Loading...
MINUTES - General Committee - 20210615 1 Town of Aurora General Committee Meeting Report Date: Time: Location: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7 p.m. Video Conference Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair) Councillor Wendy Gaertner Councillor John Gallo Councillor Rachel Gilliland Councillor Sandra Humfryes Councillor Harold Kim Councillor Michael Thompson Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer Allan Downey, Director of Operations Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services Eliza Bennett, Interim Manager, Corporate Communications Lisa Hausz, Manager, Economic Development and Policy Michael Mulvenna, Manager, IT Phillip Rose, Manager, Library Square Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor Michael de Rond, 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. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. 2 General Committee consented to recess the meeting at 9:02 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:13 p.m. 2. Approval of the Agenda General Committee approved the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, with the addition of the following item on a two-thirds vote:  Notice of Motion 9.3 - Councillor Humfryes; Re: Food Insecurity in Aurora 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 4.1 Kim Clark, Gazelle & Co., and Erin Cerenzia, Magna, Neighbourhood Network; Re: Engaged, Inclusive Communities: Phase 1 Summary Erin Cerenzia provided brief opening remarks and thanked Council for its support of the engaged, inclusive communities project, a collaborative project between Magna's Neighbourhood Network and the Towns of Aurora, Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury. Kim Clark presented an overview of the summary report including the project focus and elements of phase 1 and phase 2. General Committee received the presentation for information. 5. Delegations 5.1 Don Given, Malone Given Parsons Ltd.; Re: Item 8.1 - PDS21-075 - Applications for Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, TFP Aurora Developments Inc., 20 and 25 Mavrinac Boulevard Don Given presented a brief overview of the applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments and draft plan of subdivision, including changes since the previous submission in October 2020, and requested Council's support of the staff recommendations. 3 General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation to Item 8.1. 6. Consent Agenda None. 7. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 7.1 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of May 27, 2021 General Committee recommends: 1. That the Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee meeting minutes of May 27, 2021, be received for information. Carried 8. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda) General Committee consented to consider items in the following order: 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.3, and 8.5. 8.1 PDS21-075 - Applications for Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, TFP Aurora Developments Inc., 20 and 25 Mavrinac Boulevard, Blocks 1, 2 and 6, Plan 65M-3852, File Numbers: OPA-2017-01, ZBA-2017-03 and SUB-2017-02 General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS21-075 be received; and 2. That Official Plan Amendment application OPA-2017-01 (TFP Aurora Developments Inc.) be approved to: a. Amend Schedule AA of OPA 30 to re-designate the subject lands to “Low-Medium Density Residential” and “Medium-High Density Residential”, and amend Schedule ‘H’ of the Town of Aurora Official Plan to identify a new Site Specific Policy Area, in accordance with Figures 5 and 6 attached to this report; and b. Amend OPA 30 policies to allow for a “6-storey Supportive Housing (senior citizens’ home) Building” as a permitted use, and allow for 4 maximum net residential density to be calculated across all lands designated as Medium-High Density Residential within the development; and 3. That Zoning By-law Amendment application ZBA-2017-03 (TFP Aurora Developments Inc.) be approved to rezone the subject lands to “Detached Fourth Density Residential Exception R4(XX) Zone”, “Townhouse Dwelling Residential Exception R8(XX) Zone”, and “Second Density Apartment Residential Exception RA2(XX) Zone”; and 4. That should the applicant secure the lands between Block 37 and 53 on the Draft Plan of Subdivision from York Region as shown on Figure 4, that these lands be rezoned from “Open Space O1 Zone” to “Townhouse Dwelling Residential Exception R8(XX) Zone”; and a. That in accordance with Section 34 (17) of the Planning Act, 1990 R.S.O., as amended, that no further notice is required to be given in respect of the proposed Zoning By-law, as inclusion of the additional lands within the development is minor and meets the general intent of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications; and 5. That the Draft Plan of Subdivision application SUB-2017-02 (TFP Aurora Developments Inc.) be approved to create 35 lots and 38 blocks, subject to the conditions listed in Schedule ‘A’ to this report; and 6. That the Director of Planning and Development Services be authorized to approve minor redlined revisions to the draft plan prior to registration, if necessary, should additional lands between Blocks 37 and 53 be secured from the Region of York; and 7. That Council grant an allocation of 685 persons from the reserve to service the development of 37 single-detached dwelling units and 209 townhouse dwelling units within the Draft Plan of Subdivision; and 8. That the implementing Official Plan Amendment be forwarded to the Region of York for approval; and 9. That the Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-2017-03 be brought forward to a future Council Meeting following approval of the implementing Official Plan Amendment by the Region of York; and 5 10. That in accordance with Section 45 (1.4) of the Planning Act, 1990 R.S.O., as amended, an exemption to the two-year moratorium on minor variance applications after adoption of a privately initiated zoning by-law amendment be granted to permit the submission of a minor variance application(s), if required, for consideration by the Committee of Adjustment. Carried 8.2 CMS21-022 - Library Square Governance Update General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CMS21-022 be received; and 2. That staff implement a unified Internet Technology network across the entire Library Square complex, including the Aurora Public Library; and 3. That staff assume responsibility for all aspects of the computer network for Library Square, including the wide area network, local area network, Wi-Fi, networking, and meeting room hardware/software across the entire Library Square complex, including the Aurora Public Library; and 4. That staff report back in September with an IT implementation status update, including service level agreements for the Aurora Public Library and Aurora Cultural Centre; and 5. That staff assume responsibility for all facility bookings across the entire Library Square complex, including the meeting spaces adjoining the Aurora Public Library, but not the remainder of the Library. Carried 8.3 CAO21-006 - Annual Reports to the Community: 2019 and 2020 Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, presented a brief overview of the annual reports to the community for the years 2019 and 2020. General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CAO21-006 be received for information. Carried 6 8.4 FIN21-029 - Updated Development Charges Study and By-law Approval General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. FIN21-029 be received; and 2. That the updated Development Charges Background Study report presented at the May 18, 2021 Special Meeting of Council be adopted; and 3. That the proposed amending Development Charges By-law, included with the updated Development Charges Background Study, be enacted on June 22, 2021. Carried 8.5 FIN21-031 - 2020 Year End Operating Budget Results - As of Dec. 31, 2020 General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. FIN21-031 be received for information. Carried 8.6 PDS21-071 - Town-Initiated Housekeeping Amendment to Comprehensive Zoning By-law Number 6000-17 General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS21-071 be received; and 2. That a by-law to amend Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Number 6000- 17 be enacted at a future Council meeting. Carried 8.7 PDS21-074 - Application for Site Plan and Lifting of the Holding Symbol, 460 – 480 William Graham Drive, Block 5, Plan 65M-4442, File Number: SP- 2020-07, Related File Number: OPA-2017-04, ZBA-2016-12 General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS21-074 be received; and 2. That Site Plan Application File SP-2020-07 to permit the construction of a seven (7) storey building with 125 independent living units be approved, in principle, subject to the following conditions: 7 a. That all outstanding comments and requirements of the Town and external agencies be addressed to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Development Services, prior to execution of a site plan agreement; b. That the Owner enters into a Site Plan Agreement with the Town to address requirements of the Town and external agencies, including but not limited to, the provision for payment by the Owner of all applicable fees, securities, and any other financial obligations; and 3. That a Zoning By-law Amendment to remove the (H) Holding Symbol be approved and that the amending By-law be presented for enactment at a future Council Meeting. Carried 8.8 PDS21-076 - Aurora Economic Development Corporation – Project Funding Request General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS21-076 be received; and 2. That the creation of a new project with total Capital Budget Authority of $20,000 for the purposes of an AEDC marketing campaign to be funded from the Economic Development Reserve be approved; and 3. That the management and distribution of the funds be directed through the Economic Development Operating Budget in accordance with the Town’s Finance and Procurement processes. Carried 9. Notices of Motion 9.1 Councillor Kim; Re: Disc Golf in Aurora Whereas a local resident delegated to Council earlier in the year explaining the popularity and benefits of disc golf; and Whereas disc golf is a fast-growing sport that people of all ages and physical conditioning can participate in; and 8 Whereas disc golf courses have seen double-digit increases since 2015 and Canadian membership in the Canadian Disc Golf Association has experienced year-over-year growth for more than a decade; and Whereas disc golf has many benefits including low cost of entry, decreases both stress and obesity, increases the use of existing park space, can be played 365 days per year, and is one of the few activities available to be played in a COVID environment; and Whereas the Parks and Recreation Master Plan states that the Town must be prepared to appropriately respond to future requests and that these demands may arise for existing activities/facilities or for those that evolve according to future trends and preferences; 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to investigate the following, but not be limited to: a. The feasibility of making disc golf available in Aurora; b. Identifying locations; c. Identifying and reviewing disc golf organizational providers in this sector; d. Reviewing the experience of other municipalities; e. Any resources required; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That staff report back by the end of October 2021. 9.2 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Invasive Species and Insects Whereas invasive species and insects such as garlic mustard, dog strangling vine and Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD) are present in all of Aurora, including private and public properties that cause havoc in our environment; and Whereas volunteers of the Aurora Community Arboretum primarily care for the Arboretum lands to control various invasive species and insects; and Whereas the Environmental Advisory Committee and the general public have expressed the need to mitigate invasive species through an education campaign and safe extraction of invasive species, as deemed appropriate; and 9 Whereas barriers to the public expressed difficulty identifying invasive weeds and insects by photos alone, as well as how to safely treat, handle and/or dispose of them; and Whereas a hands-on Invasive Weed Cleanup Day would benefit the community to help identify invasive weeds, mitigate, attract and diversify more volunteers, and inform residents of all ages; and Whereas it would be beneficial to include educational information and samples of invasive weeds and insects, as deemed appropriate by staff, at an in-person pop-up campaign to help identify, safe handling, dangers, awareness and mitigation techniques; 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town integrate a pilot program to collaborate with the existing Town of Aurora Cleanup Day starting in 2022 to include an Invasive Weed Cleanup Day in specific areas identified by the Town; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That the Town Parks Division (in collaboration with the Arboretum) introduce an in-person pop-up education campaign at events such as the Aurora Farmers’ Market to help identify, treat, safe handling and/or disposal of invasive species and insects, as deemed appropriate by Town staff and volunteer opportunities. 9.3 Councillor Humfryes; Re: Food Insecurity in Aurora Whereas according to the York Region Nutritious Food Basket 2019 fact sheet “(for) many families in York Region, incomes are inadequate to afford the cost of nutritious food…” with 1 in 9 households experiencing some form of food insecurity affecting their access to healthy food; and Whereas the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council states that, “COVID- 19 has highlighted the urgent need for all of us to work together to build healthy, sustainable, and just food systems”; and Whereas municipalities can play a direct, strategic role in facilitating the development of more secure and sustainable local food networks and promoting food security programs; and Whereas Aurora and York Region currently have several local food security initiatives such as Community Gardens, the Good Food Box, the York Region Food Network and the recently initiated local program Project 10 LetUs, a scaleable food security project, that seek to support residents in meeting their food needs; and Whereas growing your own food has positive impacts on the personal health and well-being of residents by providing a COVID-19 safe, environmentally friendly activity that enables residents to stay active while fostering food security and food literacy; and Whereas vegetable gardening has positive impacts on our environment - and in particular on climate change - by reducing water use, greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel use, food waste, food packaging and use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers; and Whereas programs that encourage residents to grow produce at home, and where possible donate a share of their homegrown crops to neighbours, local food banks/meal programs, and build food security for their families are key to fostering food resiliency in our community; and Whereas there is a recognized need to support projects that are COVID-19 safe activities that keep residents active while at the same time fostering important food literacy skills; and Whereas many municipalities offer seed sharing and other vegetable gardening programs to encourage residents to grow their own food; and Whereas Aurora does not yet have a municipally supported backyard gardening program or municipally supported food security initiative; and Whereas towns and cities across the country have developed municipal food security strategies, including food security charters, and advisory councils with a goal towards supporting their community on food issues, enhancing public health, and fostering better food literacy and security for all residents; 1. Now Therefore Be it Hereby Resolved That staff report back on how the municipality can better address the issue of food insecurity in Aurora by: a. Investigating the possibility of creating a Food Charter for Aurora; and b. Investigating the creation of a volunteer Food Security Advisory Committee that will: 11 i. Initiate the development of and support the implementation of a Town of Aurora Food Strategy with a goal towards better access to quality, safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all residents; and ii. Foster support for local food security initiatives such as backyard gardening programs, and container gardening programs that ensure greater food security and food literacy in Aurora. 10. Regional Report 10.1 York Regional Council Highlights of May 27, 2021 General Committee recommends: 1. That the York Regional Council Highlights of May 27, 2021, be received for information. Carried 11. New Business Councillor Gilliland inquired about the timing of a pending staff report regarding a crosswalk at Henderson Drive, and staff provided a response. Councillor Humfryes provided background on the crosswalk issues at Henderson Drive. Councillor Humfryes inquired about a walkway in Cousins Park at Royal Road that has been blocked due to reconstruction, and staff agreed to follow up with the Councillor. Councillor Gaertner inquired about the potential for a pedestrian-activated light at the crosswalk on Henderson Drive, and staff provided a response. Councillor Gaertner inquired about the St. Andrew's College boardwalk, which is currently closed off, and staff provided a response. Councillor Thompson inquired about the status of the Town's revised reopening and return to work plans, and staff provided a response. Mayor Mrakas provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic situation noting that the province has announced support for the expansion of twelve new mental 12 health beds and support spaces at Southlake Regional Health Centre. He further noted that as of today 76.7% of York Region's adult population have received their first dose, 21.1% of adults are fully vaccinated, and 14 new cases were reported in York Region. 12. Public Service Announcements Councillor Gaertner announced that June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21, 2021, is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Mayor Mrakas noted that the provincial government has pledged $10 million toward the identification, investigation, protection, and commemoration of Indigenous residential school burial sites. Councillor Humfryes extended a reminder about the Aurora Farmers' Market and Artisans Fair held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Town Park. Councillor Gilliland extended congratulations to Glen Moray who has been appointed as the new Artistic Outreach Coordinator for the Aurora Cultural Centre. Councillor Gilliland inquired about the outlook for second doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine in York Region, and the Mayor provided a response. Mayor Mrakas announced the following activities and events in Aurora:  Splash pads are now open; visit aurora.ca/splashpads for more information.  Participate in Cycle Aurora and celebrate Aurora's scenic trails until July 1, 2021; visit aurora.ca/cycleaurora for more information.  The Summer Camps 2021 Program Guide is now available; visit aurora/recguide for more details and register online at aurora.ca/eplay.  Canada Day celebrations will be held from June 26 to July 3, 2021; visit aurora.ca/canadaday for more information.  During the month of June, the Online Skylight Gallery is featuring works by artist Robert Hinves in his show "Historical Look at Ontario Landscapes", which are for sale and can be viewed at aurora.ca/skylightgallery.  Interactive Take Home Kits can be purchased online through an e-PLAY account; visit aurora.ca/takehomekits for more details. 13 13. Closed Session None. 14. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:38 p.m.