MINUTES - General Committee - 20150303
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Councillor Thompson in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner
(arrived 7:07 p.m.), Kim (arrived 7:08 p.m.), Mrakas, Pirri, Thom,
and Mayor Dawe
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Humfryes
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Building and By-law
Services, Director of Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer,
Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services, Director of
Legal and Legislative Services/Town Solicitor, Director of Parks and
Recreation Services, Director of Planning and Development
Services, Town Clerk, and Council/Committee Secretary
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
1. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest
Act.
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services,
with the following additions:
Delegation (a) Emily Stewart, representing residents on Cousins Drive
Re: Item 3 – Report No. IES15-012 – Speeding Concerns on Cousins Drive and
Multi-Way Stop Control Request at the Wells Street and Cousins Drive
Intersection
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 2 of 7
Replacement pages for Item 6 (agenda pages 41 to 49)
Re: Report No. LLS15-011 – Questions on the Ballot – 2014 Municipal Election
Results
3. DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 were identified for discussion.
4. ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 7 and 8 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:
7. LLS15-012 – Civil Marriage Solemnization Services
THAT Report No. LLS15-012 be received; and
THAT the Town’s services be enhanced to include civil marriage solemnization
services; and
THAT a by-law to authorize the Town Clerk to provide civil marriage solemnization
services be enacted; and
THAT the fees for civil marriage solemnization services as set out in Report No.
LLS15-012 be approved; and
THAT a by-law be enacted to amend Schedule “C” of By-law Number 5680-15 (being
the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law) to include fees for civil marriage solemnization
services.
8. Memorandum from Mayor Dawe
Re: Finance Advisory Committee Member Appointments
THAT the memorandum regarding Finance Advisory Committee Member
Appointments be received; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 3 of 7
THAT the following Members of Council be appointed to the Finance Advisory
Committee:
Mayor Geoffrey Dawe
Councillor Harold Kim
Councillor Michael Thompson
CARRIED
5. DELEGATIONS
General Committee approved, on a two-thirds vote, that the requirements of section 3.8(c)
of the Procedural By-law be waived to permit the delegation of Emily Stewart and Sunny
Matheson-Davies, representing residents on Cousins Drive, to speak for more than five (5)
minutes.
(a) Emily Stewart and Sunny Matheson-Davies, representing residents on Cousins
Drive
Re: Item 3 – Report No. IES15-012 – Speeding Concerns on Cousins Drive and
Multi-Way Stop Control Request at the Wells Street and Cousins Drive
Intersection
(Added Item)
Ms. Stewart and Ms. Matheson-Davies expressed their concerns about the safety of
residents on Cousins Drive and requested the installation of a three-way stop sign
control at the intersection of Wells Street and Cousins Drive.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to Item 3.
6. PRESENTATIONS BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
None
7. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. BBS15-004 – Request for Sign Variance to Sign By-law No. 4898-07.P for the
McDonald’s Restaurant at 2 Allaura Blvd.
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. BBS15-004 be received; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 4 of 7
THAT a variance to Sign By-law No. 4898-07.P be approved to permit two (2)
menu board signs for the McDonald’s drive thru facility located at 2 Allaura Blvd.;
and
THAT a second variance to Sign By-law No. 4898-07.P be approved to permit
each menu board sign to have a sign area of 5.2m2.
CARRIED
2. IES15-011 – Northern Six Waste Collection Contract, Tender Preparation
Update
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. IES15-011 be received; and
THAT the principle of renewing a waste contract as a partnership with the
Northern Six Municipalities be endorsed; and
THAT staff be directed to update the Memorandum of Understanding between the
Northern Six Municipalities to provide governance and direction during the next
Waste Collection Contract period; and
THAT staff report back with opportunities to harmonize all Waste Collection By-
laws in the Northern Six Municipalities with the aim to improve efficiencies in the
Contract Administration and customer service; and
THAT staff report back to Council for direction with respect to opportunities for
improvements in the service level(s) provided, range of services provided,
opportunities for further waste diversion and cost efficiencies.
CARRIED
3. IES15-012 – Speeding Concerns on Cousins Drive and Multi-Way Stop Control
Request at the Wells Street and Cousins Drive Intersection
General Committee consented to consider Item 3 prior to Item 1.
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. IES15-012 be received; and
THAT three-way stop sign control at the intersection of Wells Street and
Cousins Drive be approved; and
THAT a by-law to implement three-way stop sign control at the intersection
of the Wells Street and Cousins Drive be introduced; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 5 of 7
THAT “Pedestrians Must Yield to Traffic” caution signs be removed upon
implementation of three-way stop sign control at the intersection of Wells
Street and Cousins Drive; and
THAT notice of Council’s decision be sent to area residents.
CARRIED
4. IES15-013 – Durham York Energy Centre Status Report
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. IES15-013 be received for information.
CARRIED
5. IES15-014 – Clear Bag Program for Waste Collection, Follow-up Report
General Committee consented to consider Item 5 following Item 3.
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. IES15-014 be received for information.
CARRIED
6. LLS15-011 – Questions on the Ballot – 2014 Municipal Election Results
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. LLS15-011 be received for information.
CARRIED
9. Memorandum from Mayor Dawe
Re: Proposed Revision to the Council Meeting Calendar
General Committee recommends:
THAT the memorandum regarding Proposed Revision to the Council Meeting
Calendar be received; and
THAT the Council meeting currently scheduled on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 be
rescheduled to Monday, May 11, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. to accommodate the 2015
York Regional Police Appreciation Night.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 6 of 7
8. NOTICES OF MOTION
(a) Councillor Kim
Re: Multicultural Festival
WHEREAS the Town of Aurora was recently ranked the best place to live in York
Region and one of the top 25 places to live in Canada; and
WHEREAS Aurora is striving to be one of the healthiest communities in Canada;
and
WHEREAS Aurora is quickly becoming a multicultural town; and
WHEREAS new homes in the 2C lands in the north-east section of Town are
quickly selling out and bringing in up to 12,000 people from diverse backgrounds;
and
WHEREAS it is critical that we welcome and engage new residents and share
with them the rich culture and history of Aurora, along with its spirit of
volunteerism in which Aurora was built; and
WHEREAS Aurora has validated its enjoyment and appreciation of history,
culture, and food by the successful events sponsored by the Aurora Cultural
Centre, Aurora Historical Society, and the Town of Aurora events such as:
Ribfest, Aurora Chamber Street Festival, Magna Wild Wild West Hoedown, and
Jazz Festival, which have been roaring successes; and
WHEREAS supporting food, culture, and diversity in itself supports Aurora’s
Strategic Plan objectives of “Supporting an exceptional quality of life for all,” which
in turn attracts people and businesses; and
WHEREAS the Town of Richmond Hill has held the highly successful multicultural
festival “Tastes of the Hill” for the past eight (8) years and counting; celebrating
the rich cultural diversity of its community via the many international foods, arts
and crafts, sports and entertainment showcased at the event; and generating
funds for local charities; and
WHEREAS understanding our neighbours’ food and culture is an excellent way to
get to know one another and bring the community closer together.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to
investigate and report back to Council on the potential for Aurora to hold a
multicultural festival similar to those of other York Region Municipalities with a
timeline of an inaugural event to be held sometime in 2016.
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 Page 7 of 7
9. NEW BUSINESS/GENERAL INFORMATION
Councillor Abel extended congratulations to Symposium Café Restaurant & Lounge on a
successful grand opening.
10. CLOSED SESSION
General Committee consented to resolve into a Closed Session meeting, following
adjournment, to consider:
1. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including a Town or Local Board
employee; Re: Report No. LLS15-022 – Appointments to the Aurora Appeal Tribunal
2. A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the Town or Local Board;
Re: Report No. PR15-007 – Purchase of Lands at 100 Vandorf Sideroad, Formerly
Hallmark Cards
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 p.m.
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR STEPHEN M. A. HUYCKE, TOWN CLERK
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF MARCH 3, 2015 RECEIVED
FINAL APPROVAL AND COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
MARCH 10, 2015 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS 5, 6, AND 7, WHICH WERE PULLED
AND APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.