This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of May 2017. 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. Changes to the city’s website mean it is no longer possible to provide direct links to motions and staff reports.
Tourism panel
Staff recommended disbanding the existing tourism advisory council which is citizen-based and therefore “not well positioned to deliver on its mandate” and replacing it with a Tourism Industry panel “made up of staff and tourism industry based representatives”. Committee voted to table this recommendation “pending further consultation” with other councillors.
At General Issues Committee, May 3 Minutes p10
Opposed to tabling: Conley, Ferguson, Partridge, Pearson
Ward boundary
Staff recommended transferring $4,270 from the tax stabilization reserve to cover additional costs incurred by the consultants who worked on the ward boundary review. Committee approved the recommendation.
At General Issues Committee, May 3 Minutes p6, 10
Recorded opposed: Green
At City Council, May 10 Minutes p4
Recorded opposed: Green, A Johnson
Apartment tax rate
A motion by Green noted that “the multi-residential taxpayer has a tax burden grossly in excess of that of the residential tax class” and directed staff to provide a report on including comparison to other cities and implications of recent provincial legislation. It was approved by committee.
At General Issues Committee, May 3 Minutes p11-12
Recorded opposed: Ferguson, Skelly
Ancaster townhouse development
Staff recommended approval of a draft plan of condominium application by Losani Homes for a 52-unit development at 120 John Frederick Drive in Ancaster. An amendment by Farr required installation of landscape features including fencing, signage and entrance gates. Committee approved the amended recommendation. At city council a motion to table the decision to allow for a town hall meeting in Ancaster was approved 8-6.
At Planning Committee, May 16 Minutes p5-6, 14-15
Opposed to the amendment: Conley, Pearson, Skelly
At City Council, May 24 Minutes p6-7
For: Collins, Eisenberger, Farr, Jackson, B Johnson, Merulla, Partridge, VanderBeek
Against: Conley, Green, A Johnson, Pearson, Skelly, Whitehead
Absent: Ferguson, Pasuta