MINUTES - General Committee - 20201117 1
Town of Aurora
General Committee
Meeting Report
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
7:00 p.m.
Video Conference
Council Members: Mayor Mrakas
Councillor Kim
Councillor Gaertner
Councillor Humfryes
Councillor Thompson
Councillor Gilliland
Councillor Gallo
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Allan Downey, Director of Operations
Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services
Techa van Leeuwen, Director of Corporate Services
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance
David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services
John Firman, Manager, Business Support Services
Eliza Bennett, Acting Manager, Corporate Communications
Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Ishita Soneji, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Procedural Notes
This meeting was held electronically as per Section 19. i) of the Town's
Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 situation.
Mayor Mrakas in the Chair.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
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2. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services,
including the following added items:
• Delegation 5.1 – Rebecca Beaton, representing Regency Acres Ratepayers
Association, Re: Item 8.1 – PDS20-068 – Stable Neighbourhood Policy
Review – Urban Design Guidelines
• Item 6.1 – Memorandum from Councillor Gaertner, Re: Letter from Lake
Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Re: Provincial Bill 229, Protect,
Support, and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020
3. 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.
4. Community Presentations
None.
5. Delegations
5.1 Rebecca Beaton, representing Regency Acres Ratepayers
Association, Re: Item 8.1 - PDS20-068 - Stable Neighbourhood Policy
Review - Urban Design Guidelines
Ms. Beaton expressed concerns regarding the proposed urban design
guidelines noting that the guidelines are not adequate to enforce the
objectives for protecting stable neighbourhoods. She further expressed
concerns regarding the Regency Acres design guidelines including the
proposed architectural form, style, and streetscape specifications. She
requested that the reporting to Council on minor variance application
activity be changed to semi-annually and also include all approved
applications that do not comply with the design guidelines.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation
to Item 8.1.
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6. Consent Agenda
6.1 Memorandum from Councillor Gaertner; Re: Letter from Lake Simcoe
Region Conservation Authority, Re: Provincial Bill 229, Protect,
Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020
General Committee recommends:
1. That the memorandum regarding Letter from Lake Simcoe Region
Conservation Authority regarding Provincial Bill 229, Protect, Support
and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures), 2020, be
received; and
2. That the motion presented by Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority regarding Provincial Bill 229 be adopted and a copy of this
resolution be provided to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority and the Premier of Ontario.
Carried
7. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
7.1 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of October 14,
2020
General Committee recommends:
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of October
14, 2020, be received for information.
Carried
8. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
8.1 PDS20-068 - Stable Neighbourhood Policy Review - Urban Design
Guidelines
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-068 be received; and
2. That the revised Urban Design Guidelines for Stable Neighbourhoods
as attached to this report be approved; and
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3. That staff present a semi-annual report to Council on minor variance
application activity within the Town’s four Stable Neighbourhood Study
Areas.
Carried
8.2 PDS20-070 - Request for Traffic Calming Measures - Aurora Heights
Drive and Seaton Drive
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-070 be received for information.
Carried
8.3 PDS20-031 - Regional MCR Update - Employment Land Conversions
and Employment Land Mapping in Aurora
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-031 be received for information.
Carried
8.4 PDS20-069 - Administration of Capital Project 31116
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-069 be received for information.
Carried
8.5 CS20-022 - Audio Recordings of Closed Session Meetings
General Committee consented to vote on the fourth clause of the main motion
separately.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS20-022 be received; and
2. That beginning with the first closed session meeting of 2021, staff
audio record all closed session meetings; and
3. That access to the recordings be restricted to the Town Clerk, Chief
Administrative Officer, Town Solicitor and the Town’s closed session
meeting investigator.
Carried
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General Committee recommends:
4. That a by-law be enacted at a future Council meeting to classify the
recordings as permanent in the Town’s Record Retention and
Classification By-law.
Carried
8.6 CS20-023 - Approval of 2021 Meeting Schedule
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS20-023 be received; and
2. That the 2021 Meeting Schedule (Attachment No. 1) be approved; and
3. That the Town Clerk be authorized to make amendments to the
Council and Committee Meeting Schedule as required.
Carried
8.7 CMS20-028 - Sports Field Development Strategy Update
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS20-028 be received for information; and
2. That the Director of Community Services be authorized to enter into
agreements with local Schools and School Boards for the shared use
of sports fields, including any ancillary agreements required for same.
Carried
8.8 PDS20-074 - Request to Remove a Property from the Aurora Register
of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest, 93 Tyler Street
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-074 be received; and
2. That the listed property located at 93 Tyler Street be removed from the
Aurora Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Carried
9. Notices of Motion
None.
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10. New Business
None.
11. Public Service Announcements
Councillor Gaertner announced that this week is National Seniors Safety Week
and November is Fall Prevention Month, to create awareness for preventing fall-
related injuries.
Councillor announced that November 18, 2020 is National Day of Remembrance
for Road Crash Victims.
Councillor Thompson extended appreciation to the Aurora Royal Canadian
Legion for their efforts in facilitating the Remembrance Day services during the
ongoing pandemic.
Councillor Gilliland announced that the Aurora Deck the Halls Tour will be held
from Saturday, December 12, 2020 to Saturday December 19, 2020 from 5 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m., noting that deadline to register is November 20, 2020 and more
information is available at aurora.ca/deckthehalls.
Councillor Gilliland extended a reminder that the Santa Under the Stars Parade
is going to be held on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at the Aurora Family Leisure
Complex from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., noting that pre-registration is open and more
information is available at aurora.ca/santaparade.
Mayor Mrakas noted that the Region of York is now under the "Control" category
as per the COVID-19 Response Framework with stringent measures. He
extended a reminder to continue to practice social distancing and follow the
Ontario Public Health guidelines.
Councillor Gaertner extended wishes to all those who celebrated Diwali over the
weekend.
Councillor Gallo extended appreciation to the Moore Chiropractic Group for their
community support during the ongoing pandemic.
12. Closed Session
None.
13. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.