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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - 2020-10-261916111kiIN10d,IIki011*11 OCTOBER 26, 2020 CITY OF KITCHENER The Council of the City of Kitchener met electronically this date at 7:00 p.m. Chaired by Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh with all members present except for Mayor B. Vrbanovic. 1. COMMENCEMENT — The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Acting Mayor and the singing of "O Canada". 2. MINUTES — On motion by Councillor S. Marsh, the minutes of the regular meeting held October 5, 2020, and special meetings held October 5, 19, and 20, 2020, as mailed to the Mayor and Councillors, were accepted. 3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF — NIL 4. COMMUNICATIONS REFERRED TO FILE — NIL 5. PRESENTATIONS — 5.a. Volunteer Long Term Service Awards On behalf of Council, Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh and Councillors D. Schnider, B. loannidis, K. Galloway-Sealock, D. Chapman and S. Marsh acknowledged the following recipients of Certificates of Appreciation and Long Service Recognition Awards: Minor Sports Groups • K -W Gymnastics Club — 55 years; • Forest Hill T -Ball Association — 50 years; • K -W Sidewinders Sledge Hockey Club — 40 years; • South-West Kitchener Optimist T -Ball — 40 years; • Waterloo Region Artistic Swim Club (previously KW Synchro and Waterloo Synchro) — 35 years; • Excelsior Fencing Club — 35 years; and, • K -W Special Olympics — 25 years. Neighbourhood Associations • Forest Heights Community Association — 45 years; • Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association — 25 years; • Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association — 45 years; • Auditorium Neighbourhood Association — 30 years; • Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance — 15 years; and, • King East Neighbourhood Association — 5 years. 5.b. Reep Green Solutions Annual Impact Report Mary Jane Patterson, Executive Director, Reep Green Solutions, was in attendance to present Council with the 2020 Reep Green Solutions Annual Impact Report. 5.c. Rare Charitable Research Reserve — Land Securement Strategy Dr. Stephanie Sobek-Swant was in attendance to present the Rare Charitable Research Reserve Land Securement Strategy. 6. DELEGATIONS — 6.a. Bramm Yards Shirley Gosselin, Cherry Park Neighbourhood Association, was in attendance to speak to the sale of the Bramm Yards to developers. S. Gosselin requested Council consider using the lands to develop a community centre in Ward 9, or for not-for-profit housing, and urged Council to consult with the local community before any specific City land is disposed of. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -120- CITY OF KITCHENER Myron Steinman was in attendance to speak to the sale of the Bramm Yards. M. Steinman suggested the sale of the property should be for the purpose of developing affordable housing, and further requested additional public consultation with respect to future uses on the land. Cory Bluhm, Executive Director of Economic Development, informed Council that before any decisions are made on City -owned land sales, there are extensive public engagement and consultation opportunities for citizens to provide input. Council considered Development Services Department report DSD -20-056 (C. Bluhm) listed as Item 8.a under Unfinished Business dated this date. Moved by Councillor M. Johnston Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That Make it Kitchener 2.0, attached as Appendix A to Development Services Department report DSD -20-056, be approved as the strategy to guide the City's future actions and investments in support of economic recovery and growth, from 2020 through 2025 -land, That a new Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF 2.0) be approved, enabling City Council to invest up to $110 million in the local economy from 2020-2030; and, That funding for the Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF 2.0) be achieved, through the following: a) Utilization of approximately $10 million from the Economic Development Reserve; b) Re -issuance of debt utilizing 40% of the debt room from the original Economic Development Investment Fund, for 8 years, totaling approximately $20 million; and, c) The strategic sale and disposition of City -owned lands, with sale proceeds being allocated to the Economic Development Investment Fund to support future investments; and, That the Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF 2.0) be created in accordance with Appendix C of report DSD -20-056; and further, That City staff immediately commence additional engagement with business leaders and COVID-impacted businesses for the purpose of providing Council with a detailed action plan by January 2021 to support impacted businesses and displaced workers, utilizing up to $5 million from the proposed Economic Development Investment Fund as a priority investment." In Favour: Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh and Councillors S. Marsh, S. Davey, M. Johnston, B. loannidis. K. Galloway-Sealock, D. Schnider, C. Michaud, and D. Chapman. Contra: Councillor J. Gazzola Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Carried on a Recorded Vote. 6.b. Gas-fired Electricity Generation Notice of Motion Jack Gibbons, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Megan Ruttan, and Mike Morrice were in attendance to speak in support of the Gas-fired Electricity Generation Notice of Motion introduced by Councillor D. Chapman. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -121- CITY OF KITCHENER Kai Reimer -Watts submitted written comments in support of the Notice of Motion Councillor D. Chapman gave notice that she will introduce the following motion for consideration this date to address greenhouse gas pollution. Moved by Councillor D. Chapman Seconded by Councillor B. loannidis "WHEREAS the Government of Ontario is planning to increase reliance on gas-fired electricity generation from Ontario's gas-fired power plants, which is anticipated to increase greenhouse gas pollution by more than 300% by 2025 and by more than 400% by 2040; WHEREAS Canada's temperature is rising more than double the rate of the rest of the world (which is in alignment with climate models and projections impacting northern climates most significantly); WHEREAS the Province of Ontario will adversely impact more than a third of the greenhouse gas reductions it achieved by phasing -out its dirty coal-fired power plants due to a power plan built around ramping up gas-fired generation to replace the output of the Pickering Nuclear Station (scheduled to close in 2024); WHEREAS alternative options are available to reversing short sighted cuts to energy efficiency programs and stop under -investing in this quick to deploy and low-cost resource, which include maximizing our energy efficiency efforts by paying up to the same price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for energy efficiency measures as we are currently paying for power from nuclear plants (e.g., up to 9.5 cents per kWh); WHEREAS the Province of Ontario should continue to support renewable energy projects that have costs that are below what we are paying for nuclear power and work with communities to make the most of these economic opportunities; WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has alternative options to increasing gas-fired electricity generation, such as the Province of Quebec's offer to receive low-cost 24/7 power from its water powered reservoir system as a possible alternative; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener requests the Government of Ontario to place an interim cap of 2.5 mega tonnes per year on our gas plants' greenhouse gas pollution and develop and implement a plan to phase-out all gas-fired electricity generation by 2030 to ensure that Ontario meets its climate targets; BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, to the local MPP's, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and to the Region of Waterloo and local area municipalities." In Favour: Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh and Councillors, S. Marsh, S. Davey, M. Johnston, B. loannidis. K. Galloway-Sealock, D. Schnider, C. Michaud, J. Gazzola, and D. Chapman. Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Carried Unanimously by all members present on a Recorded Vote. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS — COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES — October 19, 2020 Councillor J. Gazzola requested Clause 3 and 5 be voted on separately on a recorded vote. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -122- CITY OF KITCHENER In response to questions regarding Clause 3, Denise McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services, advised the urgency of the equity, anti -racism and Indigenous initiatives, as outlined in CSD - 20 -004, has highlighted the City's lack of awareness, insight and relationship building with Indigenous communities. Councillor D. Schnider brought forward an amendment to Clause 3, seconded by Councillor M. Johnston, to include an additional clause: "That, as part of the multi-year evaluation and accountability strategy that would be put in place to measurer and report on the City's progress in the areas of equity, anti -racism and Indigenous initiatives, staff be directed to include regularly scheduled communications and engagement with members of City Council." Councillor J. Gazzola requested Councillor Schnider's amendment be voted on a recorded vote. Councillor Schnider's amendment was voted on and Carried Unanimously on a recorded vote by all members present. Moved by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That the reports of the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee dated October 19, 2020, be adopted, as amended." Clause 3, as amended. — Carried on a Recorded Vote. In Favour: Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh and Councillors S. Marsh, S. Davey, M. Johnston, B. loannidis. K. Galloway-Sealock, D. Schnider, C. Michaud, and D. Chapman. Contra: Councillor J. Gazzola Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Clause 5 — Carried Unanimously on a recorded vote by all members present. Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Balance of Report — Carried. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS — 8.a. Development Services Department report DSD -20-056 — Make It Kitchener Strategy 2020- 2024 Dealt with under Delegations and Carried on a recorded vote. 9. NEW BUSINESS — 9.a Boulevard Parking Councillor C. Michaud gave notice that she will introduce the following motion for consideration this date to address Boulevard Parking: Moved by Councillor C. Michaud Seconded by Councillor M. Johnston "WHEREAS on October 28, 2019, Council approved a pilot project to allow parking on paved boulevards City-wide be made permanent and be permitted annually from COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -123- CITY OF KITCHENER December 1 thru March 31, and that an additional guideline be added to the program that requires any vehicle parked on a boulevard within a school zone from Monday to Friday to be removed by 8:00 a.m., as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD -19-031; and further, WHEREAS due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents have seen household compositions increase, and parking needs change; and have requested to be allowed to park on paved boulevards City-wide until the COVID-19 pandemic has ended; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that parking on the boulevard (paved area of a driveway between the sidewalk and the curb/road edge) be permitted until the state of emergency under declared by the City of Kitchener under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act has ended, subject to the conditions outlined in Community Services Department report CSD -19-031." Carried. 9.b Gas-fired Electricity Generation Dealt with under Delegations and Carried Unanimously by all members present 10. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — Councillor M. Johnston discussed a recent article in The Record entitled "COVID-19's second wave washed overcrowded, Black neighbourhoods" that highlighted inequities related to the COVID-19 infection rates among Black neighbourhoods. Councillor M. Johnston asked what the appropriate mechanism was for City Council to advance this issue. Dan Chapman, Chief Administrator Officer, advised that he would bring forward the concern to the Region of Waterloo Chief Administrative Officer who is the Chair of the Community Pandemic Control Group. 11. BY-LAWS (FIRST READING) — Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh requested, and Council agreed to amend Item C from "68 Saddlebrook Crescent" to "68 Saddlebrook Court". Moved by Councillor D. Chapman Seconded by Councillor B. loannidis "That leave be given the Mover and Seconder to introduce the following by-laws, namely: a. By-law to amend Chapter 101 of the Municipal Code with respect to the appointment of staff. b. By-law to amend By-law 84-52 of The Corporation of the City of Kitchener which designated part of the property municipally known as 883 Doon Village Road as being of historic and architectural value. C. By-law to designate the property municipally addressed as 68 Saddlebrook Court, Kitchener as being of cultural heritage value or interest. d. To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council. Carried. 12. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - On motion, Council resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole to consider its agenda and Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh appointed Councillor S. Marsh as Chair. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -124- CITY OF KITCHENER A. BY-LAWS LISTED ON THE AGENDA — 2ND READING It was resolved: "That the by-laws considered by this Committee be taken as read a second time and be recommended for enactment." B. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 1. DSD -20-174— Ontario Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network Program It was resolved: "That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign a funding agreement with the Business Advisory Center Durham on behalf of the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre to deliver the Ontario Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network program, a program funded by the Ontario Together Fund, with said agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor; and further, That the General Manager, Development Services be authorized to execute on behalf of the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre amendments or documents to the funding agreement provided such documents or amendments are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." 2. COR -20-017 — Regional Council Composition Review — Ratification of Regional Council's Resolution Councillor S. Davey brought forward an amendment to include the following additional clauses: "That the City of Kitchener requests the Region of Waterloo to include public engagement on alternative representation methods, including, but not limited to, the double -direct model, in the next Regional Composition Review (following the 2026 election); and, That the City of Kitchener request the Province of Ontario to immediately remove the restriction barring candidates from running in both upper and lower municipal tiers; and further That this resolution be sent to the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Honorable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, the Region of Waterloo, and Region of Waterloo MPPs and local municipalities." Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock requested paragraph 1 of Councillor Davey's amendment be voted on separately and paragraphs 2 and 3 be voted on together all a recorded vote. Paragraph 1 of Councillor Davey's amendment was then voted on and Carried Unanimously on a recorded vote by all members present. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Councillor Davey's was then voted on and Carried on a recorded vote with Acting Mayor Councillor P. Singh and Councillors S. Davey, D. Schnider, J. Gazzola, C. Michaud, B. loannidis, M. Johnston, and S. Marsh voting in favor, and Councillors K. Galloway-Sealock and D. Chapman voting in opposition. Mayor B. Vrbanovic was absent and did not vote accordingly. It was resolved: "That the current composition of Regional Council, being a 16 Member Council consisting of 1 Regional Chair, 7 Mayors, 2 Cambridge Councillors, 4 Kitchener Councillors, and 2 Waterloo Councillors in accordance with Section 218 (6) of the Municipal Act as outlined in the Region of Waterloo report PDL -CAS -20-11, dated October 14, 2020, be approved; and, That staff be directed to notify the Regional Clerk of the Region of Waterloo accordingly before November 15, 2020; and, COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -125- CITY OF KITCHENER That the City of Kitchener requests the Region of Waterloo to include public engagement on alternative representation methods, including, but not limited to, the double -direct model, in the next Regional Composition Review (following the 2026 election); and, That the City of Kitchener request the Province of Ontario to immediately remove the restriction barring candidates from running in both upper and lower municipal tiers; and further That this resolution be sent to the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Honorable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing, the Region of Waterloo, and Region of Waterloo MPPs and local municipalities." Carried. 3. FIN -20-062 — COVID Financial Impacts — Request for Phase 2 Safe Restart Funding It was resolved: "That the significant financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the City's financial position as outlined in report FIN -20-062 be acknowledged; and That the proposed allocation of Phase 1 Safe Restart funding be approved; and further That a request for $5.8M in additional Phase 2 Safe Restart funding, to help cover 2020 operating pressures and impacts not fully addressed through the initial funding received, be supported and submitted to the Province as a formal request for funding." 13. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — On motion, Council rose from the Committee of the Whole and Mayor B. Vrbanovic occupied the Chair. Moved by Councillor S. Marsh Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider "That the proceedings and the recorded pecuniary interests and conflicts taken in the meeting of the Committee of the Whole held this date, as attached hereto and forming part of these minutes are hereby adopted and confirmed." Carried. 14. BY-LAWS (THIRD READING) - Moved by Councillor K. Galloway-Sealock Seconded by Councillor S. Marsh "That the by-laws be given third reading, namely: a. By-law to amend Chapter 101 of the Municipal Code with respect to the appointment of staff. (By-law No. 2020-060) b. By-law to amend By-law 84-52 of The Corporation of the City of Kitchener which designated part of the property municipally known as 883 Doon Village Road as being of historic and architectural value. (By-law No. 2020-061) c. By-law to designate the property municipally addressed as 68 Saddlebrook Court, Kitchener as being of cultural heritage value or interest. (By-law No. 2020-062) d. To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -126- CITY OF KITCHENER (By-law No. 2020-063) be taken as read a third time, be finally passed and numbered serially by the Clerk." Carried. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 10:04 p.m. .. . ._....._.. .:.. �r' . ............. _.... MAYOR LERZ COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -127- CITY OF KITCHENER IN21191:4&yetBiel i9:1NJW01i0LIN10 COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE — OCTOBER 19, 2020 1. That subject to annual budget approval, Council provide a grant of up to $220k per year to the Working Centre in order that they provide assisted services (winter sidewalk clearing) to up to 325 properties annually, as outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS -20-013; and, That such a grant be adjusted based on the number of residential properties serviced year over year and be reflective of the operational costs incurred by the Working Centre to deliver services; and, That the grant is not eligible to be used for sub -contracting third party commercial contractors to perform the services outlined in this report; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into a three-year grant agreement with The Working Centre, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, to provide the services outlined in Report INS -20-013 and also in Report INS -20-010. 2. That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a conditional Agreement of Purchase and Sale, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD -20-156, with Kitchener Trussler Holdings Inc. for their acquisition of the City's remnant piece of the Ottawa Street South road allowance having an area of approximately 2.21 acres, at a purchase price of $884,000., subject to the City's conditions; and, That the subject road allowance be closed and declared surplus to the City's needs; and further, That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, to execute all documentation required to complete the transaction. 3. That the City advance its work on equity, anti -racism and Indigenous initiatives, as well as other social justice issues (e.g., homelessness), through the creation of a dedicated staff team, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD -20-004, which will provide senior level leadership and internal staff expertise in these areas; and, That the associated funding for that team be built into the 2021 budget; and, That the job postings for all five positions include explicitly clear language that will strongly encourage people of equity -seeking backgrounds with lived experience of racism and systemic oppression to apply; and, That for the job postings for the top three leadership roles include language that calls on members of the black and Indigenous and people of colour communities to apply; and, That the hiring process seek out applicants with a deep and nuanced understanding of an equity lens; and, That the terms of reference defining the staff team roles include wording that ensures over the long-term, regardless of staff turnover, individuals applying to those roles in the future continue to be strongly encouraged to have equity -seeking backgrounds with lived experience in racism and systemic oppression; and further, That, as part of the multi-year evaluation and accountability strategy that would be put in place to measurer and report on the City's progress in the areas of equity, anti -racism and Indigenous initiatives, staff be directed to include regularly scheduled communications and engagement with members of City Council. Carried, as amended, on a recorded vote. COUNCIL MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 2020 -128- CITY OF KITCHENER 4. That Kitchener Utilities' natural gas rates be approved as proposed in Appendix 'A' of Infrastructure Services Department report INS -20-016 for all Kitchener delivery customers effective November 1, 2020. 5. That the 2020 Cycling and Trails Master Plan for the City of Kitchener be adopted as the guiding document for cycling and trails implementation, as outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS -20-015; and, That consideration of the recommendations and implementation of the plan be referred to departmental business plans and budget process; and further, That the Mayor write on behalf of Kitchener City Council to the provincial and federal ministers responsible for Cycling and Trails infrastructure urging that any post-COVID Infrastructure stimulus programs include the potential of funding for cycling and trail infrastructure at both the local and regional levels. Carried on a recorded vote.