MINUTES - General Committee - 20060221
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
REPORT
NO. 06-04
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Vrancic in the Chair; Mayor Jones,
Councillors Buck, Gaertner, Hogg, Kean, Wallace and
West.
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Morris was absent.
OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Corporate Services/Town Clerk, Director of
Building, Director of Leisure Services, Director of
Planning, Director of Public Works, Director of
Financial Services/ Treasurer, Town Solicitor, and
Council/Committee Secretary.
Councillor Vrancic called the meeting to order at 7:02 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, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 were identified for discussion.
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:
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 2 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
2. CS06-013 – 2006 Municipal Elections By-laws
THAT the draft by-laws to provide for Advance Voting Days and Reduced
Hours of Voting in Nursing/Retirement Homes in the forthcoming
Municipal Election be approved.
5. PW06-006 – Vehicle Replacement Program – Update to 2006 Budget
THAT the approved 2006 Capital vehicle replacement budget be amended
as described within Report PW06-006.
6. PW06-007 – Tender Award No. PW2006-10 – Supply and Operation of
Street Sweepers
THAT Tender No. PW-2006-10, Supply and Operation of Four or More
Contracted Street Sweepers, be awarded to A&G The Road Cleaners Ltd.
at its tendered price of $32,600.00 (exclusive of GST) per year for two
years with the option to renew for an additional one year period; and
THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute the
Agreement between the Town of Aurora and A&G The Road Cleaners Ltd.
for the supply and operation of street sweepers.
9. PL06-021 – Bill 51 – The Planning and Conservation Land Statute Law
Amendment Act
THAT the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the
Council of the Town of Aurora supports the proposals of Bill 51 and
requests that consideration be given to the following:
i) Additional wording be included in the legislation to ensure there is a
common understanding of the phrase “sustainable development”;
and
ii) Consideration for and acknowledgement that the initiatives
surrounding Five Year Reviews of Official Plans to make them
compliant with Provincial Policy and three year turn around to bring
Zoning By-laws into conformity with the same could be an
additional financial burden to municipalities; and
iii) Introduction of new provisions to require that where a municipality
has identified lands as part of a natural heritage system, such lands
would be conveyed to the municipality at no cost.
11. PL06-024 – Proposed Official Plan Updates pertaining to Industrial/
Commercial Designations and Economic Development
File D09-03-06
THAT Council receive as information the following overview pertaining to
Official Plan Amendment D09-03-06, Industrial/Commercial policies and
the addition of new Economic Development policies scheduled for the
March 29th, 2006 Public Planning Meeting.
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 3 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
12. PL06-025 – Planning Applications Status List
THAT the Planning Applications Status List be received as information.
13. PL06-026 – Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
S&R Hardware Ltd., 289 Wellington Street East
Files D09-01-05 & D14-03-05
THAT Council approve By-law 4690-05.D, being a site specific Official
Plan Amendment to the Town of Aurora Official Plan (File D09-01-05); and
THAT Council approve By-law 4691-05.D, being a site specific rezoning
By-law to amend the Town of Aurora Zoning By-law 2213-78, as amended
(File D14-03-05).
14. CS06-002 – 2006 Corporate Staff Complement Adjustments
THAT the full time staff complement adjustments for 2006 be received for
information.
CARRIED
V DELEGATIONS
(a) Mr. Alan Dean
Re: Aurora Lawn Bowling Club – McMahon Park
Mr. Alan Dean addressed the Committee to request assistance and expertise
from the Town of Aurora in order to maintain the greens for the Aurora Lawn
Bowling Club at McMahon Park. Mr. Dean advised that members of the Club,
with the required expertise, have undertaken this task in the past, but that these
members are now finding it difficult to assist with the maintenance, or they are no
longer members.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Leisure Services Department meet with the Aurora Lawn
Bowling Club to discuss options regarding maintenance of the greens, and
bring back a report.
CARRIED
(b) Ms Sarah Mainguy and Mr. Norbert Woerns
North-South Environmental
Re: Draft Natural Heritage Evaluation for 2C Lands
Ms Sarah Mainguy and Mr. Norbert Woerns addressed the Committee to present
the Draft Natural Heritage Evaluation that has been completed for the 2C Lands.
The delegates indicated that 48% of the land is agricultural, 14% is forest, 6% is
wetlands and the balance is cultural communities, and that there are 3 major
aquifers on the lands. Ms Mainguy advised that the Natural Heritage System
being presented includes the following:
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 4 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
A framework that allows continuity of major habitats along stream
systems, incorporates steep slopes and habitat diversity;
Woodlands plus 30 metre buffers;
Provincially significant wetland ponds plus 35 m (mirrors buffers on the
west side);
Other portions of the Provincially significant wetlands plus 25 metres;
Other wetlands plus 15 metres;
Hydrologic function area;
Hydrogeologic study area.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT, if required, the deadline for the approval of the study be extended
to March 10, 2006.
CARRIED
(c) Mr. Allister Byrne, Grant Thornton
Re: Item 1 – 2005 Audit Plan
Mr. Allister Byrne addressed the Committee to review the 2005 Audit Plan. Mr.
Byrne identified specific areas that would be reviewed in detail, which include:
the disposition of hydro funds; possible discrepancies due to turnover of senior
management positions; and changes in policies and practises regarding capital
asset accounting. Mr. Byrne advised that the audit would begin on April 10, 2006
with a view to report back in early June 2006.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received.
CARRIED
VI CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. FS06-006 – 2005 Audit Plan
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council accepts, as presented by Grant Thornton, the audit plan for
the 2005 audit.
CARRIED
3. CS06-015 – Council Pending List – Status Report
General Committee recommends:
THAT CS06-015 be received for information purposes.
CARRIED
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 5 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
4. PW06-005 – Approval for Supplementary Geotechnical Investigation for the
Proposed Retaining Walls on Bloomington Road
General Committee recommends:
THAT additional funds in the amount of $13,460.00 (exclusive of GST) be
allocated from the Development Charges Reserve for a supplementary
geotechnical investigation for the proposed retaining walls along
Bloomington Sideroad; and
THAT staff pursue the possibility of funding support from the
Region.
CARRIED
7. PW06-010 – Waste Diversion Strategy
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report PW06-010 entitled “Waste Diversion Strategy” be received
for information; and
THAT Council authorize staff to participate with the Region of York and
the other local municipalities in the Region in the development of a joint
waste diversion strategy; and
THAT Report PW06-010 be sent to the Environmental Advisory
Committee for information and input as appropriate; and
THAT the Region of York be informed of this decision.
CARRIED
8. PL06-020 – Application to Amend the Zoning By-law and Draft Plan of
Subdivision, Chapman Court (Kylemore Homes)
Part of Lot 80, Concession 1, E.Y.S
Files D14-13-05A & D12 -05-3A (Ref: D11-10-05)
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report PL06-020, respecting files D14-13-05A and D12-05-03A
(Kylemore Homes), be received as information and staff be instructed to
prepare conditions of draft approval.
CARRIED
10. PL06-022 – Request for Street Names
Hallgrove Estates Inc., Part of Lot 20, Concession 3
Files D12-00-2A & D14-06-00
General Committee recommends:
THAT the following list of street names be allocated to the proposed
internal streets within the proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision, D12-00-2A,
Hallgrove Estates Inc.
Street “A” Major
Street “B” Constable
DEFEATED
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 6 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
General Committee recommends:
THAT staff review the Street Naming Policy and report back on any
suggested amendments; and
THAT staff propose an alternate name for Street “B” within the Draft Plan
of Subdivision, D12-00-2A, Hallgrove Estates Inc.
CARRIED
VII OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS
Mayor Jones polled the Committee members regarding attendance at the
February 22, 2006 Public Planning meeting and did obtain quorum.
Councillor Kean inquired as to whether the mailbox on the southeast corner of
Wellington Street East and Leslie Street could be moved to the north side of
Wellington Street East, as it services the residents on the north side. The
Director of Public Works will review the matter.
Councillor Kean was informed by a resident that the speed limit on Wellington
Street East when coming off the 404 N has been increased to 80 km/hour and
inquired as to whether it could be reduced to 60 km/hour. The Director of Public
Works will review the matter.
Councillor Gaertner requested that important material relating to a Council or
General Committee meeting be provided to Councillors in advance of the
meeting and not as a last minute addition at the time of the meeting.
Councillor Buck inquired as to the status of the Procedural By-law review, which
was undertaken by Mr. Scott Somerville, and requested that each Councillor
receive a copy.
Councillor Buck suggested that each Member of Council should have the Rules
of Debate with them at Council and General Committee meetings and that each
Member of Council should write out their own motion, rather than relying on the
Clerk to do so.
Councillor Buck suggested that members of the Historical Society be made
aware of the history behind the Art & Culture Fund, which was started by the
Merkur family and is also contributed to by Mr. Joe Lebovic.
Councillor Kean praised the Director of Leisure Services on the letter which he
wrote in response to comments made by the Aurora Youth Soccer Club.
Councillor Vrancic advised that Wellington Street East, particularly near the
Yonge Street intersection, has not been sanded and that ice is quite built up on
the sidewalk, causing concern. The Director of Public Works will review this
matter.
VIII IN-CAMERA
None
General Committee Report No. 06-04 Page 7 of 7
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
IX ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 06-04 WAS CONSIDERED
AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
28, 2006.
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK