This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of December 2014, the first meetings since the October 27 municipal elections. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote. 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.
Natural gas buses
Staff recommended pre-approving purchase of 24 new natural gas HSR buses to avoid any 2015 price increases. The cost is $13,070,000 with $3 million from federal gas tax monies and the remainder from HSR vehicle replacement reserves. A motion by Ferguson to delay the matter for one month failed on a 4-4 tie before committee voted 6-2 to approve the purchase.
At Public Works Committee, December 8 Minutes p6-7 (4-4) (6-2)
For delay: Duvall, Ferguson, Merulla, Vanderbeek
Against: Collins, Conley, Jackson, Whitehead
For approval: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Jackson, Merulla, Whitehead
Against: Ferguson, Vanderbeek
Property acquisition
Committee discussed a proposed property acquisition in closed session before voting 11-4 to “take no further action on this matter” and to keep the staff report confidential.
At General Issues Committee, December 10 Minutes p15, 20 (11-4)
For: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Farr, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Whitehead
Against: Eisenberger, Ferguson, Pearson, Vanderbeek
Absent: Pasuta
Bus-only lane
A motion by Collins to suspend enforcement of the King Street transit only lane was tabled to the January 12 council meeting by a vote of 13-3. A motion by Eisenberger to direct staff to consider alternative to the design and operation of the bus-only lane was also delayed to the January 14 general issues committee meeting by a voted of 11-5.
At City Council, December 17 Minutes p14-15 (13-3) (11-5)
For delay of Collins motion: Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Collins, Ferguson, Jackson
For delay of Eisenberger motion: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Ferguson, Jackson, B. Johnson, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead
Against: Eisenberger, Farr, Green, A. Johnson, Merulla
Social assistance computer system
A motion by Whitehead to ask the province to revert to the previous computer system for management and payments to recipients of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program “while all issues with the new system are resolved” was approved unanimously in a standing recorded vote.
At City Council, December 17 Minutes p7 (16-0))
For: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead