Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 1998-12-07 SCOU N CI L\1998-12-07-S P E DECEMBER 7, 1998 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 12:15 p.m. this date and Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr with all members present. Notice of this special meeting had previously been given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code. Council had previously received notice of an additional item subject to solicitor-client privilege and it was agreed to add this item to the motion authorizing an in-camera meeting this date. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor M. Yantzi "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following recess of this special meeting to consider a land acquisition matter, two labour relations/employee negotiation matters and two matters subject to solicitor-client privilege." Carried. The meeting then recessed at 12:16 p.m. and reconvened at 2:10 p.m., Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr with the following members present: Councillors C. Weylie, J. Haalboom, B. Vrbanovic, T. Galloway, J. Ziegler, G. Lorentz, M. Yantzi, and Jake Smola. Council was in receipt this date of a report and recommendation from L. MacDonald, Assistant City Solicitor, dated December 4, 1998 concerning indemnification of the owner(s) of 2 Moore Avenue. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an Indemnification, indemnifying the owner(s) of 2 Moore Avenue from any and all claims which may arise as a result of the City of Kitchener Fire Department's use of the boarded up building for the purpose of setting a supervised fire for the filming of a commercial to promote WRAPPC (Waterloo Regional Arson Prevention Program for Children)." Carried. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That pursuant to Section 25.4.4(f) of Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code, Council consider an urgent matter being the recommendation of the Finance and Administration Committee of this date concerning Bill 79, as the Provincial review of this Bill commences this date." Carried with the required two-thirds majority of Council. Moved by Councillor J. Ziegler Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "WHEREAS the City of Kitchener believes that all taxpayers of Ontario should enjoy the benefits of fair taxation, and fair distribution of taxation; AND WHEREAS the Provincial Government having deemed the previous assessment system as outdated, dysfunctional and unfair, introduced Current Value Assessment for 1998 taxation; AND WHEREAS in introducing the Current Value Assessment system, the Provincial Government empowered municipalities with tax policy decisions on implementation; AND WHEREAS all local tax policy decisions for 1998 taxation have been made and tax billings have been issued; SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES DECEMBER 7, 1998 - 567 - CITY OF KITCHENER AND WHEREAS the Provincial Government, without consultation with municipalities, has now introduced Bill 79 which mandates unfair tax practices, and substantially curtails the tax policy power previously given to municipalities; AND WHEREAS the Province expects 1998 tax policy to be reshaped and tax billings to be reissued, clawing back decreases to cushion tax increases; AND WHEREAS Bill 79 will result in some taxpayers subsidizing taxpayers in other municipalities; AND WHEREAS Bill 79 perpetuates the commercial competitive disadvantages which existed in the previous assessment system whereby over-taxed enterprises subsidized under-taxed competitors; AND WHEREAS the Government of Ontario has not notified affected taxpayers of the impacts of Bill 79, despite having promised fair taxation for all of Ontario; AND WHEREAS the complexity of Bill 79 will result in greater confusion for taxpayers; AND WHEREAS the administration costs related to the implementation of the complexities of Bill 79 will have a major impact on municipalities in terms of additional staff resources, computer programming and impact on cash flow; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener strongly urges the Province of Ontario to abandon Bill 79 and that discussions be resumed with the Municipal Expert Panel in an effort to find a more workable and less costly solution to achieving the Provincial Government's objectives; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be circulated to local M.P.P.'s, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Association of Municipal Clerks & Treasurers of Ontario, the Association of Municipal Tax Collectors of Ontario, and the Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario." Carried. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign a Confidentiality Agreement satisfactory to the City Solicitor in regard to disclosure of the agreement between MetroNet Communications Group Inc. and the Corporation of the City of Toronto, as well as any other such agreements between MetroNet and other municipalities as required." Carried. The meeting then recessed at 2:15 p.m. and reconvened at 6:20 p.m. with all members present except Councillor John Smola. Moved by Councillor C. Weylie Seconded by Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison "That no action be taken with respect to submission of an offer by the City to purchase St. Boniface School for use as a Community Centre; and further, That staff meet with community representatives in the area of St. Boniface School to find additional space needed for purposes of community programming and prepare a report for consideration by the Finance and Administration Committee early in 1999." Councillor J. Ziegler stated that he was opposed to the motion of no action on the basis that acquisition of the school represented an opportunity to possibly acquire a community centre at very Iow cost even taking into consideration any necessary extra cost upgrades that would be required to the facility. DECEMBER 7, 1998 SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES - 568 - CITY OF KITCHENER At Councillor Ziegler's request, the motion of Councillor C. Weylie was split and considered in two parts with each being Carried. Councillor J. Ziegler requesting to be recorded as opposed to no action being taken. At the Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting held earlier this date, Councillor M. Yantzi requested that the resolution approving the demolition of 14 and 18 St. George Street be ratified at this special Council meeting. Moved by Councillor C. Weylie Seconded by Councillor M. Yantzi "That pursuant to section 25.4.4(f) of the Municipal Code (Chapter 25 - Council Procedure), the resolution arising from the Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting held December 7, 1998 respecting the demolition of 14 and 18 St. George Street be deemed urgent and added to the special Council meeting agenda for ratification this date." Carried with required two-thirds majority vote of the whole Council. Moved by Councillor C. Weylie Seconded by Councillor M. Yantzi "That Demolition Control Application DC 98/12/S/RM (Benton Street Baptist Church) requesting approval for the demolition of two single detached dwellings located at 14 and 18 St. George Street, legally described as Part of Lot 36, Registered Plan 393, be approved." Carried. Moved by Councillor K. Taylor-Harrison Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "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 98-196 by the Clerk." Carried. On motion the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. MAYOR CLERK