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Home My WebLink AboutFCS Minutes - 2024-09-16 Finance and Corporate Services Committee Minutes September 16, 2024, 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. Ioannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Councillor S. Stretch 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 G. MacNeil, Director, By-law Enforcement G. St. Louis, Director, Gas & Water Utilities A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk C. Bluhm, Executive Director, Economic Development K. Abu-Eseifan, Manager, Gas Supply & Engineering D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Blake, Committee Coordinator M. Mills, Committee Coordinator _____________________________________________________________________ 1 1. Commencement The Finance and Corporate Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 4:03 p.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 3. Consent It was noted a delegation registered to present on consent item 3.3 entitled Noise Exemption, VanMar Constructors On Inc, 641 King Street West, CSD-2024-408 on the agenda this date, thus this matter would be considered separately from all consent items. 3.1 Nominating Committee Reappointments - 2024-2026 - COR-2024-394 The Committee considered Corporate Services Department report COR-2024- 394, dated July 23, 2024 recommending re-appointments to the Nominating Committee for a two-year term from November 2024 to November 14, 2026. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis it was resolved: Community Foundation, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, the United Way Waterloo Region Communities, Capacity Canada, and the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce as outlined in Corporate Services Department report COR-2024-394, be re-appointed to the Nominating Committee for a two-year term from November 2024 to November 14, 2026; and, That the Appointment to Boards and Committees Policy, GOV-BOA-063 and Nominating Committee Terms of Reference Policy, GOV-BOA-010 - 2024-394 be amended." Carried 3.2 School Bus Loading Zone and Crossing Guard Adjustments DSD-2024-397 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024- 397, dated August 29, 2029 recommending approval for School Bus Loading Zones and Crossing Guard adjustments for various locations within the City. 2 On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis it was resolved: "That the School Bus Loading Zone be extended on the east side (odd- numbered) of Indian Road from a point 77 m north of McGee Avenue to a point approximately 147 m North thereof; and, That a School Bus Loading Zone be installed on the north side (even- numbered) of Block Line Road from a point 93m east of Hanover Street to a point approximately 87m east thereof; and, That the School Bus Loading Zone be extended on the west side (even- numbered) of Autumn Hill Crescent from a point 104m north of Westheights Drive to a point approximately 38m north thereof; and, That a School Bus Loading Zone be installed on the east side (even- numbered) of Vanier Drive from a point 49m south of Boniface Avenue to a point approximately 31m south thereof; and, That the School Bus Loading Zone previously established on Emerald Avenue be removed; and, That the School Bus Loading Zone be extended on the east side (odd- numbered) of Hickson Drive from a point 10m south of Secord Avenue to a point approximately 49m south thereof; and, That two Adult Crossing Guards be installed along Huron Road at Beckview Drive; and, That an Adult Crossing Guard be installed along Thomas Slee Drive at South Creek Drive; and, That an Adult Crossing Guard be removed along Holborn Drive at Old Chicopee Drive; and, That an Adult Crossing Guard be removed along Franklin Street at Connaught Street; and, That the Adult Crossing Guard be removed along Pioneer Drive at Pioneer Park Public School stairway location; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-397." Carried 3 3.3 Noise Exemption - K-W Oktoberfest, CSD-2024-391 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024- 391, dated August 29, 2024, recommending an exemption to Chapter 450 (Noise) of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be granted to K-W Oktoberfest Inc. for a series of events being held at various clubs between September 27 through October 19, 2024. It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter will be considered at a Special Council meeting later this date for final ratification. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis it was resolved: "That an exemption to Chapter 450 (Noise) of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be granted to Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Inc. for a series of events being held at various clubs between September 27 through October 19, 2024, as outlined in the letter from Kitchener- Waterloo Oktoberfest Inc., dated August 9, 2024 attached to Community Services Department report CSD-2024-391." Carried 3.4 Execution of Agreements with Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) Grant Recipients, DSD-2024-395 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024- 395, dated August 27, 2024, recommending approval for the City of Kitchener's Chief Administrative Officer and General Managers to be authorized to execute agreements with recipients of grants under the Youth Climate Action Fund. It was noted any recommendation arising from this matter will be considered at a Special Council meeting later this date for final ratification. On motion by Councillor B. Ioannidis it was resolved: rative Officer and General Managers be authorized to execute agreements with recipients of grants under the Youth Climate Action Fund, said agreements to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-395." 4 Carried 3.5 Noise Exemption, VanMar Constructors On Inc, 641 King Street West, CSD- 2024-408 The Committee considered Community Services Department report CSD-2024- 408, dated September 3, 2024, recommending denial of a noise exemption requested by VanMar Constructors for construction work at 641 King St W to commence at 6am from October 1, 2024 to April 30th, 2025. C. McCutcheon, VanMar Development provided comments in opposition to the Staff recommendation. In response to questions from the Committee, C. McCutcheon noted approval of the noise exemption would allow the project to be completed two months ahead of schedule. C. McCutcheon advised the applicant intends to contact neighbouring property owners to advise of noise from the construction at the subject site. It was also noted the closest property to the proposed development is located on Wellington Street, about 75 metres away from the proposed development and 100 metres from King Street. In response to questions from the Committee, C. McCutcheon noted amenities will be available by the Summer of 2025 if the noise exemption is approved. Further, approval of the noise exemption would allow contractors not to work on Saturdays. In response to questions from the Committee, G. MacNeil noted By-law Enforcement has already received noise complaints related to construction at the subject property. Further, G. MacNeil noted approval of the subject noise exemption may set a precedent for other construction projects. It was also noted noise exemptions typically permit construction to start 7am at the earliest and end latest by 7pm. Councillor C. Deneault left the meeting at this time and re-entered. Councillor C. Michaud noted the importance of receiving feedback from the community regarding the noise exemption prior to Council rendering a decision on this matter. Councillor C. Michaud brought forward a motion to defer the matter to the September 30, 2024 Council meeting date to allow the agent an opportunity to determine a date by which the neighbourhood engagement process will be completed; and, to determine the catchment area for neighborhood engagement and, for Staff to report back on how they will collaborate with VanMar Constructors to complete the neighbourhood engagement process. 5 On motion by Councillor C. Michaud it was resolved: That the following motion be deferred to the September 30, 2024 Council meeting, to allow Van Mar Construction and Staff an opportunity to provide further information related to engaging the community on the proposed noise exemption: construction work at 641 King St W to commence at 6am from October 1, 2024 to April 30th, 2025 be denied, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-2024- Carried 4. Recess and Reconvene The meeting recessed at 4:45 p.m. and reconvened at 4:48 p.m., chaired by Councillor S. Davey with all members present. 5. Discussion Items 5.1 2024-2025 Gas Supply and Delivery Rates, INS-2024-383 The Committee considered Infrastructure Services Department report, INS-2024- 383, dated September 2, 2024 recommending approval of the increase of natural gas rate to 13.13 cents per cubic meter from 11.63 cents per cubic meter. G. St. Louis provided a presentation on this matter and responded to questions from the Committee. J. Lautenbach and K. Abu-Eseifan were also in attendance and responded to questions from the Committee. On motion by Councillor P. Singh it was resolved: "That the supply component of the natural gas rate be increased to 13.13 cents per cubic meter from 11.63 cents per cubic meter for system gas customers of Kitchener Utilities effective November 1, 2024; and, That the proposed Supply Rate Policy as detailed in Attachment 'A' of Infrastructure Services Department report INS-2024-383 to change supply rates quarterly starting from January 1, 2025, through council delegated authority be approved; and further, 6 approved as proposed in Attachment 'B' of Infrastructure Services Department report INS-2024-383, for all Kitchener delivery customers effective January 1, 2025." Carried 5.2 Belmont Business Improvement Area (BIA) Boundary Expansion, DSD- 2024-372 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024- 372, dated September 5, 2024, recommending approval for the notice of the proposed By-law to alter the boundaries of the Belmont Business Improvement Area (BIA) be sent. C. Bluhm and J.D. Zehr provided a presentation. A. Fusco was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. In response to questions from the Committee, C. Bluhm noted through the Municipal Act every resident within the existing and newly proposed boundaries of the BIA will be notified of the boundary expansion and the opportunity to provide comments. It was noted, if one-third or more of residents express opposition to the proposed boundary expansion, the Municipal Act does not permit the By-law to come forward to Council for approval. It was noted the Committee's vote on the Staff recommendation outlined in Development Services Department report DSD- 2024-372 this date only initiates the formal process of notifying property owners within the existing and newly proposed boundaries. On motion by Councillor M. Johnston it was resolved: "That pursuant to Section 209 of the Municipal Act, 2001, notice of the proposed by-law to alter the boundaries of the Belmont Business Improvement Area (BIA) be sent to every person who is assessed for rateable property that is in a prescribed business property class which is located within the existing and newly proposed boundaries, as outlined in -2024- 372." Carried 6. Information Items 7 6.1 Strategic Plan Update, August 2024 Implementation, CAO-2024-412 6.2 2024 June Variance Report - FIN-2024-404 6.3 Integrated Sanitary Master Plan Process Update, INS-2024-396 7. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m. Marilyn Mills Committee Coordinator 8