The Council of The Regional Municipality of York
Minutes of the
Meeting Held on December 15, 2016
[Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request
Contact: Regional Clerk’s Office, @email, 18774649675 extension 71320]
Regional Council met at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers, York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, with Regional Chair Emmerson presiding.
The following were also in attendance:
Mayors:
J. Altmann, D. Barrow, M. Bevilacqua, G. Dawe, V. Hackson,
S. Pellegrini, M. Quirk, F. Scarpitti, T. Van Bynen
Regional Councillors:
N. Armstrong, N. Davison, M. Di Biase, M. Ferri, B. Hogg, J. Li,
G. Rosati, V. Spatafora, J. Taylor
Staff:
D. Basso, B. Hughes, J. Hulton, P. Jankowski, K. Kurji, B. Macgregor, E. Mahoney, V. Shuttleworth, M.F. Turner, A. Urbanski
Disclosures of Interest
183 2017-2018 Regional Budget
Mayor Quirk declared an interest in the 2017-2018 Regional Budget as it pertains to York Regional Police. This declaration of interest is due to Mayor Quirk’s stepson being a member of York Regional Police and her husband being a retired member of York Regional Police and under contract to York Regional Police. Mayor Quirk did not take part in the discussion of or vote on this item.
(See Minute Nos. 185, 190 and 192.)
Minutes
184 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on November 17, 2016
It was moved by Mayor Van Bynen, seconded by Mayor Pellegrini that Council confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on November 17, 2016 in the form supplied to the Members.
Carried
Presentations
[Click on the titles of the following Presentations to view them]
Council heard the following presentations:
185 2017-2018 Regional Budget
[View the full budget as tabled on November 17, 2016 on the york.ca Budgets page]
Bill Hughes, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer, provided Council with an overview of the proposed 2017 to 2018 Regional Budget.
Mr. Hughes indicated that the draft budget provides for a tax increase of 2.87% in 2017 and forecasts a tax increase of 2.65% in 2018. The proposed 2017 budget includes $2.1 billion for operations and $942 million in funding for capital projects. The 10-year capital plan proposes $6.1 billion in spending.
Mr. Hughes presented key features of the draft budget which include completion of the Spadina Subway Extension, construction of the Regional Annex building, enhanced traffic management systems, expansion of the Rent Supplement Program, and hiring of 43 additional staff for York Regional Police and 16 new staff for Paramedic Services.
It was moved by Mayor Pellegrini, seconded by Regional Councillor Hogg that Council receive the presentation.
Carried
(See Minute No. 183, 190 and 192.)
186 Regional Response to Provincial Review of the Ontario Municipal Board’s Role in Land Use Planning
Paul Freeman, Director of Long Range Planning, provided Council with an overview of the Province’s Ontario Municipal Board review and highlights of the Region’s proposed response.
Mr. Freeman indicated that the Province’s five key theme areas for consultation include Ontario Municipal Board jurisdiction, citizen participation, decision-making, modern procedures and alternative dispute resolution. Comments are due to the Province by December 19, 2016.
It was moved by Regional Councillor Di Biase, seconded by Regional Councillor Taylor that Council receive the presentation.
Carried
(See Minute No. 191)
Communications
[Click on the titles of the following Communications to view them]
Council considered the following communications:
187 Video Streaming for Council and Committee
It was moved by Regional Councillor Taylor, seconded by Regional Councillor Armstrong that Council receive the communication from Dino Basso, Commissioner of Corporate Services dated December 14, 2016 and that staff report back to Council in the first quarter of 2017 with options and costs for video streaming of Council and Committee meetings.
Carried
188 Understanding the Numbers: Working Together to Prevent, Reduce and End Homelessness in York Region
It was moved by Regional Councillor Rosati, seconded by Mayor Dawe that Council receive the communication from Catherine Scott, Director General, Community Development and Homelessness Partnerships Directorate dated December 8, 2016.
Carried
Consideration and Adoption of Reports
[Click on the titles of the following Reports to view them]
189 Report No. 18 of the Committee of the Whole – December 1, 2016
It was moved by Regional Councillor Spatafora, seconded by Mayor Hackson that Council adopt the recommendations in Report No. 18 of Committee of the Whole.
Carried
190 Report No. 19 of the Committee of the Whole – December 8, 2016
It was moved by Mayor Barrow, seconded by Mayor Van Bynen that Council adopt the recommendations in Report No. 19 of Committee of the Whole.
Carried
(See Minute No. 183, 185 and 192.)
191 Regional Response to Provincial Review of the Ontario Municipal Board's Role in Land Use Planning
It was moved by Regional Councillor Di Biase, seconded by Regional Councillor Taylor that Council adopt the following recommendations, as amended, in Report No. 1 of the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner dated December 7, 2016:
1. Council endorse Attachment 1 as the Region’s formal submission to the Province in response to the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) posting entitled Consultation on the role of the Ontario Municipal Board in Ontario’s land use planning system (EBR No. 012-7196).
2. Council request the Province to consider the inclusion of a sunset clause related to privately-initiated Ontario Municipal Board rulings.
3. This report be circulated to local municipalities, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of the Attorney General in response to the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) posting entitled Consultation on the role of the Ontario Municipal Board in Ontario’s land use planning system (EBR No. 012-7196).
Carried
192 2017 to 2018 Regional Budget
[View the full budget as tabled on November 17, 2016 on the york.ca Budgets page]
It was moved by Mayor Barrow, seconded by Mayor Bevilacqua that Council adopt the following recommendations contained in Report No. 2 of the Commissioner of Finance dated December 14, 2016:
1. Approve the operating and capital budgets as follows:
a) The 2017 operating budget and the 2018 operating outlook tabled on November 17, 2016, as summarized in Attachment 1
b) The 2017 capital expenditures and Capital Spending Authority by project, as detailed in the 2017 to 2018 Budget book tabled on November 17, 2016
c) The 2017 capital expenditures and Capital Spending Authority by program group, as summarized in Attachment 2, and the authority to reallocate funding between projects in a program group as detailed in this report
2. Approve debt authority and reserve items as follows:
a) Incremental debt authority of $214,090,709 required for the 2017 Capital Spending Authority as specified in Column (B) of Attachment 3
b) Total debt authority for capital projects up to the amounts specified in Column (C) of Attachment 3 in accordance with the Capital Financing and Debt Policy
c) Approve the contribution of $142,490,198 to the Sinking Fund Reserve for the purpose of meeting the Region’s 2017 sinking fund obligations
d) Authorise the funding of capital projects that have been previously approved for debt financing from reserves where there are sufficient funds available and, in the opinion of the Treasurer, it is prudent to do so
3. Endorse the reconciliation of the 2017 to 2018 Budget to the full accrual basis of accounting, as required under Ontario Regulation 284/09, which is included in the Accrual Budget Presentation section of the 2017 to 2018 Budget book tabled on November 17, 2016.
4. Authorize the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer to make any necessary adjustments within the total approved budget to reflect organizational changes and any other reallocation of costs.
5. Fund the unbudgeted sick leave payouts for York Regional Police in early 2017 up to an amount of $2,273,293 from inter-reserve borrowing.
Carried
(See Minute No. 183, 185 and 190.)
Introduction and Approval of Bylaws
193 Bylaws
[Click on the numbers of the following Bylaws to view them]
It was moved by Mayor Dawe, seconded by Regional Councillor Spatafora that Council approve and enact the following bylaws in the form as noted on the Revised Agenda.
Bylaw No. 2016-77
A bylaw to provide for the appointment of an Acting Chair when the Regional Chair is absent
Bylaw No. 2016-78
A bylaw to establish the Green Energy Reserve Fund
Bylaw No. 2016-79
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 2015-77 being a bylaw to establish the Wastewater Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
Bylaw No. 2016-80
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 2015-76 being a bylaw to establish the Water Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund
Bylaw No. 2016-81
A bylaw to establish a public highway - Bayview Avenue (YR 34) and 16th Avenue (YR 73)
Carried
Other Business
194 Appointment to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Regional Chair Emmerson announced the re-appointment of Michelle Samson-Doel to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) Board of Directors.
195 Denis Kelly, Regional Clerk
Regional Chair Emmerson wished Denis Kelly, Regional Clerk, well in his retirement after 17 years of service at York Region. He praised Mr. Kelly for his attention to detail, for providing good advice, and for never missing any of the 242 Council meetings during his tenure at York Region.
On behalf of Council, Regional Chair Emmerson thanked Mr. Kelly for his contributions and wished him and his family all the best in the future.
Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer, expressed that Mr. Kelly has been a pleasure to work with and will be missed by staff at the Region. He praised Mr. Kelly for his role in making the Region an electronically-based organization and for his continuous support of staff.
Mr. Kelly thanked members of Council for their support over the years. He indicated that it has been a privilege to work under the leadership of Regional Chair Emmerson, former Regional Chair Fisch, CAO Bruce Macgregor, Commissioner Dino Basso and Chief of Staff Lina Bigioni. Mr. Kelly praised York Region Council as being progressive, talented and collegial and wished everyone the very best in their future.
Consideration and Adoption of Private Items
196 Private Session
It was moved by Mayor Hackson, seconded by Mayor Bevilacqua that Council convene in Private Session for the purpose of considering the following:
1. CUPE 905 (York Region Unit) Collective Agreement Ratification - Labour Relations
Carried
Council met in Private Session at 10:01 a.m. and reconvened in public at 10:21 a.m.
It was moved by Mayor Bevilacqua, seconded by Mayor Barrow that Council rise and report from Private Session.
Carried
197 CUPE 905 (York Region Unit) Collective Agreement Ratification
It was moved by Mayor Barrow, seconded by Mayor Bevilacqua that Council adopt the recommendations in the private report of the Commissioner of Corporate Services dated December 14, 2016 as follows:
1. Council ratify the renewal collective agreement reached with the Canadian Union of Public (CUPE) 905 York Region Unit for the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2020, reflecting the Minutes of Settlement described in this report. Included are economic adjustments of 1.65% retroactive to April 1, 2016; 1.74 % effective April 1, 2017; 1.74% effective April 1, 2018 and 1.74% effective April 1, 2019. The cost of the wage adjustments and the benefit improvements fall within the previously approved Council mandate.
2. Council, as set out in the Negotiations Mandate report dated May 19, 2016, authorize economic and benefit adjustments for Regional non-union staff and the Region’s Elected Officials comparable to those agreed to with the union.
Carried
Confirmatory Bylaw
198 Bylaw 2016-82
It was moved by Mayor Altmann, seconded by Regional Councillor Li that Council enact Bylaw No. 2016-82 to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council held on December 15, 2016.
The Council meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
____________
Regional Clerk
Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Regional Council held on January 26, 2017.
____________
Regional Chair
