MINUTES - General Committee - 20201201 1
Town of Aurora
General Committee
Meeting Report
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
7:00 p.m.
Video Conference
Council Members: Mayor Mrakas
Councillor Gaertner
Councillor Gallo
Councillor Gilliland
Councillor Humfryes
Councillor Kim
Councillor Thompson
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Allan Downey, Director of Operations
Techa van Leeuwen, Director of Corporate Services
Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services
David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance
Eliza Bennett, Acting Manager, Corporate Communications
Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, 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 Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
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2. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative
Services, including the following added items:
• Delegation 5.1 - Mercedes Custodio and Mo Ghoneim, Arts Help; Re: Library
Square Project: Art Project
• Delegation 5.2 - Lenard Lind, Applicant; Re: Item 8.3 - OPS20-018 - Tree
Removal Permit Application - 17 Church Street
• Item 7.3 - Community Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 19,
2020
• Item 7.4 - Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 26,
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 Mercedes Custodio and Mo Ghoneim, Arts Help; Re: Library Square
Project: Art Project
General Committee consented to allow additional time as required for the
delegation.
Mercedes Custodio, Vice President of Outreach and Research, Sophie
Brussaux, Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, and Mo Ghoneim, Co-
Founder and Managing Director, Arts Help Canada, provided background
on their organization and presented a proposal to develop an interactive
Art platform for the Town. Mr. Ghoneim noted the platform would be
developed through a digital network consisting of indoor interactive digital
screens and a local, grassroots online community with the key objectives
of community engagement, impact through alignment with global
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sustainable development goals, and awareness through the
implementation of a public relations and communications strategy.
General Committee received the comments of the delegation for
information.
5.2 Lenard Lind, Applicant; Re: Item 8.3 - OPS20-018 - Tree Removal Permit
Application - 17 Church Street
Lenard Lind spoke in support of his tree removal permit application and
replanting proposal, including the removal of three trees and relocation of
the Locust tree, and requested that Council approve the staff report's
alternative recommendation.
General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation
to item 8.3.
6. Consent Agenda
6.1 FIN20-028 - Q3 2020 Sole and Single Source Report
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FIN20-028 be received for information.
Carried
7. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
General Committee recommends:
That the following Advisory Committee meeting minutes, items 7.1 to 7.4
inclusive, be received:
7.1 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 2, 2020
1. That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of November
2, 2020, be received for information.
7.2 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 11,
2020
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
November 11, 2020, be received for information.
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7.3 Community Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2020
1. That the Community Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
November 19, 2020, be received for information.
7.4 Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 26, 2020
1. That the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of November
26, 2020, be received for information.
Carried
8. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
General Committee consented to consider items in the following order: 8.3, 8.1,
8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, and 8.7.
8.1 PDS20-075 - Heritage Permit Application, 23 Mark Street, HPA-2020-02
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-075 be received; and
2. That Heritage Permit Application File: HPA-2020-02 to permit the
replacement of twenty-seven windows on the existing dwelling at 23
Mark Street be approved.
Carried
8.2 PDS20-076 - Heritage Permit Application, Elmwood Lodge: The Reuben
J. Kennedy House, 15032 Yonge Street, File Number: HPA-2019-07
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-076 be received; and
2. That Heritage Permit Application File: HPA-2019-07 to permit the
removal of twelve louvered window shutters on the Reuben J. Kennedy
House at 15032 Yonge Street be refused.
Carried
8.3 OPS20-018 - Tree Removal Permit Application - 17 Church Street
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. OPS20-018 be received; and
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2. That the Tree Removal Permit Application for the removal of three
trees (two Norway Maples, one Silver Maple) and relocation of one tree
(Locust) at 17 Church Street be approved as presented by the
applicant.
Carried
8.4 CS20-025 - Modernized Fence By-law
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS20-025 be received; and
2. That a new Fence By-law be brought forth and enacted at a future
Council meeting to repeal and replace the current Fence By-law No.
4753.05.P; and
3. That an amendment to the Fees and Charges By-law be brought
forward to a future Council meeting to implement fees associated with
a fence variance process; and
4. That an amendment to the Aurora Appeal Tribunal By-law be brought
forward to a future Council meeting for enactment.
Carried
8.5 CS20-026 - Pending List Update
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CS20-026 be received; and
2. That items marked “Completed” be removed from the Pending List.
Carried
8.6 FIN20-029 - Annual Cancellation, Reduction or Refund of Property Taxes
under Sections 357 and 358 of the Municipal Act
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. FS20-029 be received; and
2. That total property taxes in the amount of $4,072.20 due from the
property owners be adjusted pursuant to Section 357 of the Municipal
Act, 2001, as amended (the Act); and
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3. That total property taxes in the amount of $10,923.45 due to the
property owners be adjusted pursuant to Section 358 of the Act; and
4. That any associated interest charged applicable to these adjustments
be cancelled in proportion to the total property taxes adjusted; and
5. That the Director of Finance, Treasurer be directed to remove said
property taxes from the collector’s roll reflecting these property tax
adjustments; and
6. That the Director of Finance, Treasurer be delegated the authority, to
process and remove property taxes from the collector’s roll reflecting
property tax adjustments throughout the calendar year, as set out in
sections 357 and 358 of the Municipal Act, and with an information
report presented to Council at the end of each calendar year.
Carried
8.7 PDS20-071 - Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision, 15370 Leslie
(Skale) Inc., 15370 Leslie Street, Part Lot 2, Concession 2, File Number:
SUB-2019-02, Related File Numbers: ZBA-2017-02 and SP-2017-02
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS20-071 be received; and
2. That the Draft Plan of Subdivision file No. SUB-2019-02 to create one
block on a plan of subdivision to facilitate the future development of
four common elements condominium townhouse blocks be approved,
subject to the conditions of approval attached hereto as Schedule ‘A’.
Carried
9. Notices of Motion
None.
10. New Business
Councillor Gaertner noted the poor condition of the Readman House on Yonge
Street and inquired about its status and any policy that would protect vacant
heritage structures, and staff provided a response.
Councillor Gallo inquired about the plan for public art in Library Square, and staff
provided a response.
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Councillor Kim expressed appreciation to staff for sharing the residents'
concerns with the sidewalk snow removal contractor regarding previous grass
damage and noted the improved snowplowing results of the recent snow event.
Councillor Gilliland advised that the short URL link to the Town's webpage for the
Deck the Halls Tour is not functioning, and staff agreed to resolve the matter.
Councillor Gilliland thanked staff for providing her with tree and Committee of
Adjustment information and requested confirmation that work being done at a
Lacey Court property was approved. Staff provided a response including
clarification on the tree compensation policy.
Councillor Humfryes inquired about the next steps respecting the Arts Help
delegation and proposal for Library Square, and staff provided a response.
Councillor Humfryes referred to Councillor Gaertner's concerns regarding the
Readman House and inquired about staff's enforcement of the Property
Standards By-law in relation to heritage properties, and staff provided a
response.
Councillor Humfryes inquired about the status of the comprehensive review of
the Town's Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest, and staff
provided a response.
Councillor Humfryes expressed appreciation to staff for their communications
efforts with residents regarding road reconstruction issues.
Councillor Gaertner expressed concerns regarding activities at a business unit on
Industrial Parkway in relation to COVID-19 restrictions and inquired about any
possible steps that could be taken, and staff provided a response.
Mayor Mrakas provided statistics related to York Region's COVID-19
enforcement task force activities and advised that he would forward the
information to Council members.
Mayor Mrakas noted that, in addition to the mayors and chairs of the eleven
largest municipalities of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) meeting
on a weekly basis, the mayors of smaller urban municipalities in the GTHA would
also be meeting on a weekly basis to discuss matters relevant to smaller
communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to work with the
larger municipalities as well.
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11. Public Service Announcements
Councillor Gaertner extended congratulations to staff on a successful Santa
Under the Stars Parade.
Councillor Gilliland expressed appreciation to staff for their efforts on the Parade
and acknowledged the positive feedback from residents.
Councillor Gilliland announced that Aurora's Deck the Halls drive-by tour will be
held December 12-19, 2020, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and a tour map will be
released December 10 on the website. She expressed appreciation for the
funding provided by the province.
Councillor Humfryes announced that Aurora's Christmas Market will be held in
Town Park from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 6, 2020, and from
Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13, 2020, noting that pre-registration
is required to attend. She thanked staff for their efforts and further noted that a
Christmas tree will be lit in Town Park.
Mayor Mrakas noted that registration for the Christmas Market has been filled
and online shopping will be available at aurora.ca/christmasmarket.
Mayor Mrakas announced that the Christmas Dream Dinner program will
continue this year, providing Christmas dinners to those in need, thanks to a
$7,000 donation from Auroran Jay Saveall, President of Green Side Up
Contracting. Councillor Humfryes also expressed appreciation noting that more
than 200 people would receive meals, and many more offers to help and
volunteer have been received.
12. Closed Session
None.
13. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.
Carried