Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 9:00 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

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 Hope Jamieson
• Councillor Jamie Korab
• Councillor Ian Froude

Regrets:

• 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
• Ken O'Brien, Chief Municipal Planner
• Maureen Harvey, Legislative Assistant
• Susan Bonnell, Manager - Communications & Office Services

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Approval of the Agenda

2.1

Agenda dated March 27, 2020

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Lane
  Seconded By Councillor Hanlon

  That the agenda be adopted with the addition of discussion on residential and commercial permits during the COVID 19 pandemic. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

3.

Adoption of the Minutes

3.1

Adoption of Minutes - March 11, 2020

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

  That the minutes dated March 11, 2020 be adopted as presented.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

4.

Presentations/Delegations

5.

Finance & Administration - Councillor Dave Lane

5.1

Residential and Commercial Permits Fees

Councillor Dave Lane introduced this matter seeking Council approval to waive residential and commercial permit fees in light of the current pandemic.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Lane
  Seconded By Councillor Korab

  That, effective immediately, Council approve waiving residential and commercial permit fees for the following construction projects for the remainder of the calendar year:

  • Patios and decks
  • Fences
  • Accessory buildings (such as sheds)
  • General Repairs

  Residents will still be required to make a permit application for decks, fences, accessory buildings and general repairs and must comply with all applicable regulations and bylaws, however the minimum fee of $50 for these permits and the additional $9 fee per $1000 in construction value is waived for the 2020 construction season.

  In addition, the renewal of expired residential parking permits has been further deferred until July 1, 2020. The City will not issue tickets to vehicles that are displaying expired 2019 residential parking permits, provided permits are used in the correct area.

  As of July 1, residents will be given the opportunity to renew their 2019 permits and a further announcement on the process will be made closer to that date.

   

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

6.

Public Works & Sustainability - Councillor Ian Froude

6.1

St. John's Transportation Commission - Q1 Financial Statement

Councillor Froude presented the 2019 annual financial statement along with the statement of the first quarter of 2020 with an elaboration on noteworthy points. He indicated his intent to present quarterly financial statements so that Council and the public is better informed of operational and financial matters with the St. John's Transportation Commission. 

6.2

Streets Rehabilitation Program Contract #2

As Council is currently reviewing its capital budget to determine if priorities have shifted since the budget was first announced earlier this year, Council was asked to consider funds allocated to Grind & Patch in this program. The pre-tender estimate for the Grind & Patch component of Contract #2 is approximately $360,000 and includes the following streets, in whole or in part:

Bay Bull's Road, Brookfield Road, Columbus Drive, Cowan Avenue, Doyle's Road,  Main Road, Old Petty Harbour Road,  Pearltown Road, Petty Harbour Road, Ruby Line, Southlands Boulevard,  Teakwood Drive
Topsail Road, Waterford Bridge Road

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Froude
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  That Council maintain the previously approved level of spending of $360,000 for grind & patch which lists the following streets: Bay Bull's Road, Brookfield Road, Columbus Drive, Cowan Avenue, Doyle's Road,  Main Road, Old Petty Harbour Road,  Pearltown Road, Petty Harbour Road, Ruby Line, Southlands Boulevard, Teakwood Drive, Topsail Road, Waterford Bridge Road

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

7.

Community Services - Councillor Jamie Korab

7.1

Community Gardens Operating on City Land COVID-19 Guidelines

Council considered an information note which addressed allowing community gardens to open during Covid-19 Pandemic.  The document outlines best-practice safety regulations and guidelines that allow
for safe use of community gardens on city-land.

To this end staff will do the following:

• Share the guidelines, regulations and best-practices with community garden committees that are operating on city-land and request that they sign a waiver of understanding.
• Work with communications to share the guidelines through City of St. John’s websites and social media pages.
• Connect with other communities, and other gardens, and offer the guidelines as an added resource for safe gardening during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

8.

Special Events - Councillor Hope Jamieson

9.

Housing - Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary

10.

Economic Development - Mayor Danny Breen

11.

Tourism and Culture - Councillor Debbie Hanlon

12.

Governance & Strategic Priorities - Mayor Danny Breen

12.1

Regular, Special and COTW Meetings – Summer Schedule

Council considered the following schedule of meetings for the summer of 2020.

Regular/Special Meetings

• Monday, June 8, 2020
• Tuesday, June 23, 2020
• Monday, July 6, 2020
• Monday, July 20, 2020
• Tuesday, August 4, 2020
• Monday, August 17, 2020
• Monday, August 31, 2020

Committee of the Whole Meetings

• Wednesday, June 10, 2020
• Wednesday, June 24, 2020
• Wednesday, July 8, 2020
• Wednesday, July 22, 2020
• Wednesday, August 5, 2020
• Wednesday, August 19, 2020
• Wednesday, September 2, 2020

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

  That Council approve the proposed summer schedule for Regular, Special and Committee of the Whole (COTW) meetings.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

13.

Planning & Development - Councillor Maggie Burton

13.1

Built Heritage Experts Panel Report - May 13, 2020

1.

5 Church Hill – Application for a Roof Deck

Discussion took place on the above-noted decision note with Council requesting that staff work on a definition of a roof deck.  Reference was also made to a moratorium that was put in place in the late 1990's and requested staff to review the history and status of this moratorium.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Hanlon

  That Council approve the roof deck at 5 Church Hill, as proposed and further that staff be directed to research the history of moratoriums on the construction of roof top decks and provide Council with a report.

  
  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 10:06 am.