MINUTES - General Committee - 20200519
Town of Aurora
General Committee Meeting Report
Video Conference
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Attendance
Council Members Mayor Mrakas in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo, Gilliland
Humfryes, Kim, and Thompson
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, Michelle Outar,
Acting Manager of Corporate Communications, Patricia De Sario,
Town Solicitor, Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, Linda Bottos,
Council/Committee Coordinator
This meeting was held electronically as per Section 20.1 of the Town's Procedure By-
law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
General Committee consented to recess the meeting at 7:49 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 7:54 p.m.
General Committee consented to recess the meeting at 9:08 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:16 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
On a point of order by Councillor Thompson and acceptance by the Chair, Notice of
Motion (b) was removed from the agenda.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Page 2 of 10
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services,
excluding Notice of Motion (b).
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) Michael Testaguzza, Tony Biglieri, The Biglieri Group Ltd.
Re: Item R1 – PDS20-033 – Applications for Official Plan Amendment,
Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, 2523059
Ontario Inc., 132-198 Old Bloomington Road, Lots 12 and 14 and
Part of Lots 10, 11 and 13, Registered Plan 166, File Nos.: OPA-2017-
05, ZBA-2017-07 and SUB-2017-03
Mr. Testaguzza presented context and a review of the draft plan including the
changes to the proposal since the statutory public meeting of January 24,
2018, and further potential revisions in response to community concerns.
General Committee received the comments of the delegation for information.
5. Consent Agenda
None
6. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
None
7. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Page 3 of 10
R1. PDS20-033 – Applications for Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law
Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, 2523059
Ontario Inc., 132-198 Old Bloomington Road, Lots 12 and
14 and Part of Lots 10, 11 and 13, Registered Plan 166, File
Nos.: OPA-2017-05, ZBA-2017-07 and SUB-2017-03
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-033 be received; and
2. That Official Plan Amendment application OPA-2017-05 (2523059
Ontario Inc.) be approved to:
(a) Amend section 3.6.2 of OPA 34 which permits a maximum building
coverage of 12% for lands within a Cluster Residential designation
by adding a site-specific policy to permit a maximum building
coverage of 20% for the subject lands; and
(b) Amend section 3.6.3 (c) of OPA 34 requiring a minimum separation
distance of 35 metres between the Estate Residential designation
and the lot line of any Cluster Residential unit by adding a site-
specific policy that reduces the setback to 35 metres between a
dwelling in the Estate Residential Designation and a dwelling in the
Cluster Residential Designation which includes a 10-metre
landscaped buffer; and
(c) Delete section 3.2.7 of OPA 34 that requires a Block Plan be
approved prior to the approval of an application to permit new
development within the areas identified on Schedule CC; and
3. That Zoning By-law Amendment application ZBA-2017-07 (2523059
Ontario Inc.) be approved to rezone the subject lands from “Estate
Residential (ER) Zone” to “Detached Third Density Residential R3(XX1)
Exception Zone”, “Detached Third Density Residential R3(XX2)
Exception Zone”, “Detached Third Density Residential R3(XX3)
Exception Zone”, “Detached Third Density Residential R3(XX4)
Exception Zone” “Environmental Protection – Oak Ridges Moraine (EP-
ORM) Zone”, “Public Open Space (O1) Zone”, and “Private Open Space
O2(XX) Zone”; and
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Page 4 of 10
4. That Draft Plan of Subdivision application SUB-2017-03 (2523059
Ontario Inc.) be approved, subject to the conditions listed in Schedule ‘A’
to this report; and
5. That Council grant an allocation of 161 persons from the reserve to
service the development of 50 single detached dwellings on the
approved Draft Plan of Subdivision; and
6. That the implementing Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments be
brought forward to a future Council meeting.
Carried
R2. FIN20-012 – Property Tax Due Dates and Penalties
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FIN20-012 be received; and
2. That the installment dates for the final tax bill of September 15 and
December 1, 2020, be approved; and
3. That Council approve that the Town continue to charge the normal
monthly rate of 1.25% for penalties on taxes for the period of July 1 to
December 31, 2020; and
4. That, at the discretion of the Director of Finance, accounts that
were in arrears in 2019 not be provided with relief; and
5. That Council approve waiving the five percent, one-time penalty on past
due water bills for the remainder of 2020; and
6. That a by-law be enacted to reflect these changes at a future Council
meeting.
Carried as amended
R3. OPS20-008 – Blue Box Transition to Full Producer Responsibility
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. OPS20-008 be received; and
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2. That the timing for transition of the Blue Box Program to full producer
responsibility for collection on December 31, 2025, coinciding with the
end of the current waste collection contract, be approved; and
3. That Council support the consideration of an earlier transition date
provided that service levels would not be negatively impacted; and
4. That staff be authorized to continue working in cooperation with the
Northern Six (N6) municipalities in providing Blue Box collection services
on behalf of producers, through future long-term collection contracts,
subject to mutually agreeable financial and operational terms; and
5. That staff be authorized to communicate this resolution to the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), to the Minister of the
Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Regional Municipality of
York.
Carried as amended
R4. CS20-010 – Electronic Meetings for Committees of Council
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS20-010 be received; and
2. That an amendment to the Procedure By-law to allow committees of
Council to meet electronically during the state of emergency be enacted
at the May 26, 2020 Council meeting; and
3. That the provisions related to in-person attendance and in-person
quorum of the Policy for Ad Hoc/Advisory Committees and Local Boards
be waived to allow electronic participation by members of the
committees; and
4. That staff report back to Council regarding the success of electronic
committee meetings.
Carried
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R5. PDS20-036 – Town-Initiated Official Plan Amendment to Consider
Outdoor Swim Schools as a Permitted Home Occupation
Use
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-036 be received; and
2. That Town-initiated Official Plan Amendment Number 2020-19 to permit
outdoor swim schools as a Permitted Home Occupation in the Official
Plan be approved by adding the following new clause to Section 6.13:
(v) “Notwithstanding Section 6.13 (a)(i) and (iv) respecting Home
Occupations, outdoor swim schools may be permitted as a home
occupation use in addition to related minor outdoor storage, where
appropriate and subject to the other policies in Section 6.13.”
3. That a new fee be added to the Town's 2020 Fees and Charges By-law
for a "Minor Variance for Outdoor Swim Schools" at a cost of $250; and
4. That the implementing Official Plan Amendment and revised Fees and
Charges By-Law be presented to a future Council meeting.
Carried
R6. PDS20-039 – Aurora Economic Development Corporation Board
Composition
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-039 be received; and
2. That the terms of reference of the Aurora Economic Development
Corporation (the “AEDC”) be amended to increase the number of local
residents or business owners to nine and to decrease the number of
Council representatives to two members of Council; and
3. That staff be directed to present to Council a special resolution to be
passed by the AEDC Board of Directors to increase the number of local
residents or business owners to nine and to decrease the number of
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Page 7 of 10
Council representatives to two, which will be confirmed at a future
meeting of Council.
Carried
8. Notices of Motion
(a) Mayor Mrakas
Re: Downtown Street Wall Mural Program
Whereas experience shows that a mural in a well-considered location often
brings a community together and improves spaces for people passing through
neighbourhoods; and
Whereas a mural can create belonging and a sense of pride, reduce graffiti and
tagging, and allow neighbourhoods to shape their community through
beautification and shared project goals; and
Whereas a street wall mural program would allow local artists to beautify the
downtown core in a unique way;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to report
back to Council regarding a Downtown Street Wall Mural program where
local artists would create wall murals on Town-owned retaining walls
along Yonge Street in the Downtown Core (Aurora Heights Drive to
Kennedy Street); and
2. Be It Further Resolved That at least one Town-owned retaining wall shall
be dedicated to our frontline workers; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That the report include guidelines for program
objectives and eligibility requirements and timelines for selecting local
artists.
(b) Councillor Gaertner
Re: COVID-19 Crisis – Support for Institutional Changes
Removed from agenda.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Page 8 of 10
(c) Councillor Thompson
Re: Municipal Service Level and Delivery Review
Whereas the Town of Aurora is committed to making informed, affordable,
strategic choices about how municipal services are delivered; and
Whereas Council wishes to examine how to improve services, identify any new
or rising service demands, and evaluate service levels in the face of competing
priorities and/or decreasing revenues and increasing costs to operate the
municipality; and
Whereas Council wishes to set priorities and, where possible, identify potential
revenue opportunities, reduce the cost of delivery while maintaining and/or
improving services and service levels; and
Whereas a municipal service level and delivery review is a rigorous evaluation
process that looks at the needs and expectations of the community, the
performance and costs of the services provided, and may provide insight on
best practices and/or alternative/ better ways to deliver a service; and
Whereas the last municipal service level review was conducted in 2013;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town of Aurora consider
a Municipal Services Review to identify actions and directions that could
result in a more efficient and cost-effective service delivery, enhanced
organizational and operation procedures, new revenue streams, and
potential savings; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That this item be referred to the 2021 budget with
an estimate on the cost of conducting a service review; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That pending Council’s approval of the cost to
conduct a review, the CAO be directed to finalize and issue a Request for
Proposal for a Service Level and Delivery Review no later than February
2021.
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9. New Business
Councillor Thompson inquired about communications to the public regarding the
opening of Town facilities, and staff provided a response.
Councillor Gilliland extended appreciation to all those involved in the successful
arts discussion table held on May 15, 2020, including Councillors Gallo and
Humfryes, Hon. Lisa MacLeod, MPP Michael Parsa, and Town staff.
Councillor Gallo inquired about the possibility of providing opportunities for youth
to be active and volunteer with the Town, and staff provided a response.
10. Public Service Announcements
Councillor Gallo announced that, due to the increasing activity as businesses
begin to reopen, the Town’s enforcement of parking restrictions has now been
reinstated, and he extended a reminder about the Town-wide 24-hour limit for
vehicles parked on the street.
Councillor Gilliland extended a reminder about the Town’s online Skylight Gallery
currently featuring the photographic work of artist Stephen Sloan during the month
of May 2020 and the exhibit can be viewed at aurora.ca/skylightgallery.
Councillor Gaertner encouraged residents to visit the Town’s Recreation at Home
webpage, to find ways to keep active and engaged while staying at home and
physical distancing, at aurora.ca/recathome.
Councillor Thompson announced that the Aurora Museum and Archives is inviting
residents to capture this moment in history by taking a front yard photo and posting
it on social media with #Auroraathome or uploading it to auroramuseum.ca.
Councillor Kim extended a reminder that Aurora business owners who need
assistance during these times can use the online business assessment tool to
request information on available resources or arrange to speak with an Economic
Development Officer, by visiting aurora.ca/businesssupport.
Councillor Humfryes announced that the Town, recognizing the significant impact
of COVID-19 on the community, has brought together community leaders to form
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the Aurora Cares Community Action Team, and more information, including an
application for one-time financial support, is available at aurora.ca/auroracares.
Councillor Humfryes advised that the Aurora Farmers’ Market and Artisan Fair
may be opening on Saturday, May 23, 2020, and confirmation will follow shortly.
Mayor Mrakas announced that, to encourage contactless transactions and support
local retail, curbside pickup would be allowed at all times on Yonge Street, from
Church Street to Wellington Street, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
11. Closed Session
None
12. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 p.m.