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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2000-04-27 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2000 CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 3:30 p.m. this date and Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr with all members present except Councillors B. Vrbanovic and Jake Smola. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting after its commencement. Notice of this special meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. Mayor C. Zehr advised that the purpose of the meeting was to deal with the subject of ward boundary re- alignment after considering a report from Mr. R.W. Pritchard, dated April 26, 2000, outlining various options for a six-ward system of representation. At the request of Mayor C. Zehr, Mr. R.W. Pritchard provided a brief presentation of his report utilizing the overhead projection system. Mr. Pritchard advised that based on direction received from City Council on April 17, 2000, a staff committee met to develop options for consideration by Council that would re-adjust ward boundaries as a result of the Provincially mandated reduction in the number of wards from ten to six. He explained that in developing options staff had adhered to existing Council approved ward boundary criteria which he proceeded to describe. Mr. Pritchard referred to the list of Planning Communities within the City containing population and voters for the years 1999 and 2008 respectively that was utilized to assist in developing the four possible 6-ward options that were provided to Council. He also pointed out that a revised overlay had been distributed this date that referenced major streets and community boundaries. Mayor C. Zehr noted that staff have put forward a preference for either Option 'A' or Option 'C' which the staff committee believes best meet ward boundary criteria. Councillor B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this point. Comments were made on the proposed Options 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' by various members of Council. Councillor G. Lorentz stated it was his view that the biggest boundary changes relate to existing Wards 9 and 10 and in this regard suggested that Planning Communities 4 and 5 should be moved from proposed Ward 5 into proposed Ward 6 to achieve relative voter equality between the two Wards. Mr. B. Stanley responded to Councillor C. Weylie as to the rationale for the boundary lines of proposed Ward 2. Councillor M. Yantzi commented that he preferred the ward boundary lines proposed under Option 'B' as each of the six Councillors would represent a portion of their Ward that would have an interest in King Street. Councillor J. Haalboom indicated that she would like to see Planning Communities 42 and 43 shifted from proposed Ward 3 to proposed Ward 4 on the basis that those Communities had a more direct community of interest linkage to communities in proposed Ward 4. Councillor John Smola indicated that he had a concern with Option 'D' given the limited representation that it allocated to the Downtown. Earlier in the meeting Mayor C. Zehr had indicated that Council might consider sending a preferred ward boundary option as well as an alternative option to the Province. However, Councillor G. Lorentz questioned why Council would want to present more than one option to the Province and suggested that Council agree on a preferred option. Mayor C. Zehr suggested that at this time Council deal with elimination of options. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'D' be removed from consideration." Carried. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor J. Ziegler "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'B' be removed from consideration." Carried. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2000 - 242 - CITY OF KITCHENER Councillor B. Vrbanovic commented that after further consideration of the ward boundary issue, it was his view that providing the Province with only one ward boundary re-alignment option for consideration made the best sense and leaves absolutely no room for ambiguity. Moved by Councillor C. Weylie Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'A' be removed from consideration." Carried. Council then entered into discussion and consideration of the merits of Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C'. Councillor J. Ziegler indicated that he was prepared to introduce a motion to adopt Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C' which would then allow for discussion and amendment. However, it was questioned how further consideration of any decisions this date could be dealt with at the May 1, 2000 Finance and Administration Committee meeting and special Council meeting. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That any decision made this date in respect to the matter of Ward Boundary Re-alignment will not be subject to Council's procedure for reconsideration when the ward boundary issue is dealt with at the special Council meeting to be held May 1,2000/' Carried Unanimously. Moved by Mayor C. Zehr Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C' be adopted." Council then entered into a discussion of individual concerns with regard to the ward boundaries outlined in Option 'C'. Several Councillors favoured shifting Planning Communities 4 and 5 from proposed Ward 5 into proposed Ward 6. Councillor C. Weylie suggested Planning Community 4 should be shifted to proposed Ward 1; however, Councillor John Smola noted that such action would be contrary to Council boundary criteria with respect to King Street. Mr. R.W. Pritchard noted that in 1997 Council had rejected crossing King Street. Councillor M. Yantzi suggested that a portion of Planning Community 29 could be shifted from proposed Ward 5 to proposed Ward 6 to even out voter population in order to avoid shifting Planning Communities 4 and 5. Councillor B. Vrbanovic saw no reason why Planning Communities 4 and 5 could not be shifted from proposed Ward 5 to proposed Ward 6. However, Councillor K. Taylor- Harrison maintained that Planning Communities 4 and 5 relate more closely to Planning Communities 3 and 14 than they do to those Planning Communities in proposed Ward 6. Councillor M. Yantzi commented that there appeared to be a readiness to carve up Downtown neighbourhoods rather than suburban neighbourhoods to accommodate the new ward boundaries. Councillor B. Vrbanovic suggested that staff could consider some boundary change to proposed Wards 5 and 6 and bring that information to the special Council meeting on May 1, 2000. Councillor M. Yantzi suggested that Planning Community 6 might be moved from proposed Ward 5 to proposed Ward 6. Moved by Councillor G. Lorentz Seconded by Councillor John Smola "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C' be revised to provide for Planning Communities 4 and 5 to be shifted from proposed Ward 5 into proposed Ward 6." A motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic, seconded by Councillor T. Galloway, to defer consideration of the motion respecting Planning Communities 4 and 5 was put to a vote and Lost. The motion by Councillor G. Lorentz, seconded by Councillor John Smola, to shift Planning Communities 4 and 5 from proposed Ward 5 to proposed Ward 6 was put to a vote and Carried. Discussion then took place with regard to a proposal by Councillor J. Haalboom to shift Planning Communities 42 and 43 from proposed Ward 3 to proposed Ward 4. Councillor Haalboom maintained SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 27, 2000 - 243 - CITY OF KITCHENER that these Planning Communities in reality had a community of interest with adjacent communities located in proposed Ward 4. Further, she maintained that the suggested change simply reverses the population differential from one ward to another and has no other effect in that regard. Councillor J. Ziegler maintained that there was a longer term effect in 2008 relative to population differential. Councillor J. Ziegler suggested that a portion of Planning Community 27 might be considered for shifting from proposed Ward 4 to proposed Ward 3. Councillor T. Galloway stated that he was opposed to Councillor J. Haalboom's request respecting Planning Communities 42 and 43 and pointed out that historical issues are not a ward boundary criteria. Accordingly, it was his view that Planning Communities 42 and 43 would be better left in proposed Ward 3 which would result in having two representatives support this historical area of the City. Moved by Councillor J. Haalboom Seconded by Councillor J. Ziegler "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C' be revised to provide for Planning Communities 42 and 43 to be shifted from proposed Ward 3 into proposed Ward 4." Carried. Mayor C. Zehr indicated that he would vote against this revision when this matter was dealt with at the May 1, 2000 special Council meeting. No other changes to Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C' were forthcoming. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic "That Ward Boundary Re-alignment Option 'C', as amended, be adopted and referred to the May 1, 2000 Finance and Administration Committee meeting and special Council meeting for further consideration." Carried. Mr. R.W. Pritchard indicated that mapping reflecting the revisions agreed to this date would be provided at the May 1, 2000 meetings as well as information for discussion as to possible shifting of Planning Community 6 from proposed Ward 5 into proposed Ward 6 on the assumption that Planning Communities 4 and 5 were to remain in proposed Ward 5. Moved by Councillor John Smola Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to consider a personal matter and a land acquisition matter." Carried. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:06 p.m. MAYOR CLERK