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.
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MAYOR CLERK 31