Council Meeting
Agenda

C#04-22
-
(Electronic Meeting pursuant to Section 238(3.3) of the Municipal Act, 2001)

Mayor David West

PUBLIC NOTICE

Due to efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to protect all individuals, City facilities will not be open to the public to attend Council and Committee meetings until further notice. The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings which can be accessed on the City’s website (Richmondhill.ca) or on the City’s YouTube page (linked from the City’s homepage).

 

Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda matters by email to [email protected]. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. the day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, considered as public information and noted in the public record.

 

Public Forum: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. noon the day before the meeting by email to [email protected] or by using the on-line form found on Richmondhill.ca. Public Forum will be by video conference via the internet or telephone only. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.

 

Electronic Delegations: The public may apply to appear as an electronic delegation by video conference or by telephone. Applications to appear as an electronic delegation must be submitted by 12 p.m. the day before the meeting by email to [email protected] or by using the on-line application form found on Richmondhill.ca. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as an electronic delegation.


(Referred from the December 8, 2021 Council Meeting)

  • a) That Staff Report SRPI.21.118 regarding the Official Plan Update Key Directions be received, and that Council refer all comments back to staff; and

    b) That the Key Directions Report appended to Staff Report SRPI.21.118 as Attachment 1 be endorsed by City Council, and that staff utilize the key directions to guide the update to the City’s Official Plan in support of the City’s 2041 planning vision.

  • a) That staff report SRPI.22.012 regarding Request for Endorsement: Official Plan Update Key Directions Report, Supplementary to SRPI.21.118, be received.

  • a) That staff report SRCFS.22.003 regarding Declaration of Vacancy in the Office of Ward 4 Councillor, be received;

    b) That Council, pursuant to the requirements of Section 262(1) Municipal Act, 2001, declares the Office of Ward 4 Councillor of the City of Richmond Hill to be vacant as a result of David West’s election to the Office of Mayor on January 24, 2022.

  • a) That staff report SRCFS.22.002 regarding Semi Annual Report, Non Competitive Acquisitions, be received for information purposes only.

  • a) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a servicing agreement with 1430518 Ontario Limited for the installation of municipal servicing related to site plan D06-16091, upon the written recommendation of the Commissioner of Planning and Regulatory Services.

  • a) That, upon the written recommendation from the Commissioner of Planning and Infrastructure, the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an Amending Servicing Agreement with Tralee Development Inc. to revise municipal servicing and land conveyance obligations to reflect current development plans and OMB minutes of settlement.

  • a) That the City contribution towards the construction of the external stormwater management pond retrofit works required under the subdivision agreement with King South Developments Inc. for Subdivision File 19T-07008, be increased to $997,679.21;

    b) That the source of funding for this City contribution be the Oak Ridges Overall Area Specific Development Charge Reserve;

    c) That, upon the written recommendation from the Commissioner of Planning and Infrastructure, the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an amending Subdivision Agreement with King South Developments Inc. to revise the City contribution towards the construction of the external stormwater management pond retrofit works associated with Subdivision File 19T-07008.

  • a) That staff report SRPI.22.014 regarding Summary Report of 2021 Municipal Infrastructure Assumptions under Delegated Authority, be received for information purposes.

  • a) That staff report SRPI.22.015 regarding Request for Approval, Terms of Reference for the Affordable Housing Strategy Implementation Committee, be received;

    b) That Council approve the Terms of Reference provided in Attachment 'A' to staff report SRPI.22.015 in relation to a new Implementation Committee;

    b) That the Clerk’s Office be directed to advertise for the non-Council members of the Implementation Committee;

    c) That Council appoint members for this Implementation Committee at a future meeting of Council.

  • a) That the correspondence from Jeff Dennis, Director Development, Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries, dated January 13, 2022, regarding a Request for Notice of Decision for Elgin Mills Cemetery Proposed Niche Building Expansion located at 1591 Elgin Mills Road East, be received.

(Not Previously Proclaimed in the City of Richmond Hill)

  • a) That February 22, 2022, be proclaimed as "World Thinking Day" in the City of Richmond Hill.

Moved by:  Regional and Local Councillor DiPaola

  • Whereas Fatemeh Anvari, a new Grade 3 teacher at Chelsea Elementary School teacher in Quebec was removed from her classroom teaching post in Quebec for wearing a Hijab;

    Whereas her actions removal was done in violation of Quebec’s Bill 21;

    And whereas Bill 21 contravenes Sections (a) and (b) of the Fundamental Freedoms section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: 

    (a) freedom of conscience and religion;

    (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

    Whereas the Ontario Big City Mayor’s Caucus unanimously passed a motion affirming their position that Bill 21 does not uphold equality of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation, as stated in the Charter, and calls on the Parliament of Canada, both government and opposition, to challenge Bill 21 at the Supreme Court;

    Whereas the City of Richmond Hill is a vibrant, multicultural city and strongly supports and embraces diversity, inclusivity and its cultural heritage; 

    Therefore be it resolved that:

    The City of Richmond Hill opposes Bill 21 as discriminatory in nature as it undermines the Fundamental Freedoms of Canadians enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Moved by: Councillor Muench

  • WHEREAS The City of Richmond Hill promotes outdoor activity and recreation this winter with three outdoor public skating facilities and those facilities are so popular they are over capacity; and

    WHEREAS members of the public have communicated to and with members of council for more outdoor recreational ice locations; and

    WHEREAS the City of Richmond Hill issued a public statement on January 4, 2021 to advise everyone to stay off the lakes, rivers, ponds and stormwater ponds as the ice may not be safe; and

    WHEREAS Richmond Hill had at least 1 serious storm water pond safety incident in 2020; and

    WHEREAS outdoor ice skating and hockey is a proud Canadian way of life and enjoyed embraced by the young, old and families; and

    WHEREAS we are in a COVID time where outdoor recreational is a must; and

    WHEREAS many municipalities including Brampton, London, Toronto, Innisfil and Cobourg have prioritized, engaged, advocated and promoted outdoor public skating; including during our COVID period.

    THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

    1. Staff investigate and prepare a report for Council to expand our outdoor ice recreation stock by creating a list for recreation skating with the appropriate budget.  This list and budget must also take into consideration, logistics and protocols for at least 1 additional outdoor ice recreation in each of the 6 Richmond Hill Wards for the 2022 / 2023 winter period by July 1, 2022; and

    2. Staff and members of Council communicate to members of the Richmond Hill community the need to have community participation, leadership and any and all assistance to assist in the execution and support of outdoor of a vibrant outdoor ice recreation utilization; and

    3. Staff in the report to Council have options to have community leadership and participation opportunities similar to our “community club” relationships; and

    4. Staff also in the report to Council include the support of private lands to offer outdoor ice recreation in support of our efforts with guidelines, logistics and liability support; and

    5. Staff in their report include an area for insurance cost for the city and for the public participation of outdoor ice recreation management, whereby the opportunity and discussion can evolve where members of the public can manage the outdoor ice without liability to the city and protect the public while allowing outdoor ice stock to be increased; and

    6. Mill pond ice policy of 12 inch minimum for ice thickness be evaluated to in hopes to get more mill pond ice utilization with safety first protocols not being jeopardized; and

    7. A target of a minimum of 10 community “leaders” or “volunteers” must be supporting the outdoor ice recreation in writing; and

    8. Staff, provide in the report to Council the opportunities for fundraising including signing options at outdoor ice recreation to help mitigate the cost of providing the facilities while minimizing the cost burden impacting our municipality.  The report should include necessary information on how and what is needed in our bylaws to accommodate the capacity of our city to provide increased outdoor recreation facilities; and

    9. The staff report should also include any possibility to have expansion of pathways and trails for outdoor ice skating; and

    10. The staff report includes creating a committee to include community and local Councillors to support outdoor ice programs and participation.

Moved by: Councillor Chan

  • WHEREAS the City of Richmond Hill had conducted the School Board Trustee By-election in October 2020 with online voting exclusively without any incidents;

    WHEREAS the City of Richmond Hill has completed the Mayoral By-election in January 2022 with online voting along with in-person voting;

    WHEREAS 93% of voters who casted their ballots in the Mayoral By-election chose to vote online between January 18 and January 24, 2022;

    WHEREAS the overall turnout rate at 32% in the Mayoral By-election in January 2022 exceeds that of the 2018 municipal election at 26%;

    WHEREAS it is desirable to have a higher turnout rate among voters for the 2022 municipal election to be held in October 2022;  

    WHEREAS online voting has been demonstrated as the preferred choice of voters in Richmond Hill and helped to result in an increase of turnout rate as it provides a fast, convenient and secure way for voters to cast their ballots at any time without travelling to voting centres;

    WHEREAS the City elections team has shown to be capable of conducting online voting competently and effectively in the School Board Trustee By-election in October 2020 and the Mayoral By-election in January 2022;

    WHEREAS it is deemed advisable to demonstrate Council’s commitment to promote a higher turnout rate among voters at municipal elections in support of higher levels of voters’ participation in the democratic process;

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

    1) The Council reconsider its June 9, 2021 decision not to authorize the use of Internet Voting for municipal elections.

    2) That Council authorize, pursuant to Section 42(1)b) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996,  the use of Internet Voting as an alternative voting method (in addition to Optical Scan Vote Tabulators) for municipal elections and by-elections.

    3) That the City Clerk be directed to place the necessary by-laws authorizing the use of Internet Voting, as an additional voting method in addition to Optical Scan Vote Tabulators, for municipal elections on a future Council agenda for enactment.

    4) That any additional costs to conduct the 2022 Municipal Elections using both Internet Voting and Optical Scan Vote Tabulators, including the cost of additional temporary contract employees, that cannot be accommodated in the approved 2022 election budget be funded by the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.

16.

Explanation: Approved by Council at its meeting held April 28, 2021 - (Staff Report SRPI.21.038)

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