MINUTES - General Committee - 20190212
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Attendance
Council Members Councillor Gaertner in the Chair; Councillors Gallo, Gilliland,
Humfryes, Kim, Thompson, and Mayor Mrakas
Members Absent None
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, Robin McDougall,
Director of Community Services, Techa van Leeuwen, Director of
Corporate Services, Jason Gaertner, Acting Director of Financial
Services, Allan Downey, Director of Operational Services,
Lawrence Kuk, Manager of Development Planning, Stephanie
Mackenzie-Smith, Manager of Corporate Communications, Patricia
De Sario, Town Solicitor, Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, and Linda
Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
General Committee consented to recess the meeting at 8:58 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:08 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services,
with the following addition:
• Delegation (a) Miju Stinson, Resident; Re: Item R5 – PDS19-013 – Proposal
for Interim Control By-law Exemption, 29 Church Street
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2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
3. Community Presentations
None
4. Delegations
(a) Miju Stinson, Resident
Re: Item R5 – PDS19-013 – Proposal for Interim Control By-law
Exemption, 29 Church Street
Mr. John Stinson, on behalf of Miju Stinson, owners of 29 Church Street,
spoke in support of the request to exempt their property from the Interim
Control By-law.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to
Item R5.
5. Consent Agenda
General Committee recommends:
That the following Consent Agenda Items, C1 and C2, be approved:
C1. OPS19-001 – Winter Maintenance Report No. 1 Revised Provincial
Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS) and Windrow
Clearing Program
1. That Report No. OPS19-001 be received; and
2. That the recommendations and service levels contained in Table 1
associated with the Revised Provincial Municipal Maintenance Standards
(MMS) be approved; and
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3. That staff report back with options to meet standards for winter pre-
treatment of roads with the intent of finalizing any additional requirements
for the 2020 Capital and Operating Budgets; and
4. That the Director of Operations, or their designate, be appointed as the
designated Official for the purposes of declaring a “Significant Weather
Event”; and
5. That the Town of Aurora not proceed with a Windrow Clearing Program.
Carried
C2. Memorandum from Mayor Mrakas
Re: Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Board Meeting
Highlights of November 30 and December 14, 2018
1. That the memorandum regarding Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority Board Meeting Highlights of November 30 and December 14,
2018, be received for information.
Carried
6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
None
7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
General Committee consented to consider items in the following order: R1, R5,
R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, R8, and R9.
R1. CMS19-005 – Library Square Project – Update
General Committee consented to waive the provisions of the Procedure By-law to
permit more than the allotted time of ten minutes for the presentation.
Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services, introduced David Leinster,
Partner, The Planning Partnership, and Thomas Nemeskeri, Architect, OAA, RAW
Design Inc., who provided a project update including: project team participants;
documentation for the schematic design process of the buildings; outdoor rooms
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and programming; section elevations; lighting; site finishings; traffic and pedestrian
flow; and parking.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS19-005 be received for information.
Carried
R2. CS19-013 – Council Code of Conduct and Local Boards Code of
Conduct
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, presented an overview including: framework of the
Council Code of Conduct; formation and guiding principles; Local Boards Code of
Conduct; relationship with the Integrity Commissioner; and complaint resolution
process.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS19-013 be received; and
2. That the Council Code of Conduct be approved; and
3. That the Local Boards Code of Conduct be approved; and
4. That the necessary by-law to implement the Council Code of Conduct
and the Local Boards Code of Conduct be enacted at the February 26,
2019 Council meeting.
Carried
R3. CMS19-004 – Sport Plan – Update
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS19-004 be received; and
2. That the budgeted amount of $103,400 that has been allocated in the
draft 2019 Operating Budget be preserved until such time a final delivery
option is agreed upon.
Carried
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R4. CS19-011 – Fence By-law Exemption Request – 203 St. John’s
Sideroad West
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS19-011 be received; and
2. That an exemption to the Town’s Fence By-law No. 4753-05.P to permit
a recently constructed non-compliant fence in the front and side yard,
which includes a wrought iron entry gate at 203 St. John’s Sideroad
West, be denied.
Carried
R5. PDS19-013 – Proposal for Interim Control By-law Exemption
29 Church Street
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-013 be received; and
2. That a by-law be enacted to amend the Interim Control By-law to remove
the lands municipally known as 29 Church Street from the provisions of
the By-law.
Carried
R6. FS19-004 – Major Capital Investments Funding Strategy
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-004 be received for information.
Carried
R7. PDS19-008 – Amendment to the Site Plan Control By-law
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-008 be received; and
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2. That a by-law be enacted to amend By-law No. 6108-18, to include
delegated approval authority for select site plan applications within the
Business Park zone.
Carried
R8. PDS19-012 – Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the
Greater Golden Horseshoe
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-012 be received; and
2. That this Report be forwarded to the Ontario Growth Secretariat and the
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and
3. That a letter be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to
request an extension of the commenting deadline for “Proposed
Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe”
from 45 days (February 28, 2019) to 90 days (April 14, 2019) to allow
Council the opportunity to consider a subsequent report with further
comments on the proposed amendments.
Carried
R9. FS19-002 – 2019 Operating Budget
Jason Gaertner, Acting Director of Financial Services–Treasurer, presented an
overview to kick off the Operating Budget review process including: tax increases
for inflation and fiscal strategies; directives and levy increase; impact on taxpayers;
schedule of budget meetings; key contributing tax pressures; new or enhanced
services; options; and water/wastewater/stormwater core assumptions and rates.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-002 be received; and
2. That the 2019 draft Operating Budget be referred to Budget Committee
for review at its scheduled meetings commencing February 21, 2019.
Carried
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8. Notices of Motion
(a) Mayor Mrakas
Re: Backyard Swimming Instruction on Private Property
Whereas swimming is a life skill that all people should acquire and residents
who have backyard swimming pools offer lessons and instruction in their
private pools providing a community service within their neighbourhood; and
Whereas often these instructors are young adults and students seeking
summer employment; and
Whereas the Town’s Zoning By-law permits home occupation for similar types
of activities such as dance or music instruction provided that all home
occupation activities be conducted entirely within the dwelling or permitted
accessory buildings;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to take
forward a Zoning By-law amendment to a future Public Planning meeting
to amend the Home Occupation provisions to allow for backyard swimming
instruction on private property.
(b) Mayor Mrakas
Re: Cannabis Public Use By-law
Whereas , as of October 17, 2018, the sale and recreational use of cannabis is
now legal in Canada; and
Whereas the Provincial government has enacted legislation that “…aligns the
laws surrounding the consumption of cannabis with the Smoke-Free Ontario
Act”; and
Whereas, as cannabis use will fall under the same regulations as the Smoke-
Free Ontario Act, 2017, it will therefore be prohibited to consume cannabis
within 20 metres of a children’s playground, publicly-owned sport field or sport
surface, such as a basketball court, baseball field, soccer pitch, ice rink, splash
pad or beach volleyball court; and it is illegal to smoke or hold lighted tobacco
or cannabis on public or private school property as well as in any common
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areas of condos, apartment buildings, or college and university residences;
and
Whereas, as per recent amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001, municipalities
can pass by-laws respecting the smoking and vaping of cannabis that are
more restrictive than the rules under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017; and
Whereas residents are concerned about the use of cannabis in public spaces;
and
Whereas there is a lack of understanding as to what is or is not permitted
regarding the use of cannabis in public spaces; and
Whereas consistency and clarity of regulation of use of cannabis in public
spaces across municipalities in York Region is in the public interest;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town of Aurora request
York Region to work with Regional municipalities to create a Regional
public cannabis usage by-law that addresses and reflects community
concerns regarding use of cannabis in public spaces; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That, upon approval of said by-law, staff be
directed to create a cannabis education/resource guide and awareness
campaign, to ensure residents and businesses are aware of the
regulations as they speak to the use of cannabis in public spaces.
(c) Councillor Gaertner
Re: Information Regarding 672 and 684 Henderson Drive
Whereas there is a significant public interest in the proposed development of
the properties located at 672 and 684 Henderson Drive; and
Whereas the community is requesting more information with respect to the
history of the property and any contact between the owners and the Town; and
Whereas it is important to recognize the public expectation of open and
accessible information;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That any and all Town information
regarding the properties located at 672 and 684 Henderson Drive,
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including but not limited to prior correspondence and Closed Session
Reports and Minutes, excluding anything currently being considered by
Council in Closed Session, be released to the general public and the
Committee of Adjustment before a Meeting is held regarding these
properties.
9. New Business
Councillor Gilliland inquired about the timing of an upcoming report regarding
Animal Services, and staff advised that the report and a draft by-law is expected to
be submitted to Council in the March 2019 meeting cycle.
10. Closed Session
None
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 p.m.