This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of August 2018. 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 recorded.
City entertainment facilities
A delegation from Carmen’s group addressed committee after which a motion by Farr was approved to change the agenda and go immediately to discussion of a staff report on the review of the city’s sports, entertainment and convention facilities that had been scheduled for the end of the agenda. The staff recommendation to allocate $200,000 for an independent review of the facilities needs was then amended by a Merulla motion to a direction to staff to explore funding “from private sector, for-profit stakeholders” which was approved. A subsequent amendment by Eisenberger was approved to refer the amended staff recommendation back to staff “for a review of the proposal put forward by the Carmen’s Group.”
At General Issues Committee, August 13 Minutes p12-13
Recorded opposed to the agenda change: Eisenberger, Green
Recorded opposed to the Merulla funding motion: Eisenberger, Green
Recorded opposed to the Eisenberger referral motion: Green
Waste management contract
Committee discussed in secret session a “Waste Management System Development - Materials Recycling Facility Operations Contract” and provided direction to staff.
At General Issues Committee, August 13 Minutes p17
Recorded opposed: Pearson
Changing a proposal
Staff recommended approval of a official plan and zoning change for a commercial/industrial subdivision in the Ancaster business park. After the agent of the proponent sought changes, Ferguson asked that the matter be delayed to allow him to confer on the matter. Committee approved the delay and subsequently approved the amended staff recommendation.
At Planning Committee, August 14 Minutes p5-6, 21-22
Recorded opposed to the delay: Green
At City Council, August 17 Minutes p9
Recorded opposed: Green
Self-storage facility
Staff recommended denying an official plan amendment and zoning permit for a U-Haul self-storage facility on Highland Road East in Stoney Creek. But on a motion from Conley, committee rejected the staff recommendation and approved the applications.
At Planning Committee, August 14 Minutes p11-12, 27-28
Recorded opposed to the delay: B Johnson
At City Council, August 17 Minutes p9
Recorded opposed: B Johnson
Basic Income program
A motion by Merulla to “denounce the cancellation of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot Project” by the provincial government and communicate this to the premier, MPPs and MPs was approved unanimously.
At Healthy & Safe Communities Committee, August 15 Minutes p3, 8 (7-0)
For: Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Whitehead
Against: none
At City Council, August 17 Minutes p10 (15-0)
For: Collins, Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: none
Arrell Youth Centre strike
A motion by Jackson calling on Banyan Community Services, the private operator of the Arrell Youth Centre where a lockout of employees has been in place since April 2017, to bargain in good faith and find a resolution to the lockout was unanimously approved. The motion also seeks intervention by the provincial and the federal governments.
At City Council, August 17 Minutes p14-15 (14-0)
For: Collins, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Conley
Appointment of councillor
A motion by Ferguson to appoint former councillor Terry Anderson to replace Donna Skelly in Ward 7 for the remainder of this term of council was approved.
At City Council, August 17 Minutes p24 (12-2)
For: Collins, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Green, A Johnson
Absent: Conley