This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of February 2014. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote in the third line. Multiple votes on the same issue are reported together. Absentees are only listed where reported in the minutes and where the missing councillors are members of that committee or decision-making body. Links are provided to source documents. Note that the vast majority of council decisions are unanimous and the votes are not officially recorded.
Westray Bill enforcement
After hearing delegations from several members of the United Steelworkers, councillors voted 12-0 to urge the greater enforcement by prosecutors and police of the Westray Bill – legislation that allows from criminal charges against negligent employers responsible for worker deaths and injuries that was put in place after the 1992 Westray Mine disaster that killed 26 miners.
At General Issues Committee, February 5 Minutes p3-4, 9-10 (12-0)
For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: McHattie, Johnson, Partridge
Appointment of Ward 3 councillor
In the wake of the passing of Bernie Morelli, and on a motion by Merulla, councillors voted 12-0 to appoint Robert M Morrow to be the Ward 3 councillors for the remainder of the term.
At General Issues Committee, February 5 Minutes p12-13 (12-0)
For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Johnson, McHattie, Partridge
At City Council, February 7 Minutes p2 (11-1)
For: Bratina, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: Clark
Absent: Collins, Powers, McHattie
Stormwater budget
Public Works requested “$1,370,000 with the following components: $300k for catch basin inspection and cleaning; $150k for catch basin repairs; $650k for storm water pond rehabilitation and $270k for culverts, outfall and structures inspection and maintenance.” During a review of budget enhancement requests, councillors voted 6-3 to only move $300,000 forward for further consideration.
At General Issues Committee, February 13 Minutes p3 (6-3)
For: Bratina, Collins, Jackson, Johnson, Morrow, Partridge.
Against: Clark, Pasuta, Pearson
Absent: Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, McHattie, Merulla, Powers, Whitehead
Sanctuary City
Staff recommended that the city provide “access to services without fear for immigrants without full status or without full status documents”. Emergency and Community Services Committee heard from multiple supportive delegations and approved the recommendation which includes requests to both the federal and provincial governments to take similar steps. Subsequently the decision was endorsed by city council with a recorded vote of 13-0.
At City Council, February 12 Minutes p6-7 (13-0)
For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Johnson, Merulla, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: none
Absent: Duvall, McHattie, Powers
Aerotropolis boundary configuration
Staff recommended two options for which lands should be included in the airport employment growth district (AEGD – aerotropolis). Councillors on planning committee heard from multiple delegations before going in camera and deciding to refer the decision to council. A public vote to receive the staff report was approved 7-1 at planning committee. After an in camera discussion at city council, option 1A was approved 14-2 and the addition of lands owned by the Ancaster Christian Reformed Church was approved 13-3.
At Planning Committee, February 18 Minutes p2-3, 12-15 (7-1)
For: Collins, Farr, Ferguson, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: Johnson
Absent: Clark
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p8-10 (14-2) (13-3)
For option 1A: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Johnson
For Ancaster addition: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Johnson, McHattie
Urban boundary expansion studies
Staff recommended releasing $1 million previously approved but put on hold to undertake a number of studies in preparation for a future urban boundary expansion in Elfrida, whose status is currently under dispute at the Ontario Municipal Board. Councillors approved the recommendation 11-1.
At General Issues Committee, February 19 Minutes p8 (11-1)
For: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla Morrow, Pearson, Powers
Against: Johnson
Absent: Clark, Pasuta, Partridge, Whitehead
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p7-8 (12-4)
For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Johnson
Biosolids incinerator
In the wake of approval of federal funding of 25 percent, staff recommended moving ahead with initial spending on a biosolids management program including issuing a request for proposal with the results to be brought back to council. It was approved 11-2. At city council an amendment was approved prohibiting the importing or processing of sludge from outside Hamilton and the amended motion passed 13-3.
At General Issues Committee, February 19 Minutes p9-10 (11-2)
For: Bratina, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Morrow, Partridge, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Merulla
Absent: Clark, Johnson, Pasuta
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p13 (13-3)
For: Bratina, Clark, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Johnson, Merulla
Carpenters Union
Councillors discussed “a labour relations matter regarding Carpenters’ Agreement” in camera and then voted 6-5 to approve the direction provided to staff in camera. The content of the decision was not made public. At city council Johnson declared a conflict of interest because she has a family member in the Carpenters’ Union. In that meeting, councillors voted 11-4 to go in camera to discuss the matter and then approved a motion to table the matter until March 26 council meeting.
At General Issues Committee, February 19 Minutes p6, 12 (6-5)
For: Bratina, Ferguson, Morrow, Pasuta, Partridge, Pearson
Against: Collins, Duvall, Farr, Jackson, Merulla
Absent: Clark, Johnson, McHattie, Powers, Whitehead
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p13 (11-4)
For going in camera: Clark, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Pasuta, Pearson, Whitehead
Against: Bratina, Ferguson, Partridge, Powers
Abstain: Johnson
Innovation Park development
Correspondence from McMaster University outlined a $20 million proposal to establish the Fraunhofer-IZI Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in the Innovation Park, and asked for a city contribution of $4 million. A motion to refer the request to the City Manager for a report was approved 12-4.
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p7-8 (12-4)
For: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Pasuta, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Johnson, Partridge, Pearson
Tiger-cats license agreement
Direction to staff provided in camera was approved at the February 19 General Issues Committee. At City Council a motion to discuss this was approved 14-2. After an in camera discussion, a decision to enter a 20-year agreement with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club for use of the new stadium was approved 9-7.
At City Council, February 26 Minutes p13-14 (14-2) (9-7)
For discussing: Bratina, Collins, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Jackson, Johnson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Partridge, Pasuta, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Pearson
For the agreement: Bratina, Collins, Farr, Jackson, McHattie, Merulla, Morrow, Powers, Whitehead
Against: Clark, Duvall, Ferguson, Johnson, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson