Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall

Meeting #:
Date:
-
Location:
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
  • Councillor Wally Collins
Staff:
  • Kevin Breen, City Manager
  • Derek Coffey, Deputy City Manager of Finance & Administration
  • Tanya Haywood, Deputy City Manager of Community 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
Others
  • Brian Head, Manager of Parks & Open Space

    Edmundo Fausto, Sustainability Coordinator

    Jennifer Langmead, Supervisor Tourism & Culture

    Trina Caines, Policy Analyst

    Garret Donaher, Manager of Transportation


  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Jamieson
    Seconded ByCouncillor Stapleton

    That the agenda be adopted as presented.


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Hanlon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Korab

    That the minutes of November 27, 2019 be adopted as presented.


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE PRESENT

The City's Sustainability Coordinator, Edmundo Fausto delivered the above-noted presentation, a copy of which is available from the Office of the City Clerk.  The presentation addressed the proposed direction in relation to the City's strategic direction to have a city that is sustainable today for future generations; economically, environmentally and financially.  In terms of a plan development timeline the following actions were put forward in order of priority:

Initiate

  • Solidify support from Council and Community
  • Define working teams by developing an Expert Panel and an Inter-dept. Working Group
  • Community open house to ask the community to identify the characteristics of the City that they are most proud of and define the vision of St. John’s in 2030.

Assessment

  • Inventory current Community and Corporate greenhouse gas emissions
  • Climate Profile for St. John’s
  • Vulnerability & Risk Assessment

Community Conversations

  • Open house and public survey to identify key priorities and concerns for addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation

Planning: Objective and Target Setting

  • Corporate inter-departmental group scopes objectives, targets and actions to mitigate corporate emissions, as well as financing opportunities
  • Sustainability Team takes feedback from community, technical experts, and city staff community and other stakeholders to develop proposed community mitigation and adaptation goals, strategies, actions, as well as partnership and financing opportunities
  • Proposed goals, strategies, and actions are presented to the community for feedback

Adoption & Implementation

  • Draft one presented to public
  • Final Plan & Adoption of Plan

It was noted that $100K has been earmarked in the 2020 budget to leverage funding currently available to put forward proposals to implement "Sustainability Momentum Actions" through the planning process and to support engagement throughout the planning process.

The Committee was appreciative of the information provided and looked forward to the plan rollout.

  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Lane
    Seconded ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary

    That Council approve the Cash Handling and Petty Cash Policy and rescind the current related policy (04-11-02 Acceptable Forms of Payment).


    MOTION CARRIED (11 to 0)

 

 

  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByCouncillor Burton

    That Council refer the proposed sponsorship policy back to staff for the following prior to being brought back to Council for a decision:

    1. a broad risk analysis,

    2. the scope of work to be conducted by consultant

    3. information on sponsorships that have occurred during in the past 2-3 years

     


    MOTION LOST (4 to 6)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Korab
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hanlon

    That the policy be amended to include a Council member added to the Sponsorship Evaluation Committee


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation

    That the Council approve the Sponsorship Policy and rescind the current related policy (05-01-14 Promotion of Charitable Causes and Commercial Products/Services on City Property). including the amendment to have a Council member sit on the Sponsorship Evaluation Committee.  


    MOTION CARRIED (8 to 2)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Lane
    Seconded ByCouncillor Jamieson

    That Council approve the Procurement Policy and rescind the current related policy (04-06-01 Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual).


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Lane
    Seconded ByCouncillor Burton

    That Council approve the Fraud Policy as attached.


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Jamieson

    That the policy be amended to add a provision of the following

    a. inclusion of gas lighting behavior. 

    b. inclusion of a provision that training be provided to Council members   

    c.  Section 3.2 C) replace “expectant or nursing mothers” with “expectant or nursing parents”

    d. Section 3.3 d) replace “affirmed gender” with “gender identity”


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Lane
    Seconded ByCouncillor Stapleton

    That Council approve the Respectful Workplace Policy including suggested amendments as noted above.


    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hanlon

    That the following be undertaken:

    • The decommissioned Whale’s Back Bridge be removed.
    • The Whale’s Back Bridge be replaced with two (2) observation decks.
    • The observation deck project, at a cost of $43,000 be referred to the 2020 Capital Works program, for consideration by Council.

    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

The Committee reviewed the Information Note which reported that the YEAT will continue to meet early in 2020, outline its action plan to complete its work and bring forward a report with recommendations to Council in early 2020.

  • Recommendation
    Moved ByCouncillor Burton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Korab

    That Council consider the proposed change in land use from Single Unit Dwellings to Townhouses and Semi-Detached Dwellings along Donegal Run within the Planned Mixed Development 1 (PMD-1) Zone. It is further agreed that the application be advertised for public review and comment. Following advertisement, the proposed amendment would be referred to a Regular Meeting of Council for consideration of adoption.


    MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)

Garrett Donaher, Manager of Transportation conducted a presentation which provided Council with a full overview of the outcomes of the MUN Area Traffic Study that was commissioned in 2014. The final report was accepted by Council in June 2017 and incorporated into the City's planning for development and capital works in the area.

The four main stakeholders of this study were Memorial University, Eastern Health, the Provincial Government and the City.

The focus of the terms of reference was on:

  • traffic performance / congestion on the roads in the study area
  • pedestrian safety on the MUN campus and crossing the roads in the study area
  • public transit and transportation demand management
  • a review of the recommendations from the 2007 MUN Campus Master Plan

The study addressed multiple projects one of which was the proposed Roundabout at Allandale Road and Prince Philip Drive

Mr. Donaher explained the proposed design of this roundabout.

Following the presentation, Councillor Sandy Hickman moved a motion based on the staff recommendation to send a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Works to request cost sharing for construction of the roundabout at Allandale and Prince Philip Drive.

The motion did not receive a seconder and as a result the proposed action did not move forward.

 

 

Following review of the information note Council was informed that flashing pedestrian activated beacons will be installed at the Monkstown Road and King’s Road crossings into the centre of Rawlins Cross in the upcoming weeks. The final report to Council on the pilot project will be made once collision data for the area is received and analyzed and a complete picture of the project’s level of success can be presented. The City will coordinate a meeting with the help of the NL English School District to consult with the Bishop Field School Council.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 12:07 pm