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MINUTES - General Committee - 20191015 Town of Aurora General Committee Meeting Report Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Attendance Council Members Councillor Gaertner in the Chair; Councillors Gallo, Gilliland (arrived 7:03 p.m.), Kim, and Thompson, Mayor Mrakas Members Absent Councillor Humfryes Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services, Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance, Allan Downey, Director of Operations, David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services, Alexander Wray, Manager of By-law Services, Stephanie Mackenzie-Smith, Manager of Corporate Communications, Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor, Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, Linda Bottos, Council/ Committee Coordinator 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, including the following additional item: • Delegation (a) Debra Scott, Resident of Newmarket Re: Item R6 – PDS19-089 – Kitimat Crescent and Aurora Heights Public School Alternative Solutions to Safety Concerns General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 2 of 8 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) Debra Scott, Resident of Newmarket Re: Item R6 – PDS19-089 – Kitimat Crescent and Aurora Heights Public School Alternative Solutions to Safety Concerns Ms. Scott provided background and expressed concerns regarding pedestrian safety and accessibility in relation to Council’s decision to not install the sidewalk on Kitimat Crescent at that time. She expressed further concerns regarding the notification process and opportunities for resident input, and submitted a petition opposing the report’s recommendation for prohibited parking on Kitimat Crescent. Ms. Scott requested that Council delay any further decision until residents have had the opportunity to meet and express their concerns. General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to Item R6. 5. Consent Agenda None 6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes None General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 3 of 8 7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda) R1. CMS19-026 – Library Square – Veil General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CMS19-026 be received; and 2. That the Veil Design (Muntz Bronze) be approved and incorporated into the final design of the 22 Church Street School Addition. Carried R2. CS19-039 – Proposed Smoking and Vaping By-law General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CS19-039 be received; and 2. That a Smoking and Vaping By-law, being a by-law to prohibit the smoking and vaping of tobacco, cannabis and non-tobacco substances in prescribed locations, be brought forward to a future Council meeting for enactment. Carried R3. CS19-038 – Motor Vehicle Collision Cost Recovery Program Deputy Chief Rocco Volpe presented an overview of the Motor Vehicle Collision Cost Recovery Program and spoke to Central York Fire Services’ invoicing and collection process. General Committee received the presentation for information. General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CS19-038 be received for information. Carried General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 4 of 8 R4. CAO19-003 – Community Engagement Policy Report General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CAO19-003 be received; and 2. That the attached Community Engagement Policy be approved. Carried R5. PDS19-078 – Changes to the Proposed Provincial Policy Statement (2019) General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS19-078 be received; and 2. That the recommendations of this report be forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs Ontario as the official response from the Town of Aurora. Carried R6. PDS19-089 – Kitimat Crescent and Aurora Heights Public School Alternative Solutions to Safety Concerns General Committee consented to consider Item R6 prior to Item R4. General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS19-089 be referred back to staff for further consideration and to report back to Council at the General Committee meeting of November 5, 2019. Motion to refer Carried R7. PDS19-094 – Proposal for Interim Control By-law Exemption General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS19-094 be received; and General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 5 of 8 2. That a by-law be presented to a future Council meeting to exempt 126 Wells Street from the Interim Control By-law. Carried 8. Notices of Motion (a) Councillor Gilliland Re: Declare Climate Emergency Whereas at least 457 Canadian municipalities have declared a "climate emergency”—in Ontario this includes Kingston, Hamilton, Ottawa, Burlington, Halton Hills, Greater Sudbury, St. Catharines, London, Vaughan, Prince Edward County, King, and Toronto; and Whereas all of the cities who have declared climate change a state of emergency have established a goal of reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG) by 80 per cent by 2050, per the Paris Accord; and Whereas there is an urgent need to have a transformative action plan to reduce GHG to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees to avoid catastrophic climate change; and Whereas climate change is currently affecting human habitats through rising sea levels and other extreme weather patterns; such as, hurricanes, intense heatwaves, frigid temperatures, ice storms, drought and flooding; and Whereas climate change is currently threatening the survival of many species and other natural environments worldwide, stressing local and worldwide eco systems; and Whereas climate change has a direct result of billions of dollars in property damage worldwide, negatively affecting local and global economies; and Whereas local governments around the world have recognized the extreme emergency that climate change embodies and have expedited their own actions, and have called on provincial and national governments to strengthen action on climate change; and General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 6 of 8 Whereas the solutions for reducing GHG provides other positive impacts on health, social inequity and economy; 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town of Aurora officially “declare a climate emergency” for the purposes of naming and deepening our commitment to protecting our eco systems by identifying key criteria to help reduce our carbon footprint and protect our community from the impacts of climate change; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to prioritize the process of creating a Climate Action Plan, once the Region releases its climate action plan report, for the Town of Aurora focused on reducing emissions and adaptation at the community level; and 3. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to look for opportunities for economic growth, stimulation in the low-carbon economy, and cost benefits for all who consume energy; and 4. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to refer to other municipal and global initiatives and forums such as Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and report to Council with more information. (b) Mayor Mrakas Re: Community Planning Permit Whereas the Province, in its revisions to the Planning Act through Bill 108, has provided by means for a new development approval framework, the Community Planning Permit (CPP) by-law, which combines three existing planning approvals such as zoning, site plan, and minor variances into one application submission and approval process; and Whereas the role of the Community Planning Permit is to prescribe development standards and criteria for an area that are in keeping with the desires and expectations of the community; and Whereas a Community Planning Permit provides greater certainty about how an area should see change through development while limiting amendments to the CPP by-law for five years; and General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 7 of 8 Whereas a CPP by-law contains provisions that regulate the use, size, height, lot coverage, and location of buildings on properties similar to a Zoning By- law; and Whereas Community Planning Permit is a land use planning tool available to municipalities that is meant to streamline development approvals and promote collaborative and predictable community building and implement growth objectives; and Whereas the downtown core has been identified as a significant area in the Town through the development of the Aurora Promenade plan; 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to amend the Aurora Official Plan to identify the Promenade Area as a proposed Community Planning Permit area as part of the Official Plan Review; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to develop a by-law establishing a Community Planning Permit for the Promenade area for enactment and identifying the necessary resources required to implement a Community Planning Permit in a future report to Council. 9. New Business Councillor Gaertner referred to the Aurora Electoral System Review survey on the Town’s PlaceSpeak webpage and requested clarification on the survey response options, and staff provided a response. Councillor Thompson noted that further surveys and open sessions regarding the Aurora Electoral System Review are upcoming, and staff confirmed that the first round of public engagement includes two public meetings, which will be held on October 23 and October 28, 2019. Mayor Mrakas noted his attendance today at the Toronto Region Board of Trade luncheon and advised that Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott announced the launch of an unsolicited proposals program to allow the private sector to submit innovative infrastructure proposals that will benefit the people of Ontario. Mayor Mrakas stated that he would keep Council informed. General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Page 8 of 8 10. Closed Session None 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.