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MINUTES - General Committee - 20200922 1 Town of Aurora General Committee Meeting Report Date: Time: Location: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 7:00 pm Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Council Members: Mayor Mrakas Councillor Kim Councillor Gaertner Councillor Humfryes Councillor Thompson Councillor Gilliland Councillor Gallo Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer Allan Downey, Director of Operations Robin McDougall, Director of Community Services David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance Eliza Bennett, Acting Manager, Corporate Communications Patricia De Sario, Town Solicitor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk and Acting Director, Corporate Services Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk Ishita Soneji, Council/Committee Coordinator _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Procedural Notes Councillor Gallo in the Chair. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. 2. Approval of the Agenda General Committee recommends: 2 The agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, including the following additional item, be approved: • Delegation 5.2 - Phiona Durrant, Resident; Re: Getting more involved in the direction of the Town Carried 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 None 5. Delegations 5.1 Claire Malcolmson representing Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition; Re: Lake Simcoe Protection Plan 10-Year Review Ms. Malcolmson provided a brief history of the charity organization and presented an overview of their ongoing efforts in protecting the Lake Simcoe watershed. She spoke to the value of goods and services provided by the Lake Simcoe watershed, concerns of increasing levels of phosphorous in the lake, the outcomes from strengthening the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and its upcoming review by the Province, and the organization's efforts in improving public and municipal participation for the review. She also presented a resolution for Council's consideration which demonstrates commitment to protect the health of Lake Simcoe. General Committee received the comments of the delegation. 5.2 Phiona Durrant, Resident; Re: Getting more involved in the direction of the Town Ms. Durrant expressed her appreciation and empathized with Council for their efforts in municipal leadership and spoke to the importance of Council cohesiveness. General Committee received the comments of the delegation. 6. Consent Agenda None 3 7. Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes None 8. Consideration of Items Requiring Discussion (Regular Agenda) 8.1 CMS20-023 - Sports Plan Progress Report No. 2 Ms. Erin Hamilton, Sport and Community Development Specialist presented an overview of the second progress report of the Sports Plan and provided details of the ongoing implementation efforts. The presentation included the gender equity report providing next steps in addressing gaps for women and girls in sport, resources and guidance to support sport in the community, changes in execution methods due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and future delivery of initiatives to ensure individuals can return to sport and physical activity. General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CMS20-023 be received for information. Carried 8.2 CMS20-022 - Library Square - Project Monitoring Task Force General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. CMS20-022 be received; and 2. That the Terms of Reference for the Library Square Project Monitoring Task Force be approved; and 3. That two members of Council be appointed to the Library Square Project Monitoring Task Force. Carried 8.3 PDS20-024 - Downtown Parking Update - Library Square Precinct General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. PDS20-024 be received; and 2. That shared parking agreements with organizations in the area be considered as short-term parking solution and staff be directed to continue exploring the medium and long-term parking solutions; and 4 3. That the following intersection improvements be approved by Council subject to its final review as part of the Town's budget process which will enhance both vehicular and pedestrian flow: a. Installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of Yonge Street and Church Street (to be funded in the 10-year Capital Plan); and b. Converting the 2-way ‘Stop’ to an ‘All-way Stop’ at the intersection of Victoria Street and Church Street (to be funded by the Town’s Operations Department Operating Budget); and 4. That staff be directed to coordinate with Chandos to ensure the compliance of the parking and traffic management strategies recommended in the Parking Study; and 5. That the Downtown Parking Working Group continue to monitor and address parking related issues within the Library Square precinct during construction and report to Council as required. Carried 8.4 OPS20-015 - DWQMS - Financial Plan General Committee recommends: 1. That Report No. OPS20-015 be received; and 2. That the ten (10) year Financial Plan for the Town of Aurora Water System be approved. Carried 9. Notices of Motion 9.1 Councillor Gilliland and Mayor Mrakas; Re: Environmental Advisory Committee Whereas the Town of Aurora declared a Climate Emergency for the purposes of naming and deepening our commitment to protecting our eco systems by identifying key criteria to help reduce our carbon footprint and protect our community from the impacts of climate change; and Whereas the Town of Aurora is prioritizing the process of creating a Climate Action Plan for the Town of Aurora, focused on reducing emissions and adaptation at the community level; and 5 Whereas staff have been directed by Council to look for opportunities for economic growth, stimulation in the low-carbon economy, and cost benefits for all who consume energy; and Whereas local governments around the world have recognized the extreme emergency that climate change embodies and have expedited their own actions, and have called on provincial and national governments to strengthen action on climate change; and Whereas the Town would benefit from a dedicated committee to address environmental and climate adaptation at a community level to discuss ongoing climate change, protections, energy conservation, education, environmental matters and contribute comments to the Climate Action Plan and Community Energy Plan; and Whereas the Town of Aurora is committed to taking meaningful acti0n to address the environment and climate change in Aurora; 1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That a dedicated “Environmental Advisory Committee” be re-established to address ongoing climate change and adaptation initiatives, energy conservation, environmental matters and contribute comments to the Climate Action Plan. 2. Be It Further Resolved That the “Environmental Advisory Committee” be comprised of one (1) member of Council and five (5) citizen members; and 3. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to advertise, in accordance with the provisions of the “Policy for Ad Hoc/Advisory Committees and Local Boards”, for applications from members of the public for appointment to the “Environmental Advisory Committee”; and 4. Be It Further Resolved That the Chief Administrative Officer be directed to appoint one appropriate staff liaison to support the work of the “Environmental Advisory Committee””. 5. Be It Further Resolved That the terms of reference for the Community Advisory Committee be amended to remove the mandate for environmental initiatives. 10. New Business Mayor Mrakas welcomed Eliza Bennett, Acting Manager of Corporate Communications to the Town. 6 Councillor Gaertner inquired about plans for reviewing the Fields Use policy in the future, and staff provided a response. 11. Public Service Announcements Councillor Thompson extended a reminder that the 2020 Run for Southlake will be held virtually from Wednesday, September 23, 2020 to Sunday, September 27, 2020 and encouraged members of public to participate with Team Aurora. Councillor Gilliland announced that the Town has proclaimed September 25 to October 25, 2020 as Culture Days in Aurora noting that various in-person and virtual activities and workshops will be carried out throughout the month highlighting Aurora's culture, arts, and heritage, and noted that more information is available at aurora.ca/culturedays. Mayor Mrakas referred to the recently announced Province wide restriction on gathering limits due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic noting that the restrictions apply to private gatherings and do not impact the business communities. 12. Closed Session There were no Closed Session items for this meeting. 13. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m.