MINUTES - General Committee - 20151006
TOWN OF AURORA
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Councillor Pirri in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner, Humfryes
(arrived 7:02 p.m.), Kim, Mrakas, Thom, Thompson, and Mayor
Dawe (arrived 7:30 p.m.)
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Acting 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, Deputy Clerk/Council and Committee
Coordinator, 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 addition:
Replacement page 5 – Delegation (a) Kirk Corkery, Chair of Regimental Council, The
Queen’s York Rangers; Re: Item 2 – PR15-031 – Placement of Light Armoured Vehicle
at the Aurora Cenotaph
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Page 2 of 6
3. DETERMINATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 1, 2, and 6 were identified for discussion.
4. ADOPTION OF ITEMS NOT REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
Items 3, 4, 5, 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:
3. PL15-074 – Application for Site Plan Amendment, 1525366 Ontario Ltd., 67
Industrial Parkway North, File Number: SP-2015-05
THAT Report No. PL15-074 be received; and
THAT Site Plan Application File SP-2015-05 (1525366 Ontario Ltd.) be approved to
permit the development of the subject lands for the construction of a 334 m2 GFA
addition onto the existing building and a new 156 m2 storage building; and
THAT the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the Site Plan Agreement,
including any and all documents and ancillary agreements required to give effect to
same.
4. LLS15-058 – Municipal Legislation Review – Town Submission
THAT Report No. LLS15-058 be received; and
THAT the submission letter attached to Report No. LLS15-058 is hereby endorsed as
the Town’s formal submission regarding the Province of Ontario’s Municipal
Legislation Review; and
THAT the submission letter attached to Report No. LLS15-058 be sent to the Ministry
of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Municipal Legislation Review group) and directly to
Minister Ted McMeekin.
5. Memorandum from Director of Planning & Development Services
Re: Municipal Council Support Resolution (Blanket) – Notice to Proceed
THAT the memorandum regarding Municipal Council Support Resolution (Blanket) –
Notice to Proceed be received; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Page 3 of 6
THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the form attached to this
memorandum.
7. Community Recognition Review Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of
September 15, 2015
THAT the Community Recognition Review Ad Hoc Committee meeting minutes of
September 15, 2015, be received for information.
8. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 17,
2015
THAT the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting minutes of September
17, 2015, be received for information.
CARRIED
5. DELEGATIONS
(a) Kirk Corkery, Chair of Regimental Council, The Queen’s York Rangers
Re: Item 2 – PR15-031 – Placement of Light Armoured Vehicle at the Aurora
Cenotaph
Mr. Corkery, a former Commanding Officer of The Queen’s York Rangers, noted that
the Regimental Council is a registered charity that does good works for the soldiers in
the Regiment and also for those within the Regimental family. He presented a
proposal respecting the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III Monument Program, which
recognizes the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan by
providing up to 250 LAV III monuments across Canada. Mr. Corkery provided an
overview of the Program including background, criteria, appropriateness for Aurora,
monument features, costs, and timeline. He noted that the Regimental Council would
be funding the monument and its delivery, and requested that Council approve
funding from the Town in the amount of $15,000 for the monument’s concrete pad,
pedestal and plaque.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to Item 2.
6. PRESENTATIONS BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
None
7. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
General Committee consented to consider Item 2 prior to consideration of Item 1.
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Page 4 of 6
1. IES15-057 – Winter Maintenance Annual 2014/2015 Performance Report
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. IES15-057 be received for information.
CARRIED
2. PR15-031 – Placement of Light Armoured Vehicle at the Aurora Cenotaph
General Committee recommends:
THAT Report No. PR15-031 be received; and
THAT the placement of a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) at the Aurora Cenotaph
Peace Park in 2016 be approved; and
THAT an expenditure, not to exceed $15,000.00, sourced from the Council
Discretionary Reserve Fund, be approved in the 2016 Capital Budget for the
purposes of site preparation and memorial signage that will be required to
accommodate the LAV.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
6. Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 10,
2015
General Committee recommends:
THAT the Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
September 10, 2015, be received for information.
CARRIED
8. NOTICES OF MOTION
(a) Councillor Thompson
Re: Fair Pricing of e-books for Public Libraries
WHEREAS public libraries provide residents with a community space where they can
freely access a wide variety of information in both print and digital format; and
WHEREAS municipal governments are key funders of public libraries, appoint public
library boards and work in partnership with public library boards to deliver library
services that are responsive to community needs; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Page 5 of 6
WHEREAS electronic books (e-books) are becoming an increasingly preferred
medium for library users to access content and information; and
WHEREAS major multi-national publishers are charging public libraries significantly
higher costs to purchase e-books for their collections than they charge consumers;
and
WHEREAS imposing unreasonably high costs on public libraries to purchase e-books
is not an appropriate solution to the publishing industry’s concerns regarding the
evolution of digital technology, including piracy;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the Town of Aurora requests
that the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport work with the federal and the other
provincial and territorial governments to find a solution that will allow public libraries to
purchase e-books from publishers at a fair and reasonable price; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Association of Municipalities of
Ontario (AMO), and all municipalities within York Region.
9. NEW BUSINESS/GENERAL INFORMATION
Councillor Mrakas expressed concerns regarding the resurfacing of St. John’s Sideroad
east of Yonge Street and inquired about the status of the project. Staff indicated that this
Regional project was completed and the Region was notified of the concerns. Staff agreed
to report further on the condition of the project and advise the Region that additional work
is required.
Councillor Abel expressed appreciation to staff for following up on complaints received
about the Regional road resurfacing and pot holes on Leslie Street, which was resolved the
following day after notification.
Councillor Abel stated that he had attended the first Cultural Precinct meeting today, to
which all Council members had been invited, and noted that it was a productive session.
Councillor Humfryes expressed appreciation to staff for a great job in completing the
sidewalk on Golf Links Drive, between Highland Green and Yonge Street, and advised that
the residents were very pleased.
Councillor Thom requested an update regarding the trail construction at the bottom end of
Willow Farm Lane. Staff advised that they are working with the Conservation Authority and
the Town Solicitor to secure the easement, for which an agreement was now in place with
the landowner, and to meet the conditions of approval from the Conservation Authority.
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Page 6 of 6
Councillor Kim advised that he has been working with residents in two separate
neighbourhoods regarding their concerns about speeders and reckless driving. He noted
the recent Town-initiated educational program and signage to encourage drivers to slow
down and be alert to children playing, and suggested that Council and other departments
should be informed of such programs in advance of their implementation. Councillor Kim
inquired about the possibility of additional signs being purchased and staff indicated that
they were working with Corporate Communications toward the production of handouts and
other details of the program.
Mayor Dawe noted that he and the Interim CAO had just returned from a summit held in
Toronto today. He advised that a working group had been established earlier in the year
and this was the second meeting between Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Mayors and
Chairs of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Mayor Dawe further noted that the
meeting had resulted in a letter being sent to the Prime Minister and leaders of the other
major federal parties emphasizing the need to establish a partnership with respect to
infrastructure funding. He also advised that three sub-committees had been formed earlier
and that action items were developed to move forward those elements deemed to be most
important: implementation of a high speed broadband network under the scope of
Economic Development; development charges under the scope of Planning; and fare
integration between transit systems under the scope of Transportation, the sub-committee
in which the Mayor participates. Mayor Dawe stated that he would keep Council informed
of developments and agreed to forward a copy of the aforementioned letter to Council.
10. CLOSED SESSION
None
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m.
PAUL PIRRI, COUNCILLOR PATTY THOMA, DEPUTY CLERK
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 6,
2015,RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL AND COUNCIL ENDORSEMENT OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON OCTOBER 13, 2015 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 4 WHICH
WAS PULLED AND APPROVED AS PRESENTED.