MINUTES - Council - 20190321
Town of Aurora
Special Meeting of Council
Minutes
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Thursday, March 21, 2019
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, Jason Gaertner, Acting Director
of Financial Services, Anthony Ierullo, Manager of Policy Planning
and Economic Development, Stephanie Mackenzie-Smith,
Manager of Corporate Communications, Michael de Rond, Town
Clerk, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:51 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 8:42 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at
8:54 p.m.
On a motion by Councillor Thompson seconded by Councillor Humfryes, Council
consented to extend the hour past 10:30 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, as amended with the
following additional items, be approved:
• Delegation (c) Bruce Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Aurora Public Library;
Re: Library Square Development
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 2 of 8
• Delegation (d) David Heard, Resident; Re: Library Square Proposal
• Delegation (e) Sandra Ferri, Executive Director, Aurora Chamber of
Commerce; Re: Library Square Development
On a two-thirds vote the motion
Carried
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. Delegations
(a) Joanne Russo, representing Aurora BIA
Re: Library Square
Ms. Russo, on behalf of the Aurora Business Improvement Area (BIA), spoke
in support of the proposed redevelopment of Library Square.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to the Library
Square discussions.
Carried
(b) Suzanne Haines, Executive Director, Aurora Cultural Centre
Re: Library Square
Ms. Haines, on behalf of the Aurora Cultural Centre, spoke in support of the
proposed redevelopment of Library Square, including the possibility to provide
food services in the Addition to Church Street School, and the ‘bump out’
option for the performance space. She expressed concern regarding the
proposed water wall feature and potential impacts related to power source,
vibration, and water noise.
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 3 of 8
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to the Library
Square discussions.
Carried
(c) Bruce Gorman, Chief Executive Officer, Aurora Public Library
Re: Library Square Development
Mr. Gorman, on behalf of the Aurora Public Library, spoke in support of the
proposed redevelopment of Library Square, including the parking study and
interconnection between the Library and new facility, and expressed interest in
the potential construction of a bridge between the two facilities.
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to the Library
Square discussions.
Carried
(d) David Heard, Resident
Re: Library Square Proposal
Mr. Heard noted that he recently spoke with a number of residents and
businesses regarding the proposed redevelopment of Library Square, and he
expressed concerns regarding the project costs, parking, ongoing operational
costs, drainage, maintaining integrity of the historical buildings, and possible
temporary relocation of the Aurora Museum artefacts during construction.
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to the Library
Square discussions.
Carried
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 4 of 8
(e) Sandra Ferri, Executive Director, Aurora Chamber of Commerce
Re: Library Square Development
Council consented to consider Delegation (e) prior to Delegation (a).
Ms. Ferri, on behalf of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of
the Library Square initiative, and requested that the Town continue to provide
updates on taxation and operational implications that the Chamber can share
with its members.
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the comments of the delegation be received and referred to the Library
Square discussions.
Carried
4. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion
Council consented to consider and discuss all items prior to voting on each item. The
presentation related to Item 5 was provided by Interkom within the discussion of Item 2.
1. PDS19-020 – Library Square – Planning Policy – Conformity Report
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
1. That Report No. PDS19-020 be received for information.
Carried
2. CMS19-008 – Library Square – Outdoor Square
Main motion
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
1. That Report No. CMS19-008 be received; and
2. That the design of the Library Square outdoor square be approved as
presented in the amount of $8,380,500 to include:
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 5 of 8
(a) An ice rink in the shape of a trail; and
(b) Water spray feature covering a 1/3 of the space; and
(c) Water wall feature; and
3. That staff be authorized to proceed with the detailed design stage of the
Library Square outdoor square; and
4. That staff be authorized to apply for the Building Communities Through
Arts and Heritage – Legacy Fund, including entering into any agreements
to give effect to same.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That approval of the design of the Library Square outdoor square as
presented in the amount of $8,380,500 be subject to receiving grant
funding of $14,100,000 and, should the Town not be successful, a full
funding model be developed including a capital campaign strategy.
Defeated
Main motion
Carried
3. CMS19-007 – Library Square – Addition to Church Street School
Main motion
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. CMS19-007 be received; and
2. That the design of the Addition to Church Street School including the
enlarged stage area be approved in the amount of $27,189,600 and that
staff be authorized to proceed to detailed design stage; and
3. That Council provide direction on the Linkage between the Library and
Church Street School Addition for potential further development; and
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 6 of 8
4. That the budget be increased by 1% in the amount of $256,600 in support
of public art in accordance with the Official Plan requirements.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the third clause of the main motion be replaced with the following
clause:
That staff be directed to report back on the options, costs, and visuals
for an above-ground and below-ground Linkage between the Library
and Church Street School Addition for potential further development.
Carried
Main motion as amended
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. CMS19-007 be received; and
2. That the design of the Addition to Church Street School including the
enlarged stage area be approved in the amount of $27,189,600 and that
staff be authorized to proceed to detailed design stage; and
3. That staff be directed to report back on the options, costs, and
visuals for an above-ground and below-ground Linkage between the
Library and Church Street School Addition for potential further
development; and
4. That the budget be increased by 1% in the amount of $256,600 in support
of public art in accordance with the Official Plan requirements.
Main motion as amended
Carried
4. PDS19-018 – Library Square – Parking Strategy
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
1. That Report No. PDS19-018 be received; and
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 Page 7 of 8
2. That Parking Strategy Phase 1: ‘Quick Wins’ as outlined in this report be
adopted; and
3. That Council approve $87,882.00 to the Library Square budget to be
funded as per Funding Strategy Report FS19-012 for additional on-site
parking on Victoria Street, conditional on the approval of the addition to the
Church Street School; and
4. That Council approve $185,376.00 to the Library Square budget to be
funded as per Funding Strategy Report FS19-012 for additional on-site
parking within the laneway, conditional on the approval of the addition to
the Church Street School; and
5. That Council approve $145,740.00 to the Library Square budget to be
funded as per Funding Strategy Report FS19-012 for additional on-site
parking on Church Street subject to further public consultation, conditional
on the approval of the addition to the Church Street School.
Carried
5. CMS19-009 – Library Square – Proposed Operating Plan
Ms. McDougall, Director of Community Services, introduced Mr. Martin van
Zon, President, and Brian McCurdy, Consultant, of Interkom Inc., who
presented an overview of the Aurora Museum and Cultural Centre Business
Plan and Budget, highlighting the need for expansion, economic impact and
benefits, community support, financial plan, and operational considerations.
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. CMS19-009 be received; and
2. That the draft operating plan be approved and finalized prior to the
approval of the final construction tender; and
3. That the hiring of a contract Project Leader position to implement the
business plan be approved.
Carried
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6. FS19-012 – Library Square – Financial Strategy
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. FS19-012 be received; and
2. That staff be authorized to apply for any eligible capital or operating grants
in support of the Library Square project; and
3. That the recommended preliminary capital investment financial strategy for
Library Square be approved; and
4. That the recommended preliminary operating plan financial strategy for
Library Square be approved.
Carried
5. Confirming By-law
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the following confirming by-law be enacted:
By-law Number 6161-19 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council
Resulting from a Special Meeting of Council on March 21, 2019.
Carried
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the meeting be adjourned at 10:33 p.m.
Carried
_________________________________ _________________________________
Tom Mrakas, Mayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk