Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 3:00 P.m. - 4:30 P.m.

4th Floor City Hall

Present:

• Mayor Danny Breen
• Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary
• Councillor Maggie Burton
• Councillor Ron Ellsworth
• Councillor Sandy Hickman
• Councillor Jill Bruce
• Councillor Greg Noseworthy
• Councillor Tom Davis
• Councillor Carl Ridgeley

Regrets:

• Councillor Ophelia Ravencroft

Staff:

• Kevin Breen, City Manager
• Derek Coffey, Deputy City Manager of Finance & Corporate Services
• Tanya Haywood, Deputy City Manager of Community Services
• Jason Sinyard, Deputy City Manager of Planning, Engineering & Regulatory Services
• Lynnann Winsor, Deputy City Manager of Public Works
• Cheryl Mullett, City Solicitor
• Ken O'Brien, Chief Municipal Planner
• Theresa Walsh, City Clerk
• Jackie O'Brien, Manager of Corporate Communications
• Stacey Baird, Legislative Assistant

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Announcements

2.1

World Poetry Day - March 21, 2025

Proclamation

3.

Approval of the Agenda

• Moved By Councillor Ellsworth
  Seconded By Councillor Bruce

  That the agenda be adopted as presented.

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

4.

Adoption of the Minutes

4.1

Minutes of March 4, 2025

• Recommendation
  Moved By Deputy Mayor O'Leary
  Seconded By Councillor Davis

  That the minutes of March 4, 2025, be adopted as presented.

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

5.

Presentations/Delegations

6.

Finance & Administration - Councillor Ron Ellsworth

7.

Public Works - Councillor Ophelia Ravencroft

8.

Community Services and Special Events - Councillor Jill Bruce

9.

Housing - Councillor Ron Ellsworth

10.

Economic Development & Immigration - Councillor Tom Davis

11.

Arts & Culture - Councillor Sandy Hickman

12.

Governance & Strategic Priorities - Mayor Danny Breen

12.1

Review of Social Media Channels

Councillor Noseworthy asked staff to allow time to notify X followers that the City will no longer be using the social media platform.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Deputy Mayor O'Leary
  Seconded By Councillor Ridgeley

  That Council:
  
  1. Deactivate the City’s corporate X account and rely on Facebook and Instagram as the primary communication tools.
  
  2. Deactivate the What’s Happening St. John’s X account and continue promoting event-related news through Facebook and Instagram.
  
  3. Deactivate the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) X account and integrate newcomer and immigration-related updates into the City’s corporate Facebook and Instagram accounts.
  
  4. Monitor Bluesky’s growth and reconsider adoption at a later date when more data on its effectiveness and user engagement in Canada becomes available.            

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

13.

Planning  - Councillor Maggie Burton

13.1

75 Lady Anderson Street – REZ2500006

Deputy Mayor O'Leary asked staff to clarify where the outdoor space for the childcare centre will be located. The Chief Municipal Planner advised that it would be behind the building, facing the south side of the lot.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Davis

  That Council consider rezoning 75 Lady Anderson Street from the Residential Reduced Lot (RRL) Zone to the Residential 1 (R1) Zone.
  
  Further, that the application be publicly advertised (public notice only) in accordance with the Envision St. John’s Development Regulations.

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

14.

Development - Councillor Carl Ridgeley

15.

Engineering and Regulatory Services - Councillor Sandy Hickman

15.1

Amendment to Building By-Law

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Hickman
  Seconded By Councillor Ellsworth

  That Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Building By-law.

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

15.2

Amendment to Commercial Maintenance By-Law

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Hickman
  Seconded By Councillor Bruce

  That Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Commercial Maintenance By-Law

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

15.3

Amendment to Residential Property Standards By-Law

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Hickman
  Seconded By Councillor Davis

  That Council adopt the proposed amendments

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

16.

Sustainability - Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary

16.1

Earth Day 2025

Councillor Burton suggested taking before and after photos of trees that have been planted as part of the urban forest initiative.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Deputy Mayor O'Leary
  Seconded By Councillor Davis

  That Council approve the proposed plan detailed to commemorate Earth Day 2025

  
  

  For (9)

  Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, Councillor Davis, and Councillor Noseworthy

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

17.

Parks, Open Spaces, and Facilities - Councillor Greg Noseworthy

18.

Other Business

19.

Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:32 pm