MINUTES - General Committee - 20171017
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Attendance
Council Members Councillor Pirri in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner, Kim,
Mrakas, Thom, Thompson, and Mayor Dawe
Members Absent Councillor Humfryes
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, Dan Elliott, Director
of Financial Services, Al Downey, Director of Parks, Recreation and
Cultural Services, Marco Ramunno, Director of Planning and
Building Services, Mandie Eddie, Manager of By-law Services,
Stephanie Mackenzie-Smith, Manager of Corporate
Communications, Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor, Michael de
Rond, Town Clerk, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Secretary
In the absence of the scheduled Chair, the Town Clerk requested a motion to appoint a
Chair for the meeting. General Committee consented to appoint Councillor Pirri as
Chair.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services,
with the following additions:
• Delegation (a) Austin Clark, Resident; Re: Item R1 – CS17-031 – Winter
Parking Restrictions to Facilitate Snow Clearing
• Item C7 – Memorandum from Mayor Dawe; Re: Lake Simcoe Region
Conservation Authority Board Meeting Highlights of September 22, 2017
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 2 of 9
• Item R6 – CS17-032 – N6 Initiative – Animal Shelter Services – Memorandum
of Understanding
• Item R7 – CS17-033 – Animal Control Service
2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
3. Presentations
None
4. Delegations
(a) Austin Clark, Resident
Re: Item R1 – CS17-031 – Winter Parking Restrictions to Facilitate Snow
Clearing
Mr. Clark expressed concern regarding the reinstatement of the winter parking
restrictions between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., during which time he
would have no place to park, and he proposed that the Town consider the
concept of alternating which side of the street vehicles may park on to facilitate
snow clearing.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to
Item R1.
5. Consent Agenda
General Committee recommends:
That the following Consent Agenda Items, C1 to C7 inclusive, be approved:
C1. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 6,
2017
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 3 of 9
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
September 6, 2017, be received for information.
C2. Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 11, 2017
1. That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of September
11, 2017, be received for information.
C3. Governance Review Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of September
12, 2017
1. That the Governance Review Ad Hoc Committee meeting minutes of
September 12, 2017, be received for information.
C4. Governance Review Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes of September
26, 2017
1. That the Governance Review Ad Hoc Committee meeting minutes of
September 26, 2017, be received for information.
C5. Central York Fire Services – Joint Council Committee Meeting Minutes
of May 16, 2017
1. That the Central York Fire Services – Joint Council Committee meeting
minutes of May 16, 2017, be received for information.
C6. PBS17-077 – Town of Aurora Strategic Plan Workplan Update
1. That Report No. PBS17-077 be received for information.
C7. Memorandum from Mayor Dawe
Re: Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Board Meeting
Highlights of September 22, 2017
1. That the memorandum regarding Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority Board Meeting Highlights of September 22, 2017, be received
for information.
Carried
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 4 of 9
6. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
General Committee consented to consider items in the following order: R1, R4, R2, R3,
R5, R6, and R7.
R1. CS17-031 – Winter Parking Restrictions to Facilitate Snow Clearing
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS17-031 be received for information.
Carried
R2. PRCS17-036 – Space Accommodation for 52 and 56 Victoria Street
General Committee consented to vote on each clause of the motion separately.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PRCS17-036 be received.
Carried
General Committee recommends:
2. That Council recommend that the 140 Aurora Air Cadet Squadron, the
Aurora Bridge Club, and the Faith Fellowship Baptist Church be provided
subsidization as outlined in this report.
Defeated
General Committee recommends:
3. That an increase to the Aurora Senior Centre Operating Budget in the
amount of $10,000 to deploy staff to open and close the facility be
approved.
Defeated
R3. PRCS17-030 – Sports Field and Parks Use Policy Revisions
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PRCS17-030 be received; and
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 5 of 9
2. That the revised Sports Field and Parks Use Policy be approved.
Carried
R4. PBS17-075 – Application for Draft Plan of Condominium, BG Properties
(Aurora) Inc. (Phase 2), 14222, 14314, 14358 and 14378
Yonge Street, Part Lot 17, Plan 132, Part Lots 74 and 75,
Con. 1, Part 1 65R-35902, File Number: CDM-2017-04,
Related File Numbers: SUB-2012-03, ZBA-2012-16, and
CDM-2016-03
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PBS17-075 be received; and
2. That the Application for Draft Plan of Condominium CDM-2017-04 (BG
Properties (Aurora) Inc.) (Phase 2) to permit the development of the
subject lands for 153 single detached dwelling units, subject to the
conditions outlined in Appendix ‘A’ of this report be approved; and
3. That the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute any
Agreement(s) referenced in the Conditions of Approval, including any
and all documents and ancillary agreements required to give effect to
same.
Carried
R5. Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017-09
General Committee recommends:
1. That Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017-09 be
received; and
2. That the Committee recommendations contained within this report be
approved.
Carried
R6. CS17-032 – N6 Initiative – Animal Shelter Services – Memorandum of
Understanding
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 6 of 9
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS17-032 be received; and
2. That the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Towns of Newmarket, East
Gwillimbury, and Georgina for the provision of Animal Shelter Services
for a five-year term with an optional one-year extension; and
3. That the Director of Corporate Services be authorized to renew the
agreement for an additional one (1) year period, pending an annual
analysis and satisfactory performance review by the Director.
Carried
R7. CS17-033 – Animal Control Service
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS17-033 be received; and
2. That a new full-time Animal Control Officer position, and the attached
Capital Project No. 24016 for Animal Control Start-up, be approved in
advance of the 2018 Budget.
Carried
7. Notices of Motion
(a) Councillor Gaertner
Re: Review of Stable Neighbourhoods Policies
Whereas the purpose of Aurora's Official Plan (OP) is to shape development
decisions and manage growth of the Town [OP 1.1 a)]; and
Whereas this Plan provides specific policies through which to evaluate the
appropriateness of change and the degree to which the proposed changes are
considered compatible development and are in the public interest [OP 1.1 c)];
and
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Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 7 of 9
Whereas one of the Fundamental Principals of the Plan is to Protect Stable
Neighbourhoods by ensuring 'that the stability and vibrancy of these existing
neighbourhoods is protected from the negative impacts of potential
incompatible development and growth pressures' [OP 2.1 vi.]; and
Whereas the purpose of Section 3.0 of the Plan is to Promote Responsible
Growth Management; and
Whereas the importance of protecting the stability of our older residential
areas of Aurora is demonstrated in Section 8, six pages of policies intended to
provide protection from incompatible forms of development while permitting
these neighbourhoods to evolve and be enhanced over time; and
Whereas Section 8.1.3 d) states that "All development within the Stable
Neighbourhoods' designation may be subject to Site Plan Control…including,
without limitation, the control of building materials, colour and architectural
detail"; and
Whereas the review of Aurora's By-laws did not include a specific review of by-
laws pertaining to our older neighbourhoods; and
Whereas these by-laws have been in place for many years preceding the 2010
Official Plan protections intended to shape appropriate development in these
areas;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Council and Staff do a study of
the By-laws governing development of stable neighbourhoods to ensure
that the intent of our planning policy is being realized and reflected through
these By-laws.
(b) Councillor Kim
Re: Tree Lighting Ceremony
Whereas the Tree Lighting Ceremony, held annually at Town Hall, is well
known to be a Christmas Tree; and
Whereas, when the ceremony began in 2005, the word "Christmas" was not
included for reasons unknown;
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 8 of 9
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the annual "Tree Lighting
Ceremony" be called the "Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony" beginning
with the 2017 Christmas season.
(c) Councillor Humfryes
Re: Reduction of Council Size
Whereas Council deemed it appropriate to undertake a review of the Town’s
governance model to ensure that it best serves the future needs of our
residents; and
Whereas in the 2014 municipal election a question was put on the ballot
asking voters if they were in favour of reducing the number of Aurora
Councillors from eight (8) to six (6); and
Whereas nearly two-thirds of those who voted said they were in favour of
reducing the size of Council; and
Whereas any substantive changes to the governance structure of Aurora Town
Council would need to be passed by a by-law on or before December 31,
2017;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the composition of the Council
of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora be changed from nine (9)
members to seven (7) members, comprised of one (1) Mayor, who shall be
the Head of Council, and six (6) Councillors; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the change in the composition of Council
come into force for the 2018 municipal election in accordance with the
provisions of the Municipal Act; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to bring forward the
necessary by-law prior to December 31, 2017, to change the composition
of Council for The Corporation of the Town of Aurora from nine (9)
members to seven (7) members, comprised of one (1) Mayor, who shall be
the Head of Council, and six (6) Councillors.
General Committee Meeting Report
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Page 9 of 9
8. New Business
Councillor Thompson inquired about the plans for the Town’s electronic sign board
at Orchard Heights Boulevard and Yonge Street, which is currently out of
commission, and staff provided an update.
Councillor Mrakas inquired about whether the matter of low water levels in the
McKenzie Marsh had been discussed by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority, and the Mayor provided a response.
9. Closed Session
None
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
_________________________________ _________________________________
Paul Pirri, Councillor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
The report of the General Committee meeting of October 17, 2017, is subject to final
approval and endorsement of the recommendations by Council on October 24, 2017.