[0:00] promote green infrastructure improved
[0:02] flood plain mapping and avoiding
[0:04] construction on floodplains many
[0:06] recommendations a MoU was asking for to
[0:08] adequately funding infrastructure
[0:10] programs provincial support for robust
[0:13] prevention and response bill 108 was
[0:16] discussed and I'll pass some information
[0:19] on to our Planning Department about that
[0:21] and ended indigenous relations
[0:24] throughout the province was discussed as
[0:26] well and I think that's about all there
[0:29] was other things so but those are kind
[0:31] of some of the key hype they think of
[0:33] councillor Dodge as well we have the
[0:34] face or the face retreat Christmas
[0:36] market coming up on December 7th that's
[0:38] in the evening I think it starts at 3
[0:39] o'clock and goes until 8 o'clock
[0:41] councillor Williamson just in terms of
[0:45] the new information on the budget
[0:47] process does that go through you to the
[0:51] clerk does that conform with our
[0:53] procedure of bylaw I thought we could
[0:54] make amendments any time
[0:57] for clarity sake it's not that they
[0:59] can't be made amendments can definitely
[1:01] be brought the evening of it's just that
[1:03] stuff there's 24 hours to be able to
[1:05] prep them so that's why we have the
[1:07] second budget night set aside over the
[1:09] last couple of years thank you
[1:10] okay thanks for the clarification okay
[1:13] and then we also have a public meeting
[1:14] on December 9th and this one's at the
[1:17] Meriton lions community center and
[1:20] that's regarding a proposal for the
[1:22] former merit in high school and I would
[1:24] just remind Council as well on December
[1:27] 12th we have the public meeting on the
[1:29] new community improvement plan and that
[1:31] takes place at City City Council
[1:33] Chambers here at 6:00 p.m. all welcome
[1:36] and on the planning one just remind
[1:38] council your role isn't to take a
[1:41] position on a proposed plan that's in
[1:43] front of us if you're at a community
[1:46] event like that your role is to listen
[1:47] and again under the Planning Act if
[1:50] you're out there saying what your
[1:51] position is when it comes to actual
[1:53] decision making time which could be
[1:55] three months down the road you could be
[1:57] compromising yourself by saying I'm
[1:59] against this right away without even
[2:00] hearing any of the actual planning
[2:02] report coming in so just be mindful that
[2:05] when you're out there listen to what the
[2:07] residents are saying but if you are out
[2:09] there also saying I'm against this I
[2:10] will fight this tooth and nail
[2:12] what essentially is you're saying is
[2:13] you're not even willing to listen to the
[2:15] planning regulation and then you could
[2:18] put yourself in jeopardy Lenovo that's
[2:19] all so just be mindful when you're going
[2:21] to the community events as well as
[2:24] everyone heard last Friday the Ombudsman
[2:27] issued its long-waited report for the
[2:29] region in the hiring of the regional CEO
[2:32] and his contract extension so this was a
[2:34] very thorough report and I'm only
[2:36] bringing it to counsels attention
[2:37] because obviously the public is talking
[2:39] about this it seems to be one of the the
[2:41] most talked about subjects over the last
[2:43] three days and as a member of this
[2:46] council will be looking at is some of
[2:47] the recommendations that came out of
[2:48] there we'll look at our policies as well
[2:50] just make sure that if we can tighten up
[2:52] any of our policies it's always
[2:53] important when you have an ombudsman
[2:55] report coming out it's not just it's not
[2:57] just native to what would be the the
[2:59] region but if they if local
[3:00] municipalities can learn from any of the
[3:02] processes in place that would be
[3:03] important as well so we'll be asking
[3:05] staff to look at his recommendations and
[3:06] see if we have to update any of our
[3:08] policies that's why I bring it up here
[3:09] as well and with that I'll look to the
[3:12] clerk and we can go on with the agenda
[3:13] three mr. mayor this evenings agenda the
[3:17] changes one of two reasons to go
[3:19] in-camera has been actually deferred so
[3:22] it's a proposed or pending acquisition
[3:24] or disposition of land so it's Realty
[3:26] file 87 35 so that will not be in closed
[3:29] session this evening council agenda item
[3:31] 11
[3:32] - motion regarding one-month
[3:34] appointments for the deputy mayor has
[3:36] been revised so that that would state to
[3:39] start in 2021 okay so the full revised
[3:42] motion will be on the screen shortly the
[3:45] following items have been added to
[3:47] councils SugarSync folder prior to this
[3:49] evening's meeting a memorandum from
[3:50] staff Ontario electricity rebate
[3:53] confidential memorandum from the clerk
[3:55] regarding citizen appointments on the
[3:57] following firefighters memorial task
[3:58] force and that's it Thank You Bonnie
[4:05] is there any amendments to the councilor
[4:07] bouncing Thank You mr. mayor I'm asking
[4:11] if we can go to eleven point two eleven
[4:18] point two before we deal with three
[4:20] point five in general committee and I'm
[4:23] not sure that require a vote on counts
[4:25] to make that change you got me agenda
[4:27] okay so the request is 11.2 to be moved
[4:30] prior to the discussion on the
[4:32] appointment of the deputy mayor
[4:33] so council us to vote on this all in
[4:35] favor opposed pregnant no it's not on
[4:42] this one not yet not yet but if you were
[4:44] thinking about the conflict it's not on
[4:45] this one okay so that has been moved
[4:47] counselor once and you have a delegation
[4:49] to add please okay Jane Hanlon has been
[4:56] added as a speaking all in favor of the
[4:57] addition of the speaker speaking to the
[4:59] tree canopy that the the forestry issue
[5:01] okay carried any other changes okay kind
[5:05] of a mover and a seconder for the agenda
[5:07] councillor Sorrento councillor Kushner
[5:08] all in favor
[5:09] carried any conflicts of interest
[5:11] tonight and you can declare when an
[5:13] issue comes up no conflicts a currently
[5:17] adoption in the minutes councillor
[5:19] Harris you're up for a regular meeting
[5:22] self seconded by Councillor Garcia that
[5:24] council adopt the minutes of the
[5:25] meetings of Council held on Monday
[5:27] November 18th 2019 any comments on the
[5:32] minutes okay seeing none all in favor
[5:34] Carrie next move by myself second by
[5:38] councillor Garcia the council adopted
[5:39] minutes of the general committee meeting
[5:41] held on Monday November 18
[5:42] 2019 okay any comments in these minutes
[5:45] seeing none all in favor Carrie
[5:49] okay well now resolved in the general
[5:52] committee and looking for motion to
[5:55] remove consent reports councillor
[5:56] Phillips motion to move consent agenda
[6:04] moved by myself the council approve the
[6:06] consent agenda same except those items
[6:07] brought forward for discussion forthwith
[6:10] okay I'll look to the clerk the CDs
[6:15] consent agenda 2.1 Planning and Building
[6:18] Services code of conduct for building
[6:20] officials policy update 2.2 planning and
[6:22] building services application to remove
[6:25] holding designation from zoning address
[6:27] 271 Merritt Street 2.3 financial
[6:31] management services director 2020
[6:33] proposed operating budget 2.4 financial
[6:36] management service
[6:37] budget standing committee report meeting
[6:39] of October 28th 2.5 financial management
[6:42] services budget Standing Committee
[6:44] report meeting of November 13 2019 and
[6:47] 2.6 financial management services budget
[6:50] Standing Committee report meeting of
[6:52] November 20th 2019 as well 2.8 legal and
[6:57] Clerk Services office of the city clerk
[6:59] counsel correspondence Custer Dodge can
[7:05] I just ask one quick question 2.2 does
[7:07] that refer back to one of the items that
[7:09] you'd withdraw number through tonight I
[7:17] looked at planning so there was a
[7:19] withdraw or no finance withdrawal of a
[7:21] in-camera
[7:22] yeah 2.2 are you talking about the
[7:26] consent agenda counselor sorry yes I am
[7:29] okay so I just pulled and then it was it
[7:32] was withdrawn it was also it's not it
[7:34] and it's no it's parking consent now
[7:36] okay yes Kelsey Garcia yes
[7:43] councillor Harris yes Master Kushner
[7:45] councillor Littleton yeah councillor
[7:48] Miller yes sir Phillips yes yes reporter
[7:50] yeah now sir Cisco yes councillor
[7:53] Sorento yes counselor Townsend yes
[7:55] councillor Williamson and mayor CENTAC
[7:57] yes carried unanimously
[7:59] so do we have some Brock students at the
[8:01] back Niagara College students at the
[8:04] back okay yeah you'll be coming up
[8:05] forward to present shortly just want to
[8:07] welcome you here and for the other folks
[8:10] here what we just did was there's a
[8:11] number of items that go on consent means that council has reviewed
[8:15] those files they see nothing in them
[8:17] that they want to ask questions for so
[8:19] they get passed as a block and so we
[8:21] just went through six items that then
[8:24] they're passed as a bundle
[8:26] okay so councils reconvened public
[8:31] meeting pursuant to the Planning Act
[8:33] there is none we have a special
[8:35] presentation by en Y so Ernst and Young
[8:38] and if I could have the presenters come
[8:40] forward and speak yeah sorry
[8:45] our CEO is going to speak to this first
[8:48] and then
[8:48] invite the speakers to come on just as a
[8:51] little bit of introduction before the
[8:53] speakers arrive as council is aware we
[8:56] received grant funding from the province
[8:58] to perform an audit and accountability
[9:00] audit I think sorry about it redundant
[9:04] but this was to help us to be find
[9:08] opportunities to be more efficient to
[9:10] modernize service delivery and at the
[9:12] same time protecting frontline jobs so
[9:14] the consultant that was successful to
[9:16] our RFP was Ian Y and they have worked
[9:20] diligently from September to November
[9:21] very short time period meeting with all
[9:24] of our directors are and their direct
[9:27] reports we scoped as your where we
[9:30] scoped the audit principally to be
[9:32] concerned with our new municipal works
[9:34] department planning building services
[9:37] the fe s and C RCS predominately looking
[9:40] at large mobile workforces and ways in
[9:43] which can we can be more efficient and
[9:45] ways in which that whole reorganizing
[9:49] our organization of our corporation can
[9:51] be more effective not surprising they
[9:55] found that looking at those
[9:56] opportunities that some of the
[9:58] opportunities are also applicable to the
[10:00] whole corporation so as they take us
[10:02] through just a very high-level summary
[10:06] of the report you will hear basically a
[10:08] number of transfer transformational
[10:10] operational opportunities that stage
[10:13] staff will be working on in the next
[10:15] foreseeable future so we have Mohamed
[10:18] bhajami sargi clothes and Fahim cutter
[10:23] Nia okay
[10:35] welcome welcome to City Council
[10:43] so just identify yourself for the public
[10:45] again here so we have an unofficial
[10:47] record oh wow I love this this is great
[10:51] my name is Mohammad bomani and this is
[10:54] faheen Cotter Dena and I'm an associate
[10:58] partner at Ernst & Young's government
[11:01] public sector practice Fahim is the
[11:02] senior manager in the practice and we're
[11:06] here to give you a little bit of a
[11:07] background on the work that we have done
[11:13] I was just getting a cough drop so I
[11:16] would be paying attention
[11:21] so thank you very much for the
[11:23] opportunity to come here and and and
[11:25] have this discussion with you today I
[11:28] know you've all had a chance to take a
[11:30] look at the at the final report that we
[11:32] submitted what I'm going to do over the
[11:34] next few minutes is just give you a
[11:35] brief overview on some of the components
[11:38] of it and then we'll we'll open it up to
[11:40] any any questions that you have it's
[11:48] thinking thinking so I'm just going to
[11:53] take you to some specific slides that
[11:56] we're gonna be talking towards perfect
[11:59] so just as bit of an of an overview the
[12:02] audit and accountability fund was
[12:04] launched by the Ontario government and
[12:06] 2019 to give me Anissa pallet II as an
[12:08] opportunity to have to do third-party
[12:12] reviews to identify opportunities for
[12:14] greater efficiency for modernization
[12:19] I'm getting there I promise here we go
[12:26] almost there we go still going the wrong
[12:29] way
[12:29] I'll keep talking till to look for
[12:34] opportunities for four modernizations
[12:36] and for efficiencies so we we I joined
[12:40] the city in September to begin our review it it
[12:47] was really meant to be it includes a
[12:49] high-level analysis of the city as a
[12:51] whole but as the CEO had mentioned that
[12:56] the focus was on expenditures operations
[12:59] and services of four departments and
[13:01] that is planning and building services
[13:03] municipal works engineering facilities
[13:05] and environmental services and community
[13:08] recreation and cultural services what we
[13:11] found as we went through is that a
[13:12] number of the opportunities that we
[13:14] found go really across the entire
[13:16] corporation and so we'll talk a little
[13:18] bit about that in a moment our approach
[13:20] was to gather as much data as we could
[13:24] financial data any types of reports any
[13:27] previous audits so on we conducted a
[13:29] whole series of stakeholder interviews
[13:31] multiple sessions with different parts
[13:34] of the organization and we looked at
[13:36] some leading practices that are done
[13:37] around the country in other
[13:39] municipalities work that we at ey have
[13:41] done we have a lot of time and
[13:44] experience in the municipal sector to
[13:47] see what those opportunities are and
[13:48] what we've been able to do is put those
[13:50] opportunities into succinct business
[13:52] cases they've been categorized if they
[13:55] can be quantified we we've done that and
[13:57] we'll talk about that in a moment and
[13:58] then we validated it with members of the
[14:01] senior leadership team and that has
[14:02] resulted in the report that you have
[14:05] today so there is obviously if you've
[14:10] seen the report it's dense there's a lot
[14:12] of information and data we're not going
[14:14] to go through every single slide that we eat that we had in here but
[14:18] there are a couple of things that I
[14:20] wanted to draw your attention to in
[14:21] terms of what we found if we look at
[14:23] revenue and expenditures across the city
[14:25] as a whole tax revenues have grown by a
[14:28] compounded annual growth rate of about
[14:30] 3.6 percent between 2014 and 2019
[14:34] expenditures have grown at 3.1 percent
[14:37] so while it is good that the growth of
[14:41] your revenues are essentially exceeding
[14:44] the growth of your expenditures both are
[14:46] in fact exceeding your population growth
[14:48] rate and so that will at some point not
[14:50] be sustainable over the longer term
[14:56] the low growth rate is largely a result
[14:59] of a continued focus by the city of st.
[15:02] Catherine's on actively managing
[15:04] expenditures while maintaining services
[15:06] so what we found as we went through and
[15:09] talked to everybody in the organization
[15:10] and looked at the data is that you have
[15:12] a relatively lean organization leaner
[15:15] than many of the other ones that we've
[15:16] had a chance to to to look at and the
[15:19] approach that that the city has made to
[15:22] expenditure management has been focused
[15:24] on managing that incremental demand as
[15:27] through existing resources and that has
[15:30] really pushed the capacity of existing
[15:32] resources just a couple of the other
[15:37] things that I draw your attention to is
[15:39] that while service levels performance
[15:42] metrics and other forms of measurement
[15:44] and information collection are common
[15:46] across divisions they're not always
[15:48] explicitly shared and they're not always
[15:50] explicitly managed directly as
[15:53] performance metrics and so the the need
[15:56] for that transparency being tied to
[15:58] citizen outcomes would be a leading
[15:59] practice that the city should should
[16:01] consider in a number of our interviews
[16:05] we thought we saw that there were
[16:06] challenges around some of the recruiting
[16:08] and retaining of staff that that the
[16:13] there's quite a component of the
[16:17] workforce here that relies on mobility
[16:20] to do its job and that that needs to be
[16:22] to you know to an extent cultivated
[16:24] because it has the ability to drive a
[16:27] lot of productivity and the work that we
[16:28] do okay I will say that I did see full full disclosure here we notice that
[16:39] it says eight municipalities on that
[16:41] previous slide we know it's 12 so we saw
[16:45] it don't worry we'll fix that I'm sorry
[16:47] I hope you're not for shadows for shame
[16:49] I know for shame the subsequent slides
[16:53] should go into some relative detail on each of the different areas we're not
[16:59] going to necessarily go through that
[17:00] right now today but they do want to talk
[17:04] about the the opportunities that that we
[17:07] have identified
[17:09] so really even though the focus was on
[17:12] PBS municipal works
[17:14] EFE s and crcs there were a lot of areas
[17:18] where we can see advantages for the
[17:20] entire city to focus on and so we've put
[17:23] these business cases or these
[17:26] opportunities into into into two
[17:27] components and here they are here
[17:30] there's transformational opportunities
[17:32] which broadly means there are
[17:33] initiatives that cut across divisional
[17:35] boundaries and will likely require a
[17:37] centralized approach and will have
[17:40] impacts beyond just the four in scope
[17:42] departments they're not as likely to
[17:45] immediately result in direct savings but
[17:48] in the medium to long term they will
[17:49] improve decision-making they will
[17:51] provide better support to SLT and to
[17:53] counsel and better demonstrating the
[17:56] link between the services that you
[17:57] deliver and the outcomes that you that
[17:59] are experienced by by your citizens the
[18:03] other ones at the bottom of the screen
[18:04] there are operational opportunities now
[18:06] these are the ones are largely for the
[18:07] in scope divisions such as EF ES and so
[18:12] on
[18:12] these opportunities are contained to
[18:14] those divisions that are more likely to
[18:16] generate short medium term direct
[18:19] savings cost avoidance released capacity
[18:22] or increased productivity okay these are
[18:26] all laid out in the in the report that
[18:28] we that we have them again there's a lot
[18:30] and there's quite dense so I'm not going
[18:31] to necessarily go through them right now
[18:32] but I'm happy to take the questions that
[18:34] you will have I will just jump down here
[18:39] so there's obviously an explanation of
[18:42] each each one of these in terms of what
[18:44] the current state the opportunity what
[18:46] the benefits are
[18:53] I did want to talk a little bit about
[18:55] the engagement that we had with what the
[18:57] SLT and the prioritization process so
[19:00] something like this requires the buying
[19:03] and the participation of all the senior
[19:04] leaders within the organization and so
[19:06] we had multiple touch points with with
[19:09] SLT and that included very early on to
[19:12] identify what opportunities they saw
[19:15] what are the you know appropriate
[19:18] criteria that we might be thinking about
[19:20] when we're looking at different
[19:21] opportunities we came back with those
[19:23] options to have them validated by SLT
[19:25] and then we went through a
[19:27] prioritization exercise these are the four that made it to the top of
[19:32] the prioritization for SLT in terms of
[19:35] what was important to them that was to
[19:37] look at IT modernization it was a focus
[19:39] on evidence-based decision making it's
[19:41] about making a modern workplace strategy
[19:43] and on the more operational side was
[19:45] modernizing or building permit and
[19:47] inspections program and we had an
[19:49] opportunity to also try and develop
[19:54] essentially a modernization program for
[19:56] the city and this is how SLT has decided
[19:59] the prioritization and the
[20:00] interdependencies between making these different opportunities actually
[20:05] happen it was an absolute pleasure to
[20:07] work with the team here I will say the
[20:09] senior management team here and staff
[20:11] were a hundred and fifty percent
[20:12] cooperative and came forward with all
[20:15] the data as required we were here a lot
[20:18] we were in front of your team a lot they
[20:20] were unbelievably accommodating and
[20:21] really committed to having a good review
[20:24] that can really show some demonstratable
[20:26] results going forward and that's all I
[20:30] have am happy to answer any questions
[20:32] and thank you very much for your
[20:33] presentation counselors rental yeah
[20:35] Thank You mr. mayor three years you a
[20:37] mr. bomani could you just tell the
[20:39] public at home what efficiencies you've
[20:41] found and in and any cost savings just
[20:45] in general lay terms if you could sir
[20:46] please sure so I'll say that the when we
[20:51] talk about efficiencies there's multiple
[20:52] ways to identify what efficiencies are
[20:54] right there is the immediate savings of
[20:57] actual cash there is the avoidance of
[20:59] spending later on there is the actual
[21:01] capture of capacity to be able to spend
[21:04] time on other things and so a lot of the
[21:07] efficiencies that we found would relate
[21:09] as I said earlier on you're at capacity
[21:11] you you you've really grown as a city
[21:14] very lean Lee here here here within City
[21:17] Hall so the opportunities is to find
[21:19] better more efficient more productive
[21:21] ways to do things to release that
[21:23] capacity to focus it on on other things
[21:25] and on the slide we have here we're
[21:27] looking a little bit at some of those
[21:28] opportunities these focus a little bit
[21:29] more on the bottom seven so digital
[21:31] service delivery trying to have more
[21:34] services go online because they are
[21:36] generally cheaper to to process than the
[21:39] ones that are done face-to-face process
[21:42] automation is especially for our back
[21:44] office services is an emerging
[21:46] opportunity at all municipalities Fahim
[21:49] and I are doing this at three or other
[21:51] many municipalities and that is a key
[21:52] theme for all back offices is to stop to
[21:56] the extent that we can doing those
[21:58] transactional activities with with
[22:00] individuals and allow them to focus on
[22:01] those value-added things and have those
[22:04] things go through an automation it's
[22:06] looking at our infrastructure program of
[22:09] trying to rationalize our facilities and
[22:11] how we look at real property looking to
[22:13] partnerships and you have some good
[22:14] examples with the Meridian Center and
[22:16] the Canada Games Park on how you do that
[22:17] with other municipalities in the region
[22:19] looking at your building permits and
[22:21] inspections areas to try and make that a
[22:24] little bit more efficient and more more
[22:26] customer friendly and looking at the
[22:28] citizens first operating model as well
[22:30] did you find some cost savings as well I again not it not specifically in
[22:38] terms of a dollar savings there are
[22:39] things you can do to prevent those costs
[22:42] from going up into the future and being
[22:43] more efficient just one final question
[22:45] mr. mayor you mentioned something about
[22:46] you mentioned the percentages our
[22:48] revenue is is larger than our our debt
[22:52] and then you mentioned something about
[22:54] being unsustainable are you talking
[22:56] about revenue are you talking about the
[22:59] incorporation what were you referring to
[23:01] sheriff could be both sure so when I
[23:03] mentioned that the the average annual
[23:05] growth rate over the last five years of
[23:07] your revenues is about 3.6 percent okay
[23:10] right
[23:10] the average annual growth rate of your
[23:12] expenditures is 3.1 percent so it's good
[23:16] that your revenues are growing at a
[23:18] faster rate
[23:18] than your expenditures however both of
[23:20] those are to rate higher than your
[23:22] populations actually growing and so at
[23:24] some point that is going to give that's
[23:26] going to create more and more pressure
[23:27] on the services that you are creating so
[23:29] can you just explain what that means I
[23:31] like like is it gonna tie our hands to
[23:35] raise revenue to raise taxes is there
[23:38] gonna be a does that mean diminish
[23:40] services what does that mean I think
[23:42] what it means is that we need to build
[23:44] and create the capacity to be more
[23:46] productive so that we can handle that
[23:49] pressure assuming that those
[23:51] expenditures and that revenue growth
[23:53] won't necessarily continue to keep in
[23:57] line with your population growth okay
[23:58] thank you thank you Council to quell
[24:00] support thank you very much for your
[24:04] presentation through you through the
[24:06] mayor to you you talked about outcome
[24:09] based budgeting and other municipalities
[24:11] who do that and there's a suggestion
[24:14] that we I guess moved towards that it's
[24:16] something I'm in favor of can you
[24:18] describe how a council could support the
[24:23] corporation moving towards outcome based
[24:24] budgeting what are the other things
[24:26] you've noticed some municipalities that
[24:28] work to get there versus traditional
[24:31] based budgeting which I think we've been
[24:32] doing for a long time
[24:34] sure and I'll look to our expert on
[24:35] outcomes based budgeting cream cutter
[24:36] Deena they answer that so I think that's
[24:40] a great question in the fact that that
[24:41] somebody on council brought it up here's
[24:43] a positive because the number one thing
[24:45] I think that we found is it's buy-in
[24:46] from council because what it's gonna
[24:48] require is a presentation of a different
[24:51] set of numbers enough budget documents
[24:54] that will show you or try to show you
[24:56] what you're getting in terms of services
[24:58] rather than what you're getting in terms
[25:00] of outputs so rather than thinking about
[25:02] you know we have this many people
[25:03] delivering X this many times you move to
[25:07] a outcome based view of where you're
[25:09] providing your citizens so you know
[25:11] councils buying is is the single biggest
[25:13] factor for whether this means to eat or
[25:16] not yeah and then I would say the second
[25:18] one is it requires a broad consultation
[25:23] effort within the city ideally with
[25:25] staff and with residents to start
[25:27] talking about what is the kind of city
[25:28] that we want and how are we gonna know
[25:30] when we realized that what
[25:32] measures that we're gonna take and then
[25:35] that'll feed back to you know how what
[25:37] you're tracking and how you're
[25:38] presenting it back to council in the
[25:39] public and my next question I know you
[25:43] didn't get into specifics but it it
[25:45] seems to me that there will need to be
[25:47] some investment into IT in order to move
[25:51] forward I know you probably don't have a
[25:52] dollar figure but is this this is what
[25:54] we should be planning for and expecting
[25:57] we often don't think about IT they're
[25:59] just they're kind of down in the corner
[26:01] somewhere the people who fix our iPads
[26:04] and we don't think too much about it
[26:07] but is this something we need to think
[26:09] about in terms of that the next year or
[26:12] two yes I mean the short answer is a lot
[26:17] of these things are gonna be really
[26:18] tough to realize without thinking about
[26:20] the investments that have to make in
[26:21] technology a couple of things I will say
[26:24] though is there's an opportunity to
[26:27] think about how you can do that in
[26:29] partnership with municipalities in the
[26:31] region specifically when you think about
[26:33] things like housing management platforms
[26:36] and as some management plans because
[26:39] that you can you know you can you might
[26:40] not you might not work out but there's
[26:42] an opportunity to talk to neighboring
[26:43] municipalities about doing this in a
[26:46] coordinated way to see if there's an
[26:47] opportunity to drive down cost the other
[26:49] thing that I would say about IT is and I
[26:51] think I think you made the point well
[26:52] you know it's more than just the people
[26:54] that fix their iPads when they're not
[26:56] working it's really increasingly it's
[26:59] the backbone of the city and whether the
[27:01] city can function properly so thinking
[27:03] about it from a strategic point of view
[27:04] and where the investments are going and
[27:06] trying to do it in a coordinated fashion
[27:08] across the city I think we'll all be key
[27:11] um and all of that goes with you know
[27:14] the necessity of upfront investment in
[27:15] the next not even the next few years
[27:18] just on an ongoing basis to keep to keep
[27:20] up thank you very much
[27:23] Thank You councillor port counts the
[27:25] cushion yes I I have two questions in
[27:30] your presentation you use the
[27:32] evidence-based decision making where are
[27:35] we not doing that well I think I think
[27:40] the what we found was when we are trying
[27:45] to determine
[27:45] types of initiatives we're gonna come
[27:49] forward with whether to be council areas
[27:51] of transformation areas of investment is
[27:54] that there what we heard from staff was
[27:58] that there tends to be a very strong
[28:00] focus on the financial component of that
[28:02] and not necessarily on the benefit or
[28:04] the return side and so it's really about
[28:07] having the strong rigor and the
[28:10] robustness of developing a plan that
[28:12] clearly identifies the the opportunities
[28:17] that we are trying to gain out of our
[28:18] initiatives backed by actual evidence
[28:20] meaning as much data as you have that
[28:22] can show those previous trends and so on
[28:24] and so forth any research that's there
[28:26] to show the actual return that comes
[28:27] back and that is an emerging issue that
[28:31] we see at the provincial government at I
[28:34] have another large municipality in
[28:36] Canada where this is the exact same
[28:37] issue that we're talking about there
[28:38] it's a very common one of having really
[28:41] robust thought process as to how we make
[28:43] our decisions so you're suggesting we
[28:46] look at value at it from the expenditure
[28:48] and my concern is a lot of the
[28:51] value-added that we look at is social in
[28:55] addition to financial so how do we
[28:58] quantify the social value for example in
[29:01] the near future we'll be talking about
[29:03] keeping a golf course open and our staff
[29:07] is saying financially that does make
[29:09] sense
[29:09] which is correct but counsel looks at
[29:12] the social return from that so how would
[29:16] you reconcile the design so I think that
[29:18] absolutely has has a role to play with
[29:21] in this as well there's no perfect way
[29:24] to say this is how you do evidence-based
[29:26] decision-making I think as an SLT and as
[29:28] counsel you need to come up with a bit
[29:30] of a framework as to what what
[29:31] constitutes good evidence that is
[29:33] actually going to allow us to make that decision and what constitutes
[29:37] return so yes sometimes it is quantified
[29:39] sometimes it's not for just those exact
[29:41] reasons it's not always a
[29:43] black-and-white thing and so having a
[29:45] good framework that says these are the
[29:47] conditions by which we make our
[29:48] decisions whether it be quantifiable or or qualitative are part of developing
[29:53] that approach okay can you be more
[29:55] specific in the case of a golf course
[29:58] yeah how can we quantify the return to
[30:01] our residence so the counselor in terms
[30:05] of that's an issue that's going to be
[30:06] coming in front of council in two weeks
[30:08] and I don't think it's appropriate that
[30:10] you're trying to wedge it into today's
[30:13] discussion I think you can ask them
[30:15] offline and ask them for a quantifiable
[30:18] but trying to get them to say something
[30:20] that you're positioning probably not
[30:22] appropriate but mr. mayor I'm looking at
[30:26] all types of investments how do we
[30:28] quantify the social return
[30:31] that's my question it's an example I
[30:33] gave us the golf course
[30:35] sure I think I think that there are lots
[30:38] of different ways I would think that
[30:39] there's an element of the the economic
[30:40] impact that goes on beyond the golf
[30:42] course itself is that the the extent to
[30:46] which the city wants to be an employer
[30:49] and provides seasonal jobs those are
[30:51] types of things that you can quantify to
[30:53] an extent but those are also things that
[30:55] align to your strategy in what you want
[30:56] to be as a city and those are the kinds
[30:58] of things that I would think about
[30:59] thinking about including from a social
[31:01] component I think the important thing
[31:07] about the evidence based decision making
[31:08] is you want to have a consistent way of
[31:11] looking at these things so they you can
[31:13] make the trade-offs in a more informed
[31:15] manner so in a case like this you know
[31:17] if you're talking about the social
[31:18] benefit of a golf course you want to put
[31:20] some thought into how you measure that
[31:22] and then how you would compare that to
[31:23] the social benefit of whatever other
[31:25] investments are in front of you as an
[31:26] object then the next question I ask is
[31:30] going back to the question that
[31:33] councillor Sorrento asked you've
[31:35] indicated that a revenues and
[31:37] expenditures are growing faster than the
[31:40] population increase and that's not
[31:42] sustainable even though our revenues are
[31:45] greater than the cost expenditure I
[31:47] would have thought would be the reverse
[31:49] if we didn't have the excess then that
[31:53] wouldn't be sustainable and you're
[31:55] saying the opposite
[31:59] I think I think what we're trying to say
[32:01] is that that is a unique scenario and is
[32:05] unlikely to last forever and and so that growth needs to be considered in in
[32:12] light of the growth of the of the actual
[32:15] city so we're not saying that there's an
[32:17] impending doom or anything but it's it's
[32:20] a trend over the last five years and it
[32:22] is unlikely to remain that way but you
[32:26] would agree it's a good trend I think
[32:28] you are you are less exposed to the risk
[32:32] at this moment at this moment yeah thank
[32:35] you
[32:35] I think Kelso cushions so I'm just me
[32:38] there you're gonna go around the
[32:39] horseshoe so councillor Miller you ready
[32:41] hand up and then we're gonna go keep
[32:42] going until we're finished this
[32:44] discussion councillor Miller you're up
[32:46] thank you thanks for the presentation
[32:48] report I I'm I'm really interested in
[32:50] the the modern workplace strategy I
[32:52] think you're bang on that's a challenge
[32:56] for us with so many competitors and in
[32:58] the marketplace for employees that
[33:00] that's somewhere we could actually that
[33:02] maybe were a bit behind that we could
[33:03] get ahead when when you look at another
[33:07] municipalities or other organizations
[33:08] you've worked at is that primarily
[33:10] strategic or are we talking about
[33:12] tangible more tangible changes to how
[33:16] workplaces are set up you know the type
[33:18] of desk-bound in the report and things
[33:19] like that or how much of a balance
[33:22] between those things is spending and how
[33:24] much is sort of a change in thinking
[33:28] please we have not rares so it's it's a
[33:34] combination of the two all right so I
[33:36] would say part of it is you know getting
[33:38] a clear view of how you stack up
[33:40] compared to regional competitors because
[33:43] the people you're looking to hire are
[33:45] not gonna be working you know beyond an
[33:48] hour's drive from here so you really
[33:50] need to think about a recompile it
[33:54] people we should considering we are the
[33:56] biggest municipalities and then in terms
[33:59] of the more I think you called it the
[34:02] strategic side I think that is a big
[34:04] part right because I'm increasingly
[34:07] people are looking for meaning in their
[34:09] work and the
[34:11] one thing that municipalities you know
[34:13] the governments have going for them is
[34:14] there's a lot of meaning in the work
[34:15] that gets done here so being able to
[34:17] position that more effectively and
[34:19] communicate that more clearly is part of
[34:21] that strategy thank you and just could
[34:24] you I suppose
[34:26] give maybe a couple quick examples of
[34:28] what some of those strategy
[34:30] implementations that have been
[34:31] successful elsewhere in terms of
[34:33] modernizing the workplace um so the the
[34:39] provincial government has started to
[34:41] move towards it's a flexible work
[34:44] environment right so what they do is
[34:46] people hire people based on their skill
[34:47] and then deploy them throughout the
[34:49] organization depending on what a given
[34:51] division needs and what that does is
[34:53] it's almost like a consulting model that
[34:55] gives that gives your employees a bit of
[34:57] it's it's both a bit of flexibility for
[34:59] the organisation you can stop up in
[35:02] departments as needed but it's an
[35:03] opportunity for the staff to get exposed
[35:06] to different areas of the organisation
[35:07] to learn and to grow personally so
[35:09] that's one that we've seen more and more
[35:11] municipalities moving towards and trying
[35:13] to deploy that okay thank you Thank You
[35:16] councillor Miller caster Phillips Thank
[35:19] You mr. mayor
[35:20] it is an excellent report
[35:22] congratulations for that it almost seems
[35:25] like a second strategic plan and that
[35:27] concerns me
[35:29] I don't know as you're aware we just
[35:32] completed our strategic plan it's
[35:34] unfortunate this didn't come before
[35:35] strategic plans so we could have melded
[35:37] the two together and hopefully doubt if
[35:40] that will happen actually it wasn't the
[35:43] report that it was melded together if
[35:44] they want to speak on how they
[35:45] integrated their a strategic land into
[35:47] this that was me that was my next
[35:49] question
[35:50] Thank You mr. rego great minds think
[35:52] alike next slide if you're on Caitlin X
[35:57] can you indicate how you've melded this
[35:59] with our strategic way I need to think
[36:07] back sorry
[36:09] while you find this line this is how we
[36:21] play I guess I didn't get to that page
[36:27] the one question I have is you've
[36:29] indicated that our staffing numbers for
[36:31] the size of the corporation are quite
[36:33] lean in numbers you've indicated what
[36:38] needs to be done now we have to find out
[36:42] how it's going to be done these our
[36:45] staff are working their fingers to the
[36:50] bone just to make the corporation run
[36:53] efficiently now this this is it to me a
[36:55] huge huge endeavor are you making
[37:00] suggestions as to how you've indicated
[37:04] what are you indicating or giving us
[37:07] suggestions as to how to implement this
[37:09] or are you seeing or suggesting that
[37:13] they do it on their own or are we gonna
[37:15] need consultants to come aboard and gain
[37:17] - to help us and implement this sure so
[37:21] it'll be a combination of all those
[37:23] things but I will say that we have
[37:25] provided the SLT with a report so what
[37:28] you have here is a report what we
[37:31] provided to them is far more detailed
[37:32] with a lot more of the specific steps
[37:35] that would have to be done to actually
[37:37] implement those so there is guidance
[37:39] that is there as to what those steps
[37:41] need to be we work with SLT as we had up
[37:43] there earlier as to how what the
[37:45] sequencing of those are because some
[37:47] support some of the others so they as a
[37:50] team have come together and developed
[37:52] what that plan would look like in some
[37:54] sort of modernization program going
[37:56] forward and that that does happen over a
[37:59] certain amount of time there's you know
[38:01] there was 14 things we had listed there
[38:03] we can't launch 14 things tomorrow
[38:05] they they have to build on each other
[38:07] and that's going to be for SLT - and I
[38:10] think to work on and to bring forward to
[38:11] you on how they want to do that okay
[38:13] thank you
[38:14] yes sir Phillips around the Horseshoe
[38:16] anyone
[38:17] so Kelsey Garcia I don't come Thank You
[38:21] mr. mayor through you to the presenter
[38:23] is following up on what councilor
[38:25] Phillips said about you said that the
[38:27] organization was relatively lean you
[38:30] were talking in terms of numbers but did
[38:33] you look at the organization itself in
[38:36] terms of efficiency when you mentioned
[38:38] the different departments that those
[38:40] departments make sense to you in terms
[38:42] of how they're separated or allocated or
[38:44] is that something you looked at at all
[38:46] so there is detailed findings that are
[38:48] in the report and that you might have
[38:50] read on some of the findings on each of
[38:52] the specific four departments that we
[38:54] looked at because those were the four
[38:55] that we focused on so there are are some
[38:57] findings on on what that might look like
[38:59] and we spent a little bit more time with
[39:00] municipal works specifically you just
[39:05] repeat the first part of your question
[39:06] there actually to the second part oh the
[39:11] lean leanness so the analysis was more
[39:14] focused on the fact that your headcount
[39:16] has barely grown at all over the last
[39:18] five years it's no more than two FTEs
[39:20] per per year however you continue to
[39:24] grow your revenues and your expenditures
[39:26] and the amount of service that you are
[39:28] providing so what so what we were saying
[39:30] is that they are operating in a way
[39:32] that's more and more lean that that they
[39:34] are being pushed to their capacity
[39:36] because of the amount of growth in the
[39:38] actual activity for the staffing that
[39:40] they have right but the fact that we are
[39:44] lean in terms of the numbers doesn't
[39:45] means that these people are being
[39:47] utilized the most efficient ways are
[39:49] correct well we're saying that there's
[39:51] ways to be more efficient and those are
[39:53] the opportunities that we have I'd you
[39:55] know identified so there is still manual
[39:58] transactional activities that staff have
[40:01] to do in different parts of the city
[40:02] we're suggesting you need to look at
[40:04] automation you'll need to look at
[40:05] technology to be able to have them do
[40:08] less of that manual more transactional
[40:11] things and spend more time on the
[40:12] value-added things that actually add
[40:13] value to your citizens mr. mayor that
[40:17] those more detailed recommendations are
[40:20] included in what you have submitted to
[40:22] staff correct okay thank you
[40:27] and the other questions of the
[40:28] presenters okay I would just like to say
[40:32] on behalf of the city of st. cabinet's
[40:33] thank you for the work that you've done
[40:35] and in terms of just the overall
[40:37] organizational effectiveness from your
[40:41] opinion working with other
[40:42] municipalities is that something that
[40:44] would be driven by the SLT team or is
[40:46] that something where the sort of council
[40:50] would be the one that would be directing
[40:53] that I think it definitely has to be a
[40:55] combination of the two I think I think
[40:58] SLT I think they gathered around a table
[41:01] a number of times and said this is
[41:03] really important to us right we've
[41:04] identified these transformational things
[41:07] and and they're their big ones are
[41:09] really important ones and so we know
[41:10] that we need to change how we do
[41:12] business in these different areas and
[41:13] here are some operation orders and we
[41:15] are going to talk about how to
[41:17] prioritize that which means there's a
[41:19] take you know an element of
[41:20] accountability that they're taking to
[41:21] make sure that happens but they need to
[41:22] work with Council to make sure that that
[41:24] happens and so are you familiar with
[41:25] organizational effectiveness reviews and
[41:27] what have you done those previously I
[41:29] have yes so this is is this something
[41:31] that is very comparable to an
[41:32] organizational effectiveness review what
[41:35] we've done here I look because the focus
[41:40] was only on certain components of the
[41:41] organization and not the entire
[41:43] organization it we've tried to identify
[41:47] areas that were pain points in those
[41:50] areas in scope and through our
[41:52] interviews and the engagement that we
[41:54] had we realized those words were larger
[41:55] we did not look at the organization as
[41:57] an absolute hole which is what you would
[41:59] want to do if you did a full on
[42:00] organizational effectiveness review
[42:01] probably want to get to the detail of
[42:03] doing activity analysis and so on and so
[42:05] forth we did not have this go for the
[42:06] time to be able to get into that okay I
[42:08] know it could have a motion to receive
[42:10] the presentation councillors councillor
[42:12] mailer accounts reporter all in favor
[42:14] carried councillor Porter you have a
[42:16] motion
[42:22] I hope stops okay with this it was just
[42:24] to refer this Republic's staff time give
[42:28] stop time to review this in the first
[42:29] quarter and then bring it forward for
[42:32] discussion of the budget committee in
[42:33] second quarter of 2020 that's a referral
[42:36] thank you very much for your
[42:37] presentation
[42:37] that's a referral so it goes back to
[42:39] council for two to staff for a report to
[42:42] come back in second quarter 2020 all in
[42:44] favor of that carry thank you Thank You
[42:47] Council report into general committee
[42:53] and council you remain seated for the
[42:56] dis items up for discussion we have
[42:58] community recreation culture services
[43:00] business planning of strategic services
[43:01] tree planting program and I'll look to
[43:04] at least norton first to come forward
[43:06] and provide some summary comments prior
[43:09] to a presentation by Niagara College
[43:11] students welcome Elyse
[43:32] it's on okay good evening mr. mayor
[43:38] members of council staff and members of
[43:41] the public my name is Elise Orton and I
[43:44] work for the community recreation and
[43:45] culture services department here with
[43:47] the city of st. Catharines this evening
[43:50] I and we are here to present to you an
[43:53] educational video on the urban tree
[43:55] canopy and tree stewardship that was
[43:58] produced as a result of a partnership
[43:59] with Niagara College third year film
[44:02] production students who I have with me
[44:04] here tonight
[44:04] staff intend to use this video on social
[44:07] media of the city's website and as a
[44:09] tool for a future educational outreach
[44:11] program on the urban tree canopy and any
[44:14] other appropriate Avenue for it to be
[44:16] shared this video along with a tree
[44:18] giveaway program is part of an
[44:20] initiative to educate and assist
[44:21] residents with planting trees on private
[44:24] property and helping to really start the
[44:26] conversation that trees and the healthy
[44:28] tree canopy provide us so many benefits
[44:30] today but also especially for our future
[44:33] generations this is to further help us
[44:35] reach our target canopy goal of 30
[44:37] percent by the year 2030 I would like to
[44:40] introduce to you a few of the students
[44:42] responsible for producing this video
[44:44] this evening we have Courtney ko Couric
[44:47] Steven Osmond and Jacob Graham absent
[44:51] from the group is Juliana Mancini and
[44:54] Victoria Weaver staff actually had to
[44:56] pitch our idea to these students against
[44:58] several other organizations and they
[45:01] have chosen to work with us the project
[45:03] began essentially on their first day of
[45:05] classes and ends this evening with the
[45:07] presentation of their hard work to staff
[45:09] and city council through many meetings
[45:11] emails and edits we'd like to present to
[45:14] you their final product
[45:34] we've is there seen let's all go to the
[45:36] lobby
[45:49] Tyra's it's loading that's fine if you
[45:53] wanna it's called fill in the the dead
[45:56] space commands come on Elise let's talk
[46:02] about trees Oh we'll go to film Thank
[46:08] You mr. Mehra through you so as Elise
[46:11] said this is a partnership that we've
[46:14] struck with Niagara College Council
[46:16] directed us to find better ways of doing
[46:18] what we do and how we do things and one
[46:20] of the things that we decided on as a
[46:22] team was to look for a way to create
[46:25] something that we could share for future
[46:26] generations at zero or no Kazi row or
[46:29] low cost and so at least in the team
[46:32] found the way struck this partnership
[46:35] and so we're really proud to show this
[46:37] to you today the plan moving forward is
[46:40] to bring this to schools as at least
[46:42] described and it's really the next step
[46:45] in the education piece of the tree
[46:46] management framework so we hope you
[46:48] you'll like him okay
[46:51] it's still loading so we need another
[46:53] commercial viewing right now but there's
[47:03] also a 30-second clip that we can roll
[47:05] on social media and our Instagram
[47:07] account and whatnot and use that way
[47:11] okay so to the students why did you
[47:14] choose to do this project if you want to
[47:15] come up to the mic time to shine let's
[47:18] go well for me I worked so you worked as
[47:27] the silliest student as a student for
[47:29] the yeah cool yeah look I think we've we
[47:33] got to take off not yet okay so one of
[47:37] yo come on tell us why you wanted to be
[47:39] inspired by this come on up now you got
[47:42] to come up and further the mic to do
[47:43] this okay fair enough
[47:51] so okay at least did you read the book
[47:57] the meaning of trees okay okay this is
[48:09] fine so you have anything on here I
[48:22] can't even tell you jokes got nothing my voice is gone today
[48:40] okay so while they're calling this up we
[48:43] could do the the motion that's moved up
[48:46] by councillor Townsend so we'll have
[48:50] that motion by councillor Townsend and
[48:53] that's to have the councillor Townsend
[48:59] if you want to just say what you're
[49:00] gonna say mayor I wanted to make an
[49:02] amendment to the motion 11.2 I just got
[49:06] to pull it up here quickly sorry one
[49:07] sight
[49:15] in the motion it it does ask for council
[49:20] to consider appointing councillors on a
[49:22] one-month basis I'm hoping that we can
[49:24] consider I know from what I understand I
[49:26] think there are three or four
[49:27] individuals that I put their name forth
[49:28] for deputy mayor for I think out of all
[49:32] fairness I think I would I would like to
[49:34] put the motion for it to have all four
[49:36] of them split the one-year term up for
[49:39] starting in 2020 just out of all
[49:41] fairness to give everyone an opportunity
[49:43] to take the seed in the role of deputy
[49:45] mayor I think that it's the most fair
[49:47] way to do it and I'm hoping council will support that change so it's an
[49:53] amendment saved by the music but it's
[49:57] something good to come up on the screen
[50:00] there we go okay cut stick hold that
[50:04] thought
[50:06] [Music]
[50:15] trees are just as important as the roads
[50:18] we drive on the sidewalks we work on and
[50:22] the houses we live in we need trees more
[50:26] than they need us but now more than ever
[50:28] the responsibility falls on you and Lily
[50:33] sortin i'm the city's development
[50:34] horticultural technician been with the
[50:37] city of st. Catharines i've been with
[50:40] the city for about ten years
[50:42] and eight in this capacity about three
[50:45] years so I think the issue is that
[50:50] there's a education aspect of it making
[50:54] people realize that they do have a
[50:56] responsibility to plant trees on private
[50:58] property and then not just plant them
[51:00] but also care for them so we can add to
[51:02] the canopy we try to offer things like
[51:04] the tree giveaway or intentive programs
[51:06] that assist residents with getting trees
[51:08] planted on private property and really
[51:11] it's just getting everybody on board
[51:12] even from a young age and getting
[51:16] everybody to want to plant trees
[51:20] so when we had the emerald ash borer we
[51:22] lost a ton of our canopy which really
[51:24] set us back so there's the issues that
[51:27] we have with invasive pests and diseases
[51:29] but there's also the issues of just
[51:31] being urban trees so issues like drought
[51:34] pollution salt from the roads in the
[51:38] winter time so our urban canopy does
[51:41] face a variety of issues so caring for
[51:45] them especially newly planted trees is
[51:47] so crucial to their overall health and
[51:49] survival the city does have a goal with
[51:55] tree planting every year we are trying
[51:56] to reach 30% tree canopy by the year
[51:59] 2030 in order to do that we need to be
[52:02] planting approximately a thousand trees
[52:04] per year on our own property but we also
[52:07] need to rely on residents to plant about
[52:09] a thousand or more trees on private
[52:11] property as well so another important
[52:14] piece to this is that within that 80% of
[52:17] the canopy does sit on private property
[52:20] 20% sits on public land so while we can
[52:24] plant as many trees as we need to on the
[52:26] public portion the private property
[52:29] residents is who we need to reach to
[52:31] really get that canopy to the target
[52:34] goal so a healthy canopy it reduces
[52:39] stormwater runoff so when we have a
[52:41] really heavy rain it's going to slow the
[52:43] rain fall down which slows it into
[52:45] entering our sewer systems and then also
[52:48] the root system
[52:49] of the trees will soak up a lot of the
[52:51] water so it alleviates the stress honors
[52:54] our roads and our sidewalks and our
[52:57] sewers it helps to cool our streets and
[53:00] cool our homes so Oh in the summertime
[53:04] they tree can the tree canopy will have
[53:06] a cooling effect and reduce hydro coughs
[53:10] in your all more in your building and in
[53:13] the winter it'll actually act as a
[53:14] windbreak so it'll reduce heating costs
[53:16] as well
[53:18] the most important time to plant a tree
[53:21] was 20 years ago
[53:23] the second best time is now
[53:26] [Music]
[53:37] at least well done to the team great job
[53:43] [Applause]
[53:48] so just in conclusion I'd like to thank
[53:52] Courtney Stephen and Jacob as well as
[53:54] the rest of the group that was unable to
[53:56] make it this evening as well as their
[53:57] professor bill Boland who really helped
[54:00] us guide us through this process this
[54:02] was a zero cost program project as mr.
[54:06] Christy mentioned other than staff time
[54:09] there were no other budget implications
[54:10] and for them there are two versions of
[54:12] this video there's the 30-second version
[54:14] as well so thank you for allowing us to
[54:16] present this this evening well done well
[54:18] done do you have any questions of the
[54:20] okay let's try and keep the questions to
[54:22] a reduced amount
[54:24] I'll go counts the Phillips first and
[54:25] then counselors Renton Thank You mr.
[54:28] Merritt a question I just want to
[54:29] indicate and congratulate Elise and her
[54:33] staff I can remember when councilor
[54:36] Elliot and I were on the urban forestry
[54:38] master plan committee and at that time
[54:40] our canopy was around 17 or 18 percent
[54:43] and during that time since then we've
[54:45] gone through the ash borer catastrophe
[54:48] where we've knocked down thousands of
[54:49] trees and now our canopy has gone from
[54:52] 18% prior to the ash borer and we're
[54:55] probably down it up to what are we now
[54:57] 23 I think it was so congratulations to
[55:01] our forestry staff they've done a really good job I'm hearing a lot of
[55:05] positives from our residents about the
[55:07] free tree giveaway we need to do that
[55:10] again and to the Negra college students
[55:14] she did a great job thank you well said
[55:16] counselors rental you mr. mayor to miss
[55:19] Norton how many trees do we give away a
[55:21] year and how many do we apply it on
[55:23] public property we give away
[55:25] approximately a thousand and we also
[55:27] plant approximately a thousand that's
[55:29] just for our regular tree planting
[55:32] program that doesn't account even for
[55:34] volunteer groups or our friends up
[55:36] groups
[55:37] it's great thank you any chance to
[55:39] stretch oh then a motion to receive
[55:41] counselor Phillips counselor Garcia
[55:44] all in favor carried thank you very much
[55:47] and great work seeing Niagara College
[55:48] put this production together their
[55:50] outstanding post-secondary institution
[55:52] in a community congratulations and look
[55:54] forward to seeing you all grow in your
[55:56] careers
[55:57] take care
[56:11] yes Miss Jane Hanlon you come forward
[56:14] you're the second speaker on this
[56:15] delegated list
[56:24] welcome to Sandlin thank you thank you
[56:27] for allowing me to address you tonight
[56:37] so it follows up on the on the tree
[56:40] canopy and well we have great attention
[56:43] to adaptation mitigation is being left
[56:47] behind it
[56:50] many of you will know I haven't been to
[56:53] Council to address you since I think
[56:55] about 2011 in fact the last time I did a
[56:59] critique on this particular management
[57:01] plan I've had a unique opportunity to
[57:05] immerse myself in all things relating to
[57:08] climate including urban forestry and I
[57:12] also have been a member of the Ontario
[57:14] urban urban forest committee the climate
[57:20] research for 13 years I have focused on
[57:26] climate research half averaging half of
[57:29] every day
[57:36] that climate research has been the heat
[57:38] and drought tolerances of trees their
[57:39] natural migration rates how far they
[57:42] would spread from one year to the next
[57:43] of their own accord and comparing that
[57:45] to climate scenarios the UN a-- has
[57:50] asked us recently to triple efforts we
[57:54] are nearing nine tipping points nine
[57:58] those tipping points will accelerate the
[58:01] crisis we have a buffer of less than
[58:05] five years to bring our carbon to Net
[58:10] Zero I know the federal government is
[58:12] talking about 2050 and I know we're
[58:14] talking about beyond but that's just
[58:15] talk so the focus in five years means
[58:22] that it's this particular council that
[58:24] needs to make the difference now the
[58:27] corporate climate adaptation plan is
[58:29] essential but it's the declaration of
[58:32] climate emergency that is providing hope
[58:34] to the young people the the group
[58:39] meeting for the green New Deal Niagara
[58:42] is also on tonight hence them not being
[58:44] here adapting can divert us from solving
[58:51] the climate crisis and it can also SAP
[58:54] budgets adapting without mitigation is
[59:00] something that we can't afford to get
[59:03] wrong it's not sustainable it just sets
[59:07] up the next generation for not being
[59:10] able to adapt and so here we are
[59:13] following the 2011 plan with data
[59:16] provided from 2010 and tweaking it and
[59:19] finding budget free items low-hanging
[59:24] fruit
[59:25] absolutely great let's do it but I have
[59:28] some suggestions that I hope will be
[59:31] taken under consideration to increase
[59:34] the sustainability of our forest canopy
[59:36] there are 15 of them and I'll be quick I
[59:44] hope it fits in that five minutes I got
[59:46] 315 here so I do not have 26 copies
[59:49] to hand out we need to double the target
[59:53] we need to reduce the time line at least
[59:57] in half that 20-year target set in 2011
[1:00:02] to not be there until 2030 and then we
[1:00:05] need to wait 40 years for those trees to
[1:00:07] grow it's not going to work we need to
[1:00:11] increase partnerships to include
[1:00:13] community groups and then sustain
[1:00:16] strategic alliances to include the same
[1:00:18] the community groups are there to take
[1:00:20] advantage of to get the trees in the
[1:00:22] ground but they're not there for
[1:00:23] continuing support we need to install
[1:00:27] committees with term limits so that we
[1:00:29] can have young vibrant people who want
[1:00:31] to get the job done thanks very much to
[1:00:34] the people who on the on the committees
[1:00:36] God'll um they've been great we have to
[1:00:39] move on for affordability we need to
[1:00:42] reduce tree calliper now I know there
[1:00:44] was no cheese I'm at 450 and I'm just
[1:00:48] gonna read them out to you there we go
[1:00:49] you have to work out why so utilizing
[1:00:53] volunteer plantings reduce space
[1:00:56] required between trees a healthy forest
[1:00:58] isn't specimen trees we need to include
[1:01:02] shrubs wherever possible they improve
[1:01:04] soil reduce compaction protect the roots
[1:01:07] we need to set in motion a new tree
[1:01:09] management plan but don't wait for
[1:01:10] completion of it to begin here we need
[1:01:13] to coordinate with grey infrastructure
[1:01:15] roads and utilities for tree priority
[1:01:18] not equals not equal billing we need
[1:01:20] less priority on tree inventory its ups
[1:01:22] the budget and the stuff we need to
[1:01:25] increase priority of trees in the ground
[1:01:26] we need to utilize bare root plantings a
[1:01:29] bare root blitz for three weeks annually
[1:01:32] it's a quarter of the cost per tree and
[1:01:34] we have volunteers who would be happy to
[1:01:36] knock on doors to find locations to get
[1:01:38] those trees in we need to increase
[1:01:41] species selection yet again including
[1:01:44] fast-growing species biodiversity
[1:01:46] requires this and we need faster shade
[1:01:48] we need to increase water coarse buffer
[1:01:51] zones remove requirement for parking
[1:01:53] lots to be paved
[1:01:54] seems off-topic that's totally not we
[1:01:57] need to include 30% Dutch white clover
[1:02:00] seed we're planting grass
[1:02:02] we need to keep bringing a tree bylaw
[1:02:04] forward until we actually get it through
[1:02:06] and we need to treat this focus in this
[1:02:08] request on the urban forest canopy as
[1:02:10] though future generations are counting
[1:02:12] on you and that's it 543 thank you very
[1:02:16] much if I may ask if you have an
[1:02:20] electronic version of that or a
[1:02:21] photocopy of it that I'll be happy to
[1:02:23] take a picture of at the center to my
[1:02:25] favorite counselor well they'll he have
[1:02:31] to satisfy it has a question yes you
[1:02:37] have a question that's exactly what I
[1:02:39] was gonna ask see sir Wilson's
[1:02:44] okay just you're suggesting that we're
[1:02:47] not going far enough we're not acting oh
[1:02:49] god no okay not even close
[1:02:51] I just you talked about adaptation and
[1:02:54] mitigation I just wonder if you could
[1:02:55] vote for us adaptation is enabling the
[1:03:00] city and to the responsibility of the
[1:03:02] city like sewers sidewalks roads some
[1:03:06] heat relief some shade but the next
[1:03:11] generations are counting on living here
[1:03:13] we're not covering that part that's not
[1:03:16] adapting we they won't be able to adapt
[1:03:18] unless we can mitigate thank you
[1:03:21] so the mitigation was in our strategic
[1:03:23] plan around climate change we do have
[1:03:25] mitigation planning that's in place as
[1:03:26] well okay any other questions of the
[1:03:29] presenter no sir reporter thank you yes
[1:03:35] if we're going to be putting grass
[1:03:38] anywhere near trees it ought to have
[1:03:40] something to feed it for the first
[1:03:41] several years it's you know 30 percent
[1:03:45] seed coverage won't be so much that it
[1:03:48] looks unsightly but it will feed okay
[1:03:52] thank you motion to receive presentation
[1:03:55] council Garcia councillor dodge all in
[1:03:57] favor carried thank you okay so now I
[1:04:04] could have a motion for this 3.1 it's on
[1:04:08] the screen behind me who wants to make
[1:04:09] this motion councillor Cisco SEC another
[1:04:12] counselor Littleton question council
[1:04:15] million I'd just like a make an
[1:04:18] amendment that hopefully friendly that
[1:04:21] staff consider miss hanlin's 15
[1:04:25] recommendations we could actually I mean
[1:04:31] it's a friendly amendment but I'm if we
[1:04:33] could add on to that and that staff take
[1:04:37] those recommendations and present
[1:04:39] budgetary impacts to the to the budget
[1:04:42] committee in the new year I recognize
[1:04:44] that it's a long list I'm not expecting
[1:04:46] it in the first quarter but if it can be
[1:04:48] a part of a budget presentation in the
[1:04:51] new year in 2020 so it's not okay okay
[1:04:55] councillor Wilson and thank you this
[1:04:58] dovetails into the climate change
[1:04:59] emergency and climate change issues in
[1:05:01] general is when are we gonna get a
[1:05:03] report back on progress that we're
[1:05:05] making is there and hopefully hopefully
[1:05:07] we're tightening timelines on this is
[1:05:09] this gonna be an annual so I I don't
[1:05:12] know if you look at the agenda but we do
[1:05:14] have a presentation on the climate
[1:05:15] change adaptation coordinate I know I
[1:05:17] know but just on tree planting Irena get
[1:05:19] an annual report on how we're progress
[1:05:22] for making on this area in this
[1:05:24] area sorry I would say let's wait for
[1:05:26] the the coordinators discussion on this
[1:05:28] on climate cuz that that's her her job
[1:05:30] is climate change adaptation so let's
[1:05:32] wait for that at that point thank you so
[1:05:36] call a question through you mr. mayor
[1:05:39] Councillor Phillips
[1:05:40] councillor Miller yes yes reporter yeah
[1:05:45] councillor Littleton yes councillor
[1:05:47] Kushner councillor Cisco yes councillor
[1:05:50] Harris councillor Garcia yes bouncer
[1:05:53] dodge yeah
[1:05:54] councillor Sorrento yes councillor
[1:05:56] Townsend yes councillor Williamson yes
[1:05:58] and marry Sansa yes carried unanimously
[1:06:01] okay now we have engineering facilities
[1:06:03] environmental services and miss Olivia
[1:06:06] Gulf will be coming forward cross right
[1:06:09] climate change adaptation coordinator to
[1:06:13] present on this with the
[1:06:20] that's the first time presentation so
[1:06:22] welcome to City Council and again just
[1:06:25] identify yourself for the public and
[1:06:27] you're off to the races
[1:06:28] okay so good evening mr. mayor
[1:06:31] councillors city st. Catharines staff
[1:06:33] my name is Olivia Groff and I am your
[1:06:35] climate change adaptation coordinator so
[1:06:37] it's nice to finally I got a chance to
[1:06:39] come out here so it's just so the agenda
[1:06:43] here tonight I'm going to be doing a
[1:06:45] little bit an overview of the corporate
[1:06:46] initiatives I've taken place to date a
[1:06:48] small background on climate change
[1:06:50] examples of climate change and the
[1:06:52] extreme weather events we've been facing
[1:06:54] here in st. Catharines and globally as
[1:06:55] well as a little bit on the development
[1:06:58] of the adaptation plan itself so as an
[1:07:01] overview of the corporate initiatives
[1:07:03] that have taken place there has been a
[1:07:05] new strategic plan on that specifically
[1:07:08] meant mentions climate change which is
[1:07:09] great to see st. Catharines declared a
[1:07:12] climate emergency on April 29th and st.
[1:07:17] Catharines was actually 29th in
[1:07:18] declaring a climate emergency and there
[1:07:20] have been approximately 470 cities have
[1:07:22] declared a climate emergency to date the
[1:07:25] first was actually in January by
[1:07:26] Vancouver so in line with making sure
[1:07:32] that we're on track and we have things
[1:07:35] in mind the main contributor to climate
[1:07:37] change or an increase in greenhouse
[1:07:39] gases and the conversion of forest to
[1:07:41] agriculture which is why greenhouse gas
[1:07:43] reduction targets are so important so
[1:07:45] back in 2017
[1:07:46] the council actually endorsed a
[1:07:49] community target and they fall quite
[1:07:51] closely in line with the corporate
[1:07:53] targets that were recently approved by
[1:07:55] council in October and this really stem
[1:07:58] from the energy conservation demand
[1:07:59] management plan and to date there has
[1:08:02] been a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas
[1:08:05] intensity with the target being of 2030
[1:08:07] which lines similar to the community
[1:08:09] target a 40% reduction a partnership
[1:08:13] that was entered with the city of st.
[1:08:15] Catherine's along with six other
[1:08:16] municipalities is nagger adopts which is
[1:08:18] formed with Brock University there was
[1:08:21] entered a Memorandum of Understanding in
[1:08:24] August and there was just a negra DAPs
[1:08:26] launch event that happened last week as
[1:08:28] well so that was really kick starting
[1:08:30] everything these are the partnerships
[1:08:32] that are
[1:08:34] and the goal of this project is really
[1:08:36] to make an auto paint walk us kind of
[1:08:40] basically through building an adaptation
[1:08:41] plan through planning and implementation
[1:08:44] there is a Community Survey that is up
[1:08:48] on the city st. Catharines website where
[1:08:50] we're trying to get as many community
[1:08:51] participants to fill it out as much as
[1:08:54] possible and there is an incentive of a
[1:08:56] three hundred dollar prize draw just in
[1:08:58] time hopefully for some Christmas
[1:09:00] shopping so the big kind of big
[1:09:05] definitions for climate changes
[1:09:06] mitigation and adaptation so mitigation
[1:09:10] really is all about reducing the
[1:09:12] emissions that contribute to climate
[1:09:13] change so things such as LED upgrades
[1:09:17] that city center formed was a mitigation
[1:09:20] action trying to reduce our reliance on
[1:09:24] electric are trying to rely more on
[1:09:26] electric vehicles and less on gas is
[1:09:27] another mitigation action adaptation
[1:09:30] actions are really about minimizing or
[1:09:33] preventing the negative impacts of
[1:09:34] climate change so those can be things
[1:09:37] such as rain barrels on the tree
[1:09:38] giveaways those will fall in line with
[1:09:40] the adaptation actions as well and
[1:09:43] making sure that citizens are aware that
[1:09:45] we want the water to go where we want it
[1:09:47] to go so cleaning ditches and catch
[1:09:49] basins is very important some global
[1:09:52] events that we have seen in this past
[1:09:54] year there was hurricane durian that
[1:09:57] happened to happened in September so not
[1:09:59] only from the devastation that it causes
[1:10:02] from the viewpoint of infrastructure
[1:10:05] there's also mental health impacts as
[1:10:08] well or the psychological impacts and
[1:10:11] then it hit a little bit closer to home
[1:10:13] in Nova Scotia and we saw a lot of
[1:10:16] infrastructure not only hard
[1:10:18] infrastructure but green infrastructure
[1:10:19] damaged as well and so from all this we
[1:10:24] can see it does hit the pocketbook so
[1:10:26] the economic impact and there was a
[1:10:29] 20-19 report which identifies Canada's
[1:10:31] physical infrastructure as one of the
[1:10:33] country's top climate change risks so in
[1:10:36] the absence of adaptation and not
[1:10:38] preparing for the future climate change
[1:10:40] will cost Canaan taxpayers between 21
[1:10:42] and 43 billion annually by 2050
[1:10:45] however research
[1:10:47] shows that for every dollar invested in
[1:10:49] pre-disaster adaptation activities up to
[1:10:51] six dollars can be saved and
[1:10:53] post-disaster recovery spending and
[1:10:54] that's by a pretty recent report which
[1:10:56] is just in October so to move towards
[1:11:01] kind of how how we're experiencing
[1:11:03] things in st. Catharines st. Catharines
[1:11:05] and agra has experienced 52 extreme
[1:11:07] weather warnings in the past two years
[1:11:09] and that's in counting over the past
[1:11:11] weekend we had freezing rain we are
[1:11:15] seeing a rise in heat warnings issued
[1:11:17] for the for the Nagar region and st.
[1:11:20] Catharines sink Athens was swamped with
[1:11:22] basement flooding which we saw this past
[1:11:24] summer as well as cleanup from windstorm
[1:11:28] so the windstorm that we had even on
[1:11:30] Halloween night that was another recent
[1:11:33] storm event so taking all this into
[1:11:36] effect developing the adaptation plan is
[1:11:39] really where this is all going to come
[1:11:41] together so an internal climate
[1:11:43] adaptation team has already been formed
[1:11:45] and it's a inter departmental team
[1:11:48] working across the various departments
[1:11:50] of the city st. Catharines and the role
[1:11:53] will be to assess the impacts refine and
[1:11:55] adopt a corporate adaptation plan and
[1:11:57] council approval will take plates place
[1:12:00] once a draft plan is actually complete
[1:12:05] another component to this actual plan is
[1:12:08] the communication and outreach component
[1:12:10] to it as well so the goal being to
[1:12:13] increase climate literacy internally
[1:12:15] with staff across all departments in the
[1:12:17] community so we're doing this both
[1:12:19] through internal city staff outlets as
[1:12:22] well as external to the public so we do
[1:12:26] have with the nacre adapts partnership
[1:12:28] that I talked about a little bit earlier
[1:12:29] there has been a community engagement
[1:12:31] opportunity so this was a set up at the
[1:12:33] st. Catharines farmer market a couple
[1:12:35] Thursday's ago will be there again next
[1:12:38] Thursday and this is where we had a
[1:12:41] booth set up about water conservation we
[1:12:43] had the computer set up where people
[1:12:44] could fill out the survey right then on
[1:12:46] the spot or take it home to fill out on
[1:12:48] their own time and then adds of November
[1:12:51] 22nd we've had three hundred and three
[1:12:53] surveys complete for st. Catharines the
[1:12:55] goal through Negra docks was to have a
[1:12:57] hundred people participate
[1:12:59] in the survey so we're already above
[1:13:00] that which is great so the next step for
[1:13:04] adaptation adaptation is an easy thing
[1:13:06] an update adaptation is going to cost so
[1:13:10] the more we can prepare for it now
[1:13:11] the better we will be in the end so
[1:13:15] working through the next steps will be
[1:13:17] further work on the climate impacts
[1:13:19] develop a climate policy which we will
[1:13:22] seek council approval the survey results
[1:13:24] for Niagara taps will be coming out in
[1:13:27] the new year as well as will continue
[1:13:28] public feedback and comments as well as
[1:13:31] the adaptation plan itself will seek
[1:13:34] council approval so in conclusion we
[1:13:38] have targets in place a climate
[1:13:40] adaptation plan is in motion and we have
[1:13:42] community support which we have seen and
[1:13:45] entering the nearest new year with some
[1:13:47] great momentum for 2020 and making sure
[1:13:49] that we're ready for the steps ahead ok
[1:13:54] thank you very much for a very thorough
[1:13:56] presentation and a great job on your
[1:13:57] first presentation to council so Olivia
[1:14:00] you'll be taking a seat or you want us
[1:14:02] to stay up here ok you don't want to be
[1:14:07] in the hot seat councillor Kersey have a
[1:14:15] question Thank You mr. mayor can we ask
[1:14:19] questions sitting down over there so
[1:14:22] just you mentioned I think that there
[1:14:25] were 52 extreme events in the past two
[1:14:27] years and I was just wondering how does
[1:14:30] that compare to previous history do you
[1:14:31] know that wasn't actually something that
[1:14:35] I looked into that will be something
[1:14:37] that I definitely can look into I'm not
[1:14:39] sure how that impacts just from climate
[1:14:41] change we've noticed that things are
[1:14:43] becoming more frequent and more severe
[1:14:45] so that takes into account wind storms
[1:14:48] freezing rain and all that but not
[1:14:50] specifically yeah Thank You Sergio mr.
[1:14:53] mayor I would think that that is
[1:14:55] probably quite dramatic compared to what
[1:14:57] we've had in the past the second
[1:14:59] question was one of the communication
[1:15:01] objectives is the communicate
[1:15:03] to the public have you got any thoughts
[1:15:06] as to how to do that because that's a
[1:15:07] big challenge we have from for
[1:15:10] everything we do because you know years
[1:15:12] ago as I always say we had the paper
[1:15:14] everybody read it read it now it's a
[1:15:16] question of website versus tax bill or
[1:15:20] how do we let the public know about
[1:15:21] something like this so the survey itself
[1:15:25] has been a really good outlet on that's
[1:15:27] not operated through the st. Catharines
[1:15:29] nagger adopts is collecting all the
[1:15:31] information they're going to assemble it
[1:15:32] for us which is the great thing about
[1:15:34] the partnership and we're going to just
[1:15:37] be trying to get out to like these
[1:15:39] community events that were going to the
[1:15:40] farmers market is providing a really
[1:15:42] good opportunity for us to engage with
[1:15:44] the public the climate strikes again
[1:15:46] I've been going to those to kind of hear
[1:15:49] what what's been said and on the ground
[1:15:51] so there's just well we'll keep we'll
[1:15:53] keep working through all the different
[1:15:55] areas that we possibly can councillor
[1:15:58] Garcia just a Miller
[1:16:01] actually council Garcia asked my
[1:16:04] question all right counselor
[1:16:05] Williamson you had your hand up and kill
[1:16:07] civilians thank you just back to my
[1:16:09] question timelines we unanimously
[1:16:13] approve this climate change declaration
[1:16:16] last April an hour
[1:16:17] it's the end of the year what when are
[1:16:20] we gonna get reports back and I just
[1:16:22] wanted to get lay out I mean I like what
[1:16:24] I'm seeing to be quite honest I'm
[1:16:25] impressed I just wonder what the timing
[1:16:27] is going to be like yeah so for the
[1:16:30] climate change policy we're really
[1:16:32] hoping to get that in place for the
[1:16:33] first quarter and then for the
[1:16:35] adaptation plan itself we're hoping for
[1:16:37] the third quarter so by basically next
[1:16:41] fall we'll have a draft plan for
[1:16:43] Council's approval and we'll see some
[1:16:45] pragmatic actions like it'll really
[1:16:53] depend on the actual plan itself what it
[1:16:55] comes out with so what those actions are
[1:16:57] I can't comment on that right now but
[1:17:00] hopefully it'll be a good one so give
[1:17:02] you a regular fixture here yeah thank
[1:17:05] you that's actually a good point coastal
[1:17:07] waves in his
[1:17:08] sure that we have the allocation so that
[1:17:10] we'd have staff that are focused on this
[1:17:11] we can't just declare kind of an
[1:17:13] emergency and not have it on the corner
[1:17:15] of the staffs desk and us wishing that
[1:17:17] something gets done so that's a great
[1:17:19] point good point
[1:17:20] councillor Phillips Thank You mr.
[1:17:23] America in your organization you
[1:17:26] indicated you have seven municipalities
[1:17:27] presently as members where's the rest of
[1:17:30] Meg
[1:17:31] have they been approached and not are
[1:17:34] they on their own or what's the story
[1:17:36] with that um so for the so I'm not
[1:17:40] representing Brock University with a
[1:17:42] negra adopts but really how that all
[1:17:45] stemmed was from securing a grant to
[1:17:47] hire climate change coordinator
[1:17:50] specifically some of those
[1:17:51] municipalities I guess didn't go after
[1:17:54] the funding or they didn't have the the
[1:17:59] anks to go for a climate change
[1:18:01] coordinator there are two different
[1:18:03] streams so there are municipalities that
[1:18:05] are going after a mitigation stream and
[1:18:06] their arm you know spies are doing the
[1:18:07] adaptation stream which the city st.
[1:18:09] Catharines is so there are a couple
[1:18:12] municipalities they're just doing a
[1:18:13] little bit it's a little a different
[1:18:16] plan essentially so they're on there
[1:18:17] they're doing something but they're on
[1:18:19] their own
[1:18:20] yep and you've done a lot of work within
[1:18:24] the municipality of st. Catharines how
[1:18:26] often does your group nagger adapt meet
[1:18:28] and and you discuss issues that are
[1:18:31] common with with those municipalities
[1:18:33] yep I think it's probably on average but
[1:18:37] every other so the coordinators it sells
[1:18:39] we're meeting actually every months
[1:18:41] not through Nagar adapts but we're all
[1:18:44] getting together to kind of figure out
[1:18:46] where we are on our plans and to discuss
[1:18:48] this issue as well as for the negra DAP
[1:18:52] so it's probably on average every other
[1:18:53] month thank you
[1:18:55] and what's what's good about the
[1:18:58] position is that olivia is working
[1:19:01] directly with mark green as well so
[1:19:03] those of you around council know mark
[1:19:05] greenness is very is very involved in a
[1:19:08] lot of the climate change mitigation and
[1:19:10] what we're working on here at the city
[1:19:12] and so she's working directly with
[1:19:13] market because she works for the city
[1:19:15] under i anthony if you want to jump in
[1:19:18] there yeah so Olivia works for
[1:19:21] ifvs through barks group she we secured
[1:19:26] funding to be able to obtain a
[1:19:28] adaptation coordinator to help us put
[1:19:30] together our plan the Niagra adapts
[1:19:33] group is actually a memorandum of Understanding that the
[1:19:38] city entered into with seven other
[1:19:41] municipalities and brock to provide some
[1:19:44] technical support to assist us in
[1:19:46] developing the climate adaptation plan
[1:19:50] okay see no other further questions of a
[1:19:53] counselor reporter kind of a big
[1:19:57] question I'm I'm just wondering if
[1:20:01] there's enough I don't know when our
[1:20:02] official plan is due how many years away
[1:20:05] are we from a new official directive
[1:20:08] planning through the mayor to the
[1:20:12] counselor the city's official plan is a
[1:20:14] twenty five-year plan the last time we
[1:20:17] did a brand-new official plan was 2010
[1:20:20] and we update it every five years or so
[1:20:23] we're currently undergoing our current
[1:20:25] municipal comprehensive review and
[1:20:28] that's been scoped to deal with the land
[1:20:29] needs assessment so the employment land
[1:20:31] needs assessment the commercial land
[1:20:33] needs assessment and the residential
[1:20:35] land needs assessment and that is being
[1:20:36] presented to council in q1 2020 okay I'm
[1:20:41] just curious if there's any possibility
[1:20:43] to address climate change or if you've
[1:20:45] seen other municipalities address
[1:20:48] climate mitigation and adaptation issues
[1:20:51] and their official plan is that in any
[1:20:53] of the conferences you've been to
[1:20:57] through the mayor to the councillor I
[1:20:59] think typically what we see are greater
[1:21:02] initiatives around climate change like
[1:21:04] what we've just heard from our climate
[1:21:06] change coordinator and that they're done
[1:21:08] corporately because they include not
[1:21:11] just growth related aspects but
[1:21:12] operational related aspects as well so I
[1:21:15] think in this circumstance it might make
[1:21:17] sense to let some of that work play out
[1:21:19] and then tie it into our planning
[1:21:22] policies that the next opportunity for a
[1:21:24] review Jane Thank You councillor Porter
[1:21:28] any further questions okay and prior to
[1:21:32] the vote and kalsa Williamson and I
[1:21:34] think a direction would be if it's open
[1:21:36] for you is that at the budget meeting if
[1:21:39] staff can highlight some of the 2020
[1:21:43] climate mitigations cuz I I think it's
[1:21:46] in the budget and what we're pushing for
[1:21:49] but we're not highlighting it so if we
[1:21:50] can bring that out during budget night
[1:21:52] some of the climate change initiatives
[1:21:53] are climate mitigation strategies that
[1:21:55] we have it's good to point out that
[1:21:57] we're actually budgeting for some of
[1:21:58] this stuff as well okay
[1:22:00] counselor wants to move to motion three
[1:22:04] mr. mayor councillor Sorrento yes
[1:22:08] councillor Townsend yes councillor
[1:22:10] Williamson yes councillor Cisco yes
[1:22:14] councillor Porter yes councillor Philips
[1:22:16] yes
[1:22:17] councillor Miller yes councillor
[1:22:19] Littleton yes councillor kushner yes
[1:22:21] Chancellor Harris councillor Garcia yes
[1:22:24] councillor dodge yes and Mayor CENTAC
[1:22:26] yes carried unanimously
[1:22:28] okay so we move on to three point 3
[1:22:30] which is councillor three point three
[1:22:35] which is the well and canals Parkway
[1:22:36] well and wilfred laurier crest at
[1:22:39] Crescent and I'll look to Anthony
[1:22:40] Martucci Oh for some comments through
[1:22:43] you mr. mayor the report before you
[1:22:45] tonight is in response to counsels
[1:22:47] motion to review the intersection
[1:22:48] traffic control with theme of assisting
[1:22:51] pedestrians crossing long canals Parkway
[1:22:53] from Wilfred Laurier crusted to the
[1:22:55] pathway you will see in the report that
[1:22:57] staff undertook an assessment of the
[1:22:59] various types of recognised traffic
[1:23:01] control which range in both costs and
[1:23:04] complexity complexity of installation
[1:23:07] the process involved undertaking to
[1:23:09] eight-hour
[1:23:10] in vehicle volume counts the results
[1:23:13] identified that pedestrian and vehicle
[1:23:15] volumes on Welford Laurier were
[1:23:17] extremely low in comparison to that of
[1:23:21] the volumes experienced on well on
[1:23:23] canals parkway these traffic volumes
[1:23:26] were reviewed in applied to various
[1:23:27] industry standards and council approved
[1:23:30] warrants for each of the traffic control
[1:23:32] types the results of the assessment
[1:23:34] indicated that none of the
[1:23:35] justifications are warrants were
[1:23:37] satisfied except for the pedestrian pxo
[1:23:40] however due to operational safety
[1:23:42] concerns staff are not recommending any
[1:23:44] of the traffic control measures it
[1:23:47] should also be noted that based on
[1:23:48] current funding levels for traffic
[1:23:50] signals staff are only able to address
[1:23:52] one intersection per year and those
[1:23:55] funds are reserved to address existing
[1:23:56] signals that are at end of life are in
[1:24:00] poor condition and lack accessible
[1:24:02] accessibility in with respect to the
[1:24:05] always thought even though the cost for
[1:24:07] implementing the solution is relatively
[1:24:09] low in comparison to the other means of
[1:24:11] traffic control staff are not
[1:24:13] recommending this type of traffic
[1:24:15] control as the warrants approved by
[1:24:16] council are not satisfied staff have
[1:24:19] concerns that the extreme imbalance in
[1:24:21] traffic volumes could lead to poor
[1:24:23] driver habits on well and canals Parkway
[1:24:25] where signage is ignored and could
[1:24:28] result in greater safety concerns okay
[1:24:31] thank you mr. Marr to chill so council
[1:24:34] will attend you have a motion on the
[1:24:35] floor
[1:24:36] that's right moved by myself seconded by
[1:24:38] councillor Miller that where's the
[1:24:39] pedestrians from the residential
[1:24:41] neighborhood on the west side of
[1:24:42] Wellington else Parkway wishing to cross
[1:24:44] well and canals Parkway to or from the
[1:24:46] pathway must do so at an uncontrolled
[1:24:49] location and where is the installation
[1:24:51] of a pedestrian crossover is not
[1:24:53] appropriate due to operational and
[1:24:55] safety limitations therefore be it
[1:24:57] resolved that staff be directed to
[1:24:59] install and always stop at the
[1:25:01] intersection of well and canals Parkway
[1:25:03] and wilfred laurier crescent to provide
[1:25:05] a controlled crossing for pedestrians at
[1:25:08] this location
[1:25:09] John just picked me to speak to it now
[1:25:10] you can either choose to speak to an
[1:25:12] hour speak to at last what would you
[1:25:14] choose to do you only speak once I'm
[1:25:16] speaking last
[1:25:18] councillor Cisco hey mr. mayor I forgive
[1:25:22] me maybe this is a ridiculous question
[1:25:24] but are we able to install and always
[1:25:27] stop on well in canals Parkway I thought
[1:25:30] that was Seaway control mr. Marku Cho
[1:25:33] know that that is a that is a city right away okay so we are capable of
[1:25:38] doing this correct
[1:25:40] I feel like we've had conversations in
[1:25:42] the past about changes too low in canals
[1:25:44] Parkway that indicated the opposite
[1:25:47] specifically when we were dealing with
[1:25:49] the new development to the north of
[1:25:51] wilfrid laurier Crescent and the desire
[1:25:54] some of the residents to have an outlet
[1:25:55] from the new roads that were going in
[1:25:58] there they wanted to outlet on the wall
[1:26:00] in canals Park man at the time I thought
[1:26:02] the reason that was given to us was that
[1:26:03] we couldn't do that because it was
[1:26:05] Seaway controlled mr. white choo-choo
[1:26:09] that is not the understanding that that
[1:26:12] I currently have but I could look it
[1:26:14] into that further and and provide you
[1:26:16] with that information was it the
[1:26:17] previous kind of like last council that
[1:26:19] was the last term of council it was
[1:26:21] brought by I believe both ward
[1:26:23] councillors were looking for that and it
[1:26:25] was it was not about the opportunity it
[1:26:28] was the danger on the corner so they did
[1:26:30] a study on the turn and the volume of
[1:26:33] speed and cars going through it would
[1:26:35] create a blind spot so the cars would be
[1:26:37] traveling at too quick of a distance to
[1:26:39] then stop that's why staff had
[1:26:41] recommended against that so it wasn't
[1:26:43] about not being able to it was the
[1:26:45] danger of that corner it was too close
[1:26:48] to the bend
[1:26:48] I remember that discussion but we we can
[1:26:51] pull the report up and send it it's a
[1:26:53] council Phillips and I were both under
[1:26:55] that impression that was the reason why
[1:26:56] I asked initially because it felt like
[1:26:59] that was the reason that was given but
[1:27:00] okay if we're able to do it then I
[1:27:01] appreciate that counselor tells him
[1:27:05] Thank You mr. mayor quick question and
[1:27:10] are we able to is sorry it says always
[1:27:13] stop I'm visualizing obviously a stop
[1:27:15] sign but is there like a red flashing
[1:27:17] light what type of I guess my concern
[1:27:19] would be anyone going through a stop
[1:27:22] sign are we able to add any type of
[1:27:24] flashing red light below the stop sign
[1:27:27] just to make it visible for people
[1:27:28] driving just aware to chill
[1:27:32] our typical always stops do not have
[1:27:34] flashing Reds that that is something
[1:27:36] that we could investigate to bring more
[1:27:38] attention to the intersection however it
[1:27:40] would add to the costs for the
[1:27:42] installation one always thought you'd
[1:27:44] have to break power and two to the
[1:27:47] location to be able to provide those
[1:27:48] services there and my other question
[1:27:51] would be to the Reds are the residents
[1:27:54] in favor of this obviously there's been
[1:27:56] conversations with residents I guess to
[1:27:59] the ward councillors comes a little too
[1:28:01] near moving the motion but if I speak
[1:28:05] now you can I sell you're just answering
[1:28:06] the question
[1:28:07] yes it's a great concern there's people
[1:28:10] cannot get from the community that they
[1:28:13] live in plus the additional houses that
[1:28:15] are going to be built in their townhouse
[1:28:16] community another couple hundred people
[1:28:18] cannot get across while in canals
[1:28:20] Parkway in a safe manner councillor
[1:28:24] Miller do you want to add to that or no
[1:28:26] okay if not that I'm gonna go back to
[1:28:28] the question okay Kelsey Johnson I am I
[1:28:32] would like to add a friendly amendment I
[1:28:34] guess my concern here is just the
[1:28:35] visibility of being able to see the stop
[1:28:38] sign I know it is a Parkway is quite
[1:28:40] busy
[1:28:41] I would hope you'll be a friendly
[1:28:44] amendment to add some type of in context
[1:28:46] there is a stop sign at the end of Scott
[1:28:50] Street and that's in your ward and that
[1:28:53] doesn't have a flashing red light on it
[1:28:54] and people are they stopped there it's
[1:28:56] the same exact same as this one so I
[1:28:59] understand what you're saying it could
[1:29:01] be a temporary signage that says stop
[1:29:03] sign being installed and you'd be aware
[1:29:05] new stop sign but long-term I don't
[1:29:07] think it needs one okay so we can have
[1:29:09] like a notice of like new stop sign
[1:29:10] that's something we can at least have
[1:29:12] mr. Marku cheero notice of stop sign
[1:29:14] coming and then having some kind of
[1:29:16] awareness program to use you mr. mayor
[1:29:19] yes we could provide public notice of
[1:29:22] the new installation of a stop sign at
[1:29:23] the intersection okay okay now I would
[1:29:26] be okay with that
[1:29:26] thank you you're right Ithaca who had
[1:29:29] her hands up councillor Miller then go
[1:29:31] to councillor Williamson just sort of I
[1:29:34] guess answered councillor Thompson's
[1:29:35] question and I span on it we did we've
[1:29:37] heard about this frequently in regularly
[1:29:39] since since the campaign last year and I
[1:29:41] think Kelsey Wilson is probably a
[1:29:43] I think expert by now and maybe if she
[1:29:46] wants to switch career she could
[1:29:47] probably get into that by the amount of
[1:29:48] work she does around traffic in our ward
[1:29:51] which seems to be a significant problem
[1:29:52] and I think this has a chance I know
[1:29:55] stop signs aren't great for speed
[1:29:57] mitigation but we'll do a little bit and
[1:29:59] hopefully we'll stop some of the
[1:30:00] excessive truck traffic so I think this
[1:30:02] always stop might not be a perfect
[1:30:04] solution but it addresses a number of
[1:30:06] concerns on the street so I think and
[1:30:10] it's it's not costly and we always have
[1:30:12] the opportunity to review these new stop
[1:30:15] locations as we move forward so I think
[1:30:17] this is a good compromise solution for a
[1:30:20] number of issues on one canals Parkway
[1:30:22] you Kelson Miller councillor Williamson
[1:30:24] Thank You mr. Merrick - mr. Martin show
[1:30:27] is is your staff comfortable with having
[1:30:31] this attorneys are also always tough
[1:30:33] this location through you mr. mayor
[1:30:36] staffs recommendation is is for not
[1:30:40] installing and always stop given the
[1:30:43] options that were presented a pedestrian
[1:30:46] crossover and always stop staffer more
[1:30:49] comfortable with it always stopped and
[1:30:51] putting a pedestrian crossover at this
[1:30:52] location in terms is it warranted based
[1:30:57] on the statistics do you miss your Mara
[1:31:00] no it is not warranted based on the
[1:31:02] warrants that were approved by council
[1:31:05] Thank You councillor sweat mr. mayor
[1:31:09] through you to director Marty Jo really
[1:31:13] in the horns of dilemma on this one
[1:31:15] because I usually like to support the
[1:31:17] staff recommendation should it be the
[1:31:19] will of council to have the three-way
[1:31:22] stop signs installed is there the
[1:31:25] possibility of this being even more
[1:31:28] unsafe for motorists and and perhaps if
[1:31:32] you will actually being a little bit
[1:31:35] more dangerous or a little bit more
[1:31:38] unsafe because I understand that on
[1:31:41] these through strict thorough with
[1:31:44] streets main roads arterial roads the
[1:31:46] idea is to keep the traffic flow moving
[1:31:48] and if we were to have install a stop
[1:31:52] sign there
[1:31:53] good could it possibly be more unsafe
[1:31:56] through you mr. mayor staffs concerns
[1:31:59] are that due to the imbalance in in
[1:32:02] traffic so 6% of the traffic at that
[1:32:05] intersection is coming from wilfred
[1:32:08] laurier in 94 percent of the traffic is
[1:32:10] actually on well on canals parkway so
[1:32:11] our concern is that as as drivers starts
[1:32:15] to realize that when they come up to a
[1:32:17] stop sign there there's no reason to
[1:32:19] stop because there's no pedestrians or
[1:32:21] vehicles that they'll though there's the
[1:32:24] possibility that they'll gain bad habits
[1:32:26] of disobeying the stop sign altogether
[1:32:28] and driving through which could cause
[1:32:31] more significant safety concerns at the
[1:32:35] intersection than doesn't currently
[1:32:36] exist mr. mayor I just I'm gonna add
[1:32:39] this very quickly and then I'm not gonna
[1:32:41] say anything else so just make my
[1:32:43] remarks in any ward we have a lot of
[1:32:46] major arterial roads streets and I've
[1:32:50] received a lot of complaints about
[1:32:52] safety crossing Vine Street bunting Road
[1:32:55] Grantham you can make an argument that
[1:32:57] almost on every street secondary main
[1:33:01] arterial road it is dangerous to cross
[1:33:04] so I think I think I've got to go with
[1:33:08] the staff recommendation on this one mr.
[1:33:10] mayor I'm you know I'm going to defer to
[1:33:13] the staff on this one because I think
[1:33:15] the concerns are not only for wilfred
[1:33:18] laurier but throughout the entire city
[1:33:20] so thank you mr. mayor my my thoughts are
[1:33:28] exactly the same I thought we had
[1:33:31] delegated authority to staff for stop
[1:33:33] signs all up to the sale
[1:33:40] we did it the reason why it's here is
[1:33:42] because it's been lifted I because
[1:33:46] they're councilor Lord we did and if
[1:33:49] it's contested by either the community
[1:33:51] or councilor then it has to come to us
[1:33:53] that's why it's in front of so any
[1:33:55] councilor can bring up the staff denial
[1:33:59] yeah okay and the other question I had I
[1:34:03] thought there environmental reasons for
[1:34:06] delegating it to staff that every time
[1:34:09] we have these stop signs there's an
[1:34:11] environmental cost to it could staff
[1:34:14] respond through you mr. mayor if we if
[1:34:22] IKEA may be a little more clarification
[1:34:23] on what you mean by environmental
[1:34:25] concerns through mr. mayor
[1:34:34] I don't believe that that's something
[1:34:37] that that I've dealt with at least since
[1:34:40] taking on the role but it's definitely
[1:34:42] something we could further look further
[1:34:45] into you don't ya say Thank You mr.
[1:34:51] mayor
[1:34:51] I thought previously that our staff did
[1:34:57] express that as a concern I look forward
[1:35:00] to the new directors approach thing
[1:35:02] Council Harris through you mr. mayor to
[1:35:07] the director of Transportation when
[1:35:09] you're answering councilor Sorrento's
[1:35:12] questions you're mentioning a boat you
[1:35:14] know it might encourage bad behavior and
[1:35:16] stuff is that not something that the
[1:35:18] police should actually be enforcing so
[1:35:21] perhaps part of this motion when we put
[1:35:23] in a stop saying we could actually
[1:35:24] request the NRP to monitor it for the
[1:35:26] first little bit through you mr. mayor
[1:35:30] you're corrected disobeying stop signs
[1:35:33] would become an enforcement issue
[1:35:34] however the staff would still get
[1:35:37] complaints with regards to traffic
[1:35:41] issues at the intersection but we could
[1:35:42] definitely reach out the NRP
[1:35:44] and notify them of the always thought
[1:35:46] that was installed at the intersection
[1:35:48] maybe as an amendment
[1:35:49] this not only like notifying the
[1:35:52] residents that that's going to be
[1:35:54] installed leading up to the stop spine
[1:35:56] but also to notify the NRP and perhaps
[1:35:59] they can monitor at first does that make
[1:36:02] sense through you mr. mayor yes we could
[1:36:04] reach out to you okay I guess my other
[1:36:06] question is the staff have we had okay
[1:36:13] this isn't a really a new issue I seem
[1:36:15] to recall previous councils talked about
[1:36:18] this a lot can you give us like just a
[1:36:21] little bit of a background like I
[1:36:22] believe Jenny Stevens brought it up
[1:36:25] quite a bit and we fought for these type
[1:36:27] of things over and over again and staff
[1:36:30] continually deny it can you just comment
[1:36:33] on it through you mr. mayor when we get
[1:36:38] these types of requests we'd only go out
[1:36:40] the intersection to do a traffic
[1:36:41] analysis to determine the amount of
[1:36:44] traffic that's in the intersection to
[1:36:45] see whether or not it meets the
[1:36:47] guidelines that were approved for the
[1:36:50] installation of stop signs that's
[1:36:52] generally the driving factor but behind
[1:36:55] the decisions that staff are
[1:36:56] recommending
[1:36:57] can I through the mayor to the director
[1:36:59] engineer when you establish these
[1:37:02] guidelines and when you go out and
[1:37:04] monitor it do you actually select
[1:37:05] certain times I guess I'm going back to
[1:37:08] a few years ago councilor cushion I
[1:37:10] encountered when we wanted to get rid of
[1:37:11] a crossing guard on Glendale even though
[1:37:15] it was a crossing guard for a school and
[1:37:18] I guess when staff went out there they
[1:37:21] noticed that there weren't that many
[1:37:22] cars but they weren't actually
[1:37:23] monitoring it during the summer so I'm
[1:37:25] just wondering do you guys go out during
[1:37:29] certain times like peak times certain
[1:37:31] times through you mr. mayor yes we we
[1:37:35] typically use best practices at doing
[1:37:38] analysis of traffic intersections for
[1:37:41] this one we went once during the week
[1:37:43] for an eight-hour session and we also go
[1:37:47] a once during the weekend on fair
[1:37:50] weather days where
[1:37:52] we would expect increased traffic flow
[1:37:54] on the street in order to carry out
[1:37:55] these analysis okay just one more
[1:37:58] question I'm just wondering how much
[1:37:59] weight do we actually put on like I
[1:38:02] guess we have all this criteria but how
[1:38:03] much weight do we actually put on the
[1:38:05] councillors opinion because they're the
[1:38:07] ones that actually filled all the calls
[1:38:08] is there any sort of weighting that goes
[1:38:11] to that through you mr. mayor no the
[1:38:15] recommendations from staff are based
[1:38:17] solely on best practices for traffic
[1:38:20] okay perfect thank you
[1:38:22] councillor guys Thank You mr. mayor
[1:38:26] for clarity what the councillors are
[1:38:29] asking for is a safe way for them to
[1:38:32] cross from wilfred laurier across the
[1:38:35] parkway to get on to the get to the path
[1:38:38] I'm a long wall and canals Parkway
[1:38:40] that's correct so what's happening is
[1:38:43] people from Mackenzie King we love real
[1:38:45] Fred Laurier where's my other Street
[1:38:48] nning there's Howland there's a new
[1:38:52] street coming in McNaughton and Alex
[1:38:54] grant place all of those people so they
[1:38:57] can cross safely correct thank you when
[1:39:01] I'm reading through the report maybe I
[1:39:02] missed it but when you're showing the
[1:39:05] traffic counts it's showing the traffic
[1:39:07] count and it says that a requirement is
[1:39:10] an average of 90 vehicles an hour for
[1:39:12] 720 and you're showing the traffic count
[1:39:16] for wilfrid laurier Crescent but you
[1:39:19] don't show anything for the well canals
[1:39:21] Parkway so I'm just don't know whether
[1:39:23] I'm missing it somewhere in this report
[1:39:25] or if you can give me those numbers for
[1:39:27] that
[1:39:37] three mr. mayor we we do have the the
[1:39:41] counts for well canals Mark Waid they
[1:39:43] aren't included in the report and
[1:39:44] actually a must apologize I don't have
[1:39:47] them with me today but they the counts
[1:39:51] that we we show for Wilfred Gauri are
[1:39:54] it's to demonstrate that it doesn't meet
[1:39:56] the minimum of thresholds that are
[1:39:58] required on wilfred laurier in order for
[1:40:00] us to install those types of traffic
[1:40:03] patrols okay but just what I'm
[1:40:07] understanding from the councillor is
[1:40:08] it's not wilfred laurier that they're
[1:40:10] more concerned about crossing it's and i
[1:40:13] think there would be a stop sign there
[1:40:14] already what they're more concerned
[1:40:16] about is crossing the canal Parkway and
[1:40:19] you're not showing any of the counts for
[1:40:21] that to you mr. mayor I could provide
[1:40:25] some further accounts that we did so it
[1:40:30] in the eight-hour count that we did for
[1:40:33] the intersection there were
[1:40:34] approximately 334 vehicles on wilfred
[1:40:36] laurier in comparison to well canals
[1:40:39] Parkway where there were approximately
[1:40:40] 5700 vehicles that went down the street
[1:40:43] there was also only 29 pedestrian
[1:40:46] crossings at that street okay so there
[1:40:49] was 5700 cars that went by in an hour is
[1:40:52] that what you're is that per day I mean
[1:40:54] the drinking the eight-hour count okay I
[1:40:57] would think that maybe that might be the
[1:40:59] reason that there's such a low count of
[1:41:01] pedestrians they're probably afraid to
[1:41:03] go across that Street thank you okay
[1:41:06] council Phillips Thank You councillor
[1:41:08] done the concern I have is based on the
[1:41:15] what I hear for the residents who live
[1:41:17] in the Scott Street area I've had
[1:41:19] complaints numerous times about the fact
[1:41:21] that drivers regard those stop
[1:41:24] scientists optional with their word
[1:41:27] they're rolling the stop signs or
[1:41:28] they're going through all the time and
[1:41:30] that actually it was creating a
[1:41:32] dangerous situation for them because
[1:41:34] they thought it was gonna be safe
[1:41:35] crossing because there was a stop sign
[1:41:37] there and you know the car kept going
[1:41:40] and that's what I'm having a real hard
[1:41:43] time with this one as
[1:41:45] councillor Sorento because I don't want
[1:41:48] to create a situation where they think
[1:41:50] they can cross and all of a sudden
[1:41:52] you're with that number of cars
[1:41:54] somebody's going to miss a stop sign
[1:41:56] I could see perhaps putting a painted lines going across to end with
[1:42:05] signs indicating pedestrians crossing or
[1:42:09] something like that but a stop sign
[1:42:11] does not definitely guarantee safety
[1:42:15] honest on a busy and I'm up and down
[1:42:17] that that wrote a lot and cars are not
[1:42:20] traveling at necessarily the assigned
[1:42:23] speeds I would be I'm really really
[1:42:26] concerned about putting that and as far
[1:42:27] as asking the NRP to be there I've
[1:42:30] requested the NRP to be a Scott Street
[1:42:33] numerous times maybe they were but
[1:42:35] they're not going to be there every day
[1:42:36] planted at at a crosswalk on the
[1:42:39] overwhelming Canal Parkway get councilor
[1:42:42] films okay before councillor Littleton
[1:42:44] speaks the wiseguys did put a councillor
[1:42:47] Miller councillor Porter okay thanks I
[1:42:52] did I just want clarification this is
[1:42:55] only for pedestrians it's the residents
[1:42:58] don't have trouble turning left or right
[1:43:00] for in their cars on here it's just for
[1:43:03] because I'm looking at well in canto
[1:43:04] mats Parkway which isn't really
[1:43:06] pedestrian friendly it's like a
[1:43:09] thoroughfare so they're there the
[1:43:11] streets not designed for it's
[1:43:14] essentially designed for speed there's
[1:43:16] nothing else here that would kind of
[1:43:20] cause you or want you to slow down so I am echoing councillor Sorrento's
[1:43:26] concerns I am concerned about putting an
[1:43:28] all-way stop I know I I would be in
[1:43:32] favor of something else pedestrian
[1:43:34] crossing with some kind of signage but
[1:43:37] that way the pedestrians know there's no guarantee of a stop so they
[1:43:41] the pedestrians would have to be extra
[1:43:42] cautious and not assuming that the cars
[1:43:46] going to stop for them so I would I
[1:43:48] would sort of be in favor of that I know
[1:43:50] I'm not going to support the stop signs
[1:43:53] I just just because I don't think it's
[1:43:55] the safest option right now
[1:43:57] just a point of clarification just
[1:43:59] quickly so I know earlier we we had said
[1:44:02] that at the end of Scott Street that
[1:44:04] there are no lights but they do have the
[1:44:06] flashing red lights and looking at this
[1:44:09] intersection I am concerned that there
[1:44:10] it is a big intersection and I do think
[1:44:12] mr. mayor would need some type of lights
[1:44:14] to draw attention to any drivers on the
[1:44:17] road so we'll have the staff look into
[1:44:21] it
[1:44:21] okay so councillor Wilton before
[1:44:24] councillor Littleton speaks we did open
[1:44:26] a new park there last year and it was
[1:44:28] the wise guys park they generously
[1:44:30] donated a significant amount of money
[1:44:31] it's about 15 feet away from that
[1:44:34] intersection I think it'd be
[1:44:36] irresponsible for us not to put up a
[1:44:37] four-way stop because if any kids decide
[1:44:40] that they want to go in that direction
[1:44:41] and then they haven't been obviously
[1:44:44] maybe go trained that's very close to
[1:44:48] that and I think we should be doing
[1:44:49] everything we can to slow traffic if we
[1:44:51] talk about vision zero which is putting
[1:44:53] the pedestrian and the cyclist first we
[1:44:55] got to get people to slow down more and
[1:44:57] we got to get people to realize that
[1:44:58] these are also subdivisions that are
[1:45:00] being created and there is a very good
[1:45:02] well used park 15 feet away from all
[1:45:05] that 1,500 cars driving up and down so
[1:45:07] it's incumbent upon us to create a safe
[1:45:09] space for that Park as well if not we
[1:45:12] shouldn't have put the park there in the
[1:45:13] first place
[1:45:13] councillor a little tenure thank you
[1:45:16] next time I'm speaking first okay so I
[1:45:19] want to address some of the things that
[1:45:21] have been brought up because I did not
[1:45:22] bring this willy-nilly I met with staff
[1:45:24] twice before this has come before you
[1:45:27] and we've had conversations that's why
[1:45:29] the language is the way it is in the in
[1:45:31] the recommendation staff has said the installation the pedestrian
[1:45:35] crossover which is similar to the one
[1:45:37] that's on Vine Street is not appropriate
[1:45:39] I'll tell you why people are going to
[1:45:40] come across that they're gonna come down
[1:45:42] the street this is what staff was saying
[1:45:45] they may not see it the things are
[1:45:46] flashing everybody as soon as you hit
[1:45:49] that they're gonna go right with a stop
[1:45:52] we know as pedestrians do we do wait to
[1:45:55] see if people are actually going to stop
[1:45:57] when you push a button like the one
[1:45:59] outside the pack you push and you go
[1:46:00] it's not the same pedestrian behavior so
[1:46:03] that's why that is is is mentioned like
[1:46:06] that
[1:46:07] a couple of things that need to be
[1:46:09] really I think we need to talk about it
[1:46:11] just logically when we're talking about
[1:46:13] people are gonna roll through stops
[1:46:15] they're gonna do it everywhere folks
[1:46:16] everywhere at every stop sign this is
[1:46:19] making this intersection just to echo
[1:46:21] what the mayor said more safe it's
[1:46:24] making it safer right now what you have
[1:46:26] is a situation as councillor Porter
[1:46:28] alluded to you have a straight way there
[1:46:31] are no sidewalks on the side of these so
[1:46:33] if someone's thinking well why can't
[1:46:35] they just walk up to the little one
[1:46:36] where you push the button outside of
[1:46:38] Rockwood you there's nowhere for them to
[1:46:40] walk as the mayor said we've built a
[1:46:42] park here on the west side actually on
[1:46:47] the other side of Wellington else
[1:46:48] Parkway is another is another playground
[1:46:52] on the other side where the museum is so
[1:46:54] you have all these people that are here
[1:46:56] that you have this straightaway the stop
[1:47:00] sign also creates a speed reduction you
[1:47:04] have all the signs coming up people will
[1:47:05] learn that they have to stop just like
[1:47:07] they have to stop at Scott just like
[1:47:09] they have to stop further down well in
[1:47:10] canals it becomes a behavior and it will
[1:47:13] slow that speed down right now
[1:47:15] everybody's foot is at 60 to 65 it's a
[1:47:18] 50 zone that's anecdotal all the time
[1:47:22] so that I don't buy that that people are
[1:47:24] going to blow through it it's going to
[1:47:25] make it less safe than it is now
[1:47:27] right now your option is to look both
[1:47:29] ways and run as fast as you can across
[1:47:32] there and everybody's going like I just
[1:47:34] told you between 60 and 70 if we do have
[1:47:37] the stop sign then it does it yes
[1:47:40] there's a possibility that someone's
[1:47:42] going to blow through a stop sign just
[1:47:44] like they're going to do it at every
[1:47:45] other part of the city so I want
[1:47:47] everybody to think about that the
[1:47:48] director is talking about Beck's best
[1:47:50] practices when they're talking about
[1:47:52] that it doesn't meet their standard for
[1:47:55] the always stop 100% it doesn't because
[1:47:58] of the discrepancy as he's mentioned in
[1:48:01] the to the two streets wilfred laurier
[1:48:04] only has three hundred and whatever it
[1:48:06] is over the eight-hour period well in
[1:48:08] Canal Park we as you just heard has six
[1:48:10] thousand vehicles we need to make this
[1:48:13] intersection safer we have we are
[1:48:15] creating walkable cities on the you look
[1:48:18] at the picture here right on the other
[1:48:20] side of this is a
[1:48:21] frail that people can get on they can
[1:48:23] bike there they can walk they can take
[1:48:25] their families they can take their
[1:48:26] strollers and then the museum is right
[1:48:29] there like I just told you that is
[1:48:30] creating a walkable city where there
[1:48:32] isn't currently a sidewalk to go down
[1:48:36] well in canals parkway so I want you to
[1:48:38] all think about that the question about
[1:48:41] turning left yes it is a little bit
[1:48:43] difficult but that wasn't the number one
[1:48:45] driver for me asking for the staff
[1:48:47] report so I really hope that you'll you
[1:48:50] will you will allow for this to go
[1:48:53] through we can always look at it again
[1:48:56] in six months I don't know why no one's
[1:48:57] listening what why we can look at it
[1:49:00] again in six months if it'll make you
[1:49:02] feel better we could we examine it I'm
[1:49:04] happy to do that but not doing anything
[1:49:06] at this point in time where we know when
[1:49:09] we say why did would why were we talking
[1:49:11] about it eight years ago or why would
[1:49:12] now we have all these new houses in here
[1:49:15] and we have a whole other bunch of
[1:49:17] townhouses that are going to bring
[1:49:19] 100-200 more residents in in the next
[1:49:22] say whatever five years it's incumbent
[1:49:24] uncommon excuse me upon us to do it now
[1:49:27] I'm asking for your support thanks so
[1:49:30] much thank you how's your little team
[1:49:32] okay I'll call a question through you
[1:49:36] mr. mayor
[1:49:36] councillor Littleton yes Elster kushnir
[1:49:40] councillor Harris councillor Garcia yes
[1:49:44] councillor Dodge yes
[1:49:46] councillor Miller yes councillor
[1:49:48] Phillips no councillor Porter no
[1:49:52] councillor Cisco yes
[1:49:54] councillor Sorrento
[1:50:04] councillor Townsend yes councillor
[1:50:08] Williamson no in there sends it yes and
[1:50:13] that's carried okay folks we head on
[1:50:19] into financial management three point
[1:50:22] four and Christine Douglas director of
[1:50:25] financial management you have some
[1:50:26] opening remarks thank you your worship
[1:50:31] under the Municipal Act council adoption
[1:50:34] of the budget is required Council
[1:50:36] approved the city's 2020 capital budget
[1:50:38] at its meeting of October 7th 2019 with
[1:50:41] the exception of two items these two
[1:50:43] items are being discussed this evening
[1:50:45] the one was the city's website upgrade
[1:50:47] project and the second is a Transit
[1:50:49] Commission capital portion of the 2020
[1:50:51] fleet budget both of these items have
[1:50:53] been included in the draft 2020 capital
[1:50:55] budget that was presented to Council on
[1:50:57] October the 7th of this year at that
[1:51:00] meeting counsel referred these items to
[1:51:02] staff for additional information the
[1:51:04] budget Standing Committee reviewed the
[1:51:06] additional information related to these
[1:51:08] two capital items council has been
[1:51:10] provided with the links to the budget
[1:51:11] Standing Committee reports memos and
[1:51:14] correspondence items and these two items
[1:51:16] are now returning to council this
[1:51:17] evening for your consideration as part
[1:51:19] of the city's 2020 capital budget okay
[1:51:24] councillors went to the other question
[1:51:26] that's mr. mayor then there's anybody
[1:51:29] else going to speak no from staff no
[1:51:33] we're good
[1:51:33] alright just a few questions mr. mayor
[1:51:35] through you to any one of our staff so
[1:51:38] I've received a few phone calls and some
[1:51:41] of the residents are looking at the
[1:51:42] total amount of money that's four
[1:51:44] hundred thousand dollars so you know in
[1:51:47] today's world of technology where there
[1:51:49] are a lot of free apps and a lot of
[1:51:50] stuff that's for free can you just
[1:51:52] explain for the public as to why our up
[1:51:56] side limit is four hundred thousand
[1:51:58] dollars any one of our staff okay I'll
[1:52:01] put over to Maggie through you mr. mayor
[1:52:04] so when we were looking at the website
[1:52:07] we recognize that there's a base amount
[1:52:10] that you'd have to consider so that base
[1:52:12] amount was developed by having
[1:52:13] conversations
[1:52:14] with our current provider looking at
[1:52:16] other municipalities who've been
[1:52:17] updating their websites as well as
[1:52:19] conversations with our IT staff so when
[1:52:21] we're talking about 400,000 the 200,000
[1:52:24] allows us to get an update of
[1:52:25] essentially what we have now and to
[1:52:28] further explain that what we have now is
[1:52:30] a website that doesn't allow a lot of
[1:52:31] online functionality so there are a lot
[1:52:34] of additional services that we'd like to
[1:52:36] add to improve customer service we'd
[1:52:39] also like to the opportunity to
[1:52:40] integrate with city software because
[1:52:42] right now our website doesn't really
[1:52:44] speak to the city software so that
[1:52:46] creates problems and processes so that's
[1:52:49] where we kind of have developed that
[1:52:50] upper limit of the 400,000 mr. Barun
[1:52:54] these are the reasons as to why it's
[1:52:56] going to cost so much money
[1:52:58] yes okay thank you mr. mayor to anyone
[1:53:02] of our staff how old is our current
[1:53:03] website right through you mr. mayor our
[1:53:09] current website is about 15 years old
[1:53:11] and we haven't made any further
[1:53:13] investments in our website in 2014 we
[1:53:17] did an additional eight thousand dollars
[1:53:20] worth of work on our website to make it
[1:53:22] accessible at the time so we'd call that
[1:53:24] version 1.0 so then clearly so then
[1:53:29] clearly our website is incredibly dated
[1:53:31] if you can just like some technical
[1:53:34] questions mr. mayor to our director of
[1:53:37] IT mr. director gardener can you tell us
[1:53:41] what back office programs are and the
[1:53:44] accessibility components of this new
[1:53:46] website and perhaps you know what their
[1:53:49] cost is or through You mr. mayor
[1:53:55] first of all there is a accessibility
[1:53:58] regulations the current website does not
[1:54:01] meet those regulations so we want to
[1:54:04] obviously develop a new website that
[1:54:07] will meet them secondly there are a
[1:54:09] number of as Ernest a young reported
[1:54:12] earlier we're we need an IT system
[1:54:15] modernization plan right now we have no
[1:54:20] integration to our amanda systems or our
[1:54:22] class system that has parks and
[1:54:24] recreations there is a
[1:54:26] number of systems we would like to
[1:54:28] integrate into the web to allow citizens
[1:54:31] to do online transactions instead of
[1:54:33] having to report in to the City Hall and
[1:54:36] one final question mr. mayor - to any
[1:54:40] one of our staff so if it is the will of
[1:54:42] this council to approve this new new
[1:54:44] infrastructure system if you will will
[1:54:47] this allow us to build on it moving
[1:54:49] forward
[1:54:53] Thank You Kelsey Garcia thank you Thank
[1:55:00] You mr. mayor
[1:55:01] through you to the staff I have similar
[1:55:05] concern to council Sorrento I'm I'm just
[1:55:08] concerned about the costs like based on
[1:55:10] what I hear elsewhere that updating a
[1:55:14] website cost I totally agree that our
[1:55:17] website is horrible in terms of
[1:55:19] navigation it's very difficult to
[1:55:20] navigate
[1:55:21] but 400,000 is a lot of money so I'd
[1:55:24] like to put our new director on the spot
[1:55:26] and ask them even though he just joined
[1:55:29] us is this does this seem reasonable to
[1:55:31] you 400,000 for this because it seems
[1:55:34] like a lot to me I'll first go to
[1:55:36] director of financial management then
[1:55:38] we'll jump over to the CIO CIO office
[1:55:42] thank you through your worship I think
[1:55:44] for some context for counsel with
[1:55:47] regards to the original website that was
[1:55:49] designed and developed in 2005 that
[1:55:53] total cost was at a cost of 250 thousand
[1:55:56] dollars to the municipality so therefore
[1:55:58] looking at a cost of four hundred
[1:56:00] thousand dollars this year - to review
[1:56:03] our website for accessibility and to in
[1:56:06] to to create some improvements with
[1:56:08] regards to the website I would say in in
[1:56:10] my opinion I think that upper limit of
[1:56:12] $400,000 is a reasonable costing so mr.
[1:56:16] Gardner you want to anything to that the
[1:56:20] integration it will be up to 400,000 it
[1:56:23] depends on how many systems we want to
[1:56:25] integrate we will study that as part of
[1:56:27] this whole project so that number may
[1:56:30] come in lower or it may come in
[1:56:32] depending on what we want to deliver to
[1:56:33] the citizens Thank You Jessica CFO thank
[1:56:35] you mr. mayor through you to staff with
[1:56:38] all due respect to the director
[1:56:40] Financial Management I don't think
[1:56:41] comparing it to what it costs before is
[1:56:43] necessarily a good rationale because
[1:56:46] maybe we grossly overpaid before but
[1:56:49] anyway is this going to be based on
[1:56:53] actual quotes or do we have any actual
[1:56:56] quotes at this time that's that's why
[1:56:58] it's an upset limit they'll have to go
[1:56:59] to RFP the cancel source so they have to
[1:57:02] go up or go yes they do okay so that
[1:57:04] will come back to counsel doesn't come
[1:57:06] back to counsel if it's under four
[1:57:07] hundred thousand no no okay that's why
[1:57:11] we're setting the up set limit okay okay
[1:57:15] counsel Miller yeah I just wanted to
[1:57:18] touch on that having worked in building
[1:57:21] websites and digital marketing then the
[1:57:23] $400,000 I think can be taught to most
[1:57:25] businesses locally is a reasonable
[1:57:27] number for the amount the sheer size of
[1:57:30] this website and the amount of things we
[1:57:31] do with it and want it to be able to do
[1:57:34] and I don't think it's really incumbent
[1:57:36] on this council with no offense any of
[1:57:38] my colleagues to really nitpick that
[1:57:40] number at that point that's the number
[1:57:41] we're getting from staff I think it's
[1:57:43] been under a lot of scrutiny it's been
[1:57:44] in the press and things like that and
[1:57:46] they haven't backed off a bunch on that
[1:57:47] number so I think we have to trust that is the number I just have a
[1:57:51] question about how this will happen if
[1:57:52] approved that RFP that we send out what
[1:57:57] is the timeline that we're looking at in
[1:57:58] terms of having this okay Maggie at this
[1:58:04] point we're still in the really early
[1:58:05] stages we just have a meeting with the
[1:58:08] staff team members to kind of set out
[1:58:10] the project schedule so we haven't
[1:58:12] really set any specific timelines yet
[1:58:13] with that because there's also a number
[1:58:16] of other IT projects happening at the
[1:58:19] same time we are a little bit tight on
[1:58:22] time as far as trying to be able to get
[1:58:24] those activities all done around the
[1:58:25] same time okay thank you and I guess
[1:58:30] through you the mayor I have a feeling I
[1:58:32] know the answer this question but we
[1:58:33] have a number of wonderful IT and
[1:58:37] website design companies locally here in
[1:58:38] Niagara it's it's sort of a burgeoning
[1:58:40] industry here is there any way to our
[1:58:42] RFP process to give consideration to
[1:58:45] those companies that are creating jobs
[1:58:46] and and things like that in Niagara
[1:58:49] Christine
[1:58:51] through you your worship with regards to
[1:58:53] local local vendors that can supply this
[1:58:57] product I would recommend that they
[1:58:59] register on our bids and tenders website
[1:59:02] and then they would get notified when
[1:59:03] these RFP documents get issued were not
[1:59:07] permitted under our procurement by law
[1:59:09] to for a local preference thank you for
[1:59:12] that and I'd be remiss not to mention
[1:59:14] this I am the youngest member of Council
[1:59:15] and I think it really it really is
[1:59:18] important as we move the city forward to ensure that we are online that our
[1:59:23] presence is easy to navigate and we are
[1:59:25] able to accomplish the goals of the city
[1:59:27] Thank You councillor Miller
[1:59:29] okay singing councillor reporter thanks
[1:59:33] very much I'm gonna support this I look
[1:59:36] forward to a new website I do think it's
[1:59:39] a tad a than it's in line with where
[1:59:42] we're going and as the auditors from
[1:59:45] earnest in Yahoo pointed out we where
[1:59:48] our staff is lean and we they can't
[1:59:51] build it themselves that those are some
[1:59:52] of the comments that I receive like
[1:59:54] can't can't can't there's existing staff
[1:59:56] build a website themselves they don't I
[1:59:59] don't think they have the capacity there
[2:00:01] we've heard from the previous director
[2:00:03] I've I T that you know there's always
[2:00:07] managing IT risks all the time there's
[2:00:09] always viruses coming in and there's there's new projects and there's
[2:00:13] a lot that they have to keep going with
[2:00:15] kind of a bare-bones stuff so we do have
[2:00:17] to hire externally for this project I'm
[2:00:19] just wondering if there will be citizen
[2:00:21] engagement through this process like
[2:00:24] focus groups like is that being built
[2:00:26] into okay Maggie project part of the
[2:00:31] process will include public consultation
[2:00:33] so what we intend to do is have meetings
[2:00:36] with senior staff as well as the
[2:00:39] accessibility committee and the public
[2:00:41] so we've already started an online
[2:00:43] survey essentially communication survey
[2:00:45] which does ask some questions specific
[2:00:47] to our website so we are getting some
[2:00:49] information in on that aspect but once
[2:00:52] we start the actual process of doing
[2:00:53] essentially an audit of what we have now
[2:00:56] that will include quite a bit of public
[2:00:58] consultation thanks very much thanks
[2:01:00] counselor Porter
[2:01:01] so you know their further questions
[2:01:02] we'll call it can I ask that we voted
[2:01:04] them separately mr. mayor of course you
[2:01:06] can okay so we'll vote first on the
[2:01:09] website up to the clerk 3 mr. mayor
[2:01:19] Councillor you just guess councillor
[2:01:22] dodge councillor Garcia no councillor
[2:01:28] Harris councillor Kushner yes
[2:01:31] councillor Littleton yes councillor
[2:01:33] Miller yes councillor Phillips yes
[2:01:35] councillor Porter yeah councillor Cisco
[2:01:38] yes councillor Sorrento a hearty yes
[2:01:41] councillor Townsend yes councillor
[2:01:45] Williamson yes and mayor sent sickness
[2:01:47] and that's carried okay so the second
[2:01:49] part of the motion councillor Cisco yes
[2:02:00] councillor Porter yes
[2:02:03] councillor Phillips councillor Miller
[2:02:06] yes councillor Littleton yes councillor
[2:02:10] Kushner councillor Harris councillor
[2:02:12] Garcia yes
[2:02:13] councillor Dodge yes councillor Sorento
[2:02:17] yes
[2:02:18] heartily councillor Townsend yes
[2:02:21] councillor Williamson yes and Mayor
[2:02:23] Senza yes carried unanimously
[2:02:25] all right three point five looking
[2:02:29] forward to a new website by the way
[2:02:30] what's going on maybe you can ask Greg
[2:02:33] for some councillor Miller for some
[2:02:34] guidance it's he's probably on website
[2:02:37] 4.1 or something now that he's the
[2:02:38] youngest
[2:02:41] okay sorry point of order this is your
[2:02:46] yep Council Townsend so after that long
[2:02:51] commercial it's over to you all right
[2:02:55] surprise surprise you can probably guess
[2:02:58] in reference to 11.2 I'm asking council
[2:03:02] to appoint those the four that I put
[2:03:05] their names forth to have them split the
[2:03:08] year term doing three-month Atkins sect
[2:03:11] three months consecutively as deputy
[2:03:14] mayor and I'm hoping council will
[2:03:15] support that I think it's in all
[2:03:17] fairness we have four outstanding
[2:03:19] candidates that have put their name
[2:03:20] forth and I think that in all fairness
[2:03:23] they would each do a very good job
[2:03:25] representing as deputy mayor gates right
[2:03:31] there
[2:03:32] so councillor Townsend you'll be moving
[2:03:36] that motion and you'll be asking for in
[2:03:40] a minute meant an amendment so
[2:03:43] essentially what you're asking for is
[2:03:44] for 2020 to be equal appointments for
[2:03:48] the those that are interested and then
[2:03:50] for 2021 it's by month correct okay by
[2:03:56] month in 2021 so we don't go through
[2:03:59] this again it's just everyone's assigned
[2:04:00] a month and if you don't want it you can
[2:04:02] pass it on to someone else
[2:04:03] councillor Cisco mr. Mara I was just
[2:04:06] gonna ask that with respect to the
[2:04:07] clause they're about equal appointments
[2:04:10] that some sort of policy come forward
[2:04:11] from staff I know for some of us given
[2:04:14] our work schedules there are some months
[2:04:16] of the year that may be applicable but
[2:04:17] other ones that wouldn't so staff could
[2:04:19] put together some policy based on the
[2:04:20] best practices that will come back I'd
[2:04:22] be great come back for 2021 councillor
[2:04:25] Garcia would take those directions of
[2:04:26] staff mr. mayor I'd just like to ask the
[2:04:29] procedural question from the clerk we
[2:04:33] got an email from the clerk a couple of
[2:04:36] days ago pointing out that to pull item
[2:04:39] from consent the procedural bylaw says
[2:04:41] we have to do it by Friday I didn't see
[2:04:45] any of these motions I don't think until
[2:04:46] Saturday I don't know when they can look
[2:04:48] to the clear what's the deadline for
[2:04:50] emotions because I didn't so this will
[2:04:52] just pass the clerk yeah motion was
[2:04:55] submitted through you mr. Mehra this
[2:04:57] motion was submitted it wasn't published
[2:05:00] it published
[2:05:02] Friday morning
[2:05:06] the motion was the deadlines are
[2:05:09] Wednesday at 3:30 we published Friday so
[2:05:14] it was published in the courthouse give
[2:05:15] it to ya sorry so you did get it by one
[2:05:18] sec okay thank you through through you
[2:05:22] mr. mayor if I may if we do this we need
[2:05:25] to pass a motion to suspend your
[2:05:27] procedural rules and that's where I
[2:05:29] thought counselor Garcia was leading
[2:05:30] because your procedural rule right now
[2:05:33] says you point one deputy mayor annually
[2:05:36] so we'll have to do a suspension of the
[2:05:38] rules counselor Sisko motion to suspend
[2:05:43] the rules all in favor okay can I can I
[2:05:48] just say we're just gonna take a time
[2:05:49] them and see AO
[2:05:52] if you can just direct what you're
[2:05:53] talking about oh my gosh what is the
[2:05:59] five months in 2021 with 14 okay so it's
[2:06:07] splitting the year of 2020 and then
[2:06:09] monthly in 2021 thank you to the CEO
[2:06:16] paying attention like it's good I
[2:06:19] clearly I wasn't some it's a compliment
[2:06:24] councillor Littleton yeah thanks can we
[2:06:27] separate out the the I'm sorry to
[2:06:31] everybody I'm gonna apologize but I'm declaring conflict on this this
[2:06:36] changing the procedural to the whatever
[2:06:42] we're just going to what I'm sorry I'm out on I'm out on that on a conflict
[2:06:46] but I'd like to vote on the other part
[2:06:48] of this motion thank you okay councillor
[2:06:51] report my hoping this can be a friendly
[2:06:55] amendment I prefer the idea of
[2:06:57] continuing this on a quarterly basis
[2:07:00] rather than monthly I just think
[2:07:02] sometimes we wouldn't be able to get our
[2:07:05] feet wet in the job I think it would be
[2:07:07] too too confusing to do it on a monthly
[2:07:10] basis and I think there are some people
[2:07:13] who just don't won't ever want to do it
[2:07:15] so I think quarterly
[2:07:18] that's the opportunity over the rest of
[2:07:20] the term to give people a chance and I
[2:07:22] think it's easier to manage
[2:07:24] I know I would accept that as friendly
[2:07:26] yeah
[2:07:52] so you're going quarterly moving for so
[2:07:54] we have to go through this whole thing
[2:07:55] again where people put up their hands
[2:07:58] every month and are every for like
[2:08:00] really I get this is where you want to
[2:08:02] go with this come on folks welcome so
[2:08:06] can I just on the way I guess the vision
[2:08:10] would look like is next December those
[2:08:12] who are interested would put their names
[2:08:14] forth and it would be divided up if
[2:08:16] they're save three or four counselors
[2:08:18] okay here okay so and if you don't get
[2:08:25] how it would work monthly then it's like
[2:08:28] how would it be any different
[2:08:30] there's twelve counselors so every
[2:08:32] counselor would be assigned a month so
[2:08:34] you wouldn't have to jockey for which
[2:08:35] once you want to do it which ones you
[2:08:36] don't want to do it and all that other
[2:08:37] stuff associated with it i I just wonder
[2:08:40] if either if there are counselors who
[2:08:41] actually want to do it does everybody
[2:08:44] want to be a deputy mayor this makes it
[2:08:49] simple now so Harris you haven't spoken
[2:08:54] would it not make sense just to do it
[2:08:56] for this year and then implement like it
[2:08:58] an actual strategy for 2021 with an
[2:09:01] actual process is that not so just stick
[2:09:05] with the original the original four
[2:09:10] names or whatever or three names or two
[2:09:12] names or whoever wants to do it okay
[2:09:16] then I guess you can ask for it I don't
[2:09:17] know like a sec because it seems like
[2:09:19] we're gonna be able to agree with
[2:09:21] anything well the simplest one is okay
[2:09:30] counselor Miller you haven't spoken I
[2:09:32] guess my struggle is if we're saying the
[2:09:35] monthly point is the best plan which is
[2:09:36] essentially what we're saying here why
[2:09:37] wouldn't we just go to that right away
[2:09:38] why would we wait a year and I
[2:09:40] understand he's the for counselors put
[2:09:42] their name for but they also put their
[2:09:43] name for when the job was very different
[2:09:44] than it's being described here I think
[2:09:46] myself and I'm sure others would have
[2:09:48] done it if we knew it we were signing up
[2:09:51] for a two-month period at some point and
[2:09:52] put our names fort so well I am I guess
[2:09:55] I'm sympathetic to the for people who
[2:09:57] wanted to put their names for the next
[2:09:58] year that's also not even what we're
[2:10:00] potentially voting on here so I guess I
[2:10:03] would just ask that why wouldn't we just
[2:10:05] start the monthly plan in January 2020
[2:10:09] and not go through this whole hullabaloo
[2:10:12] so if you if you didn't want to be
[2:10:14] deputy you just pass it to another
[2:10:16] counselor perfect that works change it
[2:10:18] back to monthly and if so to clarify if
[2:10:22] someone doesn't want to be deputy mayor
[2:10:23] they can give their month up correct
[2:10:46] it's because our bylaw stops December
[2:10:49] first 20 right now should be 2019 three
[2:10:54] mr. mayor
[2:10:55] due to the election you were actually
[2:10:57] nog you rated December one so that's
[2:10:59] when the deputy mayor was first done
[2:11:01] what we're hoping to do is begin January
[2:11:04] one so we're asking this deputy mayor to
[2:11:07] continue December until January 1 to get
[2:11:11] it but it says a deputy mayor for 2020
[2:11:15] so is there one man
[2:11:21] the present deputy mayor which is
[2:11:24] councillor Harris continue his duties
[2:11:26] through December so that we begin the
[2:11:28] process January somewhere on a regular
[2:11:30] January to December 31 so that we could
[2:11:34] do it one month at a time pointing out
[2:11:37] is that it should be 2019 so sorry
[2:11:42] counselor it should be 2019 and the
[2:11:49] appointments begin January 2020 and it
[2:11:53] should say three months consecutively
[2:11:56] councillor Williamson I would suggest we
[2:12:02] just worry about this year because
[2:12:03] that's what how we've done appointments
[2:12:05] in the past four deputy mayors just this
[2:12:06] year let's do a quarterly for this year
[2:12:08] and then we can figure out what we're
[2:12:09] gonna do going forward for next time
[2:12:13] okay
[2:12:14] I would agree with you councillor
[2:12:15] Williamson it's just that what's been
[2:12:17] experienced over the last three weeks is
[2:12:19] quite frustrating when council should be
[2:12:21] paying attention to the stuff in front
[2:12:23] of us and there's phone calls about I
[2:12:24] want to be deputy mayor I want to be
[2:12:25] deputy mayor if we can cut that off now
[2:12:28] and just have a process that's true but
[2:12:30] it makes it so more people may want to
[2:12:32] do it again next year and it might just
[2:12:33] be you might work out fairly okay
[2:12:36] councillor Kushner yes
[2:12:39] mr. Mara I can't agree to this we have
[2:12:43] what I thought I was coming for an
[2:12:45] election and we're decay ting that
[2:12:48] responsibility if the position was not
[2:12:51] important
[2:12:51] I'd say fine but I think it is an
[2:12:54] important position and I think there's a
[2:12:56] learning curve and I would ask to a
[2:13:02] former deputy mayor maybe - is there a
[2:13:06] learning curve for the job
[2:13:10] yes I think there is a learning curve
[2:13:13] and I think it's a it's a responsibility
[2:13:17] not to be taken lightly and I look at it
[2:13:20] as the opportunity to represent counsel
[2:13:24] and be almost the conduit for counsel to
[2:13:28] the mayor and senior staff so there is a
[2:13:32] learning curve curve that curve because
[2:13:34] I think it curves it's longer than a
[2:13:37] month I assume yes into councilor
[2:13:41] Phillips I agree with with councillor
[2:13:46] Harris yes there is a learning curve
[2:13:48] I saw the role of deputy mayor in number
[2:13:53] one because I'm retired I was able to
[2:13:56] attend the senior management team
[2:13:58] meetings on Wednesday and answer
[2:14:01] questions and help develop agenda which
[2:14:03] I found to be very important I don't
[2:14:05] know if that I don't know if councillor
[2:14:07] Harris was able to do that that's one to
[2:14:09] me significant role secondly any
[2:14:12] concerns from councillors that they
[2:14:14] wanted taken to the mayor I was able to
[2:14:16] do that or if he wanted me to take
[2:14:18] something to specific councillors I was
[2:14:20] able to do that and plus Saturdays are
[2:14:24] busy because the mayor is always
[2:14:27] double-booked
[2:14:28] he's out everywhere opening businesses
[2:14:31] and you usually get the call to do I'm
[2:14:34] going to say to three businesses most
[2:14:37] Saturdays so that's the role yes there
[2:14:40] is a learning curve to be there for a
[2:14:46] month I don't know it depends on on the
[2:14:50] availability of the person who's who's
[2:14:52] going to be deputy mayor and the
[2:14:53] involvement he or she want to become
[2:14:56] involved in it in context that the
[2:15:01] region it is by month so and the region
[2:15:05] you'd think the regional chair would
[2:15:07] have a very important vice chair that
[2:15:09] would do all the work of what a vice
[2:15:11] chair would do but it's my month it's
[2:15:13] taught by years so I think a bigger
[2:15:15] corporation you'd think there would be a
[2:15:16] vice chair but there's not counselor
[2:15:18] just just add to what you said I spoke
[2:15:20] with councillor height about it he's
[2:15:22] been deputy
[2:15:23] mayor on this council as well as running
[2:15:25] the or being the the deputy mayor of the
[2:15:29] month or Deputy Chair of the month of
[2:15:31] the region and he says it does work up
[2:15:34] there but then again there's things that
[2:15:36] work up there that don't work down here
[2:15:38] and rap Vicey Versey if I can continue
[2:15:43] mr. mayor you indicated works for the
[2:15:46] region well I would have some question
[2:15:48] about how while it worked for the last
[2:15:51] term of the region but my point is I
[2:15:54] have not heard a good argument I've not
[2:15:57] heard a good argument for why we would
[2:16:00] be doing this with the exception that we
[2:16:03] have for good people that are interested
[2:16:05] and therefore that's the reason to make
[2:16:08] them deputy mayor on a short basis if we
[2:16:12] have four excellent people let this
[2:16:14] council decide who is the most excellent
[2:16:17] to the for thank you okay anybody else
[2:16:21] when you speak councillor Porter if I
[2:16:29] can respond to councillor Kushner's
[2:16:33] comments I think it would be important
[2:16:36] to have different people who have new
[2:16:37] counselors experienced counselors you
[2:16:40] get to spend additional time with senior
[2:16:42] staff and with the mayor setting the
[2:16:44] agenda and I think it just builds for a
[2:16:48] better team so that's that's why I would
[2:16:50] be in favor of of taking turns doing it
[2:16:53] is is you get that opportunity to kind
[2:16:55] of be on the inside a little bit and you
[2:16:57] get a gaining greater appreciate a
[2:16:59] greater appreciation of what's what
[2:17:03] staff are doing else reporter Kelso
[2:17:07] Ceretto Thank You mr. mayor it's not a
[2:17:08] conflict for me to speak to this is it
[2:17:11] I'm okay look okay so I'm Justin but the
[2:17:16] greatest respect to my colleague and
[2:17:18] I'll ask her later on I just don't
[2:17:19] understand why councillor Littleton
[2:17:21] declared a conflict and I'll ask her I
[2:17:24] do agree with this and just to get to
[2:17:27] the comment about the learning curve the
[2:17:29] one thing that I heard that stands out
[2:17:31] is that
[2:17:32] selecting the the agendas most of us
[2:17:37] have represented you mr. mayor and we
[2:17:40] have represented council so I don't know
[2:17:42] you know when you talk about a learning
[2:17:44] curve how much more of a learning curve
[2:17:46] there there is involved other than
[2:17:49] picking up the items for the agenda we
[2:17:51] read the agendas every other week or
[2:17:53] when they come to us so I don't see that
[2:17:55] as a tremendously onerous learning curve
[2:17:57] if you will mr. mayor and I quite agree
[2:17:59] with some of my colleagues that I think
[2:18:02] that we should should rotate it
[2:18:05] quarterly mr. mayor because it will
[2:18:08] allow other people to represent your office so councillor
[2:18:14] Miller councillor Porter is interested
[2:18:17] in doing it and there are four of us
[2:18:18] right now that would allow everybody a
[2:18:20] fair opportunity and I think three
[2:18:22] months I think three months is long
[2:18:25] enough to do it and then if there is
[2:18:27] another counselor who doesn't want to do
[2:18:29] it and they say okay let's take this to
[2:18:31] Council I'm going to withdraw my name so
[2:18:33] someone who hasn't done it okay for this
[2:18:36] term then go ahead and do it and I think
[2:18:38] that that would be very democratic and
[2:18:40] I'm sure that my colleague from Port
[2:18:42] deluzy would appreciate that democratic
[2:18:44] principle that's it thank you okay okay
[2:18:49] so we we good here so councillor towns
[2:18:55] motion is in front of you you've made
[2:18:57] the motion you've heard from Council do
[2:19:01] you want to remove the 2021 which is one
[2:19:03] month for each councillor in 2021 and
[2:19:05] come come back to this kind of wonderful
[2:19:07] discussion that we just had in a year
[2:19:10] from now leave it the way it is and
[2:19:13] let's vote on it the way it is okay
[2:19:14] thank you okay Thank You councillor
[2:19:18] Townsend so call a question through you
[2:19:22] mr. mayor through is this the motion
[2:19:25] with the BIA as well on it the BIA one
[2:19:28] is not a separate it's just a separate
[2:19:30] so the motion before you councillor
[2:19:34] Townsend yes
[2:19:37] councillor Williamson yes
[2:19:44] did she ask that when she did she did
[2:19:47] didn't she
[2:19:47] did she ask for that I'm sorry I just
[2:19:49] heard her say she had a conflict
[2:19:55] what does councillor Littleton have a
[2:19:58] conflict on she's declaring a conflict
[2:20:01] on the position of deputy mayor cuz it's
[2:20:02] a it's a paid position in its entirety
[2:20:05] though I wasn't sure if she was
[2:20:06] separating out a portion of missing so
[2:20:08] she could vote on a portion of it that's
[2:20:10] what we're going to get okay that's the
[2:20:12] case you should clarify that
[2:20:19] split it counselor Wilson counselor
[2:20:22] lamps and split split move on I don't
[2:20:34] know if we'll have such a robust
[2:20:36] discussion for the Downtown Association
[2:20:37] but who would like to be a member of the
[2:20:39] Downtown Association is there anyone we
[2:20:42] would like to put your hand up because
[2:20:43] currently we have a vacant space
[2:20:45] councillor Sorrento mr. mayor I have to
[2:20:49] defer for a year okay just just so you
[2:20:52] know I end up then don't put your hand
[2:20:54] up
[2:20:55] you can't defer it okay for my position
[2:20:57] for my nomination I'll do it next to all
[2:21:00] the council yes okay so voting on the
[2:21:09] first one so councillor Williamson you
[2:21:15] said yes counselor Townsend you said yes
[2:21:17] counselor Sorrento
[2:21:18] so we're voting on the first part which
[2:21:21] is that one okay Cory I wrote this I got
[2:21:25] to get it up we're doing a quarter legal
[2:21:29] okay
[2:21:30] just where you'd be clear to come yes
[2:21:33] clerk councillor Cisco councillor Porter
[2:21:39] yeah councillor Phillips councillor
[2:21:43] Miller yes
[2:21:44] councillor Littleton conflict councillor
[2:21:49] kushner councillor Harris
[2:21:58] well I had my hand up no you guys kept
[2:22:00] switching back and forth between
[2:22:01] different things just strike his name
[2:22:04] okay okay that's okay you can still vote
[2:22:11] yeah okay yes
[2:22:13] Cal sir Garcia no and counselor dodge
[2:22:17] yeah
[2:22:18] they are sensing yes and that's carried
[2:22:22] the second one so highlight the second
[2:22:26] one Kyra if you can which is the note no we're still on the first we're still
[2:22:32] in that one but it was let the motion
[2:22:33] was split so go back to the screen
[2:22:36] and you got to highlight the second part
[2:22:38] that we're voting on which is that it's
[2:22:41] the for the next year so it's so all the
[2:22:46] way up right there
[2:22:47] so we're voting on if you got to
[2:22:48] highlight that and the remainder okay
[2:22:57] it's council clear okay
[2:23:00] councillor dodge councillor Garcia No
[2:23:05] councillor Harris yes councillor Kushner
[2:23:10] councillor Littleton yes
[2:23:13] councillor Miller yes councillor
[2:23:16] Phillips councillor Porter yes
[2:23:20] councillor Cisco councillor Sorento yes
[2:23:29] councillor Townsend
[2:23:31] yes councillor Williamson and Mayor
[2:23:34] CENTAC yes and that's carried okay that
[2:23:38] was a tough one folks congratulations to
[2:23:43] this year's deputy mayors and look
[2:23:46] forward to the calendar of deputy pairs
[2:23:48] next year that'll be a nice one okay so
[2:23:53] we got to do the Downtown Association
[2:23:56] councillor Dodge sorry mr. mayor
[2:23:59] so how is it gonna work for the monthly
[2:24:01] thing like are we section is to report
[2:24:03] back on how it's gonna be so I didn't
[2:24:05] see that I'm sorry the staff direction
[2:24:07] from councillor Cisco okay and then
[2:24:13] Downtown Association councillor Kushner
[2:24:15] you'd like to put your name for it okay
[2:24:16] all in favor of council that's what
[2:24:22] happens when you put your hand up mr.
[2:24:23] mayor you have to be innovative since
[2:24:25] nobody's interested and we have four
[2:24:27] deputy mayors why not three why not have
[2:24:31] one of them on the Downtown Association
[2:24:32] because they have already
[2:24:37] should I read my speech for deputy mayor
[2:24:40] so I can get on the down
[2:24:41] you hear it it's a very good speech I'm
[2:24:48] very good at speaking just switch out
[2:24:52] okay so who wants to put their name for
[2:24:55] it
[2:24:55] counselor enter you're gonna put your
[2:24:56] name forward okay okay okay
[2:25:03] counselors rant oh no see nobody else
[2:25:05] all in favor of counselors ranch on
[2:25:07] Downtown Association carried salt to the
[2:25:13] highest bidder I don't think counselor
[2:25:23] Alton even put your name forward did you
[2:25:25] I thought I thought you were gonna read
[2:25:28] a speech we're moving on so now where do
[2:25:37] we go from here in Kim
[2:25:42] so three point six that was already
[2:25:45] referred that was already referred by
[2:25:47] counselor Porter that's the audit and
[2:25:49] accountability fund correct that's
[2:25:52] already been referred to the budget
[2:25:53] committee so now we go in-camera there's
[2:25:55] a human resources matter fire services
[2:25:58] personnel matter about an identified
[2:26:00] noble individual including municipal
[2:26:01] local board employee I have a mover in a
[2:26:04] secondary to go in-camera counselor
[2:26:10] which one is what the original agenda
[2:26:14] item where we were gonna vote for deputy
[2:26:15] manager to the old rules we had to make
[2:26:17] some sort of motion to that from the
[2:26:19] agenda so what is through you mr. mayor
[2:26:21] there it was just a recommendation what
[2:26:24] you did was a new motion was put so the
[2:26:26] original was never put thanks for the
[2:26:29] clarification
[2:26:30] okay motion to a camera counselor
[2:26:32] Phillip pardon later that's after we
[2:26:38] come out of in-camera counselor dodge
[2:26:40] all a favor
[2:26:42] carried seeing camera