This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of January 2013. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote in the third line. Multiple votes on the same issue are reported together. Absentees are only listed where reported in the minutes and where the missing councillors are members of that committee or decision-making body. Links are provided to source documents. Note that the vast majority of council decisions are unanimous and the votes are not officially recorded.
Citizen engagement contract
Consultant Dialogue Partners addressed the general issues committee in response to criticism of its efforts to engage citizens in discussion of the city’s infrastructure funding crisis. Committee approved in open session a motion by Merulla to make the contract with the company a public document, then held a closed session in which direction was provided to city staff. In subsequent open session this was approved 9-4, although the content of the direction was not revealed.
At General Issues Committee, January 14 Minutes p1, 20-21, 25-26 (9-4)
For: Bratina, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Merulla, Morelli, Partridge
Absent: Clark, Johnson, Pasuta
The issue was raised at city council where a motion to table the General Issues Committee report to allow deliberation on this matter was approved 12-3.
At City Council, January 23 Minutes p5 (12-3)
For: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Johnson, Partridge
Absent: Farr
Heritage buildings on Gore Park
The Municipal Heritage Committee recommended designating 18-22, 24 and 28 King Street East for protection under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Committee decided not to do this, but approved revoking the demolition permit request for 18-22 and once revoked, placing those addresses on the Municipal Register of Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
At Planning Committee, January 15 Minutes p5, 12-13 (5-1)
For: Clark, Collins, Ferguson, Partridge, Pearson
Against: Farr Absent: Johnson, Pasuta, Whitehead
Licensing fees
In August 2012, staff presented the results of a business licensing fee review and recommended a five year phase in of increases to achieve cost recovery to complete fulfillment of a 2001 decision. It was referred to the Open for Business Subcommittee meeting in November and then considered again by the planning committee at its January 15 meeting where the committee approved year one of the five-year phase in of increases and directed staff to report back “in detail” on the justification for the licence fee increases. Councillor Ferguson declared a conflict on the fees related to taxis, and councillor Partridge declared a conflict on the fees related to plumbing, but both voted against the remainder of the fee increases.
At Planning Committee, January 15 Minutes p15-16 (5-2)
For: Clark, Collins, Farr, Pasuta, Pearson
Against: Ferguson, PartridgeAbsent: Johnson, WhiteheadAbstain: Ferguson, Partridge
At City Council, January 23 Minutes p6 (15-1)
For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Jackson, Johnson, McHattie, Merulla, Morelli, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Ferguson