Minutes

The Council of The Regional Municipality of York

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Electronic Meeting
Members:
  • W. Emmerson,
  • D. Barrow,
  • M. Bevilacqua,
  • J. DiPaola,
  • M. Ferri,
  • R. Grossi,
  • V. Hackson,
  • D. Hamilton,
  • J. Heath,
  • L. Jackson,
  • J. Jones,
  • J. Li,
  • I. Lovatt,
  • T. Mrakas,
  • S. Pellegrini,
  • C. Perrelli,
  • M. Quirk,
  • G. Rosati,
  • F. Scarpitti,
  • J. Taylor,
  • and T. Vegh
Staff:
  • D. Basso,
  • K. Chislett,
  • P. Freeman,
  • P. Jankowski,
  • K. Kurji,
  • D. Kuzmyk,
  • B. Macgregor,
  • E. Mahoney,
  • L. Mirabella,
  • C. Raynor,
  • M.F. Turner,
  • and E. Wilson

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9:01 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.”

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Hamilton
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on November 19, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Hamilton
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the Special Council meeting held on November 26, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Hamilton
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the Special Council meeting held on December 10, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Heath
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    That Council receive the presentation from Dr. Karim Kurji and Dr. Jeya Nadarajah.

    Carried

None

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council receive the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services and Dr. Karim Kurji, Medical Officer of Health dated December 15, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Heath
    Seconded byMayor Quirk

    That Council received the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services dated December 15, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council receive the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services dated December 15, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council receive the communication from Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk, City of Markham dated December 11, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jackson
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Vegh

    That Council receive the memorandum from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer dated December 15, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Heath
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Grossi

    That Council receive the memorandum from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer dated December 17, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Taylor
    Seconded byMayor Lovatt

    That Council receive the communication from Tim Ross, Executive Director, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada dated December 16, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Grossi
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jones

    That Council receive the communication from Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation dated December 15, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Barrow
    Seconded byMayor Pellegrini

    That Council adopt the recommendations in the Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on December 3, 2020, except for Items F.1.5 and G.2.2 as noted below.

    Carried


    Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Resolution - Update on Municipal Memorandums of Understanding and Service Level Agreements

    Moved by Regional Councillor DiPaola
    Seconded by Regional Councillor Jackson

    1. That the communication from Alisa Mahrova, Clerk and Manager, Policy, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority dated October 20, 2020 be received, and staff be requested to report back regarding the status of the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) in early 2021.

    Moved by Mayor Bevilacqua
    Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

    That Council end debate and vote on the pending motion.

    Carried

    A recorded vote on the pending motion was as follows:

    For: Barrow, Bevilacqua, DiPaola, Ferri, Grossi, Jackson, Li, Lovatt, Pellegrini, Perrelli, Rosati, Scarpitti (12)

    Against: Emmerson, Hackson, Hamilton, Heath, Jones, Mrakas, Quirk, Taylor, Vegh (9)

    Carried


    Social Services Relief Fund - Phase Two - Authority for Capital Agreements

    Moved by Regional Councillor Rosati
    Seconded by Regional Councillor Heath

    That Council adopt the following recommendations in the report, as amended, dated November 20, 2020 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

    1. The Commissioner of Community and Health Services be authorized to award direct purchase contracts to expedite the rapid construction of Social Services Relief Fund Phase Two funded projects, at a total cost not to exceed funding amounts.
    2. The Commissioner of Community and Health Services be authorized to execute all necessary documents required under the program.
    3. Council approve moving forward with developments on Housing York Inc. properties as required for Social Services Relief Fund Phase Two projects.
    4. The Commissioner of Community and Health Services be authorized to adjust funding, and direct any additional funding, as required to maximize use of funds.
    5. Council approve 2021 interim Capital Spending Authority of up to $7,415,000 for Social Services Relief Fund Capital Projects, fully funded from Provincial Funding.

    Carried

  • Moved byMayor Hackson
    Seconded byMayor Mrakas

    The Council adopt the following recommendation in the report dated December 11, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

    1. Council endorse the projects shown in Attachment 1 for funding under the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream – Local Government Intake.
    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Pellegrini
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    That Council adopt the following recommendation in the report dated December 16, 2020 from the Commissioner of Transportation Services:

    1. Council authorize staff to submit a request to the Ontario Court of Justice for a set fine order for mask and face-covering infractions on transit.
    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Lovatt
    Seconded byMayor Mrakas

    Whereas the impact of COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our local economies and small business owners; and
    Whereas many businesses have already closed permanently with many more facing the same fate throwing owners into financial ruin and their employees into poverty; and
    Whereas the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program launched in May 2020 was dependent on Landlords signing up and taking a 25% reduction in rent and closed in September 2020 with many small businesses unable to participate; and
    Whereas the FedDev Ontario Regional Relief and Recovery Fund was created to support operating costs incurred during the first year of the pandemic up to $1 Million if you are unable to access other federal relief measures and if you were in business before March 15, 2020; and
    Whereas on August 11, the Federal Government announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, where businesses must have been in operation prior to March 15 2020 with proof of 1 year of sales; and
    Whereas on September 27, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy launched which is a subsidy to cover part of a businesses commercial rent or property expenses, starting on September 27, 2020, until June 2021, you have to have been in business with payroll prior to March 15 2020; and
    Whereas the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy is a lagging subsidy of up to 65% of eligible expenses meaning businesses are out of pocket 100% rent costs and receive a 65% recovery, possibly 90% if in Lockdown; and
    Whereas these COVID-19 Business relief programs offered by the Federal Government exclude businesses that opened after March 15 2020 leaving these business owners with no financial lifeline; and
    Whereas York Region being placed into Grey Lockdown will all but seal the complete financial ruin of many small business owners in our communities;
    Therefore be it resolved:
    That, in the eventuality of York Region being moved into Grey-Lockdown, York Region Council call on the Federal Government to amend the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy to include any restaurant or business that opened at any time in 2020; and
    The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy become a leading subsidy where the business owner gets the benefit before rent is due; and
    A copy be sent to Prime Minister Trudeau, Deputy PM Freeland, All Premiers, Deputy Premiers, York Region MPs, All Regional Chairs in Ontario, AMO, FCM.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Perrelli
    Seconded byRegional Councillor DiPaola

    Whereas many restaurants have a seating capacity that numbers into the hundreds; and

    Whereas the accepted COVID-19 safety standard for physical distancing is 2 meters; and

    Whereas many restaurants have to maintain large staff complements to open their doors which is cost prohibitive with a seating limit as a result of the Orange - Restrict and Red - Control zone measures; and

    Whereas the pictures attached to this motion make it clear that limiting the seating capacity using these parameters are woefully inadequate; and

    Whereas restaurants are already subject to all other safety measures and have an excellent record of compliance; and

    Whereas a number of restaurants have already closed permanently with many more facing the same fate through no fault of their own;

    Therefore be it resolved:

    i) That York Region Council request that, in York Region, the Provincial Government immediately remove the following clause “Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors is 50” from the Orange - Restrict zone and “Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors is 10” from the Red - Control zone
    ii) That York Region Council request that, in York Region, the Provincial Government immediately remove the following clauses “Establishments must be closed from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.” “Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.” and “No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.” from the Yellow- Protect zone,
    “Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” “Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.” and “No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.” from the Orange- Restrict zone and the Red - Control zone.
    iii) That York Region Council request that the Provincial Government return York Region to the Red- Control zone as modified in i) and ii) as of December 18th at 12:01AM.

    A recorded vote was as follows:

    For: Barrow, DiPaola, Grossi, Hamilton, Jackson, Jones, Li, Mrakas, Pellegrini, Perrelli (10)

    Against: Bevilacqua, Emmerson, Ferri, Hackson, Heath, Lovatt, Quirk, Rosati, Scarpitti, Taylor, Vegh (11)

    Defeated

Regional Chair Emmerson provided an update on the current status of COVID-19 and led a moment of silence to honour the 329 York Region residents who have lost their lives to the virus.

Marking the half-way point of this Council term, Regional Chair Emmerson provided an overview of the milestones achieved by York Region Council.  These include investments in roads and transit, expansion of YorkNet's high-speed dark-fibre network, regional governance review, advancements at the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Plant, a declared state of emergency for the first time in York Region's 50 year history, breaking ground on the Markham Centre Campus of York University and the opening of the Yonge Street Rapidway in the City of Richmond Hill.

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that York Region Transit will not be offering free rides on New Year's Eve this year, in an effort to discourage residents from celebrating outside of their own homes.

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that a Special Council meeting will be tentatively scheduled on December 22, 2020 beginning at 9 a.m. related to COVID-19.

Regional Chair Emmerson announced the cancellation of the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation meeting on January 20, 2021.

On behalf of Regional Council, Regional Chair Emmerson wished York Region residents a happy and safe holiday season and a happy New Year.

  • ​​Council resolved into private session at 12:53 p.m. At 12:54 p.m. Council resumed in public session and reported the following:

     

    Carried

L.1
Private Attachments 1 and 2 to Item F.3 - Additional Provincial Social Services Relief Funding - Acquisition or Disposition of Land
 

  • Moved byRegional Councillor Rosati
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Ferri

    That Council receive the private attachments.

  • Moved byMayor Bevilacqua
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    That Council enact Bylaw No. 2020-61 to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council held on December 17, 2020.

    Carried

The Council meeting adjourned at 12:58 p.m.


                                                           
Regional Clerk



Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Council held on January 28, 2021.

 

                                                           
Regional Chair