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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. 1 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. 2 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. 3 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) 4 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: 5 "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 6