Minutes of Committee of the Whole - City Council

Council Chambers, 4th Floor, City Hall

Wednesday, February 26, 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 Hope Jamieson
• Councillor Jamie Korab
• Councillor Ian Froude
• Councillor Wally Collins

Regrets:

• Councillor Debbie Hanlon

Staff:

• Kevin Breen, City Manager
• Tanya Haywood, Deputy City Manager of Community Services
• Jason Sinyard, Deputy City Manager of Planning, Engineering & Regulatory Services
• 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 and Open Space

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Approval of the Agenda

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

  That the agenda be adopted as presented.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

3.

Adoption of the Minutes

3.1

Adoption of Minutes - February 12, 2020

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Froude
  Seconded By Councillor Collins

  That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on February 12, 2020 be adopted as presented.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

4.

Presentations/Delegations

4.1

Canopy Growth Corp

Courtney Laingle, Community Engagement Lead, Atlantic Region conducted a presentation, a copy of which is attached to the agenda.  The presentation focused on:

• an over view of the operation
• locations of licensed recreational cannabis retailers in NL
• efforts of community engagement
• information about packaging and recycling of packaging products
• Tweed Collective - a social purpose initiative by CGC that funds community impact projects across Canada.
• TCo's Strategic Impact Pillars

5.

Finance & Administration - Councillor Dave Lane

5.1

2020 Capital out of Revenue 

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Lane
  Seconded By Councillor Froude

  That Council:

  1. approve the 2020 Capital Out of Revenue list as attached in the amount of $10,629,792
  2. approve the recommended Parks Reserve projects as attached in the amount of $595,000

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

6.

Public Works & Sustainability - Councillor Ian Froude

7.

Community Services - Councillor Jamie Korab

7.1

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Korab

  That Council approve the following changes to the low income spay/neuter program with an implementation date of March 1, 2020.
  • Income eligibility updated to:
  o Single $25,000 or less.
  o Combined family income $40,000 or less.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

7.2

Special Events Regulatory Committee – Terms of Reference

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Jamieson
  Seconded By Councillor Burton

  That Council approve the newly developed Terms of Reference for the Special Events Regulatory Committee as presented.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

7.3

2020 Community Capital Grants Program

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

  That Council approve the 2020 Community Capital Grants Program in the amount of $297,100 as attached and waive permit/development fees in the amount of $14,059.75.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

8.

Special Events - Councillor Hope Jamieson

9.

Housing - Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary

9.1

Non-Profit Housing Update

Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary presented the Annual Non-Profit Housing update for informational purposes.

10.

Economic Development - Mayor Danny Breen

11.

Tourism and Culture - Councillor Debbie Hanlon

12.

Governance & Strategic Priorities - Mayor Danny Breen

12.1

Election Reform - Recommendations

The Committee considered the report from the ad hoc Committee dealing with election reform.

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

  THAT Council amend the Election Finance By-Law as follows:

  • Reduce the limit for a financial contribution considered a “donation” from $250 to $100
  • Reduce the expenditure caps for each candidate from $10,000 plus $1.00 for each voter on the voters list, as follows:
    • Mayor $10,000 plus .71 per voter on the voters list
    • Deputy Mayor $10,000 plus .43 per voter on the voters list
    • Councillor at Large $10,000 plus .14 per voter on the voters list
    • Ward Councillor $10,000 plus .07 for each voter on the voters list
  • Reduce the timeline for disclosure of campaign contributions from the current ninety (90) days to thirty (30) days post-election
  • Impose a cap on corporate and union donations to 50 percent of the total allowable contributions in the 2021 election and prohibit any/all corporate and union donations beginning in the 2025 election
  • Reduce corporate and trade union donations from $2,000 to $1,000 as is currently permitted from an individual
  • Contributions can only be made to a candidate within the calendar year of the election
  • Require the disclosure of expenditures in addition to the contributions

     

  
  MOTION CARRIED (8 to 2)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Deputy Mayor O'Leary
  Seconded By Councillor Korab

  THAT Council approve maintaining the current structure which includes the position of mayor, deputy mayor, five ward councillors and four councillors at large.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Hickman
  Seconded By Deputy Mayor O'Leary

  THAT Council engage with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) to determine whether there is a willingness to lobby the Province to change legislation to provide further voting options.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Deputy Mayor O'Leary
  Seconded By Councillor Jamieson

  THAT Council continue to engage both the public and staff on ways to improve accessibility, diversity and increase voter turnout.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 0)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Jamieson
  Seconded By Councillor Lane

  THAT Council engage with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) to determine whether there is a willingness to lobby the Province to change legislation to permit permanent residents to vote.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Korab
  Seconded By Councillor Stapleton

  That recommendation no. 6 (reduction from 30 days to 21 days as a residency requirement) be amended to engage with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) to lobby the Provincial Government to amend the Municipal Elections Act. 

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

  THAT Council, engage with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) to lobby the Provincial Government to amend the Municipal Elections Act to reduce the residency requirements from 30 days to 21 days prior to election day.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Korab
  Seconded By Councillor Stapleton

  THAT Council approve the continued use of signage in election due to its continued necessity in campaigning.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (9 to 1)

12.2

Strategic Plan 2019 Report on Progress and 2020 Action Plan (Draft)

The City Manager provided Council with the update on the 2019 Strategic Plan and Continuous Improvement Progress Report.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Jamieson
  Seconded By Councillor Froude

  That Council accept the 2019 Strategic Plan and Continuous Improvement Progress Report and approve the 2020 draft initiative plan.

  
  MOTION CARRIED (7 to 0)

13.

Planning & Development - Councillor Maggie Burton

13.1

Built Heritage Experts Report - February 12, 2020

1.

164 Signal Hill Road Single Detached Dwelling DEV1900165 

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Burton
  Seconded By Councillor Jamieson

  That Council accept the Built Heritage Expert Panels recommendations for 164 Signal Hill Road that:

  1. The proposed building footprint is acceptable
  2. A two-storey house is acceptable at this site, however,
     1. The proposed overall height should be reduced to mitigate any negative impacts of view for neighbours;
     2. The design should be changed to incorporate a low-sloping gable or hipped roof, in keeping with other houses in the neighbourhood.
     3. The design, materials and windows should be in keeping with the character of the Battery Neighborhood.
  
  MOTION CARRIED (7 to 0)

14.

Transportation and Regulatory Services - Councillor Sandy Hickman

15.

Other Business

15.1

2020 Community Grants Program

Councillors Hickman and Burton, having declared a conflict of interest in this matter, vacated the chambers discussion and the vote.

• Recommendation
  Moved By Councillor Korab
  Seconded By Councillor Jamieson

  Council approve the 2020 Grant Allocations for Community, Sport, Special Events and Festivals, Artists and Artist Organizations as attached and in the following amounts:

  Community Groups               $723,100

  Sports Groups                        $177,500

  Artists & Art Organizations      $267,500

  Special Events and Festivals     $93,250

  Total                                       $1,261,800

  
  MOTION CARRIED (6 to 0)

16.

Adjournment

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 12:09 pm