Special Council Meeting

Minutes

Monday, January 08, 2024 at 3:00 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7

Present:

• Mayor B. Vrbanovic
• Councillor S. Davey
• Councillor D. Schnider
• Councillor J. Deneault
• Councillor C. Michaud
• Councillor A. Owodunni
• Councillor P. Singh
• Councillor B. Ioannidis
• Councillor M. Johnston
• Councillor D. Chapman

Staff:

• D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer
• M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator
• J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services
• J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services
• A. Fusco, Director Legislated Services / City Clerk
• D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk

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1.

Commencement

A meeting of City Council was held at 3:04 p.m. this date, chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic. Notice of this meeting had been previously given to all members of Council by the City Clerk pursuant to Chapter 25 (Council Procedure) of the Municipal Code.

The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Mayor. 

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

3.

Finance and Corporate Services Committee Report - January 8, 2024

3.1

Appointment of Hearing Officers - Administrative Monetary Penalties System (AMPS), CSD-2023-516

• Moved by Councillor S. Davey
  Seconded by Councillor B. Ioannidis

  "That Ben Drory, Daniela Corapi, Janet Rutherford, Emile Ramlochan and Kristine Fletcher, be appointed, as Administrative Monetary Penalty System Hearing Officers for the purposes of the City’s Parking and Non-Parking Administrative Penalty Bylaws, for a term ending December 2026, or on a date as determined by Council or otherwise in accordance with the City’s Policy for Appointment of Screening and Hearing Officers, as outlined in Community Services Department report CSD-2023-516; and,

  That the existing per diem honorarium of $260/half day and $520/full day for hearing officers in relation to the City’s Administrative Penalty Program, be approved; and, 

  That Hearing Officers will be indemnified under the City’s Indemnification By-law as they are providing a service to the City for which they will receive an honorarium; and further,

  That the City Clerk be delegated the authority to execute an agreement, on terms satisfactory to the City Solicitor, between the City and the respective Hearing Officers."

  Carried

3.2

Method to Fill a Vacancy for Office of Councillor, Ward 10, COR-2024-007

• Moved by Councillor S. Davey
  Seconded by Councillor B. Ioannidis

  "That Council selects option # 1A (Appointment of 2022 Municipal Election Candidate – Stephanie Stretch) as presented in Corporate Services report COR-2024-007 Method to Fill a Vacancy for Office of Councillor, Ward 10; and further,

  That the City Clerk be directed to confirm qualifications and consent of the candidate and bring forward the Appointment By-law for adoption to the next Council meeting."

  Carried, as amended

4.

Council Member Appointments to Boards and Committees

4.1

Standing Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs

Council considered the appointment of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the Standing Committees of Council using the approved nomination and voting procedures. 

Community & Infrastructure Services Committee    

The following were nominated for Chair of the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee: Councillor M. Johnston. The following was nominated for Vice-Chair of the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee:  Councillor D. Schnider.      

Chair - Councillor M. Johnston

Vice-Chair - Councillor D. Schnider

Carried.

Finance & Corporate Services Committee 

The following were nominated for Chair of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee:  Councillor S. Davey. The following were nominated for Vice-Chair of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee: Councillor B. Ioannidis.

Chair - Councillor S. Davey

Vice-Chair - Councillor B. Ioannidis

Carried.

Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee 

The following were nominated for Chair of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee:  Councillor P. Singh. The following was nominated for Vice-Chair of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee: Councillor D. Chapman.  

Chair - Councillor P. Singh

Vice-Chair - Councillor D. Chapman 

Carried.

4.2

Boards and other Agencies

Committee of Revision    

Appointed - Councillors S. Davey, Councillor P. Singh and Councillor B. Ioannidis

Carried.

 

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery - Board of Directors 

Appointed - Councillor D. Schnider 

Carried.

 

Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee

Appointed - Councillor J. Deneault

Carried.

Grand River Hospital – Board of Trustees

*Appointment no Longer Required

 

Homer Watson House Foundation

Appointed - Councillor C. Michaud

Carried.

Horticultural Society - Kitchener - Board of Directors

Appointed - Councillor D. Chapman

Carried.

Huron Natural Area Joint Ventures Committee                 

Appointed: Councillor A. Owodunni and Councillor J. Deneault

Carried.

Kitchener In Bloom Committee

It was noted on the working document provided that a Council member appointment to Kitchener in Bloom was no longer required. M. May stated he would follow up with staff related to the matter and if required, this appointment could be addressed at a future meeting.

 

Multicultural Centre of K-W Board of Directors

Appointed: Councillor A. Owodunni

Carried.

Oktoberfest Inc. - Advisory Council - K-W

Appointed: Councillor D. Schneider and Councillor C. Michaud

Carried.

Wilfrid Laurier University - Board of Governors  

Appointed: Mayor B. Vrbanovic

Carried.

Centre In The Square Inc. – Board of Directors (1 year Council)

Appointed - Councillors P. Singh, Councillor B. Ioannidis and Councillor S. Davey

Carried.

    
Kitchener Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA)

It was noted this appointment is typically held by the Member of Council from Ward 10. Based on the decision earlier this date to appoint Stephanie Stretch as the new Ward 10 Council member, it was requested, the BIA be appointment be reserved pending the future appointment. 

Carried.

4.3

Advisory Committee (Mid-Term Vacancy Appointments)

Active Transportation Advisory Committee 

Appointed: Councillor P. Singh

Carried.

Climate Change & Environmental Committee 

It was noted in previous terms there was only one member of Council appointed to this Committee. Pending the new Ward 10 Council member, it was noted if Stephanie Stretch has interest in the Committee, Council could appoint her following her appointment.

Downtown Action and Advisory Committee

It was noted this appointment is typically held by the Member of Council from Ward 10. Based on the decision earlier this date to appoint Stephanie Stretch as the new Ward 10 Council member, it was requested, the BIA be appointment be reserved pending the future appointment.   

 

5.

Mayoral Business and Updates - Mayor B. Vrbanovic

None.

6.

In-camera Meeting Authorization 

• Moved by Councillor A. Owodunni
  Seconded by Councillor D. Chapman

  "That an in-camera meeting of City Council be held immediately following the special council meeting this date to consider a labour relations matter and a matter of solicitor client privilege and security of property as authorized by Sections 239 (a) (d) and (f) of the Municipal Act, 2001, respectively."

  Carried

7.

Recess and Reconvene

The Special Council meeting then recessed at 3:47 p.m. and reconvened at 4:32 p.m., chaired by Mayor B. Vrbanovic, with all members present.

8.

Matters arising from In-Camera

8.1

City Owned Lands - Security Provision (Solicitor Client Privilege and Security of Property - Section 239 (a) and (f)), COR-2024-033

• Moved by Councillor S. Davey
  Seconded by Councillor D. Chapman

  “That the CAO be authorized to execute a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo outlining accountabilities for the emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness located at 104 Stirling Avenue South, Kitchener, with such MOU being to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.”

  Carried

8.2

Memorandum of Settlement (Labour Relations Matter - Section 239 (d)), COR-2024-019

• Moved by Councillor B. Ioannidis
  Seconded by Councillor C. Michaud

  "That the terms and conditions contained in the Memorandum of Settlement dated December 12, 2023, to establish the 2023-2026 Collective Agreement with Kitchener Professional Firefighters’ Association be approved; and further,

  That the Mayor and the Clerk be authorized to execute documentation arising there from."

  Carried

9.

By-laws

9.1

Three Readings

• Moved by Councillor M. Johnston
  Seconded by Councillor D. Schnider

  "That the by-laws be given third reading, namely:

9.1.a

Being a by-law to authorize borrowing for current expenditures in 2024.

(By-law 2024-003)

9.1.b

Being a by-law to provide for the widening of part of Forwell Road as public highway in the City of Kitchener.

(By-law 2024-004)

9.1.c

To confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council for January 8, 2024.

(By-law 2024-005)

Carried.

10.

Adjournment

On motion the meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m.