This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of April 2015. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote. 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.
Sole source contract – water and wastewater
Staff recommended shifting the transfer of $1,200,000 from construction to the design and project management for the previously approved $31.5 million system that remotely monitors and controls the city’s water and wastewater facilities. The shift tops up the $12.2 million portion for design and management using savings from other parts of the project and requires council approval because it didn’t include a new tendering process.
At Public Works, April 1 Minutes p4, 11
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
Sole source contract – HSR
Staff recommended a sole source contract of $1.1 million for upgrades to the existing HSR buses stop announcement and automatic location system to ensure the changes are in place to meet the provincial deadline of July 2015. The purchase requires council approval because it doesn’t include a new tendering process.
At Public Works, April 1 Minutes p4, 11
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
2015 operating budget
The 2015 operating budget as approved by the General Issues Committee on March 26 was ratified by city council by a vote of 13-3.
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p5 (13-3)
For: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pearson, Vanderbeek
Against: Ferguson, Pasuta, Whitehead
Additional tree planting employees
The 2015 budget includes one additional full-time equivalent position for the tree planting program and projects an additional 32.84 positions in 2016 with staff instructed to investigate mitigation of the $3.7 million cost. The decision was approved.
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p5
Recorded opposed: B Johnson
Ward boundary review
A ward boundary review update from staff was received at the March 30 General Issues Committee and a motion to discontinue it was defeated. The matter was debated at city council but the two votes were both ties so had no affect on the continuation of the review. The first motion was to receive the update and it failed on an 8-8 tie
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p6
For: Collins, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, Merulla
Against: Conley, Ferguson, B. Johnson, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek Whitehead
A subsequent motion by Whitehead to postpone the ward boundary review until after the 2016 census was defeated in a tie vote.
For: Conley, Ferguson, B. Johnson, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek Whitehead
Against: Collins, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, Merulla
Citizen panel on transit options
A citizen panel on transit options whose terms of reference include a review of area rating was approved at the March 30 General Issues Committee, and ratified at City Council with several councillors recording their opposition.
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p6
Recorded opposed: Ferguson, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson, Vanderbeek
Integrity Commissioner
The March 30 General Issues Committee approved hiring George Rust-D’Eye for a one-year contract as integrity commissioner.
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p6
Recorded opposed: B Johnson
Hermitage ruins
The March 31 Planning Committee approved disassembly, storage and reconstruction of the Hermitage ruins as with conditions as recommended by staff, but removed the requirement to have a qualified third party conduct a peer review. That change led one councillor to record his opposition when council ratified the decision.
At City Council, April 8 Minutes p7
Recorded opposed: Green
Port Fuels incinerator proposal
Staff presented an extensive analysis and recommended council ask the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to require a full environmental assessment of Port Fuel’s proposed gasification facility, or in the alternative require the company to provide more information before making a decision. Committee heard from numerous delegations before voting 13-3 for the staff recommendation. A motion by Green to declare formal opposition and to impose a moratorium on dealings with the company if a full assessment isn’t conducted was discussed but tabled.
At General Issues Committee, April 15 Minutes p10-24, 25-27 (13-3)
For: Collins, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek Whitehead
Against: Conley, Duvall, Farr
Transit workers contract
Council discussed in camera a labour contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union before voting in public session to approve the contract.
At City Council, April 22 Minutes p20
For: Collins, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek Whitehead
Absent: Conley, Duvall, Farr