MINUTES - General Committee - 20220301 1
Town of Aurora
General Committee
Meeting Report
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
7 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Councillor Rachel Gilliland (Chair)
Mayor Tom Mrakas
Councillor Wendy Gaertner*
Councillor John Gallo
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
Techa van Leeuwen, Director of Corporate Services*
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance*
Lisa Hausz, Acting Director of Planning and Development
Services*
Carley Smith, Manager, Corporate Communications*
Phillip Rose, Manager, Aurora Town Square*
Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor*
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
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The Mayor, on behalf of Council, offered thoughts and prayers to those impacted
by the unjustified attack on Ukraine, and stated that we stand in solidarity with
Aurora's Ukrainian community and all those impacted by this brutal act of war.
2. Land Acknowledgement
General Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on the traditional
territory of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples whose
presence here continues to this day. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty
lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties First Nations,
and we thank them for sharing the land.
3. Approval of the Agenda
General Committee approved the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services.
4. 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.
5. Community Presentations
None.
6. Delegations
6.1 Suzanne Haines and Eric Acker, Aurora Cultural Centre; Re: Item 9.1 -
CMS22-009 - Aurora Town Square Status Update - Agreements and IT
Services
Eric Acker, President, and Chair of the Board on behalf of the Board of
Directors, expressed support for the key principles upon which the revised
Provision of Cultural Services Agreement between the Aurora Cultural
Centre and the Town of Aurora is being developed. He recognized the
significant involvement of Craig Mather, Bonnie Kraft, and Suzanne Haines
along with the collaboration of senior Town staff. Suzanne Haines,
Executive Director, reiterated their support for the staff report and hybrid
governance model, provided background, and expressed appreciation to
Town staff for their approach and consideration throughout the process.
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General Committee received and referred the comments of the delegation
to item 9.1.
7. Consent Agenda
None.
8. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
General Committee recommends:
That the Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, items 8.1 to 8.3 inclusive, be
received.
Carried
8.1 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 7, 2022
1. That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of February 7,
2022, be received for information.
Carried
8.2 Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2022
1. That the Finance Advisory Committee meeting minutes of February 8,
2022, be received for information.
Carried
8.3 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2022
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
February 9, 2022, be received for information.
Carried
9. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda)
9.1 CMS22-009 - Aurora Town Square Status Update - Agreements and IT
Services
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS22-009 be received for information.
Carried
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9.2 CMS22-010 - Aurora Town Square Governance - Town Staffing - Update 1
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS22-010 be received; and
2. That the conversion of the Manager of Aurora Town Square contract
position to a permanent position to be funded from the Aurora Town
Square operating budget be approved; and
3. That the conversion of the Marketing Creative Specialist contract
position to a permanent position to be funded from the Aurora Town
Square operating budget be approved.
Carried
9.3 CMS22-013 - Aurora Town Square Status Update - Space Usage and Room
Permitting Policy
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS22-013 be received; and
2. That the principles of the Aurora Town Square Space Usage and Room
Permitting Policy be approved; and
3. That the final draft Aurora Town Square Space Usage and Room
Permitting Policy come back to Council for final approval.
Carried as amended
9.4 CMS22-014 - Aurora Town Square Status Update - Capital Campaign
General Committee consented to vote on the third clause of the main
motion as amended separately.
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. CMS22-014 be received; and
2. That the Aurora Town Square Bridge, Outdoor Square, and Church
Street Schoolhouse be approved as a Name Sale opportunity; and
3. That staff be directed to initiate negotiations with potential partners
for the purpose of naming the Aurora Town Square Bridge, Outdoor
Square, and Church Street Schoolhouse; and
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4. That staff report back with their findings for Council approval.
Carried as amended
9.5 PDS22-012 - Heritage Permit Application File: HPA-2021-16, 82 Centre
Street
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS22-012 be received; and
2. That Heritage Permit Application HPA-2021-16 be approved to permit
a one-storey rear addition to the existing dwelling at 82 Centre Street.
Carried
9.6 PDS22-036 - Regional Official Plan Review Update
General Committee recommends:
1. That Report No. PDS22-036 be received; and
2. That staff be directed to work with the Region to discuss transit
possibilities within the Promenade area.
Carried
10. Notices of Motion
10.1 Councillor Gaertner; Re: Green Infrastructure
Whereas recent events worldwide and in Canada clearly show that climate
change is causing disastrous consequences for communities; and
Whereas adaptation and mitigation are crucial for residents' safety and
quality of life; and
Whereas trees and green infrastructure are critical to mitigate climate
change impacts like intense storms that could cause flooding; and
Whereas tree canopies are important to mitigate the urban heat island
effect and to decrease atmospheric carbon through sequestration;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to review
the Official Plan for revisions to strengthen protective language in the
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Plan and any implementing policies and by-laws including Green
Development Standards, Tree Compensation and Protection; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to review existing policies
and by-laws that could be strengthened regarding the tree canopy for
climate change mitigation and report back to Council at their earliest
convenience.
11. Regional Report
None.
12. New Business
Councillor Thompson referred to discussions held at today’s Joint Council
Committee meeting and advised that he would be bringing forward a notice of
motion for Council’s consideration regarding the certification of firefighters and
concerns with funding and how the process would be managed.
Councillor Gallo expressed safety concerns about the intersection of Yonge
Street and Industrial Parkway South, in relation to large vehicles making the turn
from Yonge Street, and inquired about the design and history of the intersection.
Staff and the Mayor provided a response and agreed to follow up on the matter.
13. Public Service Announcements
Mayor Mrakas announced the following updates and activities in Aurora:
Effective March 1, 2022, capacity limits will be lifted in all indoor public
settings and the Town will no longer require proof of vaccination or actively
screen patrons at recreation facilities; masks and physical distancing
requirements will remain in place; visit aurora.ca/reopen for more details.
The Town is offering a variety of in-person and virtual March Break Camps;
visit aurora.ca/camps for more information.
The deadline for board member applications for the Aurora Economic
Development Corporation is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2022; visit
aurora.ca/aedc for details.
The nomination deadline for the 2022 Community Recognition Awards is
Friday, April 4, 2022; visit aurora.ca/cra for more information.
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Councillor Humfryes expressed appreciation to the Town's community partners,
Aurora Black Community, Aurora’s Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task
Force and Councillor Kim, Town staff, and the community for their efforts and
participation in a successful celebration of Black History Month.
Councillor Gaertner expressed congratulations to the Aurora Black Community
and Phiona Durrant for their efforts in the celebration of Black History Month and
the Closing Ceremony.
Councillor Gaertner acknowledged that International Women's Day will be held on
Tuesday, March 8, 2022. She further recognized that the Eastern Orthodox Lent
will begin on Monday, March 7, 2022.
Councillor Gilliland announced that live in-person events have resumed at the
Aurora Cultural Centre, including a pianist on March 11 and a theatre production
on March 19, 2022; visit auroraculturalcentre.ca for more information.
14. Closed Session
None.
15. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.