Minutes

The Council of The Regional Municipality of York

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Electronic Meeting
Members:
  • W. Emmerson,
  • M. Bevilacqua,
  • G. Chan,
  • J. DiPaola,
  • M. Ferri,
  • R. Grossi,
  • V. Hackson,
  • D. Hamilton,
  • J. Heath,
  • L. Jackson,
  • J. Jones,
  • J. Li,
  • I. Lovatt,
  • T. Mrakas,
  • M. Quirk,
  • G. Rosati,
  • F. Scarpitti,
  • J. Taylor,
  • and T. Vegh
Staff:
  • D. Basso,
  • A.M. Carroll,
  • K. Chislett,
  • P. Freeman,
  • Dr. R. Gould,
  • D. Kuzmyk,
  • J. Li,
  • B. Macgregor,
  • E. Mahoney,
  • C. Raynor,
  • and M.F. Turner

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and made the following remarks:

“We acknowledge the land we are meeting on today is the traditional territory of many First Nations, including the Chippewas of Georgina Island and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

These lands are now home to many diverse Indigenous peoples.

We also acknowledge that York Region falls under Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties with several Mississauga and Chippewas First Nations.”

Mayor Scarpitti declared a conflict of interest on Item C.1 - Council meeting minutes of September 23, 2021, specifically Item I.2.2 - Contract Awards including Renewals, Approvals, and Emergency Purchases April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021 in the Committee of the Whole minutes of September 9, 2021, reflected in these minutes. Mayor Scarpitti's brother is employed at Compugen, which is referred to in attachments 1 and 2 of the report. Mayor Scarpitti was not in attendance at either meeting.

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Hamilton
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Heath

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on September 23, 2021.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Hamilton
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Heath

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the special meeting of Council held on October 21, 2021.

    Carried

None

  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Heath

    That Council receive the correspondence from Bob Forhan, RPP, RJ Forhan and Associates Inc. dated October 13, 2021.

    (See Item G.1 - Committee of the Whole Item H.2.1)

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Ferri

    That Council receive the correspondence from Christopher Raynor, Corporate Secretary, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation dated October 22, 2021; and

    That York Regional Council expresses thanks to the Province of Ontario for renewing the Growth Cost Supplement to the Region’s Annual Repayment Limit and for the provisions in Bill 13, Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021, (Bill 13) which amends the Development Charges Act, 1997 (Act) recognizing the Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE) as a discrete service; and,

    That the Province be requested to amend Bill 13 and exempt the YNSE from the freezing of development charges at application for site plan or zoning bylaw amendment, introduced under Bill 108 More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019; and further,

    That a copy of this motion be circulated to the Premier, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Transportation as well as York Region area MPPs.

     

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Lovatt
    Seconded byMayor Bevilacqua

    That Council receive the memorandum from Jason Li, Acting Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer dated October 25, 2021.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Heath

    That Council receive the correspondence from Bob Forhan, RPP, RJ Forhan and Associates Inc. dated October 26, 2021.

    (See Item G.1 - Committee of the Whole Item H.2.1)

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council receive the correspondence from Kim Empringham, Secretary/Treasurer/Director, York Region Federation of Agriculture dated October 27, 2021.

    (See Item G.1 - Committee of the Whole Item H.2.1)

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council receive the correspondence from Edward McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer, Greenbelt Foundation dated October 27, 2021.

    (See Item G.1 - Committee of the Whole Item H.2.1)

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council receive the correspondence from Irene Ford dated October 27, 2021.

    (See Item G.1 - Committee of the Whole Item H.2.1)

    Carried
  • Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
    Seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri

    That Council adopt the recommendations in the Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on October 14, 2021, except for the items noted below.

    Carried

    G.2.1  Analysis of Ontario's Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission's Final Report and Recommendations for Urgent Provincial Action

    Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
    Seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri

    That Council amend recommendation 2 to include circulation to the Minister of Labour, Skills and Development and associated Deputy Ministers of each listed Minister. 

    Carried

    H.2.1  Proposed York Region Official Plan Amendment No. 7

    Moved by Regional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded by Mayor Scarpitti

    WHEREAS the Greenbelt Plan, 2017 promotes parks and open spaces as an important component of complete communities and directs municipalities to provide for a full range of publicly accessible, built and natural settings for recreation for all lands falling within the Protected Countryside, including facilities, parkland, open space areas and trails; and

    WHEREAS the Greenbelt Plan, 2017 supports a range of recreation uses such as parks and trails, as well as major recreational use such as golf courses and serviced playing fields, within the rural lands of the Protected Countryside; and

    WHEREAS the Greenbelt lands in New Community Areas within Vaughan and Markham, designated Prime Agricultural within the York Region Official Plan (Agricultural designation), are planned to be surrounded by urban uses, compromising their ability to be used for farming and other agricultural uses; and

    WHEREAS portions of the Protected Countryside of the Greenbelt Plan contain lands outside of key natural heritage features or key hydrologic features and their associated vegetation protection zones, where recreation, parks and open spaces may be located and expanded; and

    WHEREAS the Region of York Policy Directions Report, dated June 10, 2021, included proposed mapping which identifies the Greenbelt lands in New Community Areas within Vaughan and Markham as Rural as part of the Regional Official Plan Update, which would allow for recreation, parks and open spaces as directed by the Greenbelt Plan; and

    WHEREAS the location of, programming, and uses within parks are a local matter, determined through local official plans and local decisions on site-specific development applications; 

    NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED: 

    1. That the Council of the Regional Municipality of York receive the staff report.
    1. That the Council of the Regional Municipality of York supports the redesignation of the Protected Countryside portions of the Greenbelt Lands in New Community Areas within Vaughan and Markham from Prime Agricultural to Rural.
    1. That staff prepare a bylaw to give effect to a modified ROPA 7 as proposed by the applicant in correspondence dated October 13, 2021 and listed as Item D.2.2 on the October 14, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting, designating the subject lands as rural and permitting active parkland and recreational uses which may include serviced playing fields and golf courses, and forward it to the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, for approval.
    1. That ROPA 7 permit Markham and Vaughan to develop the parameters of ROPA 7 in their Official Plans and allows Markham and Vaughan to develop policies including but not limited to park credits, location, programming, and details of parks and open spaces within the rural lands of the Greenbelt.
    1. That golf course use and reconfigurations by Angus Glen Golf Courses be permitted within the Bruce Creek Greenbelt lands in the City of Markham.

    A recorded vote was as follows:

    For:  Bevilacqua, Chan, Emmerson, Ferri, Grossi, Hackson, Jackson, Jones, Li, Lovatt, Rosati, Scarpitti, Vegh (13)

    Against:  Hamilton, Heath, Mrakas, Quirk, Taylor (5)

    Absent:  DiPaola, Pellegrini, Perrelli (3)

    Carried

  • Moved byMayor Bevilacqua
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council receive the Minutes of the Debenture Committee meeting held on October 5, 2021.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Quirk
    Seconded byMayor Hackson

    That Council approve and enact Bylaw No. 2021-96 to amend Bylaw No. 2020-53 being a bylaw to designate lanes on Regional roads for the exclusive use of certain classes of vehicles.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Quirk
    Seconded byMayor Hackson

    That Council approve and enact Bylaw No. 2021-97 to authorize the submission of an application to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation ("OILC") for financing a certain capital work of The Corporation of the Town of Georgina; and to authorize long-term borrowing for such capital work through the issue of debentures by The Regional Municipality of York to OILC.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Quirk
    Seconded byMayor Hackson

    That Council approve and enact Bylaw No. 2021-98 to amend Bylaw No. R-1107(h)-98-47, being a bylaw to amend Bylaw No. R-1107-96-126 which set out all the roads in the Regional Road System.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Quirk
    Seconded byMayor Hackson

    That Council approve and enact Bylaw No. 2021-99, a bylaw to stop up and close a portion of Islington Avenue (YR 17), City of Vaughan.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Quirk
    Seconded byMayor Hackson

    That Council approve and enact Bylaw No. 2021-101, a bylaw to adopt Amendment No. 7 to the Official Plan for The Regional Municipality of York.

    Carried

None

Regional Chair Emmerson acknowledged last week’s provincial update which outlined the Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term.  It is a roadmap to gradually transition out of the pandemic in a way that balances the health and well-being of residents with the economic interests of businesses.

Dr. Richard Gould, Acting York Region Medical Officer of Health provided a verbal update on the status of COVID-19 and responded to questions from Members of Council.

Regional Councillor Heath noted that Dr. Helena Jaczek, a former York Region employee, is now the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) in the Cabinet of Canada.

Acting Mayor DiPaola announced that Richmond Hill Council voted unanimously to name the Civic Precinct at the corner of Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, "David Barrow Square".

Regional Chair Emmerson announced the cancellation of the Housing York Inc. Board meeting on November 10, 2021.

Regional Chair Emmerson announced the rescheduling of the Committee of the Whole meeting on November 11, 2021 to begin at 1 p.m., giving everyone the opportunity to participate in Remembrance Day activities and ensuring the ability to respect the moment of silence at 11 a.m.

Regional Chair Emmerson noted that last week marked the seventh anniversary of the attack on the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill, which claimed the life of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a sentry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Regional Chair Emmerson offered sympathies and support to Corporal Cirillo’s family and friends and all those affected by this act of violence.

Regional Chair Emmerson offered best wishes for a happy Halloween, noting that due to lower COVID-19 case numbers and high vaccination rates, children will be going door-to-door once again.

Since COVID-19 remains a threat, Regional Chair Emmerson urged everyone to continue to follow public health advice by maintaining physical distancing, cleaning hands often, wearing proper face coverings and staying home if feeling unwell.

  • ​​Council did not resolve into private session.

     

L.1
Provincial Employment Services Transformation and Request to Submit Call for Proposals to be the Employment Service System Manager for York Region - Labour Relations
 

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Rosati
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council adopt the confidential recommendations in the private report from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services dated September 24, 2021.

    Carried

L.2
Stouffville-Bloomington Roads Asphalt Deficiencies Litigation Settlement - Litigation and Solicitor-Client Privilege 
 

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Rosati
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council adopt the confidential recommendations in the private report from the Regional Solicitor dated October 13, 2021.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Bevilacqua
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    That Council enact Bylaw No. 2021-100 to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council held on October 28, 2021.

    Carried

The Council meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.


                                                           
Regional Clerk



Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Council held on November 25, 2021.

 

                                                           
Regional Chair