Minutes

YORK REGIONAL COUNCIL

Special Meeting

Thursday, July 30, 2020

9:00 A.m. - 1:00 P.m.

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,
• S. Love,
• B. Macgregor,
• E. Mahoney,
• L. Mirabella,
• C. Raynor,
• and M.F. Turner

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A.

Call to Order

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9:02 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.”

B.

Disclosures of Interest

None

C.

Presentations

None

D.

Deputations in Writing

D.1

R. Vallee

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jackson
  Seconded by Mayor Barrow

  That Council receive the Deputation in Writing from Robert Vallee on behalf of Parents Against Child Trafficking-Markham dated July 27, 2020.

  Carried

E.

Communications

E.1

Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan and Updated Land Needs Assessment Methodology

E.1.1

Royalpark Homes and SigNature Communities

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Ron Palmer on behalf of Royalpark Homes and SigNature Communities dated July 20, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.2

York Region Environmental Alliance

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Gloria Marsh on behalf of York Region Environmental Alliance dated July 20, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.3

C. Davidson

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Carol Davidson dated July 21, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.4

Nobleton Landowners Group

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Kevin Powers on behalf of Nobleton Landowners Group dated July 22, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.5

Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Yvonne Kelly on behalf of Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region dated July 22, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.6

King Hill Inc.

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Don Given on behalf of King Hill Inc. dated July 22, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.7

Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Resolution - New Growth Forecasts and the Town's Strategic Growth Directions - Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Kristina Soolepp, Council Coordinator, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville dated July 22, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.8

Town of Georgina Resolution - Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Carolyn Lance, Council Services Coordinator, Town of Georgina dated July 22, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.9

City of Richmond Hill Resolution - A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe - Proposed Amendment 1

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Stephen M.A. Huycke, Director of Legislative Services/City Clerk, City of Richmond Hill dated July 23, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.10

City of Markham Resolution - City of Markham Comments on Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk, City of Markham dated July 27, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.11

Town of East Gwillimbury Resolution - Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan and Updated Land Needs Assessment Methodology

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Fernando Lamanna, Municipal Clerk, Town of East Gwillimbury dated July 29, 2020.

  Carried

E.1.12

Flato Developments Inc. and Wyview Group

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council receive the communication from Katarzyna Sliwa on behalf of Flato Developments Inc. and Wyview Group dated July 29, 2020.

  Carried

E.2

Social Service Response to COVID-19 Global Pandemic - July Update

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

  That Council receive the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services dated July 20, 2020.

  Carried

E.3

Update on Public Health Emergency Response to COVID-19 Global Pandemic

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

  That Council receive the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services and Dr. Karim Kurji, Medical Officer of Health dated July 27, 2020.

  Carried

E.4

Financial Impacts of COVID-19

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

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

  Carried

E.5

Bill 197, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 - Update on Proposed Legislative Changes to Development Charges Act, 1997 and Planning Act (Community Benefits Charges)

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

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

  Carried

E.6

Federal Economic and Fiscal Snapshot 2020

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

  That Council receive the memorandum from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer dated July 13, 2020.

  Carried

E.7

International Decade for People of African Descent

• Moved by Mayor Barrow
  Seconded by Mayor Lovatt

  That Council receive the communication from Lee Miller on behalf of York Region Alliance of African Communities dated June 29, 2020 and recognize 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.

  Carried

F.

Consideration and Adoption of Reports

F.1

Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan and Updated Land Needs Assessment Methodology

• Moved by Regional Councillor Jones
  Seconded by Mayor Mrakas

  That Council adopt the following recommendations in the report dated July 21, 2020 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the Chief Planner:

  1. Council endorse this report and Attachment 2 as the Region’s submission to the Province in response to Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) postings # 019-1679: Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology for A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and # 019-1680: Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and that the Province be advised that:
     1. as York Region is forecast to continue to accommodate the highest share of growth within the Greater Golden Horseshoe, support for this growth is required from the Province through:
        1. timely infrastructure approvals for projects, particularly the Upper York Water Reclamation Centre,
        2. sustainable revenue tools to ensure growth pays for the costs of growth,
        3. programs and initiatives to improve housing affordability, and
        4. the allocation of funds to York Region from the Non-Resident Speculation Tax
     2. the Region supports extending the planning horizon to 2051 under the Reference Scenario (2.02 million people and 900,000 jobs) on the basis of having the ability to phase urban expansion to align with infrastructure and financial planning and to ensure delivery of complete communities
     3. employment land conversions within Major Transit Station Areas should be considered through a Municipal Comprehensive Review
  2. The Regional Clerk forward this report and the attachments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Clerks of the local municipalities and local Members of Provincial Parliament.

   

  Carried

F.2

Capital Funding Agreement for York University Markham Centre Campus

• Moved by Mayor Scarpitti
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Hamilton

  That Council adopt the following recommendation in the report dated December 12, 2019 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

  1. The Region enter into a Funding Agreement to provide up to $25,000,000 upon achieving the milestones set out in the Memorandum of Understanding with York University towards construction of a new university campus located in Markham Centre.
  Carried

G.

Private Session

• Moved by Mayor Bevilacqua
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri

  That Council resolve into private session at 9:49 a.m. At 9:57 a.m. Council resumed in public session and reported the following:

  Carried

G.1

Upper York Sewage Solutions Environmental Assessment Update - Instruction to be Applied to Negotiations and Information Supplied in Confidence

• Moved by Mayor Bevilacqua
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Ferri

  That Council receive the private memorandum from the Deputy Regional Solicitor dated July 28, 2020.

  Carried

H.

Other Business

H.1

Motion Regarding Electronic Deputations at Meetings

• Moved by Mayor Quirk
  Seconded by Mayor Hackson

  That Council adopt the following resolution:

  WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, Council amended its Procedure Bylaw to permit electronic meetings during an emergency period.

  WHEREAS, only written deputations are currently permitted under the amended bylaw.

  THEREFORE be it resolved that the electronic meeting procedures be amended to permit electronic deputations at Committee of the Whole and Council meetings as of September 2020, where such deputations have been registered with the Regional Clerk's Office by 12 p.m. on the day prior to the meeting

  AND that staff report back in the fall regarding recent amendments to the Municipal Act.

  Carried

H.2

September Meeting Schedule

Regional Chair Emmerson noted that a combined Committee of the Whole meeting will be held September 10, 2020. A Special Council Meeting will be held on September 17, 2020 to consider a bylaw change to add an additional Member of Council representing the City of Vaughan and to consider submissions related to employment and employment lands. A regular Council Meeting will be held on September 24, 2020.

H.3

COVID-19 Update

Dr. Karim Kurji, Medical Officer of Health provided updates to Members of Council on the COVID-19 situation and latest statistics, including an update regarding implementation of the mandatory mask instruction.

• Moved by Mayor Scarpitti
  Seconded by Mayor Taylor

  That Council endorse the Medical Officer of Health issuing an instruction requiring the use of non-medical face coverings, subject to appropriate exemptions, including children under 5 years’ old, in common areas of condominium buildings, apartment buildings and other multi-residential buildings.

  Carried
• Moved by Mayor Scarpitti
  Seconded by Mayor Taylor

  That Council endorse any future instructions from the Medical Officer of Health relating to bars, indoor restaurants and gyms.

  Carried

H.4

Deputy York Regional Police Chief André Crawford

Regional Chair Emmerson announced the retirement of Deputy York Regional Police Chief André Crawford. Deputy Chief Crawford's last day will be November 6, 2020. On behalf of residents, Regional Chair Emmerson thanked him for his nearly 35 years of service to York Region and wishes him all the best in a well-earned and well-deserved retirement. 

H.5

York University Markham Centre Campus

Regional Chair Emmerson noted the announcement to construct the York University Markham Centre Campus and expressed appreciation to the City of Markham, the Government of Ontario and York University for their shared commitment to developing high-quality education in York Region.

H.6

Esri President's Award

Regional Chair Emmerson congratulated all involved at York Region for receiving the President's Award from Esri earlier this month which recognizes the Region's efforts for continuous improvement and use of data to solve problems and make a difference within our communities. York Region was personally selected out of more than 350,000 international customers by Esri's Founder and President.  

I.

Confirmatory Bylaw

• Moved by Mayor Bevilacqua
  Seconded by Regional Councillor Jackson

  That Council enact Bylaw No. 2020-42 to confirm the proceedings of this special meeting of Council held on July 30, 2020.

  Carried

J.

Adjournment

The Council meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.m.

                                                           
Regional Clerk

Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Council held on September 24, 2020.

 

                                                           
Regional Chair