COUNCIL
OF
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
Regional Council met at 9:35 a.m. in the Council Chambers, York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, with Regional Chair Fisch presiding.
The following were present at this Meeting:
Mayor:
Regional Councillor: Barrow, Ferri, Frustaglio, Heath, Hogg, Jackson, Jones, O'Donnell, Scarpitti, Van Bynen, and Wheeler.
Staff: Cartwright, Davidson, Garrett, Hulton, Jaczek, La Barge, Schipper, Simmons, Tuckey
DECLARATION
66
Regional Councillor Wheeler declared an interest in Clause 3 of Report No. 3 of the Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee. He made his declaration due to the fact that his wife is an employee of a local medical facility. He did not take part in the consideration or discussion of, or vote on, this item.
MOTION
67 Expression of Support for the Jewish Community
It was moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio:
Inasmuch as the Jewish community has suffered from expressions of hatred in York Region and the City of Toronto;
And to have the Jewish community singled out for abuse is an affront to all cultures, races and religions:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Region of York condemns all forms of hatred and racism in our communities;
AND BE IT RESOLVED that a copy of Council's resolution be forwarded to the Canadian Jewish Congress and other appropriate parties.
(Regional Chair Fisch requested that Council waive its Rules of Procedure to permit him to vote on this motion.)
Carried Unanimously.
68 MINUTES
[The following link opens the Minutes page]
It was moved by Mayor Jones, seconded by Mayor Sherban, that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on the 19th day of February 2004, be confirmed in the form supplied to the Members.
Carried.
PRESENTATIONS
69 Ms. York Region
Ms. Michelle Pare, recently named Ms. York Region, advised that she will attend the National pageant in
70 2004 Business Plan and Budget
[The following link opens the report]
(Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Finance)
Michael Garrett, Chief Administrative Officer and Sandra Cartwright, Commissioner of Finance, made a presentation on the 2004 Business Plan and Budget.
The 2004 Business Plan and Budget is geared to serving approximately 35,000 additional residents and the businesses of York Region. About $882.5 million is to be spent in 2004 on Capital projects in areas such as transit, roads, sewer, water, housing and solid waste.
Likewise, the 2004 Business Plan and Budget provides for $709.9 million in Operating expenditures for Regional programs, Police Services, and Special Purpose Bodies that must be funded by the Region. This will allow for increased service delivery in areas such as transit, roads, solid waste, emergency services (ambulance), long-term care, public health, planning, and serving people with disabilities. The Operating Budget provides for an overall tax increase of 6.3%, or $91 per household, after assessment. Of this, 5.0% is for increased police services, 0.9% is for Regional programs and 0.4% is for other Special Purpose Bodies.
A copy of the presentation materials is on file in the Regional Clerk's Office.
It was moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Regional Councillor Wheeler, that the presentation be received and Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Finance be considered at this time.
Carried.
It was moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Mayor Jones, that Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Finance be adopted.
It was moved in amendment by Regional Councillor Wheeler, seconded by Mayor Bell, that Council add a further recommendation 8 (k) to the report, as set out in Recommendation 2 of Clause 4 of Community Services and Housing Report No. 3, as follows:
8 (k) The Province of Ontario must develop a complete and full funding framework that provides funding assistance to municipalities to cover both the operational and administrative costs associated with Ontarians with Disabilities Act implementation.
Carried.
It was moved in amendment by Mayor Grossi, seconded by Mayor Young, that the Regional Chair, the Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Police Chief, and the Commissioner of Finance immediately contact the Premier of Ontario's and the Minister of Finance's Offices, through the Regional Chair's Office, and request a meeting to discuss all of the issues set out in Recommendation 8 of the staff report, and report back to Council on the outcome of this meeting.
Carried.
It was moved in amendment by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, seconded by Regional Councillor Jones, that all GST rebate savings in the Transit operating budget be allocated to additional transit improvements in the 2004 Budget.
A recorded vote on the amendment moved by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, seconded by Regional Councillor Jones, regarding GST rebate savings for transit, was as follows:
FOR: J. Jones, F. Scarpitti (2)
AGAINST: Barrow,
The amendment lost.
A recorded vote on the motion moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Mayor Jones, to adopt Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Finance, as amended, was as follows:
FOR: Barrow, Bell, Black, Cousens, Di Biase, Ferri, Frustaglio, Grossi, Hogg, Jackson, J. Jones, T. Jones, O'Donnell, Scarpitti, Sherban, Van Bynen, Wheeler, Young (18)
AGAINST: Heath (1)
Carried.
(It was the direction of Council that the Regional Solicitor report to the Finance and Administration Committee on the matter of the requirement for the Region to pay pooling costs.)
It was moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, that Council express its appreciation to staff who participated in the preparation of the 2004 Business Plan and Budget, as follows:
Frank Ahlin, Bonnie Anderson, Leslie Beatty, Lina Bigioni, Jayne Blackburn, Joanne Bovair, Lori Breland, Monica Bryce, Randy Burgess, Brenda Burton, Michelle Canham, Sandra Carpenter, Cathy Carter, Sandra Cartwright, Patrick Casey, Eric Chan, Jeff Channel, Karen Close, Lynda Cook, Heather Cooper, Mark Critch, Bruce Dotzenroth, Marybeth Dyment, Kelly Fenchak, Tony Fernandes, Fabrizio Fillipazzo, Harry Fok, Tina Gardiner, Michael Garrett, Lisa Gonsalves, Janet Gudlat, Raymond Guilbault, Jane Harrison, Mark Holland, Meena Jayarajan, Noreen Johnson, Allison Kennedy-McElroy, Beth Kodama, Debbie Koltai, Glenn Lang, Koon Chau Lee, Nancy Lennox, Warren Marshall, Bob McClelland, Barbara McConville, Daisy Li, Dennis Norton, John Oswald, Nancy Paterson, Marilyn Peters, Peter Robinson, Chris Robson, Mary Roycroft, Jane Sargent, Jeff Schmidt, Val Sequeira, Carla Simas, Mike Sova, Kelly Strueby, Christine Terry, Jan Thompson, Christy Tosh, Kelly Vandette, John Vinette, Tom Webster, Meg West, Andrea Wadel, Joe Weiler, Janice Wetmore, David Williams, Marilyn Woolhead
Carried.
(See also Minute No. 75 for Report Nos. 4 and 5 of the Finance and Administration Committee )
71 Appointment -- Regional Solicitor
Regional Chair Fisch congratulated Joy Hulton on her recent appointment as Regional Solicitor. He indicated that she will continue to work in her areas of expertise -- Police and Labour Relations, as well as acting as "Managing Partner" for the Legal Branch. Other solicitors will continue to be called upon to assist Council in their specific areas of expertise.
(See By-law No. A-0338-2004-025.)
COMMUNICATIONS
Council proceeded to consider the following communications:
72 Regional Official Plan Amendment 41� Oak Ridges Moraine
(Clause 1 of Planning and Economic Development Committee Report No. 3)
Jeffrey L. Davies, Davies Howe Partners, March 10, 2004, on behalf of several landowners in the Region; and
It was moved by Regional Councillor Barrow, seconded by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, that these communications be received and referred to staff.
Carried.
73 Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Douglas A. Love, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, March 18, 2004, advising that a resolution was passed to extend the term of Michael Butt as a Member of its Board for one additional year to 2005.
It was moved by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, seconded by Regional Councillor Wheeler, that this communication be received.
Carried.
74 Tri-Services Emergency Communicators Appreciation Week
Joan Prentice, Emergency Management Branch, The Regional Municipality of York, requesting Council's recognition of the week of April 10 � 17, 2004 as Tri-Services Emergency Communicators Appreciation Week.
It was moved by Mayor Cousens, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, that the communication from Joan Prentice, Emergency Management Branch, The Regional Municipality of York, March 23, 2004 be received and that Council recognize the week of April 10 � 17, 2004 as Tri-Services Emergency Communicators Appreciation Week.
Carried.
(Please refer to Minute No. 80 for a further Communication that was considered by Council.)
75 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Regional Councillor Jackson presented the following reports for the consideration of Council:
Report No. 3 of the Community Services and Housing Committee
Report No. 4 of the Finance and Administration Committee
Report No. 5 of the Finance and Administration Committee
Report No. 3 of the Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee
Report No. 3 of the Planning and Economic Development Committee
Report No. 3 of the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee
Report No. 3 of the Solid Waste Management Committee
Report No. 3 of the Transit Committee
Report No. 3 of the Transportation and Works Committee
Report No. 1 of the Commissioner of Finance
Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Finance
Report No. 1 of the Commissioner of Transportation and Works
Report No. 2 of the Commissioner of Transportation and Works
It was moved by Regional Councillor Jackson, seconded by Regional Councillor O'Donnell, that the reports be received and that Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider them.
Carried.
Regional Chair Fisch chaired the Committee of the Whole.
The Committee of the Whole rose after making the following recommendations:
Report No. 3 of the Community Services and Housing Committee be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 4 of the Finance and Administration Committee be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 5 of the Finance and Administration Committee be adopted, with the following amendments:
Clause 3, relating to the Property Tax Deferral for Eligible Senior and Disabled Homeowners, be amended to request that this report be circulated to all area municipalities.
Clause 9, Item 5, relating to technology improvements, be amended to provide as follows:
THAT an Information Technology and Transformation Steering Committee be created for the Region of York;
AND THAT the Information Technology and Transformation Steering Committee report to the Finance and Administration Committee;
AND THAT a terms of reference for this Committee be presented to Council for approval by the end of June, 2004;
AND THAT this Committee be responsible for ensuring that all future Information Technology direction and projects meet York Region's business needs as well as the Region's vision, mission, values and goals;
AND THAT this Committee review and provide education and direction on all policies regarding the use of Information Technology, including but not limited to hardware, software, and systems, network and application integration;
AND THAT this Committee investigate the possibility of opportunities to collaborate with local municipalities on projects, share resources and services that may lead to efficiencies for all participating member municipalities;
AND THAT Information Technology leaders from all local municipalities and the Region be invited to attend these meetings.
Report No. 3 of the Health and Emergency Medical Services Committee be adopted with the following amendment:
Clause 3, Recommendations 1, 2 and 3, relating to the Georgina Community Health Care Council Agreement, be amended by deleting all references to approval by the Town of Georgina and replacing them with provisions for the Town of Georgina to be notified of this arrangement and report.
Report No. 3 of the Planning and Economic Development Committee, be adopted with the following amendment:
Clause 1, relating to OPA 41, Oak Ridges Moraine, be amended as follows:
Recommendations 1(a), (b) and 2 of the Planning and Economic Development Committee be adopted; and
The letter referred to in Recommendation 1(c) and Attachments 3(a) and (b) be referred to staff to bring back a report on the facts of the Rizmi Holdings Limited lands in their entirety for consideration of the Planning and Economic Development Committee and Council prior to forwarding the requested application information to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Report No. 3 of the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 3 of the Solid Waste Management Committee be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 3 of the Transit Committee be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 3 of the Transportation and Works Committee be adopted, with the following amendment:
Clause 9 be amended to defer the matter to the June 16, 2004 Transportation and Works Committee meeting, pending submission of a report from the Town of Newmarket.
Report No. 1 of the Commissioner of Finance be adopted, without amendment;
Report No. 1 of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Finance be adopted, with the following amendments:
See Minute No.70 for amendments and recorded votes.
Report No. 1 of the Commissioner of Transportation and Works be adopted, without amendment; and
Report No. 2 of the Commissioner of Transportation and Works be adopted, without amendment.
It was moved by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, seconded by Mayor Black, that Council adopt the recommendations of the Committee of the Whole.
Carried.
76 BY-LAWS
It was moved by Regional Councillor Ferri, seconded by Regional Councillor Hogg, that certain Bills be introduced and approved in the form as noted on the Revised Agenda, and enacted as By-laws.
[The following links open .pdf files of the by-laws]
By-law No. A-0292(c)-2004-021
A By-law to Amend By-law No. A-0292-2001-051 Providing for the Enforcement of By-law No. A-0285-2000-105
By-law No. R-1388-2004-022
Respecting temporary speed limits on Regional Roads
By-law No. R-1389-2004-023
Respecting parking on Keele Street (Y.R. 6) in the City of Vaughan
By-law No. RD-0511-2004-024
To dedicate certain lands for the purposes of public highways
By-law No. A-0338-2004-025
To appoint a Regional Solicitor
By-law No. A-0339-2004-026
A by-law to provide tax assistance to certain seniors and disabled residents who are owners of real property in The Regional Municipality of York
Carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
77 Local Calling Capabilities Throughout York Region
It was moved by Regional Councillor Jones, seconded by Regional Councillor Van Bynen, that the following motion be referred to Staff for a report:
Whereas the City of Toronto has seamless local calling capabilities within all six of the former municipalities within Metro Toronto;
And Whereas the City of Toronto can call many jurisdictions within the 905 Area Code (Peel, Durham, York) as local calls;
And Whereas in the Region of York the nine municipalities do not have seamless local calling capabilities;
Be it resolved:
That the Region of York request the appropriate regulatory authorities to ensure that all residents and businesses within the Region of York have local calling capabilities with other residents or businesses within York Region;
And that all municipalities within the Region of York pass similar resolutions;
And that this resolution be circulated to all MP's and MPP's within York Region, and all leaders of both Federal and Ontario provincial parties;
And that staff develop a strategy on how to approach Bell Canada and the CRTC to further this initiative.
Carried.
78 Boulevard Debris Pickup -- Steeles Avenue
Regional Councillor Frustaglio requested that a media release be issued requesting that the Region and the three area municipalities (Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan) bordering on Steeles Avenue, and their residents participate in Clean Up Days to be held April 23 � 24, 2004.
79 Character Conference
Mayor Cousens advised that a Character Conference hosted by the Region's Character Council will be held April 23 � 24, 2004 at the Sheraton Parkway, Richmond Hill and invited as many as possible to attend.
80 Development Charges and Levies -- High Density Development
It was moved by Regional Councillor Jones, seconded by Mayor Jones, that a letter dated March 17, 2004 from Liberty Development Corp., Tridel Group, Remington Group and TAS Design/Build outlining concerns with the development charges and levies for high-density development, be received and referred to staff for a report.
Carried.
81 Bathurst Street Bridge -- Green Lane
Regional Councillor Van Bynen inquired about the status of the Bathurst Street bridge that has recently been constructed at Green Lane and was informed by the Commissioner of Transportation and Works that the bridge meets the Region's specifications.
82 Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Regional Councillor Hogg, Director, Federation of Canadian Municipalites (FCM), brought Council up to date on the outcome of a meeting of the FCM Board of Directors held on March 3 -6, 2004. She indicated that the FCM continues to promote a "New Deal" between the Federal Government, Provinces, Territories and Municipal Governments based on the Vancouver Agreement and celebrates its success in convincing the Prime Minister to remove the rest of the Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) on municipalities.
83 Chairs and Single-Tier Mayors --Association of Municipalities of Ontario
Regional Chair Fisch indicated that he was recently appointed Chair of the Regional Chairs and Single-Tier Mayors Caucus. As such, he has also become a member of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and will be updating Council on its deliberations from time-to-time.
PRIVATE SESSION
84 It was moved by Regional Councillor Scarpitti, seconded by Regional Councillor Frustaglio, that Council convene in Private Session for the purpose of considering certain legal matters.
Carried.
Council met in Private Session at 1:25 p.m. and reconvened in Open Council at 3:40 p.m.
It was moved by Regional Councillor Jones, seconded by Regional Councillor Barrow, that Council rise and report from Private Session.
Carried.
It was moved by Mayor Young, seconded by Mayor Grossi, that Council receive all items considered in the Private Session and adopt the following:
85 Ontario Municipal Board Hearing -- Yonge Street Self Storage Incorporated
Staff be authorized to appear before the Ontario Municipal Board in response to the appeal received from Yonge Street Self Storage Incorporated regarding a charge imposed under Regional Development Charge By-law No. DC-3-98-77.
Carried.
86 CONFIRMATORY BY-LAW
It was moved by Regional Councillor Van Bynen, seconded by Regional Councillor O'Donnell, that the following by-law be enacted to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council.
[The following link opens a .pdf file of the By-law]
By-law No. M-0704-2004-027
To confirm the proceedings of Council at its meeting held on March 25, 2004.
Carried.
The Council meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m.
____________________
Regional Clerk
Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Regional Council held on the 22nd of April 2004.
____________________
Regional Chair