MINUTES - General Committee - 20200218
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Attendance
Council Members Councillor Gilliland in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo,
Humfryes (arrived at 7:34 p.m.), Kim, Thompson and Mayor Mrakas
Members Absent None
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, David Waters,
Director of Planning and Development Services, 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, Cindy Shaver,
Communication Specialist, Anca Mihail, Manager, Engineering
Services, Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor, Michael de Rond, Town
Clerk, Ishita Soneji, Council/Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
General Committee consented to recess the meeting at 9:19 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:29 p.m.
General Committee consented to extend past the hour past 10:30 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services.
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.
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3. Community Presentations
None
4. Delegations
(a) Kevin Gage and Christine Zarebski, representing Aurora Community
Tennis Club (ACTC)
Re: Request to Revise Public Court Times and Usage
Mr. Gage and Ms. Zarebski requested that the public access hours to tennis
courts utilized by ACTC, be redistributed in order to facilitate the operation of
summer camps, team practices, additional lessons and clinics, and the
following new times were proposed for consideration:
(1) Monday and Tuesday – Court 3 – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.;
(2) Saturday – Court 1 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Court 2 – 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and
Court 3 – ACTC;
(3) Sunday – Court 1 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Court 2 – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and
Court 3 – ACTC.
General Committee received the comments of the delegation for information.
5. Consent Agenda
None
6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
General Committee recommends:
That the following Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes item, A1, be received:
A1 . Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of January 28, 2020
1. That the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of January 28,
2020, be received for information.
Carried
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7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
General Committee consented to consider the items in the following order: R4, R1, R3,
R2, R5, and R6.
R1. OPS20-001 – Fleet Lifecycle Analysis and 2019/2020 Capital Projects
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. OPS20-001 be received; and
2. That this report satisfy Council’s conditional budget approval of the 2019
list of Capital Fleet Projects as presented in Tables 2 and 3 in a total
amount of $825,000 to be funded by $390,000 from the Fleet Repair and
Replacement and $435,000 from the Services Related to a Highway
Development Charge reserves; and
3. That the 2020 list of Capital Fleet Projects, as presented in Tables 4 and
5, in a total amount of $1,214,000 to be funded by $1,104,800, $60,000
and $50,000 from the Fleet Repair and Replacement, Growth & New,
and Services Related to a Highway Development Charge reserves
respectively, be approved.
Carried
R2. FIN20-006 – Transition to Prudent Investor Regime
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FIN20-006 be received; and
2. That the proposed Investment Policy Statement, attached as Appendix 1
be approved; and
3. That the Director of Finance – Treasurer be authorized to execute the
ONE Joint Investment Board Agreement, subject to the final form and
content of the agreement being to the satisfaction of the Director of
Finance – Treasurer, the Town Solicitor, and Council; and
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Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Page 4 of 9
4. That the Director of Finance – Treasurer be authorized to execute an
Initial Formation Agreement with the other Founding Member
Municipalities to establish a joint investment board, subject to the final
form and content of the Initial Formation Agreement being to the
satisfaction of the Director of Finance – Treasurer, the Town Solicitor,
and Council; and
5. That a by-law be enacted to authorize a joint investment board to
manage the Town’s long-term investments under the Prudent
Investment; and
6. That after the ONE Joint Investment Board Agreement has been
executed by ONE Joint Investment Board and all of the Founding
Member Municipalities, a by-law be enacted to authorize the Town’s
investments under the Prudent Investment regime.
Carried as amended
R3. PDS20-015 – Master Transportation Study Update Final Report
General Committee consented to permit additional time as required for the
presentation.
Mr. Jonathan Chai, Project Manager, HDR Corporation, presented an overview of
the Master Transportation Study including details on the study area, the purpose of
the study, and explained the proposed recommendations for active transportation
and operational improvements which include: enhancing safety for road users on
Yonge Street, improving traffic diversion within local streets, addressing ongoing
parking needs, and developing a sidewalk priority plan and a comprehensive
cycling network.
General Committee received the comments of the presentation for information.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-015 be received; and
2. That Council endorse the recommendations of the Master Transportation
Study Update, in principle, subject to individual project review as part of
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the Capital Budget process and update the 10-Year Capital Plan
accordingly; and
3. That the implementation of a road diet on Yonge Street be excluded
from the Master Transportation Study and be referred to the 2021
Capital Budget for consideration; and
4. That staff be directed to circulate the Master Transportation Study Update
to York Region and relevant Town’s divisions.
Carried as amended
R4. CMS20-006 – Tennis/Pickle Ball Court Permits
General Committee consented to vote on the fifth clause of the main motion as
amended separately.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS20-006 be received; and
2. That the revised Policy No. CORP-10-Sports Field and Park Use Policy
be approved as presented; and
3. That the costs for new signage be funded from the Council operating
budget contingency fund; and
4. That the revised tennis court public access hours at McMahon Park,
as proposed by the Aurora Community Tennis Club (ACTC), be
approved as follows:
(a) Monday and Tuesday – Court 3 – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.;
(b) Saturday – Court 1 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Court 2 – 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
Court 3 – ACTC;
(c) Sunday – Court 1 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Court 2 – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
Court 3 – ACTC;
Carried as amended
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General Committee recommends:
5. That the current 45 minute rule of playing time remain status quo.
Carried as amended
R5. FIN20-003 – Development Charge Deferral for Major Office Space
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FIN20-003 be received; and
2. That staff proceed with the development of a policy for the deferral of
Development Charges for Major Office Space.
Carried
R6. PDS20-013 – Application for Zoning By-law Amendment, Morgan
Planning, 2 Willow Farm Lane, File Number: ZBA-2019-02
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-013 be received; and
2. Zoning By-law Amendment application File Number ZBA-2019-02 to
rezone a portion of the subject lands from ‘ER - Estate Residential
Exception Zone (73)’ to ‘R2 - Detached Second Density Residential
Exception Zone (74)’ be approved; and
3. That water and sewage capacity for three (3) persons, equivalent to
servicing one (1) single detached unit, be allocated to the future severed
lot; and
4. That the Zoning By-law amendment be presented at a future Council
meeting.
Carried
8. Notices of Motion
(a) Councillor Humfryes
Re: Open Cousins Drive Railway Crossing
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Whereas the Cousins Drive Railway Crossing has been closed and fenced off
for several years due to safety concerns by Metrolinx; and
Whereas Aurora prides itself in active transportation as demonstrated, for
example, through local active programs such as Activate Aurora; and
Whereas the closed and fenced off Cousins Drive crossing is preventing
walkability for the residents of our Town;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff work with our local MPPs
for their support and to advocate for Aurora to Metrolinx for re-opening the
Cousins Drive Crossing and that staff provide an update report by the end
of April 2020.
9. New Business
Councillor Gallo requested that copies of the presentations made at the meetings
be circulated prior to the meeting.
Councillor Gaertner referred to residents’ concern regarding the installation of
standard streetlights versus decorative streetlights in the Highland Gate
subdivision and sought clarification on the subdivision agreement conditions, and
staff provided clarification noting that the agreement includes standard subdivision
lighting.
Councillor Kim inquired about the intended date of completion for the hotel
construction near Highway 404, and staff provided a response noting that the
construction would be completed by the end of June 2020.
10. Public Service Announcements
Mayor Mrakas extended a reminder that winter overnight parking restrictions are in
effect until April 15, 2020, and more information regarding parking and snow
plowing can be found at aurora.ca/snow.
Mayor Mrakas announced that the 2020 Spring/Summer Program and Summer
Camp registration will open on Monday, February 24, 2020, and details regarding
programs and courses is available at aurora.ca/recguide.
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Councillor Humfryes extended a reminder that the Annual Mayor’s Luncheon
hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday,
February 19, 2020, at the Royal Venetian, and tickets can be purchased at
aurorachamber.on.ca.
Councillor Kim extended a reminder that the Town is accepting applications until
May 1, 2020, for the John West Memorial “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship
Award, and more information is available at aurora.ca/leadersoftomorrow.
Councillor Gaertner announced that the Town is offering an early bird 10%
discount from February 24, 2020 to March 6, 2020 for select camps, and more
information is available at aurora.ca/camps.
Councillor Gaertner extended a reminder that the Aurora Public Library will be
hosting a panel event called Being Black in Canada on Thursday, February 20,
2020 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Councillor Gaertner extended a reminder that Metrolinx will be hosting a public
meeting regarding the GO Expansion Project on Monday, February 24, 2020 at the
Aurora Community Centre from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Councillor Thompson announced that the Canadian Association for the
Advancement of Women in sport and local sport organization will be conducting a
workshop on Sunday, March 1, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Aurora Public
Library.
Councillor Gallo announced that a focus group meeting regarding improving
participation in sports and physical activity will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020,
from 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Aurora Public Library, noting to contact Erin
Hamilton at ehamilton@aurora.ca or 905-727-3123, ext. 3135 for registration.
Councillor Gilliland extended a reminder that the Mayor’s Celebration of Youth Arts
will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Brevik Hall
at the Aurora Cultural Centre, and more information can be found at
auroraculturalcentre.ca.
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11. Closed Session
None
12. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:47 p.m.