Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil - 2013-05-06 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 6, 2013 CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 4:28 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor C. Zehr 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. Moved by Councillor Y. Fernandes Seconded by Councillor F. Etherington "That an in- camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to consider a land acquisition / disposition matter." Carried. The meeting then recessed at 4:29 p.m. and re- convened at 5:35 p.m., chaired by Mayor C. Zehr and with all members present except Councillor P. Singh. Mayor C. Zehr indicated that at the April 29, 2013 Council meeting it was agreed that representatives from Compass Kitchener, the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee would be permitted to provide comments on whether the City should be a host municipality for an Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG) gaming facility. He advised that the three Advisory Committees would be under the same rules of protocol used for the two public consultation meetings and reconfirmed that there would be no delegations permitted on May 13, 2013 at which time Council will deliberate and make a decision on the matter of an OLG gaming facility. Ms. Sarah Marsh gave a presentation on behalf of Compass Kitchener, outlining the Committee's objections to the City of Kitchener being a host municipality for an OLG gaming facility. She advised that permitting a casino to be constructed in Kitchener would contravene the community priorities set out in the City's Strategic Plan. Mr. Doug McKlusky addressed Council on behalf of the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee, advising that the Committee was unanimous in its opposition to a casino being built in the City of Kitchener. He commented that should Council decide to be a host municipality, the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee encourages the City to implement the recommendations put forward by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council to assist with mitigating the impact that a casino would have on this community. Ms. Ashley Reid addressed Council on behalf of the Economic Development Advisory Committee, indicating that at their April 24, 2013 meeting the Committee decided that more information was needed in order for Council to make an informed decision. Accordingly, it is being recommended that the City should express an interest in being involved in the process to host a casino, with the understanding that Council can withdraw its consent for this endeavour at any time. She noted that this would allow more time for an assessment of the risks and benefits associated with hosting a casino. Council considered a recommendation arising from the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting held earlier this date regarding gas site inspections, to reassure area residents in the vicinity of the explosion and fire that destroyed a two - storey home on January 27, 2013. Moved by Councillor K. Galloway - Sealock Seconded by Councillor B. loannidis "That staff be directed to proceed with a gas site inspection program, outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS -13 -047, for the residential area shown in Appendix A." A motion was brought forward by Councillor J. Gazzola, seconded by Councillor D. Glenn- Graham, to defer consideration of the gas site inspection program to the May 13, 2013 Council meeting. Councillor Gazzola's deferral motion was then voted on and LOST on a recorded vote as a result of a tie, with Councillors J. Gazzola, D. Glenn- Graham, Z. Janecki, Y. Fernandes and S. Davey voting in favour; and, Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. loannidis, K. Galloway - Sealock, B. Vrbanovic and F. Etherington voting in opposition. Councillor P. Singh was absent from this meeting. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 6, 2013 -106- CITY OF KITCHENER Councillor Galloway - Sealock's motion was then voted on and Carried on a recorded vote, with Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors B. loannidis, K. Galloway - Sealock, B. Vrbanovic, F. Etherington, Y. Fernandes and S. Davey voting in favour; and, Councillors J. Gazzola, D. Glenn- Graham and Z. Janecki voting in opposition. Councillor P. Singh was absent from this meeting. Moved by Councillor B. loannidis Seconded by Councillor Y. Fernandes "That leave be given the Mover and Seconder to introduce a by -law to confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council and that the same be taken as read a first, second and third times, be finally passed and numbered 2013 -059 by the Clerk." Carried. On motion the meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m. MAYOR CLERK