Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Thursday, May 14, 2020

9:00 A.m. - 11:00 A.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,
• Dr. K. Kurji,
• D. Kuzmyk,
• 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

C.1

2021 Budget Direction

Committee of the Whole received the presentation from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance.

(See Items I.1.1 and I.2.2)

D.

Deputations in Writing

None

E.

Transportation Services

E.1

Communications

E.1.1

York Region Transit 2019 Enforcement and Security Annual Report

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum from Paul Jankowski, Commissioner of Transportation Services dated April 24, 2020.

E.1.2

Greater Toronto Area West Transportation Corridor Update

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the correspondence from Jean-Francois Obregon.

(See Item E.2.1)

E.2

Reports

E.2.1

Greater Toronto Area West Transportation Corridor Update

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 30, 2020 from the Commissioner of Transportation Services and the Chief Planner:

1. Council reiterate its position that the Ministry of Transportation develop, as part of the Environmental Assessment, a highway alignment that reduces impacts to existing and approved community areas in the North Kleinburg-Nashville Secondary Plan area.
2. Council request, as part of the Environmental Assessment, the Ministry of Transportation not preclude a future interchange at Pine Valley Drive and continue to explore an additional interchange north of the Teston Road interchange, to accommodate development of lands within Regional Official Plan Amendment 2, which are key planned future City of Vaughan communities.
3. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the Minister of Transportation, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Members of Provincial Parliament within York Region, the Regions of Peel and Halton and the local municipalities.

E.2.2

Award of Consulting Engineering Services for Various Structure Replacements and Rehabilitations

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 24, 2020 from the Commissioner of Transportation Services:

1. Council approve the award of contract for consulting engineering services for various structural replacements and rehabilitations to GHD Limited, pursuant to Request for Proposal P-19-307, at a total cost of $2,165,148, excluding HST.
2. Council authorize the Commissioner of Transportation Services to execute the agreement on behalf of the Region.

E.2.3

Impacts of COVID-19 on Public Transit

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 28, 2020 from the Commissioner of Transportation Services:

1. Council support the efforts of associations such as the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario, Canadian Urban Transit Association and Ontario Public Transit Association, in their requests to the Federal and Provincial governments to help identify solutions to the challenges faced by public transit service providers due to COVID-19.
2. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the Minister of Transportation, Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario, Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario, Association of Municipalities Ontario, Canadian Urban Transit Association and Ontario Public Transit Association.

F.

Environmental Services

F.1

Communications

None

F.2

Reports

F.2.1

Three-Year Performance Report on Natural Gas Buying Strategy

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 23, 2020 from the Commissioner of Environmental Services:

1. Council receive this report for information.

G.

Community and Health Services

G.1

Communications

G.1.1

Update on Social Service Response to COVID-19 Global Pandemic

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum from Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community and Health Services dated May 1, 2020.

G.2

Reports

None

H.

Planning and Economic Development

H.1

Communications

H.1.1

Municipal Comprehensive Review Update

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum from Paul Freeman, Chief Planner dated May 1, 2020.

H.2

Reports

None

I.

Finance and Administration

I.1

Communications

I.1.1

Financial Impacts of COVID-19

Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum from Laura Mirabella, Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer dated May 12, 2020.

I.2

Reports

I.2.1

2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan Year 1 (2019) Progress Report

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated May 14, 2020 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

1. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to local municipalities.

I.2.2

2021 Budget Direction

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 28, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council endorse the proposed timeline for the development and approval of the 2021 budget, with 2021-2022 budget to be tabled with Council in February 2021, with consideration of approval in March 2021.

I.2.3

2020 Property Tax Ratios

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated May 14, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. The property tax ratios for the 2020 taxation year be established as outlined in the table within the report.
2. Council approve a bylaw to implement the tax ratios using the notional property tax rate calculation adjustment for 2020.
3. Council authorize staff to conduct public consultations to help inform tax ratio recommendations for the next reassessment cycle which begins with the 2022 taxation year.
4. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the local municipalities.

I.2.4

2020 Property Tax Rates

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated May 14, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Regional property tax rates for 2020 be established for the property classes outlined in the table within the report.
2. Local municipalities pay the final two instalments of their 2020 Regional property tax levy on or before September 30, 2020 and December 15, 2020.
3. Council defer any consideration to eliminate the discount to vacant and excess commercial and industrial land subclasses until the 2022 taxation year.
4. Council not adopt the new optional small-scale on-farm business subclass at this time.
5. Council approve a bylaw to give effect to these recommendations.
6. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to local municipalities.

I.2.5

2020 Property Tax Capping Report

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 20, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. The Regional Treasurer be authorized to determine the percentage of property tax decreases to be withheld to fund the cost of capping reassessment-related tax increases in the commercial class for the 2020 taxation year.
2. The Regional Treasurer be authorized to fund the Region’s share of resulting shortfall from the Tax Stabilization Reserve, should the amount of property tax decreases available from any of the property classes, be insufficient to fund the capping requirement.
3. The Regional Clerk circulate the report to local municipalities.

I.2.6

2019 Accounts Receivable Write-off and Status Report

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 29, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council receive this report for information.

I.2.7

Contract Awards, including Renewals, Approvals, and Emergency Purchases - January 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 29, 2020 from the Commissioner of Finance:

1. Council receive this report for information.

I.2.8

Compensation for Expropriation - Rutherford Road from Peter Rupert Avenue to Bathurst Street - City of Vaughan

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated May 1, 2020 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services:

1. Council approve the Commissioner of Corporate Services to make offers of compensation to the owners of lands in the City of Vaughan, as set out in Attachment 1, which were acquired in accordance with the Expropriations Act (the “Act”).

I.2.9

Expropriation Settlement - Viva Bus Rapid Transit Corridor - 596, 625, and 776 Davis Drive - Town of Newmarket

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated May 1, 2020 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services:

1. Council authorize the settlement of all claims pursuant to the Expropriations Act, for 596, 625, and 776 Davis Drive as described in Attachment 1, for the construction of the bus rapid transit corridor on Davis Drive in the Town of Newmarket.
2. The Commissioner of Corporate Services be authorized to execute the Minutes of Settlement and all necessary documentation to complete the transaction in accordance with the Minutes of Settlement.

J.

Notice of Motion

J.1

Thermal Temperature Detection and Data Retention for York Region

As per Section 18.4(e) of the Council and Committee Procedure Bylaw 2018-59, the Notice of Motion from Regional Councillor Jones received on May 13, 2020 will be considered as a Motion at the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 11, 2020.

K.

Other Business

K.1

Proposed Changes to Council and Committee Meeting Dates for Balance of 2020

Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following updated Council and Committee Meeting dates for the balance of 2020:

Committee of the Whole

June 11
October 8
November 5
December 3

Regional Council

October 22
November 19

K.2

COVID-19 Update from Dr. Kurji, York Region Medical Officer of Health

Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region Medical Officer of Health provided an update on the status of COVID-19 and responded to questions from Members of Committee of the Whole.

K.3

National Nurses Week

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that May 11 to May 17, 2020 is National Nurses Week and that the World Health Organization has declared 2020 as ‘The Year of the Nurse and Midwife'.

On behalf of York Regional Council, Regional Chair Emmerson recognized York Region’s nurses for the work they do and thanked them for their commitment to keeping our communities strong, healthy and safe.

 

K.4

National Public Works Week

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that May 17 to May 23, 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of National Public Works Week.

K.5

Paramedic Services Week

Regional Chair Emmerson announced that May 24 to May 30, 2020 is Paramedic Services Week.

On behalf of York Regional Council, Regional Chair Emmerson extended appreciation to the hard working and dedicated paramedic services team and thanked them for the important role they play on the front lines of our healthcare system during the pandemic.

L.

Private Session

Committee of the Whole did not resolve into Private Session and adopted the following:

L.1

Disposition of Overdue POA Fines - Solicitor-Client Privilege

Committee of the Whole forwarded the private report from the Deputy Regional Solicitor dated May 4, 2020 to Council's Private Session on May 28, 2020.

L.2

Private Attachment 1 to Item I.2.8 - Compensation for Expropriation - Rutherford Road from Peter Rupert Avenue to Bathurst Street - City of Vaughan - Land Acquisition

Committee of the Whole received the private attachment.

L.3

Private Attachment 1 to Item I.2.9 - Expropriation Settlement - Viva Bus Rapid Transit Corridor - 596, 625, and 776 Davis Drive - Town of Newmarket - Litigation

Committee of the Whole received the private attachment.

M.

Adjournment

Committee of the Whole adjourned at 11:50 a.m.