MINUTES - General Committee - 20100323
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
NO. 10-06
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Collins-Mrakas in the Chair; Councillors
Buck, Gaertner, Gallo, Granger MacEachern,
McRoberts, Wilson and Mayor Morris
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Customer and
Legislative Services/Town Clerk, Director of Parks
and Recreation Services, Director of Planning and
Development Services, Director of Infrastructure and
Environmental Services, Director of Corporate and
Financial Services/Treasurer, Director of Legal
Services/Town Solicitor and Manager of Legislative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Councillor Collins-Mrakas called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
General Committee recommends:
THAT the agenda as circulated by the Customer and Legislative Services
Department be approved with the following additions:
Delegation b) Ms Susan W almer, on behalf of the Oak Ridges
Moraine Land Trust
Re: Item 13 - PR10-014 - McLeod Wood Nature Reserve
Delegation c) Ms Christine Sadler, Member of The Friends of the
Bloomington Wetlands
Re: CLOSED SESSION
Westhill Redevelopment Company Limited
Ontario Municipal Board Appeal
Delegation d) Ms Deborah Campo, Artist
Re: Item 12 – PR10-013 – Peace Flame Tree
New Item 18 – LGL10-002 – Westhill Redevelopment Company
Limited Divisional Court Appeal
New Item 19 - Memo from Neil Garbe, Chief Administrative Officer
Re: Completion of Nokiidaa Trail
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 2 of 8
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Closed Session item 2 be amended to read:
2. Westhill Redevelopment Company Limited, Ontario Municipal
Board Appeal, to receive additional information regarding
proceeding.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
III ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
General Committee Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, March 2, 2010
General Committee recommends:
THAT the General Committee meeting minutes of Tuesday, March 2,
2010 be adopted as amended by adding that Councillor Gallo was absent
on Town business.
CARRIED
IV DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1(6), 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19 were identified for discussion.
V ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16 and 17 were identified as 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
General Committee and staff be authorized to take all necessary action
required to give effect to same:
2. EAC10-03 – Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of March 4, 2010
THAT the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of March
4, 2010 be received for information and the recommendations contained
therein be approved.
3. HAC10-02 – Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of March 8, 2010
THAT the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of March 8, 2010
be received for information and the recommendations contained therein
be approved.
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 3 of 8
4. YWCS10-01 – Yonge Wellington Corridor Study Steering
Committee Meeting
Minutes of February 10, 2010
THAT the Yonge Wellington Corridor Study Steering Committee meeting
minutes of February 10, 2010 be received for information and the
recommendations contained therein be approved.
5. BBS10-003 – Building Permit Fees – Annual Report
THAT Council receive Report No BA09-003, Building Permit Fees –
Annual Report for information.
15. PL10-024 – Site Plan Amendment
Whitwell Developments Limited/Smart Centres
Block 2, Plan 65M-3819
File Number: D11-11-09
THAT subject to any issues or comments raised by Council, Application
for Site Plan Amendment File D11-11-09, Whitwell Developments Limited/
Smart Centres be approved to permit a revision to the internal vehicular
access design.
THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an Amending Site
Plan Agreement between the Owner and the Town of Aurora.
16. PL10-029 - Application to Amend the Zoning By-law
2091585 Ontario Inc.
15565 Yonge Street
File Number: D14-02-10
THAT Council receive for information the following overview of Zoning By-
law Amendment Application under file D14-02-10 scheduled for the April
21, 2010 Public Planning Meeting.
17. CFS10-008 - Amendment of the Federal Gas Tax
Agreement with AMO
THAT Council enact By-law No. 5224-10, being a By-law to authorize the
execution of an amending agreement between The Corporation of the
Town of Aurora and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
pertaining to the transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues.
CARRIED
VI DELEGATIONS
(a) Ms Nancy Van Kessel, Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity York Region
Re: Deferral of Development Fees Applied to
Habitat for Humanity Homes Built in the Town of Aurora
Ms Van Kessel addressed the Committee to advise of the many programs
offered by Habitat for Humanity and requested that the Town of Aurora defer
development fees on any Habitat homes occupied by Habitat families. Ms Van
Kessel suggested that should the Habitat home ever be sold in the open market
then the development fees would then be applied.
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 4 of 8
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
(b) Ms Susan Walmer, on behalf of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
Re: Item 13 - PR10-014 - McLeod Wood Nature Reserve
Ms Walmer provided the Committee with an overview of the economical and
environmental benefits of the McLeod Woodlot and expressed her sincere
appreciation that the McLeod Wood Nature Reserve in Aurora is being protected
and commended Council and staff for supporting this initiative and advised that
the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is not able to apply for the tax exemption
until the rezoning takes place.
Councillor Collins-Mrakas relinquished the Chair to Mayor Morris.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be referred to item 13 and the item
be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
Councillor Collins-Mrakas resumed the Chair.
13. PR10-014 - McLeod Wood Nature Reserve
General Committee recommends:
THAT the draft agreement for the McLeod Wood Nature Reserve be
amended to include a requirement for the owners to annually apply
for property tax exemption status in accordance with recent
provincial regulatory changes arising from Ontario Regulation
388/04; and
THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the amended
agreement with the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust with respect to the
McLeod Wood Nature Reserve.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
(c) Ms Christine Sadler, Member of “The Friends of the Bloomington Wetlands”
Re: CLOSED SESSION
Item 2 - Westhill Redevelopment Company Limited
Ontario Municipal Board Appeal, to Receive Addition
Information Regarding Proceeding
Ms Sadler provided the Committee with an overview of the purpose of the Oak
Ridges Moraine Protection Act, 2001, the Environmental Review Tribunal and the
Ontario Municipal Board. Ms Sadler suggested that if a development application
is received within the Oak Ridges Moraine it should trigger the convening of a
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 5 of 8
joint board of the Environmental Review Tribunal and the Ontario Municipal
Board and would like a provision to this effect implemented in Aurora.
Ms Sadler thanked Council for its support of the appeal and provided the names
of some of the organizations that have currently signed a statement, being:
o Friends of the Bloomington Wetlands
o Ratepayers of Aurora South (RAYS)
o York Region Environmental Alliance (YREA)
o Save The Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM)
o North East Sutton Ratepayers Association
o Lakewatch Society
o Friends of Northumberland Nature
o Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment
o York Simcoe Naturalists
Ms Sadler also advised that she is waiting to hear from 7 others, requesting:
1) That the Ontario Court of Appeal grant leave to the Town of Aurora and order
a Consolidated Hearing for the Westhill development application.
2) That any matter that is appealed regarding activities in the Oak Ridges
Moraine Plan Area be adjudicated as a joint hearing of the Ontario Municipal
Board and the Environmental Review Tribunal.
3) That a special class of Permits to Take Water for water taking within the Oak
Ridges Moraine Plan Area be established.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate, and any further information provided
by the delegate, be received for information and referred to Closed
Session item 2 - Westhill Redevelopment Company Limited Ontario
Municipal Board Appeal to receive additional information regarding
proceeding.
CARRIED
(d) Ms Deborah Campo, Artist
Re: Item 12 – PR10-013 – Peace Flame Tree
Ms Campo provided the Committee with information respecting the creation of
the Peace Flame Tree, its sponsorships and her request for a grant of $1,000
from the Town of Aurora. Ms Campo also provided information regarding public
Art Policies from surrounding municipalities and expressed her appreciation for
Council’s consideration of this matter.
General Committee recommends:
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information and
referred to item 12.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT item 12 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 6 of 8
12. PR10-013 - Peace Flame Tree
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Church Street School Cultural Centre Board be requested to
assist in the development of a public Art Policy for Council’s
consideration.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Procedural By-law be waived to allow the Delegate to speak to
the public Art Policy.
Ms Campo advised of the process she had followed to pursue a location for the
Peace Flame Tree.
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council approve installation of the Peace Flame Tree at Town Hall
with the specific location to be determined by staff taking into
consideration concerns raised tonight.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
General Committee recommends:
THAT item 11 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT item 19 be brought forward for discussion.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Procedural By-law be waived to extend the hour to 11:00 p.m.
CARRIED
11. PR10-012 - Completion of Nokiidaa Trail
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council approve the construction of the extension of the Nokiidaa
Trail and Hadley Grange Nature Reserve in principle; and
THAT staff be directed to seek 2/3’s funding from Lake Simcoe Regional
Conservation Authority for the non-trail related ecological enhancements
as described in the attachment ; and
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 7 of 8
THAT staff report back with funding options; and
THAT staff report back with an implementation plan.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
19. Memo from Neil Garbe, Chief Administrative Officer
Re: Completion of Nokiidaa Trail
General Committee recommends:
THAT item 19 be received for information.
CARRIED
VII PRESENTATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE
None
VIII CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
8. IES10-010 – Joint Waste Diversion Strategy 2009 Update
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council receive for information the 2009 Joint Waste Diversion
Strategy update.
CARRIED
9. IES10-013 – Submission of Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
General Committee recommends:
THAT Council receive Report IES10-013 for information on the mandated
regulatory reporting of the Town’s Drinking Water System, Schedule 22 –
Summary Report.
CARRIED
18. LGL10-002 – Westhill Redevelopment Company Limited
Divisional Court Appeal
General Committee recommends:
THAT report LGL10-002 be received for information.
CARRIED
General Committee recommends:
THAT items 1(6), 6, 7, 10, 14 and Closed Session item 2 be deferred to
the March 30, 2010 Council meeting.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Page 8 of 8
IX NEW BUSINESS/GENERAL INFORMATION – COUNCILLORS
Councillor MacEachern provided Notice of Motion regarding Aurora Miler.
X CLOSED SESSION
General Committee recommends:
THAT General Committee resolve into a Closed Session, following
adjournment, to consider:
A matter regarding litigation or potential litigation, including matters before
administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board:
1. OMB Appeal by York Catholic District School Board,
Determination of the Value of the Lands at 278 Wellington
Street East, St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School (D11-
08-07).
CARRIED
XI ADJOURNMENT
General Committee recommends:
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:48 p.m.
CARRIED
THE REPORT OF GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 10-06 WAS CONSIDERED
AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 30,
2010 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DELEGATION (b) AND ITEM 1(6) WHICH WERE
ADOPTED AS AMENDED, AND ITEM 12 WHICH WAS DISCUSSED AND ADOPTED
AS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED.
_______________________________ ________________________________
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR JOHN D. LEACH, TOWN CLERK