MINUTES - General Committee - 20190618
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Attendance
Council Members Councillor Gilliland in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo,
Humfryes, Kim, Thompson (arrived at 7:32 p.m.), 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, Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of
Financial Services, Allan Downey, Director of Operations, David
Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services, Stephanie
Mackenzie-Smith, Manager of Corporate Communications, Patricia
De Sario, Town Solicitor, Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, and Ishita
Soneji, Council/Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services,
including the following additional items:
• Item A2 – Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of June 3, 2019
• Notice of Motion (b) Councillor Kim; Re: Aurora Food & Cultural Festival
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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
None
5. Consent Agenda
General Committee recommends:
That the following Consent Agenda items, C1 to C3 be approved, with the
exception of Item C2, which was pulled for separate discussion:
C1. FS19-021 – 2019 Interim Forecast Update – as at April 30, 2019
1. That Report No. FS19-021 be received for information.
C3. OPS19-017 – Lake-to-Lake Cycling and Walking Trail Agreement
1. That Report NO. OPS19-017 be received; and
2. That the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the Agreement
between the Town of Aurora and the Regional Municipality of York for the
operation, maintenance and replacement of the Lake-to-Lake Cycling
and Walking Trail within the Regional right-of-way once constructed.
Carried
C2. OPS19-016 – Aurora Family Leisure Complex (AFLC) Skate Park
General Committee recommends:
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1. That Report NO. OPS19-016 be received; and
2. That this report satisfy Council’s conditional approval of Capital Project
No. 72281 – AFLC Skate Park in the amount of $600,000.
Carried
6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
General Committee recommends:
That the Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes items, A1 and A2, be received:
A1. Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2019
1. That the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of May 22, 2019,
be received for information.
A2. Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of June 3, 2019
1. That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of June 3, 2019,
be received for information.
Carried
7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
General Committee consented to consider the items in the following order: R1, R2,
R4, R3, R5, and R6.
R1. CS19-022 – Entry onto Private Property Protocol
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS19-022 be received; and
2. That the revised Entry onto Private Property Protocol as outlined in
Attachment #1 providing property owners with notification of entry and
removing the requirement to obtain a search warrant for investigation
purposes, be endorsed.
Carried
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R2. FS19-020 – 2020-2022 Operating and 2020 Capital Budget Development
Direction
Mr. Jason Gaertner, Manager of Financial Planning presented an overview of the
updated Council Budget Principles and Process including details on the
recommendations from the Finance Advisory Committee, the key enhancements
made to the Council Budget Principles and Process documents including flexibility
in managing inflationary pressures, and the forthcoming process of the multi-year
budget framework.
General Committee received the presentation for information.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-020 be received; and
2. That the updated Council Budget Principles and Process be approved;
and
3. That the key principles for the 2020 to 2022 multi-year operating budget
development be endorsed.
Carried
R3. FS19-023 – 2018 Year End Budget Report – as at December 31, 2018
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-023 be received for information.
Carried
R4. PDS19-051 – Energy Conservation and Demand Management (ECDM)
Plan Update 2019-2023
Mr. Joken Chiu, Energy Analyst, WalterFedy provided an overview of the updated
Energy Conservation Demand Management (ECDM) Plan, including details of the
historical energy consumption at various Town facilities, greenhouse gas
emissions since 2014, ongoing and planned energy conservation measures for
Town facilities and its associated costs, and a summary of the fleet fuel
consumption and mitigation measures. It was suggested that a Steering
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Committee, composed primarily of Town staff, be developed to ensure the
effective implementation of the ECDM plan and develop guidelines and policies for
effective energy management.
General Committee received the presentation for information.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-051 be received; and
2. That the Corporate Energy Conservation and Demand Management
(ECDM) Plan Update for 2019 to 2023 (Attachment #1), be endorsed.
Carried
R5. CMS19-016 – 2019 Capital Project – Outdoor Field Development
Strategy
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS19-016 be received; and
2. That this report satisfy Council’s conditional budget approval for Capital
Project No. 73317 – Outdoor Field Development Strategy, in the amount
of $55,000.
Carried
R6. CS19-026 – Licensing By-law Amendments – Second Hand Goods
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS19-026 be received; and
2. That a by-law be brought forward to amend Schedule 12 of the Town’s
Licensing By-law No. 5630-14 to reflect current business models for
Second Hand Goods stores.
Carried
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8. Notices of Motion
(a) Mayor Mrakas
Re: Response to Regional Governance Review
Whereas the Government of Ontario has announced a review of Ontario's
eight regional municipalities (Durham, Halton, Muskoka District, Niagara,
Oxford County, Peel, Waterloo, York), the County of Simcoe and their lower-
tier municipalities by appointed Special Advisors; and
Whereas the provincially appointed Special Advisors are to provide advice and
develop recommendations for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for
the purpose of improving governance, decision-making and service delivery in
the eight regions and Simcoe County and their lower-tier municipalities; and
Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) informed its
members last August, that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing began
informal discussions on regional governance review, wishing to hear from
municipalities about how this system of governance is working recognizing it
was established in the 1970s; and
Whereas the provincially appointed Special Advisors have included within the
scope of their review, consideration of moving to single-tier municipalities or
amalgamating existing municipalities; and
Whereas the Town of Aurora welcomes all opportunities to improve both
Regional and local municipal service delivery and achieve greater efficiencies
and cost savings for all Aurora and York taxpayers and rate payers; and
Whereas York Region's municipal structure provides for Regional services
throughout all local York municipalities, resulting in cost-effective, quality
services that respond to the needs of the local municipalities and citizens,
such as Children's and Court Services, Housing, Long Term Care, Paramedic
and Police Services, Public Health, Social Assistance, Public Transit, Water
and Waste Treatment, to name a few; and
Whereas the province requested feedback on the regional review through an
online survey or written submission; and
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Whereas the Town of Aurora has demonstrated its fiscal responsibility by
embracing shared service arrangements like Central York Fire Services and
also by reducing its Council size from nine (9) members to seven (7) before
the 2018 Municipal Election;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That it is recognized and factual
that York Region was formed, effective January 1, 1971, at which time
resulted in the consolidation of fourteen (14) former municipalities
(previously under 'York County') into nine (9) new municipalities; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the Council of the Town of Aurora endorses
the effectiveness of the current two-tier municipal governance structure,
with continued exploration and implementation of furthering efficiencies
and partnerships, as has existed between York Region and our partner
York local municipalities, since its inception in 1971; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That the Town of Aurora and its actively engaged
citizens value the distinct identity of their community of communities and
are committed to being proud hosts and stewards of the Oak Ridges
Moraine, Greenbelt, Lake Simcoe and the Holland Marsh; and
4. Be It Further Resolved That this motion be forwarded to all municipalities
of York Region, the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs
and Housing, all local MPP's and the Association of Municipalities of
Ontario.
(b) Councillor Kim
Re: Aurora Food & Culture Festival
Whereas the Town of Aurora has had three successful Multicultural Festivals
(MF) and attendance growing with each new year; and
Whereas the number of activities and offerings have increased with each new
year; 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
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Whereas Newmarket has discontinued its Multicultural Festival and Richmond
Hill has discontinued Taste of the Hill thereby offering a great opportunity for
Aurora to fill in the multicultural festival gap in the Region; 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
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the application from Sports
Horizons Inc. for the Aurora Food & Culture Festival be approved, in
accordance with the Third Party Events in Outdoor Town Facilities Policy;
and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the Aurora Food & Culture Festival be
declared as an “event of Town significance”, in accordance with the
Municipal Alcohol Policy.
9. New Business
Councillor Gaertner expressed concern regarding the ongoing traffic congestion on
Centre Street and requested an update on the traffic calming measures, and staff
agreed to provide an update at the Council meeting.
Councillor Gaertner requested that the update provided to Members of Council on
the train whistle cessation project be made available to the public.
Councillor Gaertner inquired about the by-law regarding Stable Neighbourhoods
and staff noted that the by-law would be brought for enactment to the Council
meeting of June 25, 2019.
Councillor Humfryes noted that the Rotary Club of Aurora is unable to conduct the
Dance in the Park event due to the club’s financial restraints, and requested that
financial support be provided to the club to run the event.
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New Business Motion No. 1
General Committee recommends:
That staff be authorized to provide the Rotary Club of Aurora with financial and
in-kind support for the Dance in the Park event on June 30, 2019 to a maximum
of $5,000 to be funded from the Council Operating Contingency budget.
Carried
Mayor Mrakas noted that he and staff had a teleconference with the Minister of
Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Bill 108, the proposed More Homes, More
Choice Act, and noted that discussions regarding potential impacts of the
proposed regulations of the bill will be ongoing.
10. Closed Session
None
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m.