy in the Design for the Seniors’ Centre
Ms Lydia Schuster requested, on behalf of the Aurora Seniors’ Association,
that the General Committee recommend to Council that the Council decision
of December 14, 2004 pertaining to the elimination of the extended canopy
for the new Seniors’ Center be re-introduced for consideration. Ms Schuster
advised that the Aurora Seniors’ Association has strongly supported the
inclusion of the extended canopy at the main entrance to the Seniors’
Centre, throughout the planning process. Ms Schuster advised that the
canopy would serve to protect members as they arrive and depart from the
Centre in poor weather, and stressed that this has been identified as a strong
priority for the members during the needs assessment process. Ms Shuster
concluded by requesting that Council approve Option 2 of Report LS04-064 -
Proposed Expansion of Front Canopy at the New Seniors’ Centre, as
presented at the December 14, 2004 Council meeting.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
(d) Director of Planning and Director of Public Works
Re: Item 1 – Residential Servicing Allocation Chart Update
Mr. Wayne Jackson, Director of Public Works provided an over view of the
various capital projects that impact water and sewer servicing allocation
within the Town of Aurora in relation to the allocation throughout York
Region. The Director advised that several strategic sanitary sewer system
projects are behind schedule by up to several years, resulting in a strain on
the allocation of this service. Mr. Jackson advised that the allocation of
water is not an issue at this time as the water supply is well managed and
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
system enhancements are well advanced in addressing the forecasted
increase in population.
Ms Sue Seibert, Director of Planning provided an overview of the various key
planning applications throughout the area which require servicing, including
the 2B area, the Historic Downtown Core of Aurora, 404 Infill and
properties at Bayview Avenue and St. John’s Sideroad. Ms Seibert reviewed
the current servicing allocation policy. Ms Siebert requested that the General
Committee recommend that Council authorize staff to amend the Servicing
Allocation chart to reflect 1015 units be reserved for the 2B area, request that
the 2B Landowners Group submit their proposed distribution plan for the
Phases 2 and 3 development, expand the Planning Pending List to include
the monitoring of the 200 units reserve of Servicing Allocation in the Historic
Core and that the moratorium on the processing of new residential plans
requiring servicing capacity be lifted in the 2nd quarter of 2005.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegates be received and referred to Item 1
PL05-001 - Residential Servicing Allocation Chart Update January 2005
on the agenda.
CARRIED
VI CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. PL05-001 - Residential Servicing Allocation Chart Update January 2005
(Referred by General Committee January 18, 2005)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the chart entitled Servicing Allocation be amended to reflect 1015
units be reserved for the 2B area; and
THAT the 2B Landowners Group be requested to submit their proposed
distribution plan for the Phases 2 and 3 development; and
THAT staff be directed to report on that proposed distribution from both a
Planning and Engineering perspective; and
THAT the monthly Planning Pending List be expanded to include
monitoring of the 200 units reserve of Servicing Allocation in the Historic
Core; and
THAT the moratorium on the processing of new residential plans requiring
servicing capacity be lifted in the 2nd quarter of 2005.
CARRIED
2. CS05-007 - Sensitivity Training Seminar for Town Staff
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Town engage the services of Trish Robichaud – Changing
Paces at a cost of $2,195 plus taxes and travel costs, for the purpose of
conducting Disability Awareness Workshops for Town staff; and
THAT the funding for this project be allocated from the 2004 Accessibility
Advisory Committee budget.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 05-04 Page 5 of 6
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
4. TR05-013 – Purchasing By-law – Supplementary Report
(Deferred by Council on February 8, 2005)
General Committee recommends:
THAT the supplemental information pertaining to the Purchasing By-law
be referred to staff to identify and rectify all discrepancies between the
Purchasing By-law and Administrative procedure #50; and
THAT staff review Appendix “A” to By-law 4621-04.F - the list of items
excluded from the acquisition methods described in the By-law to
determine if the acquisition methods should apply to them, including but
not limited to the following listed areas:
- Insurance Premiums
- Payments for employment and temporary help
- Newspaper Advertising
- Appraisal Fees
- Legal Fees
- Hotel Accommodations
CARRIED
5. Memo from Councillor West
Re: Accessibility Advisory Committee
General Committee recommends:
THAT Counicillor Buck’s Appointment on the Accessibility Advisory
Committee be rescinded; and
THAT Councillor West be reinstated as the Council representative on the
Accessibility Advisory Committee.
CARRIED
6. Memo from Councillor West
Re: Request to Reconsider Issue of Absence from Meetings
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Request to Reconsider Issue of Absence from Meetings be
deferred for one month.
CARRIED
VII OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS
General Committee recommends:
THAT the request from Mr. Les Kerr of Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary
School, for financial support for Student’s Trip to Europe in March, 2005,
be referred to Leisure Services staff to review the Town’s grant policy to
address this request.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 05-04 Page 6 of 6
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
General Committee recommends:
THAT staff be requested to report to Council on February 22, regarding a
request from Ms Lydia Schuster of the Aurora Seniors’ Association, to
include the Extension of the Canopy in the Design for the Seniors’ Centre.
CARRIED
Councillor Gaertner advised that Dr. Magda Havas, expert in EMF research, will
be speaking at the Hydro One Task Force on February 23rd, 2005.
Councillor Gaertner provided Notice of Motion regarding In-Camera Meetings.
VIII IN CAMERA
Personnel Matters
General Committee recommends:
THAT this Committee proceed In Camera to address personnel matters.
CARRIED
IX ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 05-04 WAS CONSIDERED
AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
22, 2005, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NO. 2 WHICH WAS DISCUSSED AND
ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK