Minutes of Regular Meeting - City Council

Council Chamber, 4th Floor, City Hall

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4th Floor City Hall
Present:
  • Mayor Danny Breen
  • Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary
  • Councillor Maggie Burton
  • Councillor Ron Ellsworth
  • Councillor Sandy Hickman
  • Councillor Debbie Hanlon
  • Councillor Jill Bruce
  • Councillor Ophelia Ravencroft
  • Councillor Tom Davis
  • Councillor Carl Ridgeley
Staff:
  • Derek Coffey, Deputy City Manager of Finance & Administration
  • 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 Corbett, Legislative Assistant

​​Land Acknowledgement

The following statement was read into the record:

“We respectfully acknowledge the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador, of which the City of St. John’s is the capital City, as the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk. Today, these lands are home to a diverse population of indigenous and other peoples. We would also like to acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Mi’kmaq, Innu, Inuit, and Southern Inuit of this Province.”

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

2.
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

 

3.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

3.1
Adoption of Agenda

 
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/476
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bruce

    That the Agenda be adopted as presented.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

4.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

 

4.1
Minutes of October 15, 2024

This item has attachments. 
1.Post-Meeting Minutes - RCM_Oct15_2024 - English.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/477
    Moved ByCouncillor Ellsworth
    Seconded ByCouncillor Davis

    That the minutes of October 15, 2024, be adopted as presented.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

5.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

 

6.
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

 

6.1
Accessory Building in the Floodplain Buffer – 61 Seaborn Street – INT2400083

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Accessory Building in the Floodplain Buffer - 61 Seaborn Street - INT2400083.pdf
2.61 Seaborn Street.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/478
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Davis

    That Council approve an Accessory Building in the Floodplain Buffer at 61 Seaborn Street, subject to meeting the conditions of the St. John’s Development Regulations.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.2
Crown Land Grant – Trans Canada Highway - CRW2400014

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Crown Land Grant – Trans Canada Highway - CRW2400014.pdf
2.EASTERN READY MIX.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/479
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hickman

    That Council approve the Crown Land Grant off the Trans-Canada Highway in the area of Torbayman’s Pond for stockpiling material. A development application would be required if the Crown Land is granted by the Province.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.3
Crown Land Grant – 1030 Main Road – CRW2400016

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Crown Land Referral - 1030 Main Road - CRW2400016.pdf
2.1030 Main Road.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/480
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council approve a Crown Land Grant for 1030 Main Road. A development application would be required if the Crown Land is granted by the province.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.4
Crown Land Referral – Incinerator Road – CRW2400015

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Crown Land Referral - Incinerator Road- CRW2400015.pdf
2.BlackMountainQuarry.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/481
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ellsworth

    That Council approve the Crown Land License to Occupy in the area of Incinerator Road and a development application would be required if the Crown Land is granted by the Province.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.5
Request for Parking Relief – 31 Wicklow Street – INT2400085

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Request for Parking Relief - 31 Wicklow Street- INT2400085.pdf
2.31 Wicklow Street.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/482
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ellsworth

    That Council approve the parking relief at 31 Wicklow Street for one (1) parking space to accommodate the proposed Subsidiary Dwelling Unit.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.6
Request for Parking Relief for Subsidiary Dwelling Unit – 57 Stamp’s Lane – INT2400082

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Request for Parking Relief for Additional Dwelling Unit – 57 Stamp’s Lane – INT2400082.pdf
2.MAP.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/483
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bruce

    That Council approve parking relief for one (1) parking space to accommodate the additional Subsidiary Dwelling Unit at 57 Stamp’s Lane.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.7
Accessory Building in Floodplain Buffer – 560 Back Line – DEV2400121

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Accessory Building in the Floodplain Buffer- 560 Back Line - DEV2400121.pdf
2.Shed - Back Line.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/484
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Davis

    That Council approve an Accessory Building in the Floodplain Buffer at 560 Back Line, subject to meeting the conditions of the St. John’s Development Regulations.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.8
Request to Set Zone Standards and Parking Relief – 51-53 Harvey Road – SUB2300020

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Request for Parking Relief and Set Zone Standards – 51-53 Harvey Road – SUB2300020.pdf
2.MAP(1).pdf
3.Plans.pdf

Councillor Burton asked why staff would recommend 0% landscaping. The Deputy City Manager of Planning, Engineering and Regulatory Services advised that since the application is for the downtown area and has 0m side yard and rear yard, that they would not have the space to require landscaping.

  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/485
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByCouncillor Burton

    That Council approve the proposed Zone Standards for a new building at 51-53 Harvey Road as follows:
    •Lot Area – 296m2
    •Lot Frontage – 23.58m
    •Building Line – 0m
    •Side Yards – 0m
    •Rear Yard – 0m
    •Landscaping – 0%
    and approve parking relief of two (2) parking spaces.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

6.9
Set Zone Standards for Proposed Kennel Use – 120 East White Hills Road – DEV2300170

This item has attachments. 
1.Development Committee - Request to Set Zone Requirements for Proposed Building – 120 East White Hills Road – DEV2300170.pdf
2.DEV2300170-120 EAST WHITE HILLS ROAD.pdf
3.Site Plan.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/486
    Moved ByCouncillor Ridgeley
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council approve the Zone Standards for a Kennel Use in the Rural Zone at 120 East White Hills Road as:
    •Building Line – 61.5m
    •Building Height – 4.9m
    •Side Yards – South: 51.6m and North: 59.91m
    •Rear Yard – 37.1m


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

7.
RATIFICATION OF EPOLLS

 

8.
COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

9.
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS LIST (FOR INFORMATION ONLY) 

 

10.
BUILDING PERMITS LIST (FOR INFORMATION ONLY)

 

11.
REQUISITIONS, PAYROLLS AND ACCOUNTS

 

11.1
Weekly Payment Vouchers for the Weeks Ending October 16 and October 23, 2024

This item has attachments. 
1.Council List Weeks Ending October 16 and October 23, 2024.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/487
    Moved ByCouncillor Ellsworth
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bruce

    That the weekly payment voucher for the weeks ending October 16 and October 23, 2024, be approved as presented.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

12.
TENDERS/RFPS

 

13.
NOTICES OF MOTION, RESOLUTIONS QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

 

14.
NEW BUSINESS

 

14.1
2025 Regatta Day Holiday

This item has attachments. 
1.DN - St. John's Regatta Holiday 2025.pdf
  • SJMC-S-2024-10-22/488
    Moved ByCouncillor Hickman
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council move the civic holiday typically in August to July 30th, 2025, to coincide with the 2025 Royal St. John’s Regatta.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

14.2
Approval of Recommended Applicant for Building Safer Communities Steering Committee Membership

This item has attachments. 
1.Approval of Recommended Applicant for Building Safer Communities Steering Committee Membership(2).pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/489
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bruce

    That Council approve Megan Pottle for membership on the Building Safer Communities Steering Committee.


    For (8)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, and Councillor Ridgeley
    Abstain (1)Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (8 to 0)

14.3
Wetlands Text and Map Amendment - Adoption

This item has attachments. 
1.Wetlands Text and Map Amendment - Adoption.pdf
2.June 3, 2024 Decision Note - Text and Map Amendment - Wetlands - Adoption.pdf
3.Engage Report - Text and Map Amendment Wetlands - June 5, 2024.pdf
4.Redacted Submissions as of June 5(2).pdf
5.ESEP Recommendations to City.pdf
6.Development Regulations Amend No. 36, 2024 - Wetlands - TEXT and MAP (LJR).pdf

Deputy Mayor O'Leary declared a conflict of interest and abstained from voting.

Councillor Davis informed the rest of council that he would not be supporting the recommendation as he agrees with the feedback from the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel that the WESP system used to grade the wetlands was not the appropriate way to go about it.

Discussion took place and most of council agreed that although it may not be a perfect system, it is a system that is allowing them to be able to protect more wetlands then before, with only 4 wetlands that will allow development.

  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/490
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ellsworth

    That Council protect Lundrigan’s Marsh, as well as all wetlands with an overall weighted WESP score of 5 or greater, and all wetlands with an individual WESP grouped function score of 8.5 or greater.

    That Council adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment Number 36, 2024, that will amend section 4.10 and Appendix C, Map 4.


    For (7)Mayor Breen, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, and Councillor Ridgeley
    Against (1)Councillor Davis
    Abstain (1)Deputy Mayor O'Leary


    MOTION CARRIED (7 to 1)
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/491
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Ellsworth

    That Council adopt Envision St. John’s Development Regulations Amendment Number 36, 2024, that will amend section 4.10 and Appendix C, Map 4 in response to Council’s November 28, 2023 resolution regarding the Wetland Study Phase 2A.


    For (7)Mayor Breen, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, and Councillor Ridgeley
    Against (1)Councillor Davis
    Abstain (1)Deputy Mayor O'Leary


    MOTION CARRIED (7 to 1)

15.
OTHER BUSINESS

 

15.1
SERC – 2024 Fall Events 3 and film shoot road closure

This item has attachments. 
1.SERC - 2024 Fall Events 3 and film shoot road closure.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/492
    Moved ByCouncillor Bruce
    Seconded ByCouncillor Davis

    That Council approve the road closures associated with a film shoot on November 4 -5, the Shea Heights Remembrance Day Parade, and the Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Parade on November 11.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

15.2
Insurance Policy Renewal

This item has attachments. 
1.Insurance Policy Renewal 2024-25.pdf
  • SJMC-R-2024-10-29/493
    Moved ByCouncillor Ellsworth
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council approve the insurance renewal premium for 2024-25 in the amount of $2,828,980.


    For (9)Mayor Breen, Deputy Mayor O'Leary, Councillor Burton, Councillor Hickman, Councillor Ellsworth, Councillor Ravencroft, Councillor Bruce, Councillor Ridgeley, and Councillor Davis


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

16.
ACTION ITEMS RAISED BY COUNCIL

 

Deputy Mayor O'Leary asked staff how the city would be impacted if Pierre Poilievre was to scrap the housing accelerator fund, as the city has invested heavily into the program.

It was advised that, although concerning, it is something that would be difficult to contemplate at this time.

17.
ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:08 p.m.

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