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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil - 2006-05-01 SSPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2006 CITY OF KITCHENER A special meeting of City Council was held at 5:11 p.m. this date, Chaired by Mayor C. Zehr and with all members present except Councillor J. Gazzola. 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. Council was in receipt of Expression of Interest E06-039 -Consultant Services -Huron Natural Area dated April 25, 2006. Moved by Councillor M. Galloway Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "That Expression of Interest E06-039, Consultant Services -Huron Natural Area, be awarded to Dougan & Associates -Ecological Consulting Services, Guelph, Ontario, at their estimated fee of $196,696.71, including disbursements of $16,711.70 and G.S.T., based on a satisfactory contract being negotiated and an upset fee being established; and further, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement satisfactory to the City Solicitor." Carried. At its regular meeting of April 24, 2006, Council directed that a draft resolution be presented this date requesting senior levels of government to consider revising how the excise tax is calculated on gasoline and impose restrictions on when gasoline prices can be adjusted. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor M. Galloway "WHEREAS the price of gasoline has again risen suddenly and dramatically, without any drop in supply, across Canada; WHEREAS the use of the automobile is essential in the City of Kitchener and in all Canadian municipalities both by the municipality and its citizens; WHEREAS this price increase is causing significant financial hardship to many Canadian municipalities, businesses and citizens by putting undue inflationary pressures on their annual budgets (over $100,000 per annum to the City of Kitchener based on current prices); BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Kitchener request the Government of Canada to investigate the abnormal surge in price of gasoline on world markets and the dramatic sudden price increases while energy companies are earning record growing profits; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener urge FCM to pressure the federal government to undertake the following: (a) the creation of a federal fuel reserve, that could release gasoline to the market when prices increase sharply over short periods of time in order to better mitigate the effects of sudden, unexpected price increases or supply and/or demand changes (b) the creation of an office to monitor the oils sector whose responsibilities could include the creation of regulations to bring about restrictions as to when prices can increase, create some standardization across the country or regions of the country (c) the implementation of legislation which will require any decrease in gasoline taxes by federal or provincial governments to flow through to the prices paid for at the pumps by Canadians; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for emergency consideration at their annual general meetings in June and August 2006 respectively, and to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Minister of Energy and our local Members of Parliament." Carried. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2006 - 130 - CITY OF KITCHENER At its regular meeting of April 24, 2006, Council directed that a draft resolution be presented this date requesting senior levels of government investigate alleged human rights abuses in China. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor G. Lorentz "WHEREAS in recent weeks the Council of the City of Kitchener has again become aware of human rights abuses in China; and WHEREAS these abuses have even been further highlighted in recent weeks by the apparent trade in human organs from executed prisoners without the express permission of family members and by the alleged trade in human organs from political prisoners; BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Kitchener urge the Canadian government and in particular the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to investigate the allegations, report their findings and if proven to be correct, strongly condemn any such practices." Carried. Council considered a recommendation arising from the Finance and Corporate Services Committee this date with respect to expansion of the Epton surface parking lot. Moved by Councillor B. Vrbanovic Seconded by Councillor M. Galloway "That notwithstanding Council's resolution of January 16, 2006 regarding the development of a surface parking lot on the Epton Lands as previously outlined in Development and Technical Services Department report DTS-06-001, the following parameters, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-06-061, dated April 27, 2006 be applied relative to the Epton surface parking lot: • access to 64 already developed spaces; • construction of 90 new spaces at a capital cost of approximately $110,000.; • net annual revenues approximately $50,000.; • agreement expires on July 1, 2007 and renewed month to month thereafter; and, • full recovery of capital may not be achieved." Carried. Council considered Corporate Services Department report CRPS-06-072 (P. Harris on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Review Committee), dated April 27, 2006, regarding a request for change to liquor licence conditions for 1623315 Ontario Ltd. (Relax), 91 Queen Street South and other establishments. Moved by Councillor M. Galloway Seconded by Councillor B. Vrbanovic "That the Manager of Downtown Community Development be authorized to sign an amending agreement with 1623315 Ontario Ltd. for the establishment called "Relax" located at 91 Queen Street South changing condition #4 in their private agreement with the City to read "to stop serving alcohol by 2:00 a.m. daily" instead of by 1:00 a.m. daily; and, That the AGCO be requested to change the condition on the liquor license issued to 1623315 Ontario Ltd., for the establishment called "Relax" located at 91 Queen St. S. to allow for service of alcohol until 2:00 a.m. daily; and further, That the AGCO be requested to change the condition on any liquor licence issued to an establishment in Kitchener prior to April 27, 2006 to allow service of alcohol until 2:00 a.m. where that establishment has a condition of service of alcohol ending at 1:00 a.m. imposed because of its private agreement conditions with the City of Kitchener." Carried. SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 1, 2006 - 131 - CITY OF KITCHENER Moved by Councillor J. Smola Seconded by Councillor C. Weylie "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following this special meeting to consider a personal matter and litigation /potential litigation matter which is also subject to solicitor-client privilege." Carried. Councillor G. Lorentz reminded Council that at the April 24, 2006 regular Council meeting he brought forward an issue regarding the re-location of the main post office from its current location on Gaukel Street to 618 King Street E. At the meeting the Mayor was requested to make inquiries as to why a Downtown location could not be found in order to maintain a presence in the Downtown area. Mayor C. Zehr advised that he had spoken with a representative from the London office and it was explained that a suitable location which would include a loading dock, could not be found in the Downtown. Councillor Lorentz raised a concern regarding the post office moving out of the Downtown in light of the City's efforts to revitalize the area and suggested that Canada Post should be investing in the community as a good corporate citizen. Councillor M. Galloway suggested that perhaps senior officers of Canada Post and the local Members of Parliament should be contacted to see if the decision could be made to locate the new post office in the Downtown. Councillor Lorentz advised that he would bring forward a motion at the next Council meeting to that effect. Moved by Councillor J. Smola 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 2006-98 by the Clerk." Carried. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m. MAYOR CLERK