Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall

Wednesday, October 14, 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 Deanne Stapleton
• Councillor Jamie Korab
• Councillor Ian Froude
• Councillor Wally Collins

Regrets:

• Councillor Debbie Hanlon

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
• Elaine Henley, City Clerk
• Ken O'Brien, Chief Municipal Planner
• Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant
• Susan Bonnell, Manager - Communications & Office Services
• Natalie Godden, Manager - Family & Leisure Services

Others

• Ken O’Brien, Chief Municipal Planner
  Raman Balakrishnan, Legal Counsel
  Victoria Etchegary, Manager of Organizational Performance and Strategy
  Brian Head, Manager - Parks & Open Spaces
  Katherine Dibbon, Youth Advisory Committee
  Nicholas Hillier, Youth Advisory Committee
  Maria Penney, Youth Engagement Action Team

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Approval of the Agenda

• Moved By Councillor Stapleton
  Seconded By Councillor Hickman

  That the agenda be adopted as presented.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 0)

3.

Adoption of the Minutes

3.1

Adoption of Minutes - September 30, 2020

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Froude
  Seconded By Councillor Collins

  That the minutes of the meeting held on September 30, 2020 be adopted as presented.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 0)

4.

Presentations/Delegations

4.1

Youth Engagement Action Team Report

The Manager of Organizational Performance and Strategy presented the Youth Engagement Action Team (YEAT) Report. In attendance were co-chairs of the Youth Advisory Committee, Katherine Dibbon and Nicholas Hillier, and YEAT member Maria Penney. 

This report outlines several recommendations to improve youth engagement. Details around each of the below can be found in the report appended to the minutes.

• Improve tools to create awareness and provide easier options to allow them to participate
• Change the way we use committees/youth involvement to better meet their needs/respect their time
• Use tools to engage, such as online youth panels, that allow direct contact and ease of participation on topics of interest
• Build on current city-school interactions to add more real time opportunities for feedback on projects/programs
• Create a more welcoming environment for youth at Council meetings

Council members expressed their approval of the recommendations and members were thanked for their time and effort on this project.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Stapleton

  That Council review the report and its recommendations and consider which ones they want to prioritize to improve youth engagement.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 0)

5.

Finance & Administration - Councillor Dave Lane

6.

Public Works & Sustainability - Councillor Ian Froude

6.1

New Sanitation Regulations

The purpose of this new By-Law is to replace the City’s existing Sanitation Regulations to reflect current City practices and to incorporate new rules required for the efficient and effective delivery of Municipal Curbside Collection Services. Whereas the existing Sanitation Regulations makes no mention of recycling collection, yard waste collection or automated garbage collection carts, this new By-Law addresses all three.

During discussion, concern was expressed about accessibility regarding the location of carts. It was recommended that there is communication to the public for correct placement of carts.   

Council requested that staff review how new regulations to ban single use plastics will affect recycling and the market. The effective date of the change may take six months to a year to allow people to adjust and for stores to stock the required clear bags. Regulations regarding the size of garbage bags included in the By-Law will be reviewed before this matter is discussed at the Regular meeting. 

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Hickman
  Seconded By Councillor Collins

  That this matter be deferred for further review. 

  
  
  
  MOTION LOST (2 to 7)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Froude
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  That Council adopt the new Sanitation By-Law. The draft By-Law be sent to COTW and if approved a Notice of Motion will go to a Regular Meeting of Council.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 1)

6.2

Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel Report - September 25, 2020

1.

139 Petty Harbour Road - DEV2000125

139 Petty Harbour Road was referred to the Environment and Sustainability Experts Panel for review of a Development application, which included driveway access through the flood plain buffer.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Collins
  Seconded By Councillor Froude

  That Council approve the proposed development on 139 Petty Harbour Road.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 0)

7.

Community Services - Councillor Jamie Korab

7.1

Community Services Grants Policy

The Department of Community Services currently provides financial assistance to individuals and organizations whose activities align with the City’s strategic directions under a number of different policies:

• 04-04-01 Policy on Requests for Grants and Subsidies
• 04-09-02 Financial Support for Meeting and Conventions
• 09-05-01 Support of the Arts Community

The proposed policy consolidates the individual policies, which will be repealed upon Council approval of the new policy.

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

  That Council approve the Community Services Grants Policy and rescind the related policies (04-04-01, 04-09-02, and 09-05-01).

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

7.2

Inclusion Advisory Committee (IAC) Approval of New Members

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Stapleton
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  That Council approve the appointment of five (5) new members to the Inclusion Advisory Committee:

  • Alyse Stuart: to provide an in-depth knowledge of women’s issues, perspectives and the barriers that limit meaningful participation in the community.
  • Heidi Edgar: to provide an in-depth knowledge and experience of mental health/illness issues and the barriers that limit meaningful participation in the community.
  • Jayne Simmons: to provide an in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise of physical and neurological disabilities and the barriers faced by individuals living with these disabilities that limit meaningful participation in the community.
  • Dr. Sulaimon Giwa: to provide an in-depth knowledge, understanding and lived experience of racism as well as expertise in building a culture of anti-racism that fosters inclusion and meaningful participation in the community.
  • TJ Jones: to provide an in-depth knowledge, understanding and experience of LGBTQ2S issues, perspectives and the barriers that limit meaningful participation in the community.
    
    
  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

8.

Special Events - Councillor Debbie Hanlon

9.

Housing - Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary

10.

Economic Development - Mayor Danny Breen

11.

Tourism and Culture - Councillor Debbie Hanlon

11.1

Downtown Decorative Street Lighting Working Group Recommendation

Council reviewed the potential conversion of the existing high-pressure sodium (HPS) ornamental street lighting in the Downtown to LED based illumination. In the Spring of 2019 Council established a Working Group of stakeholders to explore the subjective options available to potentially replace the existing decorative globe lights in the Downtown with LED fixtures. The working group with representatives from the City’s Built Heritage Panel, the City’s Arts Advisory Committee, Downtown St. John’s, the George Street Association, and City Council evaluated the different approaches to improving the downtown decorative street lighting.

In order to confirm that replacing the existing fixtures can achieve the desired improvement in lighting levels, a 60-watt test fixture was provided by a manufacturer and installed in the downtown at the corner of George Street and Adelaide Street. It was determined that the reduction in glare and improvement in lighting levels would support the goal of this project to improve personal security and safety in the Downtown. As a key stakeholder of this initiative, Downtown St. John’s has participated in this working group consultation and has committed to financially partnering with the City on this project. 

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

  That Council replace the existing decorative globe HPS fixtures with new LED fixtures that meet the aesthetic requirements developed by the Downtown Decorative Street Lighting Working Group in partnership with Downtown St. John’s once funding for the project becomes available.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

12.

Governance & Strategic Priorities - Mayor Danny Breen

12.1

Strategic Plan Quarter 3 Update

The City Manager presented the Strategic Plan Quarter 3 progress update to Council for information. Council requested an update on the completion of the Envision St. John's Municipal Plan and Development Regulations. It was advised that Planning staff are still working on obtaining release from the Province so the adoption and approval process can continue. Mayor Breen has requested a meeting with the Premier and will bring this item forward with other outstanding issues. Council will be updated following the meeting. 

The public were encouraged to review the Strategic Plan Quarter 3 Update. 

13.

Planning & Development - Councillor Maggie Burton

13.1

Built Heritage Experts Panel Report - September 30, 2020

1.

2020 Heritage Financial Incentives Program

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  That Council approve the twenty-two (22) grant applications as summarized in the attached tables subject to compliance with the requirements of the Heritage Financial Incentives Grant Program and the City’s heritage requirements.
  

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

2.

50 Bonaventure Avenue, Heritage Designation

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  That Council approve the proposed heritage designation of 50 Bonaventure Avenue and direct the Legal Department to undertake a Designation By-law for Council’s consideration.
  
  Further, subject to an application being made and approval of heritage designation, that Council advertise the Discretionary Use of a Heritage Use (Eating Establishment/café) at 50 Bonaventure Avenue.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

13.2

Built Heritage Experts Panel Membership

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Hickman

  That Council approve the following:

  1. an additional term of membership for Rachael Fitkowski (category of landscape architect) and Dawn Boutilier (category of other)

  2. appointment of the following members to the BHEP

  • John Hancock, architecture category
  • Katherine Deborah Hann, historian/archival expert/historic preservationist category
  • Mitchell O’Reilly, contractor category
  • Michelle Sullivan – other category (background with Brigus Historical Society)
  • Nick Lynch, other category (MUN Geography professor)

  3. a change to the Terms of Reference to replace Historian/Archival Expert category to Historian/Archival Expert/Historic Preservationist category

  4. Letters of appreciation to departing members signed by the Mayor.

  
  
  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

14.

Transportation and Regulatory Services - Councillor Sandy Hickman

15.

Other Business

16.

Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 11:00 am.