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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2021-02-08 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2021 CITY OF KITCHENER A special electronic meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chamber at 5:05 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all members present. Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. CSD-21-003—AMENDMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY BY-LAW — IDLING CONTROL Moved by Councillor B. loannidis Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That Council approve the fine amount set out in Schedule A of the Administrative Penalty By- law 2019- 039 as it relates to Idling." Carried. DSD -21-020 — CONTINUED SUPPORTS FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY PROVINCIAL RESTRICTIONS Moved by Councillor B. loannidis Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That, as part of the City's ongoing efforts to support businesses impacted by Provincial restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City undertake the following: a) Continue to provide necessary resource supports in the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre to continue to provide needed services where Provincial funding is unavailable; b) Utilize all relevant and applicable City of Kitchener communication channels to ensure local businesses are aware of all funding supports, including Federal and Provincial programs; c) Continue to provide support to the KW Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement Areas and Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation for their recovery initiatives, such as the Live: Ask an Expert webinar series; d) Extend the waiving of fees for portable signs until June 30, 2021, authorizing staff to further extend the waiving of these fees until the end of the pandemic if deemed necessary; e) Extending 2021 Business Licensing due dates and deferring late fees until June 30, 2021; f) Continue to provide free parking in Downtown surface parking lots after 5pm and on weekends until June 30, 2021, authorizing staff to further extend said free parking until the end of the pandemic if deemed necessary; g) Ensure an expeditious patio approval program remains in place in advance of warmer weather, including the waiving of municipal patio fees; and, h) Continue to support tenants of City of Kitchener facilities, such as the Kitchener Market, with accessing applicable Federal and Provincial support programs, such as rent relief subsidies; and further, That City staff continue with a phased and agile approach to industry consultation and business recovery as outlined in Report DSD -21-020." Carried Unanimously NOTICE OF MOTION — COVID-19 SICK TIME Councillor M. Johnston gave notice that she will introduce the following motion for consideration this date, to address COVID-19 Sick Time. Moved by Councillor M. Johnston Seconded by Councillor S. Marsh "WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic and rise in workplace outbreaks has highlighted the crucial need for paid sick time. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2021 -14- CITY OF KITCHENER WHEREAS workplace outbreaks continue to be a major obstacle in slowing the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities. WHEREAS research shows those who do not have access to paid sick time are more likely to attend work when sick and those most at -risk for illnesses like COVID-19 are the least able to afford to stay home without pay. WHEREAS research shows that access to paid sick time can help reduce the spread of influenza -like illnesses in the workplace. WHEREAS the provincial government currently offers job -protected, unpaid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (Leave) under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, which puts some workers in a precarious financial situation. This Leave is only in place until July 3, 2021. WHEREAS the federal government has introduced the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (Benefit) for workers who are sick or need to self -isolate due to COVID-19. This Benefit is also time-limited and only in place until September 25, 2021. The Benefit covers a maximum of two one-week periods, if a worker may be sick with COVID-19 or needs to self -isolate more than once, they can only receive payment for one of the recommended ten-day (minimum period for illness) or fourteen -day (period for high-risk exposure) isolation periods. Maximum payment for the Benefit is $450 per one-week period (after taxes), which does not cover most workers' full wages. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener advocate to the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to more fully address the need for paid sick time throughout our workforce to help address ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the spread of other illnesses in the future by: a. requiring employers in Ontario to provide no less than five paid sick days annually to workers, after three months of employment, through amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or through a different mechanism; b. providing necessary funding, fiscal relief, and/or supports to employers so that all workers in Ontario have access to no less than 10 paid sick days annually in the event of a declared infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and c. ensuring all workers in Ontario have access to protected and paid emergency leave so that care can be provided to children, parents, or other family members who may become ill; and, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Kitchener also support the Region of Waterloo Council and its Public Health Board in calling for the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to be designated as part of the Province of Ontario's High Priority Communities Strategy so as to implement a range of interventions to slow transmission in higher risk communities within the City of Kitchener and protect our most vulnerable; and further, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this correspondence be sent to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario's Big City Mayors (OBCM) and Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO) as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and its Big City Mayors' Caucus to advocate with one voice on behalf of Ontario and Canadian municipal elected leaders." Carried Unanimously. NOTICE OF MOTION — REOPENING ONTARIO ACT Councillor S. Davey declared a pecuniary interest with respect to the Notice of Motion regarding the Reopening Ontario Act due to his spouse's employment and as such did not discuss or vote on this matter. Councillor D. Schnider declared a pecuniary interest with respect to the Notice of Motion regarding the Reopening Ontario Act due to his spouse's employment and as such did not discuss or vote on this matter. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2021 -15- CITY OF KITCHENER Mayor B. Vrbanovic gave notice that he will introduce the following motion for consideration this date to address the Reopening Ontario Act. Moved by Councillor S. Marsh Seconded by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock "WHEREAS the past ten months have been challenging from an economic point of view within the City of Kitchener and throughout Ontario and Canada; and, WHEREAS small business has been impacted significantly throughout the pandemic, while larger operations have been able to continue their operations, resulting in many small businesses being on the brink of ongoing viability; and, WHEREAS Ontario is preparing to re -open businesses after the current shutdown that has been in effect since December 26tH THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchenerjoin the Region of Waterloo and other municipalities across Ontario in asking the Province of Ontario to review and potentially amend the Reopening Ontario Act and associated regulations, in order to ensure a consistent application of the law and a reduction in frustration amongst businesses and enforcement agencies, in the following areas: • More equitable capacity regulations for restaurants and similar facilities that are based on the size of the operation. • Regulations that limit big box operations like Costco and Walmart to only the sale of essential items via in -purchase shopping and anything else limited to curbside pick-up as with other businesses. • Regulations that permit small businesses to re -open with limited clientele at a time by appointment, thus minimizing any public health risks. BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario clarify regulations to provide for a consistent application of the regulations across the Province on business openings in various instances including situations such as drive-thru events; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ontario government enhance the Provincial inquiry processes in order to assist public health units and enforcement agencies with a timely and consistent interpretation of the laws and regulations across the Province; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government and Ontario provincial government consider additional pandemic stimulus funding for small businesses now in order to hopefully ensure the ongoing viability of many of these businesses critical to our communities, and further, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution and associated material be circulated to all municipalities in the Region of Waterloo and local area MP's, MPPs, as well as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the FCM Big City Mayors' Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ontario Big Cities Mayors Caucus. Carried. IN -CAMERA MEETING AUTHORIZATION Moved by Councillor M. Johnston Seconded by Councillor D. Chapman "That an in -camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special council meeting to consider two litigation/potential litigation matter which are also subject to solicitor -client privilege, a personal matter, and a labour relations matter as authorized by Sections 239 (2) (e), (f), (b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively." Carried. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2021 -16- CITY OF KITCHENER The meeting recessed at 5:31 p.m. and reconvened electronically at 11:12 p.m. chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic with all members present, except for Councillor M. Johnston. 6. LPAT APPEAL 859 & 867 FREDERICK STREET & 39 AVON ROAD Council considered a matter arising from an electronic in -camera meeting held earlier this date. Moved by Councillor D. Schnider Seconded by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock "That the City Solicitor be authorized to settle the LPAT appeal pertaining to 859 & 867 Frederick Street and 39 Avon Road in accordance with the direction given in -camera on February 8, 2021, including, if necessary, the execution of Minutes of Settlement." Carried. 7. BY-LAWS FOR THREE READINGS Moved by Councillor S. Davey Seconded by Councillor B. loannidis "That leave be given the Mover and Seconder to introduce the following by-laws for three readings and that the same be taken as read a first, second and third times, and finally be passed and numbered serially by the Clerk." Being a by-law to amend the parking administrative penalty by-law (By-law No. 2021-013) Being a by-law to confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council (By-law No. 2021-014) Carried. On motion the meeting adjourned at 11:17 p.m. Aa..m_ .............. 4!�kz MAYOR CLERK 31