Minutes

The Council of The Regional Municipality of York

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Council Chambers
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket
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, 
  • J. Ingram, 
  • P. Jankowski, 
  • K. Kurji, 
  • B. Macgregor, 
  • E. Mahoney, 
  • L. Mirabella, 
  • 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.”

  • Moved byMayor Hackson
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Ferri

    That Council confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on January 30, 2020.

    Carried

None

  • Moved byMayor Lovatt
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Hamilton

    That Council receive the correspondence from Claudia Cozza, Executive Director, Epilepsy York Region, dated February 3, 2020 and recognize March as Epilepsy Awareness Month and March 26, 2020 as Purple Day in York Region.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor Mrakas

    That Council receive the correspondence from the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, dated February 6, 2020.

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Heath
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jones

    That consideration of the following motion moved by Mayor Taylor, seconded by Regional Councillor Li, be deferred to the Council meeting on October 29, 2020:

    1. That the Regional Chair be directly elected by an at large election.
    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Scarpitti
    Seconded byMayor Bevilacqua

    That Council receive the memorandum from Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer, dated February 20, 2020.

    Carried

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


  • Moved byMayor Taylor
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jones

    That Council receive the memorandum from Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer, dated February 20, 2020.

    Carried

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


  • Moved byMayor Mrakas
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jones

    That Council receive the memorandum from Paul Freeman, Chief Planner, dated February 24, 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 February 6, 2020, except for Items J.1, J.2 and I.2.1 as noted below.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Mrakas
    Seconded byMayor Taylor

    J.1  Regional Fire Service

    That Council adopt the following motion:

    WHEREAS the consolidation of Aurora and Newmarket fire services into Central York Fire Service has resulted in efficiencies through enhanced levels of fire service and cost efficiencies;

    WHEREAS a Regional Fire Service may achieve further operating efficiencies, improved department structure, increased service level(s), and cost avoidance opportunities;

    BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Regional Clerk share this motion with local municipal Councils requesting a resolution by May 29, 2020 indicating whether they support proceeding with a study on the potential creation of a Regional Fire Service.

    A recorded vote on the motion was:

    For:  Barrow, Bevilacqua, Emmerson, Ferri, Grossi, Hackson, Lovatt, Mrakas, Pellegrini, Perrelli, Quirk, Taylor, Vegh (13)

    Against: DiPaola, Hamilton, Jones, Scarpitti (4)

    Absent:  Heath, Jackson, Li, Rosati (4)

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Barrow
    Seconded byMayor Pellegrini

    J.2  Regional Council Composition Review

    Council affirmed the following outcome from the February 6, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting:

    The motion from Mayor Mrakas to reduce the size of Council from 21 members (11 Regional Councillors, 9 Mayors and 1 Regional Chair) to 10 members (9 Mayors and 1 Regional Chair) was defeated.

    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Taylor
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Jones

    I.2.1 Mandated Review of Regional Council Composition

    1. That Council add one member representing the City of Vaughan, with no further adjustments to be made to the composition of Council at this time.
    2. That Council start the triple majority process as quickly as possible.
    3. That the Regional Clerk circulate this report to the Clerks of the nine local municipalities.

    A recorded vote on the motion was:

    For:  Bevilacqua, DiPaola, Emmerson, Ferri, Grossi, Hackson, Heath, Jackson, Jones, Li, Lovatt, Pellegrini, Perrelli, Quirk, Rosati, Scarpitti, Taylor, Vegh (18)

    Against: Barrow, Hamilton, Mrakas (3)

    Absent: (0)

    Carried

    See Items F.3 and F.4.


  • Moved byRegional Councillor Rosati
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Heath

    That Council adopt the following recommendations in the report dated February 14, 2020 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:

    1. Council approve Attachment 1 as York Region’s response to the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Discussion Paper on Emergency Health Services Modernization.
    2. The Regional Clerk circulate the Region’s response to the following: Ministry of Health, Members of Provincial Parliament in York Region, Clerks of the nine local municipalities, Southlake Community Ontario Health Team, Eastern York Region and North Durham Ontario Health Team, Mackenzie Health Hospital, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs and CUPE 905 — York Region Unit.
    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Barrow
    Seconded byMayor Taylor

    That Council as the Board of Health adopt the following recommendations in the report dated February 14, 2020 from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services and Medical Officer of Health:

    1. York Region Board of Health approve Attachment 1 as York Region’s response to the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Discussion Paper on Public Health Modernization.
    2. The Regional Clerk circulate the Region’s response to the following: Ministry of Health, Members of Provincial Parliament in York Region, Clerks of the nine Local Municipalities, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 905 (York Region Unit), Ontario Nurses Association Local 16, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Association of Local Public Health Agencies and Chairs of 35 Boards of Health in Ontario.
    Carried
  • Moved byMayor Pellegrini
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Hamilton

    That Council approve and enact the following bylaws:

    Carried
  • Moved byRegional Councillor Jones
    Seconded byMayor Mrakas

    That Regional Council hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to subsection 239(3.1) of the Municipal Act, for the purposes of educating its Members on the Municipal Comprehensive Review process related to land needs assessment and planning for employment.

    The meeting will be held on March 5, 2020 at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario.

    Carried

Regional Chair Emmerson provided an update and thanked Dr. Kurji and his staff for the efforts of Public Health to monitor the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. At this time there have been no reported cases in York Region.

Public Health continues to be proactive and comprehensive in communications with Council and the public. Members of Council and residents are encouraged to visit york.ca/covid19 as the most trusted source of information.

Regional Chair Emmerson announced the Climate Wise Mayors’ Challenge was launched this morning. This friendly competition, championed by Mayor Taylor and the Windfall Ecology Centre, is a unique opportunity for everyone to do their part to address climate change.

Following the Mayors’ Challenge, Members of Council had the opportunity to tour one of the Region’s new electric buses. Exploring the use of electric vehicles is one of the ways the Region is working to reduce our carbon footprint and achieve its goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2051.

The Regional Chair announced that the Intelligent Community Forum has ranked York Region as 12th in the world for its sustainability efforts.

Sustainability remains a key pillar in many of the Region’s guiding documents including Vision 2051, the Regional Official Plan and Corporate Strategic Plan. Guided by these strategic documents, the Region is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing waste diversion, protecting our natural resources and improving the quality of life for residents.

  • Moved byRegional Councillor DiPaola
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    That Council permit consideration of a motion regarding 9893 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill.

    Carried by 2/3 majority vote

  • Moved byMayor Barrow
    Seconded byMayor Scarpitti

    Whereas:

    1. Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association (Carefirst) has owned 9893 Leslie Street since 2005, which is located within an Employment Area of the City of Richmond Hill and currently operates an Adult Day Centre, providing health-related services out of the existing building on site, with a complement of 20 staff, which includes, nurses, social workers, dietitians, physio and recreation therapist, and personal support workers, etc.
    2. Carefirst is funded by the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to provide various services to its clients. The Long Term Care (LTC) home is an institutional care facility that will be 100% funded by the Ministry of Long Term Care as a publicly funded operation.
    3. The Regional Municipality of York, on April 19, 2018, adopted the following recommendations contained in the report dated March 23, 2018, from the Commissioner of Community and Health Services:
      1. The Regional Chair write to the Ministers of Health and Long-Term Care and Seniors Affairs to:
        1. Advocate and support the need for more Long-Term Care beds across York Region
        2. Request that the methodology for projecting demand for Long-Term Care beds be revised to include factors such as the increasing prevalence of complex medical conditions that require long-term care, shifting demographics and waitlists
        3. State its position that municipalities should not be responsible for health care costs
        4. By 2026, the greatest need for Long-Term Care beds will be in the Richmond Hill and Markham areas
    4. As of February 9, 2018, the Central Local Health Integration Network (CLHIN) advised that the Long-Term Care homes in its western (Richmond Hill and area) and eastern (Markham and area) sub-region planning areas had the greatest number of people on their waitlists. The CLHIN projects that by 2026, Richmond Hill will need another 1,004 beds, while Markham will need an additional 818 beds.
    5. Carefirst is intent on submitting an application to the Ministry of Long Term Care in early March 2020, to create 100 Long-Term Care beds at 9893 Leslie Street. The deadline is end of March. The MOLTC expectation is to have the beds available by end of 2023.
    6. The proposed Long-Term Care facility will employ approximately 117.5 full-time equivalent persons of various clinical and non-clinical backgrounds in 3 shifts around the clock (24hrs/7days), not including the staff establishment of the medical centre (Family Heath Team). The number and ratios of positions and staff complement are mandated by the Long Term Care Home Act.
    7. The proposal will result in the total employment levels on site to increase from 20 to approximately 150 employees due to the new development as well as introducing the needed Long-Term Care beds on site.
    8. 9893 Leslie Street is located on a section of the road where the current land uses are predominantly “institutional” in nature.

    Be it resolved that:

    1. York Region supports the conversion of 9893 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill, from Employment to Employment / Institutional uses, to permit the proposed community hub office space and Long Term Care facility.
    2. York Region supports the position to exempt the site at 9893 Leslie Street from further Regional Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process.
    3. York Region advise the City of Richmond Hill that Carefirst can initiate all required planning applications needed at the local level, to facilitate the planning application review process.
    4. Staff be directed to work in concert with local Richmond Hill staff to ensure the planning process is coordinated, but that the Richmond Hill planning review process is not delayed by the Regional MCR process.
    5. The Regional Clerk forward this resolution to the Premier of Ontario, the Provincial Minister of Health, Minister of Long Term Care, and York Region MPPs.
    Carried

Council did not resolve into private session.

  • Moved byMayor Bevilacqua
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Rosati

    That Council enact Bylaw No. 2020-08 to confirm the proceedings of this meeting of Council held on February 27, 2020.

    Carried

The Council meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m.


                                                           
Regional Clerk



Minutes confirmed and adopted at the meeting of Council held on March 26, 2020.

 

                                                           
Regional Chair