How they voted in July

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of July 2015. 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.

People’s Platform

Norman Kearney presented the semi-annual monitoring report from the People’s Platform. Committee voted to receive Mr Kearney’s presentation and refer the report being referred to the city’s civic engagement process.

At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p2, 18

Recorded opposed: Whitehead

 

Football Hall of Fame

Staff recommended relocating the Football Hall of Fame to the new football stadium and providing $250,000 toward a new structure at Tim Horton’s Field. Councillors added a requirement to investigate alternative uses for the current location.

At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p12-13, 18-19 (16-0)

For: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, A. Johnson, B. Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

 

Red Hill lawsuit

An added in camera item was an update respecting the Red Hill Valley Parkway Litigation. In that closed session, staff were provided with direction, but there was no public vote recorded.

At General Issues Committee, July 6 Minutes p21

 

Biomass generator

Staff recommended supporting a 250 kW biomass electricity generator on the 5th Concession in East Flamborough “for the sole purpose of receiving priority points” from the province “but not for the approval of the proposed project”, and if agreed to by the province to ask that an environmental assessment be conducted. Planning committee approved the staff recommendations.

At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p1-2, 13

Recorded opposed: B Johnson, Pasuta


Rural zoning

Staff recommended changes to zoning of multiple rural sites. These were approved by planning committee with one recorded opposition noted to exception 259 that back-approved unzoned or unlicensed landscaping companies in rural areas.

At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p

Recorded opposed to Special Exception 259: B Johnson

At City Council, July 10 Minutes p13-14

Recorded opposed to Special Exception 259: B Johnson

 

Hess Village policing

motion by Farr for a four year pilot project for the city to cover 65 percent of Hess Village policing costs was amended to a two year project and 50 percent. Both the amendment and the amended motion were approved 5-4 by planning committee. The motion was further amended at city council to request the police to review administrative costs to ensure full recovery.

At Planning Committee, July 7 Minutes p28-29 (5-4)

For: Conley, Farr, Green, A Johnson, Pasuta

Against: Collins, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson

At City Council, July 10 Minutes p14-15 (10-5)

For: Conley, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, Merulla, Pasuta, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: Collins, Duvall, B Johnson, Partridge, Pearson

Absent: Jackson

 

Land transfer taxation

motion by A Johnson asking for a staff report on the advantages and disadvantages of Hamilton having authority to tax land transfers was defeated 1-5.

At Audit, Finance and Administration Committee, July 8 Report p7 (1-5)

For: A Johnson

Against: Collins, B Johnson, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek

Absent: Ferguson

 

Free parking

A June motion by Merulla to exempt veterans from city parking fees was approved at the July general issues committee without dissent, but at city council, two amendments were considered. One to exclude RCMP officers passed 9-6 while a second to exclude veterans under the age of 60 was defeated 3-13. The amended motion was approved 14-2.

At City Council, July 10 Minutes p7-8 (9-6) (3-13) (14-2)

For exclusion of RCMP officers: Conley, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: Collins, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta

Absent: Eisenberger

For exclusion of veterans under 60: Ferguson, Pearson, Whitehead

Against: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Vanderbeek

For the amended motion: Collins, Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Green, Jackson, B Johnson, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta. Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: Ferguson, Pearson

 

Samsung solar project

Staff recommended supporting a 250 kW biomass electricity generator on the 5th Concession in East Flamborough “for the sole purpose of receiving priority points” from the province “but not for the approval of the proposed project”, and if agreed to by the province to ask that an environmental assessment be conducted. Planning committee heard from Samsung and tabled the item until city council’s meeting which was after a public meeting being held by Samsung. At council, a motion by Partridge to accept the staff recommendation was defeated 3-11.

At City Council, July 10 Minutes p15-16 (3-11)

For: Eisenberger, Green, Partridge

Against: Conley, Duvall, Farr, Ferguson, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Absent: Collins, Jackson

 

Community energy plan

In the wake of the Samsung debate (see above) a motion by Green to direct staff to report back on the feasibility and terms of reference for a community energy plan including renewable energy projects was approved unanimously in a recorded vote.

At City Council, July 10 Minutes p16 (14-2)

For: Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, A Johnson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: none

Absent: Collins, Jackson

 

Labour update

At a special council meeting receipt and discussion in camera the addition to the agenda of a “labour relations update” was approved unanimously. Such additions required a two-thirds majority.

At City Council, July 22 Minutes p1-2 (12-0)

For: Conley, Duvall, Eisenberger, Farr, Ferguson, Green, Jackson, B Johnson, Pasuta, Pearson, Vanderbeek, Whitehead

Against: none

Absent: Collins, A Johnson, Merulla, Partridge

Bitumen export pipeline through Hamilton

Greenbelt threatened