HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS Minutes - 2022-06-08
Finance and Corporate Services
Committee Minutes
June 8, 2022, 12:00 p.m.
Electronic Meeting
Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic
Councillor S. Davey
Councillor D. Schnider
Councillor J. Gazzola
Councillor C. Michaud
Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock
Councillor P. Singh
Councillor B. Ioannidis
Councillor M. Johnston
Councillor D. Chapman
Councillor S. Marsh
Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy
Chief Administrator
V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services
J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services
D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services
L. MacDonald, City Solicitor
B. Rowland, Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing
S. Saleh, Director, Revenue
A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
E. Moorlag Silk, Interim Dir (Equity AR & II)
D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk
S. Goldrup, Committee Administrator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Commencement
The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held an electronic meeting this
date commencing at 12:00 p.m.
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2. Consent Items
2.1 Interim Nominating Committee Period Extension, COR-2022-212
The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2022-
212, dated May 27, 2022 recommending approval an Interim Nominating
Committee and a revised Terms of Reference for the Equity & Anti-Racism
Advisory Committee.
On motion by Councillor D. Schnider
it was resolved:
"That Council approve the creation of an Interim Nominating Committee to
review and select applicants for the 2022 round of membership
appointments to the Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, as
outlined in Corporate Services Department report COR-2022-212; and
further,
That Council approve the revised Terms of Reference for the Equity &
Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, as outlined in Appendix A of Report
COR-2022-212."
Carried
3. Discussion Items
3.1 Queen Victoria Statue - Considerations for Next Steps, COR-2022-253
The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2022-
253, dated May 27, 2022 regarding community engagement and public education
with respect to the Queen Victoria statue.
Elin Moorlag-Silk gave a presentation providing background on the Queen
Victoria Statue, the proposed engagement and education strategy, and
highlighted the timelines and objectives with each phase of the proposed
engagement.
A. Hallman provided background regarding a similar situation that occurred in the
Township of Wilmot and spoke in support of removing the statue.
D. Alton, GroundUpWR, spoke in support of removing the statue and advocated
that Committee consider establishing a new memorial on the site to recognize
Indigenous Peoples.
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S. Estoesta, spoke in support of removing the statue noting the systemic harms
that it continues to bring to both ancestors and living Indigenous Peoples.
M. Bowman, requested that Committee remove the statue reporting that leaving
it in place will continue to support colonialism story-telling and is not reflective of
truth and reconciliation actions committed to by Council.
K. Wahab, addressed immigration and the importance of the constitutional
monarchy in Canada expressing support that Committee leave the statue as is.
R.Christy, spoke to the relationship between Queen Victoria Regina and the
Indigenous People and requested that indigenous and non-indigenous histories
be reflected on the site.
C. Thorpe, addressed Committee and their pledge made toward Truth and
Reconciliation and requested that the statue be removed, addressing the harms
that the statue brings to indigenous peoples and referenced the John A.
MacDonald Prime Minister statue removal in Wilmot Township.
C. Degroot-Maggetti, requested that Committee remove the statue simply due to
the harm that is causes and the role that transitional justice can play in the
dialogue.
A. Smoke, Land Back Camp, spoke to the history of the Park and the effects that
the statue has on members of the Indigenous People, noting the strong
Indigenous population that currently resides in Kitchener. A. Smoke requested
the statue be removed and expressed support for the motion recommended by
GroundUpWR.
J. Buhr, expressed support for the previous delegates request to immediately
remove the statue.
S. Esmail, expressed support for removal of the statue from Victoria Park,
highlighting the impacts of colonial legacy on Indigenous Peoples.
In response to questions from Committee , E. Moorlag-Silk noted that no formal
engagement on the statue has taken place to date, provided examples of how
other municipalities have handled statues that cause harm, and explained the
intent and purposes of the year-long equity-informed engagement process
suggested by staff. E. Moorlag-Silk noted the feedback obtained from the
engagement will help to inform the process, explained what an equity-driven
community engagement process encompasses, and noted that staff are not
recommending removing the statue as there is a desire to conduct engagement
with the public prior to making a recommendation.
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Members of Committee discussed commissioning a separate artwork that
commemorates indigenous peoples, the engagement timeline, and the costs to
potentially relocate the statue.
Councillor J. Gazzola brought forward the staff recommendation as outlined in
the staff recommendation.
Councillor P. Singh brought forward an amendment to Councillor Gazzola's
motion to direct staff to commission new temporary public artwork that
recognizes Indigenous Peoples on the site while the engagement process
occurs.
Councillor P. Singh's amendment was then voted on and Carried on a recorded
vote, with Mayor B. Vrbanovic and Councillors S. Davey, D. Schnider, J.
Gazzola, C. Michaud, K. Galloway-Sealock, P. Singh, B. Ioannidis and D.
Chapman voting in favour; and, Councillor S. Marsh voting in opposition.
On motion by Councillor J. Gazzola
it was resolved:
"That staff be directed to launch an equity-driven community engagement
process to gather ideas and feedback from the community with respect to
the Queen Victoria statue located in Victoria Park, as outlined in Corporate
Services Department report COR-2022-253; and,
That staff be directed to launch a public education process around the
history related to Queen Victoria, the statue and its impacts; and further,
That staff be directed to commission new temporary public artwork that
recognizes Indigenous Peoples on the site while the engagement process
occurs."
In Favour (7): Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor D.
Schnider, Councillor J. Gazzola, Councillor C.
Michaud, Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock, Councillor
P. Singh, and Councillor B. Ioannidis
Contra (3): Councillor S. Davey, Councillor D.
Chapman, and Councillor S. Marsh
Carried, on a recorded vote (7 to 3)
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3.2 No Conversion Practices Policy Investigation Report Back, COR-2022-210
The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2022-
210, dated May 27, 2022 recommending approval of the no conversion practices
policy investigation report back. E. Moorlag-Silk addressed the report and was in
attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
R. Adams and H. Ardelean addressed Committee in support of the
recommendation as outlined in the report.
On motion by Councillor D. Chapman
it was resolved:
"That Council approve the recommended amendments to the City Facility
Usage by Groups or Events Policy (MUN-FAC-2030), as outlined in
Corporate Services Department report COR-2022-210; and,
That Council approve the recommended amendments to the Display &
Posting Community Facilities Policy (MUN-FAC-405); and,
That Council approve the recommended amendments to the Municipal
Sponsorship Policy (GOV-COR-2000); and further,
That Council approve the recommended criteria statement to be added to
all community grants provided by the City of Kitchener, including the RISE
Fund, Tier 2 Community Grants, LoveMyHood matching grants, and
Facilities grants."
In Favour (10): Mayor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor S.
Davey, Councillor D. Schnider, Councillor J. Gazzola,
Councillor C. Michaud, Councillor K. Galloway-
Sealock, Councillor P. Singh, Councillor B. Ioannidis,
Councillor D. Chapman, and Councillor S. Marsh
Carried, unanimously on a recorded vote (10 to 0)
3.3 Vacant Home Tax, FIN-2022-284
Councillor S. Davey brought forward a motion to defer the consideration of report
FIN-2022-284 to a future meeting.
On motion by Councillor S. Davey
it was resolved:
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"That Financial Services Department report FIN-2022-284, be deferred to
August 8, 2022 Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting
for consideration."
Carried
4. Information Items
4.1 None.
5. Adjournment
On motion, this meeting adjourned at 2:56 p.m.
A. Fusco
Director, Legislated Services / City Clerk
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