Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 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 Dave Lane
  • Councillor Sandy Hickman
  • Councillor Debbie Hanlon
  • Councillor Deanne Stapleton
  • Councillor Jamie Korab
  • Councillor Ian Froude
  • Councillor Wally Collins
Staff:
  • Kevin Breen, City Manager
  • 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
  • Elaine Henley, City Clerk
  • Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant
  • Susan Bonnell, Manager - Communications & Office Services
  • Brian Head, Manager - Parks & Open Spaces
  • David Crowe, Manager - Roads
  • Blair McDonald, Manager - Fleet
  • Ann Marie Cashin, Planner III - Urban Design and Heritage
  • Simone Lilly, Affordable Housing & Development Facilitator
Others

  • Dr. Daniel Fuller, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Population Physical Activity at Memorial University

1.
Call to Order
 

2.
Approval of the Agenda
 

  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Hickman
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That the agenda be adopted as presented.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

3.
Adoption of the Minutes
 

3.1
Adoption of Minutes - September 2, 2020
This item has attachments. 

1.Post-Meeting Minutes - CoW_Sep02_2020 - English.pdf
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Lane
    Seconded ByCouncillor Collins

    That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on September 2, 2020 be adopted as presented.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

4.
Presentations/Delegations
 

4.1
Dr. Daniel Fuller - Economic Benefit of Walking in St. John's
 

Dr. Daniel Fuller, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Population Physical Activity at Memorial University, was in attendance to present the economic benefit of walking in St. John's. He presented a report he published called "Health and Economic Benefits of Walking in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador”.

The report is available for download here: http://www.beaplab.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HEAT-St-Johns.pdf

5.
Finance & Administration - Councillor Dave Lane
 

6.
Public Works & Sustainability - Councillor Ian Froude
 

6.1
Syme’s Bridge Closure to Vehicular Traffic
This item has attachments. 

1.Syme's Bridge Closure to Vehicular Traffic.pdf
2.Syme's Bridge at Waterford River - Turn-a-round Drawing.pdf
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Korab
    Seconded ByCouncillor Collins

    That Council grant approval to close Syme’s Bridge to vehicular traffic. If possible, convert the bridge to pedestrian only until such time that it requires removal due to safety concerns. Further, that the decision is brought back to Council before removal of the bridge due to safety concerns. 

    That Council also grant approval for development in the floodplain for the required turn-a-round areas. 


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

6.2
Sidewalk Snow Clearing Service Levels
This item has attachments. 

1.Sidewalk Snow Clearing Service Levels.pdf

Council debated changes to the current sidewalk snow clearing program. After extensive discussion, concern was raised that the full economic impact of the pandemic is not yet known.

  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByCouncillor Lane

    That in the coming weeks, staff put forward a plan:

    • To ensure resources are used efficiently on the most important routes: that staff review the priorities of sidewalks, laneways and stairways with recommendations to Council this fall on changes to make.
    • To address the quality of the clearing of sidewalks, as it’s sometimes that the area of grass or curb adjacent to the sidewalk is cleared, which makes for a poor quality pathway.
    • The enforcement of existing bylaws that prohibits obstruction of a sidewalk by snow removal.
    • And whether there is a potential deprioritization of some side roads, to free up resources.

    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (8 to 2)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByCouncillor Burton

    That Council increase the budget for this coming winter in the direction of option 4 and 2 on this list. This would spend up to $900,000 on equipment from capital funds, and up to $450,000 in operating funds with a balance of roughly ⅓ on intersection clearing and ⅔ on sidewalk snow clearing.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION LOST (3 to 7)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council consider all options in this list for winter 2021-22, and that the decision note is referred to the budget process.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 1)

7.
Community Services - Councillor Jamie Korab
 

8.
Special Events - Councillor Debbie Hanlon
 

9.
Housing - Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary
 

9.1
Division Name and Mandate Review
This item has attachments. 

1.Housing Mandate .pdf
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary
    Seconded ByCouncillor Burton

    That Council rename the ‘Non Profit Housing Division’ as the ‘Housing Division’ and that Council adopt the Division’s mandate to ‘provide affordable housing to residents of St. John's and lead the City’s commitments in the housing and homelessness sectors’.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

10.
Economic Development - Mayor Danny Breen
 

11.
Tourism and Culture - Councillor Debbie Hanlon
 

12.
Governance & Strategic Priorities - Mayor Danny Breen
 

13.
Planning & Development - Councillor Maggie Burton
 

13.1
138 Ladysmith Drive - MPA200000
This item has attachments. 

1.138 Ladysmith Drive, MPA2000007.pdf
2.138 Ladysmith Drive - Attachments.pdf
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Froude

    That Council consider rezoning the property at 138 Ladysmith Drive from the Residential Narrow Lot (RNL) Zone to the Apartment Medium Density (A2) Zone; and advertise the application for public review and comment.


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

13.2
42-52 Diamond Marsh Drive - MPA2000002
This item has attachments. 

1.42-52 Diamond Marsh Drive, MPA2000002.pdf
2.42-52 Diamond Marsh Drive Attachments.pdf
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Collins

    That Council consider rezoning land at 42-52 Diamond Marsh Drive from the Open Space (O) Zone to the Residential Low Density (R1) Zone and advertise the application for public review and comment. Further, that this matter be referred to the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel. 


    Vote Type: Majority (Voted)

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

14.
Transportation and Regulatory Services - Councillor Sandy Hickman
 

15.
Other Business
 

16.
Adjournment
 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:44 am.

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