MINUTES - Council - 20190121
Town of Aurora
Special Meeting of Council
Minutes
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Monday, January 21, 2019
Attendance
Council Members Mayor Mrakas in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner (arrived 7:01
p.m.), Gallo, Gilliland, Humfryes, Kim (arrived 7:01 p.m.), and
Thompson
Members Absent None
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, Techa van
Leeuwen, Director of Corporate Services, Jason Gaertner, Acting
Director of Financial Services, Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor,
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk, and Linda Bottos, Council/
Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 8:39 p.m. and reconvened at 8:49 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 9:17 p.m. and reconvened at 9:20 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, with the following addition,
be approved:
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, January 21, 2019 Page 2 of 4
• Item 2 – CS19-004 – Proposed Private Cannabis Retail Stores in Aurora –
Additional Information
Carried
2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
Councillor Thompson declared a pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50 respecting Items 1 and 2, as he is employed in
the retail pharmacy industry. Councillor Thompson did not participate in the
discussion or voting of these items.
3. Public Consultation
Aurora residents, including Alana Edgington, Emil Simon, Richard Helbig, Greg
Simon, Sandra Ferri (on behalf of Aurora Chamber of Commerce), David Heard,
and Laura Schaffer, spoke in support of the opt-in option to permit cannabis retail
stores within the Town of Aurora.
Aurora residents, including Edmund Yeung, Shanteng Zhao, David Huang, Sean
Zhang, Stephen Xu, Alvin Leung, Nancy Lai, Ling Wang, Jie Yin, Paul Chau, Lea
Seymour, Corrie Clark, Ricky Cheong, Erclan Ma, John Xue, Rong Zhang, Roger
Dong, Frances Guan, and Linda Gao, spoke in support of the opt-out option to
prohibit cannabis retail stores within the Town of Aurora.
Aurora resident Da Hai commented on both options and the decision-making
responsibility of Council.
4. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion
1. CS19-001 – Proposed Private Cannabis Retail Stores in Aurora
2. CS19-004 – Proposed Private Cannabis Retail Stores in Aurora –
Additional Information
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, January 21, 2019 Page 3 of 4
1. That Report No. CS19-001 and Report No. CS19-004 be received; and
2. That Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora opts-in and permits
cannabis retail stores within the Town of Aurora; and
3. That staff be authorized to review the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of
Ontario’s (“AGCO”) proposed retail store authorization applications for
cannabis stores located in Aurora and provide submissions within 15 days
of notice of the application; and
4. That Council request the AGCO to consider the following restrictions as a
matter of public interest when reviewing retail store authorization
applications for proposed stores within the Town of Aurora:
(a) That private cannabis retail stores not be permitted within 150 metres
from daycares, nurseries, parks, group homes or addiction and
counselling facilities, the Aurora Community Centre, the Aurora Family
Leisure Complex, the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex, the
Aurora Public Library and Town Hall and any other similar public
gathering uses;
(b) That private cannabis retail stores not be permitted within 150 metres
of each other; and
5. That the Town Clerk provide written notice and a copy of this resolution to
the Registrar of the AGCO, in accordance with section 41(5) of the
Cannabis Licence Act, 2018; and
6. That the Chief Administrative Officer and the Treasurer, or their
designates, be authorized to enter into any agreements in regard to
intergovernmental funding relating to the implementation of cannabis; and
7. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to The Regional Municipality of
York and all lower-tier municipalities within York Region for their
information.
Carried
Special Meeting of Council Minutes
Monday, January 21, 2019 Page 4 of 4
5. Confirming By-law
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the following confirming by-law be enacted:
6145-19 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from a
Special Meeting of Council on January 21, 2019.
Carried
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the meeting be adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
Carried
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Tom Mrakas, Mayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk