Minutes

Committee of the Whole

Meeting #:
Date:	Thursday, May 09, 2019
Time:	9:00 A.m. - 11:00 A.m.
Location:	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,
• J. Li,
• I. Lovatt,
• T. Mrakas,
• S. Pellegrini,
• C. Perrelli,
• M. Quirk,
• G. Rosati,
• F. Scarpitti,
• J. Taylor,
• and T. Vegh

Staff:

• D. Basso,
• P. Freeman,
• J. Hulton,
• B. Macgregor,
• L. Mirabella,
• C. Raynor,
• B. Titherington,
• and M.F. Turner

---

A.

Call to Order

Regional Chair Emmerson called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and made the following remarks:

“I would like to begin today’s meeting by acknowledging that York Region extends over lands originally used and occupied by Indigenous Peoples, and on behalf of York Region, I would like to thank First Nations and the Métis for sharing this land.

I would also like to acknowledge the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation as our closest First Nation community.”

B.

Disclosures of Interest

None

C.

Presentations

C.1

Planning for Employment and Growth and Development Review

• Committee of the Whole recommended receipt of the presentation by Paul Freeman, Chief Planner, Planning and Economic Development

  (See Items E.2.1. and E.2.2.)

C.2

Agriculture and Agri-Food Strategy Update

• Committee of the Whole recommended receipt of the presentation by Jonathan Wheatle, Manager, Strategic Economic Initiatives, Planning and Economic Development

  (See Item E.2.3.)

D.

Deputations

None

E.

Planning and Economic Development

E.1

Communications

E.1.1

A Place To Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe

• Committee of the Whole recommended receipt of the memorandum dated May 7, 2019 from the Chief Planner.

E.1.2

Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan

• Committee of the Whole recommended receipt of the memorandum dated May 7, 2019 from the Chief Planner.

E.2

Reports

E.2.1

Planning for Employment Background Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 25, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Planner:

  1. Council direct staff to proceed with consultation on the draft employment framework as outlined in this report and attachments as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review.
     
  2. The Regional Clerk forward this report and attachments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Clerks of the local municipalities.

E.2.2

Growth and Development Review 2018

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 25, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Planner:

  1. The Growth and Development Review 2018 be circulated by the Regional Clerk to the local municipalities for information.

E.2.3

2018 Agriculture and Agri-Food Strategy Update and Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 26, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Planner:

  1. Council receive the 2018 Agriculture and Agri-Food Strategy update for information.
     
  2. Council approve the Terms of Reference for the Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee (Attachment 1).
  3. This report be circulated by the Regional Clerk to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local municipalities.

E.2.4

2018 Regional Centres and Corridors Update

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 26, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services and Chief Planner:

  1. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the Provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and York Region Members of Federal and Provincial Parliament as an example of the Region’s continued commitment to focusing growth within Regional Centres and Corridors, and to seek further Federal and Provincial assistance to provide critical infrastructure for the Yonge Subway Extension and completion of the Viva Rapid Transit network.
     
  2. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the local municipalities for information.

F.

Finance and Administration

F.1

Communications

F.1.1

Summary of 2019 Provincial and Federal Budgets

• Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated May 9, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance and Regional Treasurer.

F.1.2

Governance Task Force - Formal Response to Province on Regional Government Review Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends receipt of the memorandum dated May 9, 2019 from the Chief Administrative Officer.

  (See Items F.2.8. and F.2.9.)

F.2

Reports

F.2.1

2015 to 2019 Strategic Plan Final Year 4 (2018) Progress Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 26, 2019 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

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

F.2.2

2020 Budget Direction

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 25, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. Council endorse the proposed timeline for the development and approval of the 2020 budget.

F.2.3

2018 Annual Investment Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 15, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. Council receive this report for information.

F.2.4

Hospital Capital Funding for 2019

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 23, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. Council receive this report for information.

F.2.5

2018 Accounts Receivable Write-off and Status Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 24, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. Council receive for information the summary of accounts that were approved for write-off by the Regional Treasurer in 2018 (Table 1) and the status of the Region’s Accounts Receivable as at December 31, 2018, reported in Attachment 1.

F.2.6

2018 YorkInfo Partnership Annual Report

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 25, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services:

  1. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the local municipalities, school boards and conservation authorities for information.

F.2.7

Approval to Expropriate - Rutherford Road from Jane Street to Westburne Drive - 2650 Rutherford Road - City of Vaughan

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated April 25, 2019 from the Commissioner of Corporate Services:

  1. Council receive and consider the Inquiry Officer’s report from the Hearing of Necessity in relation to the lands set out in Attachment 1, which found the taking of the land to be fair, sound and reasonably necessary.
  2. Council, as approving authority, approve the expropriation of the lands set out in Attachment 1 for the widening and reconstruction of Rutherford Road, in the City of Vaughan, and adopt the reasons for approval set out in Attachment 4.
     
  3. The Commissioner of Corporate Services be authorized to execute and serve any notices required under the Expropriations Act (the “Act”).
     
  4. Council authorize the introduction of the necessary bylaw to give effect to these recommendations.

F.2.8

Criteria for Prospective Service Migration

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendation in the report dated April 10, 2019 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

  1. The Regional Clerk share this report and attachment with the local municipalities seeking comment on the draft criteria for prospective service migration.

F.2.9

Formal Response to Province on Regional Government Review

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations, as amended, in the report dated April 10, 2019 from the Chief Administrative Officer:

  1. Staff bring to Regional Council on May 16, 2019 a written submission to the Province on the Regional Government Review as generally set out in this report.
  2. The Regional Clerk forward this report to the local municipalities.

F.2.10

2019 Property Tax Ratios

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption the following recommendations in the report dated May 6, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. The property tax ratios for the 2019 taxation year be established as follows:

  Broad Property Class	Proposed 2019 Tax Ratios
  Multi-Residential	1.0000
  Commercial (incl. office)	1.2794
  Industrial	1.5704
  Pipelines	0.9190
  Farmland	0.2500
  Managed Forests	0.2500
  Landfill	1.1000

   

  2. Council approve a bylaw to implement the tax ratios using the notional property tax rate calculation adjustment for 2019.
  3. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the local municipalities.

F.2.11

2019 Property Tax Rates

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated May 6, 2019 from the Commissioner of Finance:

  1. Broad property class tax rates for 2019 be established as follows: 

  Broad Property Class	2019 Tax Rates %
  Residential/Farm	0.336549
  Multi-Residential	0.336549
  Commercial	0.430581
  Industrial	0.528517
  Pipelines	0.309289
  Farmland	0.084137
  Managed Forests	0.084137

  2. Local municipalities pay the final two instalments of the 2019 regional property tax levy on or before September 30, 2019 and December 13, 2019.
  3. Council approve a bylaw to give effect to these recommendations.
  4. The Regional Clerk circulate this report to the local municipalities.

F.2.12

2019 Property Tax Capping

• Committee of the Whole recommends adoption of the following recommendations in the report dated May 3, 2019 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 and industrial classes for the 2019 taxation year.
  2. Should the amount of property tax decreases available from any of the property classes be insufficient to fund the capping requirement, the Regional Treasurer be authorized to fund the Region’s share of the resulting shortfall from the Tax Stabilization Reserve.
  3. The Regional Clerk circulate the report to the local municipalities.

G.

Notice of Motion

G.1

Bill 108 - More Homes More Choices Act, 2019

Mayor Mrakas presented the following Notice of Motion for consideration at the Regional Council meeting on May 16, 2019:

WHEREAS the legislation that abolished the Ontario Municipal Board and replaced it with Local Planning Appeal Tribunal received unanimous – all party support; and

WHEREAS All parties recognized that local governments should have the authority to uphold their provincially approved Official Plans; to uphold their community driven planning; and

WHEREAS Bill 108 will once again allow an unelected, unaccountable body make decisions on how our communities evolve and grow; and

WHEREAS On August 21, 2018 Minister Clark once again signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and entered into “...a legally binding agreement recognizing Ontario Municipalities as a mature, accountable order of government.”; and

WHEREAS This MOU is “enshrined in law as part of the Municipal Act”. And recognizes that as “...public policy issues are complex and thus require coordinated responses...the Province endorses the principle of regular consultation between Ontario and municipalities in relation to matters of mutual interest”; and

WHEREAS By signing this agreement, the Province made “...a commitment to cooperating with its municipal governments in considering new legislation or regulations that will have a municipal impact”; and

WHEREAS Bill 108 will impact 15 different Acts - Cannabis Control Act, 2017, Conservation Authorities Act, Development Charges Act, Education Act, Endangered Species Act, 2007, Environmental Assessment Act, Environmental Protection Act, Labour Relations Act, 1995, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017, Municipal Act, 2001, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario Heritage Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Planning Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. The Regional Municipality of York oppose Bill 108 which in its current state will have negative consequences on community building and proper planning; and
2. The Regional Municipality of York call upon the Government of Ontario to halt the legislative advancement of Bill 108 to enable fulsome consultation with Municipalities to ensure that its objectives for sound decision making for housing growth that meets local needs will be reasonably achieved; and
3. A copy of this Motion be sent to the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honourable Andrea Horwath, Leader of the New Democratic Party, and all MPPs in the Province of Ontario; and
4. A copy of this Motion be sent to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and all Ontario municipalities for their consideration.

H.

Other Business

H.1

2019 Police Appreciation Night

Regional Chair Emmerson advised that the 27th Police Appreciation Night is taking place this evening, May 9, 2019.

H.2

Cancellation of Council Education Session - May 23, 2019

Regional Chair Emmerson advised that the Council Education Session tentatively scheduled on May 23, 2019 is cancelled.

H.3

Committee of the Whole - June 13, 2019

Regional Chair Emmerson advised that the Committee of the Whole meetings in June will be combined on June 13, 2019.

H.4

York Regional Meetings on Thursdays

Regional Chair Emmerson requested Members of Council to keep all Thursdays in June and in the Fall open for regional meetings.

I.

Private Session

Committee of the Whole resolved into Private Session at 10:46 a.m. and resumed in Public Session at 11:42 a.m.

• ​​

I.1

Presentation - Delegation of Authority - Cyber Breach Response - Solicitor-Client Privilege

Committee of the Whole received the private presentation.

I.2

Delegation of Authority - Cyber Breach Response - Solicitor-Client Privilege

Committee of the Whole forwarded the private report to Council's private session on May 16, 2019.

I.3

Memorandum - Update Regarding Recently Enacted Trade Agreements - Solicitor-Client Privilege

Committee of the Whole received the private memorandum.

I.4

Write-Off of Uncollectable Provincial Offences Act Fines and Collection Strategy Update - Solicitor-Client Privilege

Committee of the Whole forwarded the private report to Council's private session on May 16, 2019.

J.

Adjournment

Committee of the Whole adjourned at 11:43 a.m.