This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of July 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.
People’s Platform
Norman Kearney presented the semi-annual monitoring report from the People’s Platform. Committee voted to receive Mr Kearney’s presentation and refer the report being referred to the city’s civic engagement process.
At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p2, 18
Recorded opposed: Whitehead
Football Hall of Fame
Staff recommended relocating the Football Hall of Fame to the new football stadium and providing $250,000 toward a new structure at Tim Horton’s Field. Councillors added a requirement to investigate alternative uses for the current location.
At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p12-13, 18-19 (16-0)
For: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Red Hill lawsuit
An added in camera item was an update respecting the Red Hill Valley Parkway Litigation. In that closed session, staff were provided with direction, but there was no public vote recorded.
At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p21
Biomass generator
Staff recommended supporting a 250 kW biomass electricity generator on the 5th Concession in East Flamborough “for the sole purpose of receiving priority points” from the province “but not for the approval of the proposed project”, and if agreed to by the province to ask that an environmental assessment be conducted. Planning committee approved the staff recommendations.
At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p1-2, 13
Recorded opposed: B Johnson, Pasuta
Rural zoning
Staff recommended changes to zoning of multiple rural sites. These were approved by planning committee with one recorded opposition noted to exception 259 that back-approved unzoned or unlicensed landscaping companies in rural areas.
At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p
Recorded opposed to Special Exception 259: B Johnson
At City Council, July 10 Minutes p13-14
Recorded opposed to Special Exception 259: B Johnson
Hess Village policing
A motion by Farr for a four year pilot project for the city to cover 65 percent of Hess Village policing costs was amended to a two year project and 50 percent. Both the amendment and the amended motion were approved 5-4 by planning committee. The motion was further amended at city council to request the police to review administrative costs to ensure full recovery.
At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p28-29 (5-4)
For: Conley, Farr, Green, A Johnson, Pasuta
Against: Collins, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
At City Council, July 10 Minutes p14-15 (10-5)
For: Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, Merulla, Pasuta, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Duvall, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
Absent: Jackson
Land transfer taxation
A motion by A Johnson asking for a staff report on the advantages and disadvantages of Hamilton having authority to tax land transfers was defeated 1-5.
At Audit, Finance and Administration Committee, July 8 Report p7 (1-5)
For: A Johnson
Against: Collins, B Johnson, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek
Absent: Ferguson
Free parking
A June motion by Merulla to exempt veterans from city parking fees was approved at the July general issues committee without dissent, but at city council, two amendments were considered. One to exclude RCMP officers passed 9-6 while a second to exclude veterans under the age of 60 was defeated 3-13. The amended motion was approved 14-2.
At City Council, July 10 Minutes p7-8 (9-6) (3-13) (14-2)
For exclusion of RCMP officers: Conley, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta
Absent: Eisenberger
For exclusion of veterans under 60: Ferguson, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Vanderbeek
For the amended motion: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, B Johnson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta. Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Ferguson, Pearson
Samsung solar project
Staff recommended supporting a 250 kW biomass electricity generator on the 5th Concession in East Flamborough “for the sole purpose of receiving priority points” from the province “but not for the approval of the proposed project”, and if agreed to by the province to ask that an environmental assessment be conducted. Planning committee heard from Samsung and tabled the item until city council’s meeting which was after a public meeting being held by Samsung. At council, a motion by Partridge to accept the staff recommendation was defeated 3-11.
At City Council, July 10 Minutes p15-16 (3-11)
For: Eisenberger, Green, Partridge
Against: Conley, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Absent: Collins, Jackson
Community energy plan
In the wake of the Samsung debate (see above) a motion by Green to direct staff to report back on the feasibility and terms of reference for a community energy plan including renewable energy projects was approved unanimously in a recorded vote.
At City Council, July 10 Minutes p16 (14-2)
For: Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Collins, Jackson
Labour update
At a special council meeting receipt and discussion in camera the addition to the agenda of a “labour relations update” was approved unanimously. Such additions required a two-thirds majority.
At City Council, July 22 Minutes p1-2 (12-0)
For: Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, B Johnson, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Collins, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge