This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of February 2016. 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.
Changes to the city’s website mean it is no longer possible to provide direct links to motions and staff reports.
How they voted inJanuary 2016was not issued because there were no recorded votes during that month.
Elfrida church heritage designation
In November, the Municipal Heritage Committee recommended denial of a request to remove the heritage designation of 2251 Rymal Road East (the former Elfrida Church). In December, the planning committee deferred action until the owner could be present. He spoke to the committee and a decision was approved to table the denial motion to the February 10 council meeting “to prepare an amending motion”.
At Planning Committee, February 2 Minutes p13
Recorded opposed to tabling: Pearson
At council, an amendment by Conley reassigned the designation to the workplan for 2020.
At City Council, February 10 Minutes p6-7
Recorded opposed: A Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
LRT agreement
The Light Rail Transit sub-committee recommended signing a memorandum of agreement with Metrolinx.
At General Issues Committee, February 3 Minutes p8, 17
Recorded opposed: Collins
Planning rules
Staff recommended modifications to the policies that allow the city “to obtain appropriate road widths through development applications” while allowing flexibility to protect natural or cultural heritage resources. Pearson moved two motions to delay approval “to allow for review and input by the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders Association Development Industry Liaison Group”. The minutes record both motions were “lost on a tie vote” but which councillors voted for and against was not recorded. Committee approved the staff recommendations.
At Planning Committee, February 16 Minutes p10-13
Recorded opposed: Pearson
2016 OPERATING BUDGET
The general issues committee considered the 2016 operating budget at meetings at five meetings in January and six more in February concluding on February 26. The minutes of these meetings were presented in one document and included instances in which one or more councillor was recorded as opposed to a specific decision. These are detailed below including the page number in the minutes:
Rent subsidy program
Proposal to establish a portable rent subsidy program for low-income households at a cost of $825,000 was tabled for further consideration on February 12. (page 68)
Recorded opposed: Whitehead
HSR bus purchase
A request for annual debt financing of $778,495 to purchase 11 buses was modified to fund half from the provincial gas tax reserve and tabled for further consideration on February 12. (page 69)
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
Good Shepherd request
A request from Good Shepherd for $230,000 for the Notre Dame Resource Centre was dropped from budget consideration on February 12. (page 73)
Recorded opposed: Whitehead
Budget reductions
On February 23 finance staff proposed thirteen changes to the budget to reduce it by $1.6 million. (page 79)
Recorded opposed: Whitehead
Tourism strategy
A request for $350,000 to implement a tourism strategy was amended to change the amount to $150,000 in 2016 and referring the remaining $200,000 for consideration in the 2017 budget. Both amendments and the approval of the $150,000 were opposed by three councillors on February 23. (page 80)
Recorded opposed: Conley, Pearson, Whitehead
Parking licence facilitator
Proposal to spend $62,000 to add a licence facilitator to parking and by-law services division was approved on February 23. (page 81)
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
Variance reduction
A variance reduction strategy for parking and by-law services originally costing $1,420,000 was approved in the amount of $760,000 on February 23. (page 81)
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
Rent subsidy program
Proposal to establish a portable rent subsidy program for low-income households at a cost of $825,000 was approved on February 23. (page 82)
Recorded opposed: Whitehead
Municipal parking rates
A staff report was presented on February 23 on potential increases in off-street parking rates. After discussion, a motion was approved for a $10 increase per month in city lots except for Concession Street and Dundas BIAs (subject to receiving more information from staff), and also excepting Kenilworth and Ottawa Street BIA.
At General Issues Committee, February 23 Minutes p86
Recorded opposed: Ferguson
Festival fees
Staff reported that not increasing users fees for public health service at special events and festivals would add $39,200 to the tax levy. Councillors approved leaving the fees at the 2015 level.
At General Issues Committee, February 23 Minutes p87
Recorded opposed: Eisenberger