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MINUTES - General Committee - 20240220 Town of Aurora General Committee Meeting Report Date: Time: Location: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 7 p.m. Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Council Members: Councillor Michael Thompson (Chair) Mayor Tom Mrakas Councillor Ron Weese Councillor Rachel Gilliland Councillor Wendy Gaertner Councillor John Gallo Councillor Harold Kim Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Director, Planning and Development Services Patricia De Sario, Director, Corporate Services, Town Solicitor Robin McDougall, Director, Community Services Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director, Finance Luigi Colangelo, Acting Director, Operational Services Carley Smith, Manager, Corporate Communications Lisa Hausz, Manager, Economic Development* Michael de Rond, Town Clerk Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator *Attended electronically _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Land Acknowledgement General Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands, the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 2 recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day, the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties of 1923. 3. Approval of the Agenda General Committee approved the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, as amended by the deferral of Member Motion 10.3 to the Council meeting of February 27, 2024. 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 None. 7. Consent Agenda 7.1 Special Council Closed Session Public Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2024 General Committee recommends: 1. That the Special Council Closed Session Public Meeting Minutes of January 22, 2024, be adopted as circulated. Carried 8. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 3 8.1 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2024 General Committee recommends: 1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2024, be received for information. Carried 9. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda) 9.1 PDS24-021 - Aurora Business Improvement Area Governance Review and Downtown Collaboration Model Alternatives General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS24-021 be referred back to staff. Carried 9.2 CS24-005 - Dissolution of General Committee and Establishment of Committee of the Whole General Committee consented to vote on each clause separately. General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CS24-005 be received. First clause Carried 2. That the draft Procedure By-law (Attachment No. 2) be brought forward for enactment and replace the existing by-law. Second clause Defeated 9.3 FIN24-009 - ONE Joint Investment Board (JIB) Agreement Amendment and By-law General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. FIN24-009 be received; and 2. That a by-law be enacted to approve the following: General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 4 a. an increase in the maximum number of ONE Joint Investment Board (JIB) members from 10 to 12; and b. the ONE JIB Records Retention By-law and the delegation to ONE JIB’s Secretary of the necessary powers and duties to deal with the records of ONE JIB; and c. changes to the amendment provisions of the ONE JIB Agreement. Carried 9.4 CMS24-005 - Petch House - Considerations General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CMS24-005 be received; and 2. That the proposed renovations of the Petch House be approved; and 3. That a new capital project with capital budget authority of $50,000 be approved, to be funded from the Heritage reserve fund. Carried 10. Member Motions 10.1 Mayor Mrakas; Re: Request for Amenity Sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with School Boards for Evening/Weekend Gymnasium Use General Committee recommends: Whereas the Town of Aurora recognizes the importance of fostering community engagement and providing recreational opportunities; and Whereas schools are funded by local taxpayers; and Whereas school gymnasiums serve as valuable amenities that can enhance recreational activities for residents; and Whereas existing school board policies/procedures do not prioritize municipal residency within their allocation of the use of space; and Whereas the school board charges a premium rate to use the schools on weekends causing a barrier for the Town or local organizations to afford; General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 5 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That this Council requests the Province and the Minister of Education to assist in making school board facilities available to local municipalities on a priority, at a cost recovery rate; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That Council requests the School Boards within the jurisdiction of the Town of Aurora to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Town for the shared use of school gymnasiums on evenings and weekends; and 3. Be It Further Resolved That a copy of this request be sent to the relevant School Boards, expressing the Town's interest in establishing a collaborative agreement for evening and weekend gymnasium access; and 4. Be It Further Resolved That the Town staff is directed to collaborate with the School Boards in drafting the terms and conditions of the MOU, ensuring clarity and fairness in the shared use of these facilities; and 5. Be It Further Resolved That upon reaching an agreement, the MOU shall be presented to Council for review and approval; and 6. Be It Further Resolved That a copy of this Motion be sent to The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, and all MPPs in the Province of Ontario; and 7. Be It Further Resolved That a copy of this Motion be sent to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and all Ontario municipalities for their consideration of support. Carried 10.2 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Legislative Amendments to Improve Municipal Codes of Conduct and Enforcement General Committee recommends: General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 6 Whereas all Ontarians deserve and expect a safe and respectful workplace; and Whereas municipal governments, as the democratic institutions most directly engaged with Ontarians need respectful discourse; and Whereas several incidents in recent years of disrespectful behaviour and workplace harassment have occurred amongst municipal members of councils across Ontario; and Whereas these incidents seriously and negatively affect the people involved and lower public perceptions of local governments; and Whereas municipal Codes of Conduct are helpful tools to set expectations of council member behaviour; and Whereas municipal governments have limited abilities in their toolkit to adequately enforce compliance with municipal Codes of Conduct; and Whereas the most severe penalty that can be imposed on a municipal member of council is the suspension of pay for 90 days, even when egregious acts are committed and substantiated; and Whereas AMO has called on the government to table and pass legislation that reflects the following recommendations:  Updating municipal Codes of Conduct to account for workplace safety and harassment  Creating a flexible administrative penalty regime, adapted to the local economic and financial circumstances of municipalities across Ontario  Increasing training of municipal Integrity Commissioners to enhance consistency of investigations and recommendations across the province  Allowing municipalities to apply to a member of the judiciary to remove a sitting member if recommended through the report of a municipal Integrity Commissioner  Prohibit a member so removed from sitting for election in the term of removal and the subsequent term of office; General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 7 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town of Aurora supports the call of action the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, (AMO) has submitted to the Government of Ontario to introduce legislation to strengthen municipal Codes of Conduct and compliance with them, in consultation with municipal governments; and 2. Be It Further Resolved That the legislation encompasses the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s letter of recommendations which includes options for enforcing compliance by council members with municipal Codes of Conduct such as:  Updating municipal Codes of Conduct to account for workplace safety and harassment  Creating a flexible administrative penalty regime, adapted to the local economic and financial circumstances of municipalities across Ontario  Increasing training of municipal Integrity Commissioners to enhance consistency of investigations and recommendations across the province  Allowing municipalities to apply to a member of the judiciary to remove a sitting member if recommended through the report of a municipal Integrity Commissioner  Prohibit a member so removed from sitting for election in the term of removal and the subsequent term of office; and 3. Be It Further Resolved That a copy of this Motion be sent to the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Hon. Michael Parsa, MPP Aurora— Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, and Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP Newmarket—Aurora, the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and all 444 Ontario municipalities. Carried 10.3 Councillor Gallo; Re: Windrow Program and Council Compensation Member Motion 10.3 was deferred to the Council meeting of February 27, 2024. General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8 11. Regional Report 11.1 York Regional Council Highlights of January 25, 2024 General Committee recommends: 1. That the York Regional Council Highlights of January 25, 2024, be received for information. Carried 12. New Business New Business Motion No. 1 General Committee recommends: 1. That the timing and notice provisions in section 46 of the Procedure By-law be waived to permit a motion to reconsider the Special Council Closed Session minutes of January 22, 2024; and 2. That the adoption of the confidential Special Council Closed Session minutes of January 22, 2024, be reconsidered. Carried on a two-thirds vote 13. Public Service Announcements Councillor Thompson extended congratulations to Mayor Mrakas on being awarded the Hazel McCallion Community Leadership Award by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario on February 8, 2024. Mayor Mrakas announced the following activities and events:  Reminder that February is Black History Month and there are still more events to participate in to learn and celebrate Aurora’s Black community; visit aurora.ca/BlackHistoryMonth for the full schedule of events and programs.  The Accessibility Advisory Committee is recruiting for a new member; visit aurora.ca/Committees for information and to apply by February 25, 2024.  Wristbands are now on sale for the Town’s annual Hello Spring event; visit aurora.ca/HelloSpring for more details. General Committee Meeting Report Tuesday, February 20, 2024 9  The Mayor’s annual State of the Town Address, hosted by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 11:30 a.m. on February 21, 2024, at the Royal Venetian Mansion. Councillor Gallo inquired about the Heritage Advisory Committee new member recruitment and the application deadline of February 25, 2024, was confirmed. Councillor Gilliland announced the following activities and events:  The Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event will be held Saturday, February 24, 2024, in support of homelessness shelters and transitional housing, and all were encouraged to join Councillor Gilliland’s team or donate.  The Aurora Tigers Jr. A hockey team will be playing at the Aurora Community Centre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, which is one of the final days of the pilot project to purchase an alcoholic beverage during a game.  All were encouraged to check out the great shows and events being offered at the Aurora Cultural Centre, Hillary House, Aurora Public Library, Royal Rose Art Gallery, and Theatre Aurora. Councillor Weese encouraged all to participate in the Capes for Kids fundraising event on March 1-8, 2024, in support of the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital; visit capesforkids.ca for more information or contact Councillor Weese. Councillor Gaertner noted that the Mayor’s celebration of student arts will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Town Hall. The Mayor encouraged all to visit the second floor at Town Hall to view the extraordinary artwork. Mayor Mrakas noted that Aurora’s Arctic Adventure event was held over the past long weekend and expressed appreciation to the Town’s Special Events team, staff, and volunteers for another excellent event. 14. Closed Session None. 15. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m.