MINUTES - General Committee - 20191001
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Attendance
Council Members Councillor Kim in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo, Gilliland,
Humfryes, 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, Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of
Finance, 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 7:02 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services
with the following additional items:
• Delegation (a) LCol Ferguson Mobbs, Rtd. representing Never Forgotten
National Memorial Foundation; Re: Notice of Motion (a) Mayor Mrakas, Re:
The Never Forgotten National Memorial
• Delegation (b) Matthew Kinsella representing the Charter Family
Re: Interim Control By-law Exemption for 126 Wells Street
• Replacement Item R6 – Report No. PDS19-053 – Approval of Capital Project
No. 81016 – Aurora Promenade Streetscape Design & Implementation
• Notice of Motion (b) Councillor Gaertner, Re: Helping Urban Pollinators
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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) LCol Ferguson Mobbs, Rtd, representing Never Forgotten National
Memorial Foundation
Re: Notice of Motion (a) Mayor Mrakas, Re: The Never Forgotten
National Memorial
Mr. Mobbs provided a brief history of the Never Forgotten Memorial
Foundation and presented a video highlighting the foundation’s intent to build
a memorial in Green Cove, Cape Bretton, Nova Scotia to commemorate all
Canadian soldiers fallen at war; which would be modeled after the statue of
Canada Bereft in Vimy, France. He spoke in support of the notice of motion
and requested Members of Council to support the efforts to develop the Never
Forgotten National Memorial.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to
Notice of Motion (a).
(b) Matthew Kinsella representing the Charter Family
Re: Interim Control By-law Exemption for 126 Wells Street
Mr. Kinsella, representing the owners at 126 Wells Street, requested Members
of Council to grant an exemption from the Interim Control By-law for the
subject property in order to submit an application to the Committee of
Adjustment to propose the construction of an attached single car garage,
which would require a variance to the side yard setback. He provided details
on the proposed attached garage structure and associated architectural
renderings.
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General Committee received the comments of the delegation and requested
staff to bring back a report to the General Committee meeting of October 15,
2019 regarding a proposed exemption to the Interim Control By-law No. 6148-
19 to permit an attached garage at 126 Wells Street.
5. Consent Agenda
None
6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
General Committee recommends:
That the following Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes item, A1, be received:
A1. Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 4,
2019
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
September 4, 2019, be received for information.
Carried
7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
R1. CS19-024 – Delegation to Staff of Certain Powers, Duties and Functions
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS19-024 be received; and
2. That a by-law that delegates powers, duties and functions to staff be
enacted.
Carried
R2. FS19-028 – 2020 to 2022 Fees and Charges Update
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-028 be received; and
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2. That a by-law be enacted to set the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Fees and
Charges for applications, permits, use of Town property, the sale of
documents and for the prescribed service charges for administrative
matters as itemized on the attached schedules.
Carried
R3. FS19-029 – Prudent Investor Standard for Multiple Investments
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS19-029 be received; and
2. That staff undertake further due diligence to determine the best approach
to move to the prudent investor standard and report back to Council with
a final recommendation.
Carried
R4. OPS19-021 – Backflow Prevention Bylaw and Request for Budget to
Install Backflow Preventers
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. OPS19-021 be received; and
2. That a by-law to repeal and replace By-law No. 5645-14 – Being a by-law
to regulate cross connections and backflow prevention in private
plumbing systems – be enacted at a future Council meeting; and
3. That Capital Project No. 43057 – Installation of Backflow Prevention
Meters in Town Facilities be approved; and
4. That a total budget of $125,000 be approved for Capital Project No.
43057 to be funded from the W ater Reserve.
Carried
R5. OPS19-022 – Award of Sole Source Contract to Wamco Municipal
Products Inc.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. OPS19-022 be received; and
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2. That a sole source contract in the amount of $750,000, excluding taxes,
be approved for the supply of water meters from Wamco Municipal
Products Inc. for a five (5) year period; and
3. That Director of Operations be authorized to renew the contract, at the
same rate, for three (3) additional one (1)-year terms, pending an annual
analysis and performance review by the Director.
Carried
R6. PDS19-053 – Approval of Capital Project No. 81016 – Aurora
Promenade Streetscape Design & Implementation
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-053 be received; and
2. That this report satisfies Council’s conditional budget approval for Capital
Project No.81016 – Aurora Promenade Streetscape Design &
Implementation in the amount of $570,000.
Carried
R7. PDS19-084 – Proposed Amendments to the Town’s Parking By-law for
Industry Street and Catherine Avenue
General Committee consented to vote on the clauses of the motion separately.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-084 be received.
Carried
General Committee recommends:
2. That a by-law to amend Parking By-law No. 4574-04.T be enacted to:
(a) Prohibit parking at any time on the west side of Industry Street from
Mary Street to the south limit of Industry Street.
Defeated
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General Committee recommends:
2. That a by-law to amend Parking By-law No. 4574-04.T be enacted to:
(b) Prohibit parking at any time on the north side of Catherine Avenue
from Spruce Street to Walton Drive.
Defeated
R8. PDS19-090 – The State of Maturity Report
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS19-090 be received for information.
Carried
8. Notices of Motion
(a) Mayor Mrakas
Re: The Never Forgotten National Memorial
Whereas The Town of Aurora has a proud tradition of honouring those who
made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of Canada in armed conflicts across the
world; and
Whereas the Never Forgotten National Memorial Foundation has been
established to develop commemorative programming, exhibits and
monuments at a site on Cape Breton Island as a place of remembrance and
thanks for those brave individuals who lost their lives so far from home; and
Whereas the foundation is seeking the support of businesses, agencies,
government organizations, and individuals across Canada to bring life to this
important national memorial;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That that the Town of Aurora
supports efforts to develop the Never Forgotten National Memorial.
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(b) Councillor Gaertner
Re: Helping Urban Pollinators
Whereas all plants require pollination in order to produce seed and fruit; and
Whereas insects are the most common pollinators, especially bees and
butterflies; and
Whereas their natural habitat of meadows, grasslands and rural roadside
design is diminishing due to urbanization, pesticides and the increasing effects
of severe weather; and
Whereas this, and in particular the plight of the monarch butterfly, has caught
the attention of our youth; and
Whereas Ms. Shillolo’s class from Hartman Public School, in their current
investigation of the Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship, is using
the plight of the Monarch as an example of how citizens could work with their
municipal government to make a difference; and
Whereas they have asked our Council to help make a welcoming garden “filled
with milkweed and flowers”; and
Whereas this would be an wonderful example of political/public co-operation
and environmental protection;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to locate a
space for this dedicated garden, to be planted this Fall or next Spring, in
one of our parks or around one of our storm water ponds, preferably near
Hartman Public School; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the children be involved by the providing staff
with their research from this education unit.
9. New Business
Mayor Mrakas referred to the process regarding submitting public comments
regarding retail sale of cannabis within Town and noted that the Alcohol & Gaming
Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has received no applications for retail store
authorization from patrons in Aurora. He noted that once an application is
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received, a two-week notice period will follow as per the AGCO process to allow
for written submissions to the Registrar, and staff would provide an update
accordingly.
Councillor Gilliland requested an update on ongoing concerns regarding the
Highland Gate construction site, and staff provided a response noting that a
request to meet and conduct a walkabout of the site with the ratepayer association
members is underway.
Councillor Gilliland referred to residents concerns regarding increase in prohibited
parking at Yonge Street and Wellington Street between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
and requested staff to patrol the area.
Mayor Mrakas noted that students from Hartman Public School were in attendance
earlier today to discuss their intent to make a welcoming garden filled with
milkweed and flowers, and noted that they would be in attendance at the Council
meeting of October 8, 2019 in support of Councillor Gaertner’ s motion regarding
helping urban pollinators.
Mayor Mrakas noted his attendance at the meeting with Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau and other Greater Toronto Area Mayors in Richmond Hill regarding gun
control reform and noted that possibilities of implementing stricter penalties were
discussed.
Councillor Gilliland sought clarification on the removal of the speed posts on
streets around school zones during the winter months, and staff provided a
response noting that the posts would be removed from November 15, 2019 to April
15, 2020 to accommodate winter maintenance operations.
10. Closed Session
None
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 p.m.