OTTAWA CITY COUNCIL

8 december 2010

ANDREW S. HAYDON HALL

10:00 a.m.

 

MINUTES 1

 

The Council of the City of Ottawa met at Andrew S. Haydon Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on 8 December 2010 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

The Mayor, Jim Watson, presided and led Council in prayer.

 

 

The National Anthem was performed by Elyssa Mahoney.

 

 

Announcements/Ceremonial Activities

 

Recognition – Councillor jan harder

 

Mayor Watson congratulated Councillor Harder on receiving the James Bain Award for Public Library Trustee of the Year.

 

Roll Call

 

ALL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT.

 

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/1

 

Moved by Councillor S. Desroches

Seconded by Councillor S. Blais

 

That the Mayor’s remarks given at the Inaugural Ceremony on December 1, be printed in the Minutes of today’s Council meeting.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 


Mayor’s Remarks from Inaugural Ceremony on December 1, 2010

 

It is with the deepest gratitude and humility that I stand before you today.

 

From Cumberland to Constance Bay…

 

From Hintonburg to Osgoode and beyond.

 

On October 25th, the people of Ottawa took the time to debate and question – to deliberate and to decide our collective future.

 

And tonight, we gather together to mark the beginning of an important journey for our community and its people.

  

It was an honour to participate in this election and I thank the people of Ottawa for their support.

 

Before I begin, there are a number of elected officials representing the Federal and Provincial governments that I would like to recognize …

  

The Honourable Mauril Bélanger, MP (Ottawa Vanier)

 

The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, MPP (Ottawa Vanier). Minister of Community and Social Serves and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs

 

David McGuinty, MP (Ottawa South)

 

Royal Galipeau, MP (Ottawa Orleans)

 

Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP (Glengarry Prescott Russell)

 

I also want to thank the outgoing Mayor Larry O'Brien and City Councillors for their service to our community.

 

Electoral politics can be tough, and putting your name on a ballot is not an easy thing to do.

 

Each of these individuals devoted themselves to making Ottawa a better place to call home, and they deserve our sincere gratitude for their years of service.

 

I would also like to recognize the families of our Councillors. 

It is you who make perhaps the greatest sacrifice as your partner or parent works long hours on behalf of the city.

 

Being part of a political family can be difficult but know that the city recognizes and appreciates your sacrifice.

 

To municipal staff here today and throughout the city, thank you for your professional and tireless work.

 

I respect public service and I respect you.

 

I look forward to meeting and working with each of you.

 

My door is always open.

 

When you have an idea about how we can do things better or more efficiently, I will be there to listen and to help turn your ideas into reality.

 

Tonight, we gather here to launch anew.

 

The people of Ottawa voted for a strong team.

 

We have experienced people and sure hands back to serve... names you all know:

 

·               Rainer Bloess

·               Rick Chiarelli

·               Peter Clark

·               Diane Deans

·               Steve Desroches

·               Eli El-Chantiry

·               Jan Harder

·               Diane Holmes

·               Peter Hume

·               Maria McRae

·               Bob Monette

·               Shad Qadri

·               Doug Thompson

·               Marianne Wilkinson.

 

I look forward to working with you all and value greatly the deep knowledge that you bring to the table.

 

Council will also be infused with new blood and energy.

 

This renewed Council boasts a large contingent of intelligent, dedicated and hard working newcomers, new names just starting public service:

 

·                     Stephen Blais

·                     David Chernushenko

·                     Keith Egli

·                     Mathieu Fleury

·                     Katherine Hobbs

·                     Allan Hubley

·                     Scott Moffatt

·                     Mark Taylor

·                     Tim Tierney.

 

It is very exciting to start this new chapter in Ottawa with so many new and talented Councillors.

 

I am a lucky man.

 

I’ve been blessed with a perfect mix of old and new.

 

I have a Council to lead that is focused on working together to strengthen our municipal government and on delivering the vital services taxpayers have a right to expect.

 

The public also sent us all to City Hall with a very strong message.

It's time to pull together as a team and it's time to turn the page and start anew.

 

To the 23 members of Council, I say congratulations on your victory and thank you for stepping forward to serve your community.

 

I look forward to working with you for the betterment of our city.  

 

We often forget that Ottawa is bigger geographically than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal combined.

 

We have working farms and vibrant rural villages.

 

We have suburban communities of tremendous diversity.

 

We have downtown neighbourhoods as old and rich in history as any in the country.

 

As a candidate for citywide office I knocked on doors all-across this great city.

 

And I was able to hear from each and every part of these wonderful and dynamic communities.

 

Listening is a fundamental ethic in my style of leadership.

 

Not just listening to public delegations on hotly contested issues, but listening to the families I speak with at the church bazaar or the backyard BBQ.

 

Some people poke fun at me for that, but it’s a point of pride for me.

 

Over the next four years, I will join you in your communities and church basements, at your farmers’ markets and fairs, doing the important job of going to where you are - and listening.

 

Together, we will rebuild bridges and stay in touch so that I have a real understanding of the issues that matter most to you.

 

The voters of this city voted for change.

 

And I am determined that they will get that change.

 

I heard from you during this election and I get it.

 

City Hall needs to return to a sense of order, confidence and decorum.

 

In my campaign I spoke about three priorities of central importance to our health as a local city government.

 

I called them the three T’s— Trust, Taxes, and Transit.

 

Trust is based on transparency and openness.

 

People want transparency in government.

 

And under my leadership, transparency will be first and foremost.

 

Within the next sixty days we will launch the process to appoint an independent integrity commissioner.

 

That officer will set up a low cost lobbying registry, a gift registry and a council code of conduct.

 

In doing so, the integrity commissioner will be guided by the values and principles that citizens expect representatives to uphold.

 

I want people and businesses to feel comfortable bringing forward new ideas - proposing better ways of doing things.

 

I want simple transparency and openness.

 

That is what the people of Ottawa told me they expect.

 

City Hall needs to show that it understands again just how hard people work for their money.

 

I will pinch pennies and I will not let waste slide.

 

I will work day in and day out to promote a culture of fiscal responsibility.

I make no apologies for being very prudent with the public money entrusted to us.

 

I will insist we get more out of the dollars we have, to provide the vital services you need and count on.

 

Life is about choices, big and small - it’s about priorities.

 

We will face the most important set of choices almost instantly.

 

We will pass our first budget over the next few months.

 

This will set the critical fiscal framework in which we will operate for the year.

 

And our first budget will set the pace and tone for all four budgets we will fashion together.

 

I am determined to show the leadership, along with my council colleagues, to face the tough choices ahead.

 

We will not be putting things off or sweeping things under the carpet.

 

There will be much to clean up in this first budget and I need your support to bring forward the fiscal prudence that voters demanded of us at the doorstep. 

 

It is tough in business right now and people worry about their jobs.

 

In the private economy we are not seeing big pay increases and there are deficits in public budgets as our governments dig out from the biggest economic crisis since the 1930s.

 

We have to show people we get that.

 

As an incoming Council, we will want to set our own course with maximum flexibility.

 

To ensure that happens, I asked the city manager to put in place a hiring freeze; a freeze on consulting contracts and measures to prevent unspent accounts from being repurposed.

 This is a temporary measure but an important one.

 

There is going to be a marked change with this budget.

 

Once we have reviewed financial controls, auditing and improvement procedures, and set our budgets, these restrictions will be lifted under the tighter framework the new Council will set.

 

In my campaign I pledged that I would hold the line on property tax increases to no more than 2.5% a year.

 

I will work long and hard with Council to deliver on that commitment.

 

Achieving this target will not be easy.

 

To my Council colleagues I say: this budget will be our first major test.

 

We must face it together and I will need your help.

 

After meeting with you since the election, I believe that the vast majority of members of this council understand the importance of living within a tighter fiscal environment.

 

I know many of my elected colleagues also pledged to hold taxes in check.

 

People want more from us than simply curtailing spending.

 

They want more for their money.

 

They want services to improve.

 

They want to be able to access the city services they pay for and receive the excellence they deserve.

 

For example, our new budget will not have increases to sport and recreation facility fees.

 

 

Following through on this promise is a small but important step to help with pocket books and ensure our families are out there participating in hockey, soccer, dance, art classes, and the many other activities important to our development and health.

 

At the end of this term of council we will have a greener city, with better and more reliable public transit.

 

To get there we will need to put transit on a more sustainable footing as a first order of business.

 

Transit in this city is not efficient enough and not structured for success.

 

We’ll be squaring up to the task at hand, and the first step will be to create a transit commission that brings in determined, dedicated community members to help.

 

Our collective responsibility is to improve relations amongst our employees, City Council and most importantly our ridership.

 

Getting our Light Rail Transit program on track is a big challenge.

 

This is the largest single construction project in Ottawa’s history.

 

We will be undertaking this massive city building project at the same time that we’re implementing the huge public works entailed in our Ottawa River Action Plan.

 

And, on top of that, we will be transforming Lansdowne Park.

 

All of these projects are works in progress in various stages of planning.

 

Implementing these plans will take diligence and will, in some cases, not be easy.

 

We will need to work together and stay focused on each of them to ensure proper execution, and we must do a better job of communicating and consulting with the people of Ottawa on these important projects.

 

Ottawa is a caring city.

 

We help one another every day and in many ways.

 

Our city needs to be there to lend a helping hand to those down on their luck and in need.

 

I believe in my heart that we need new affordable housing solutions for the city.

 

In 2008, over 7000 people used emergency shelters in the city.

 

This is not acceptable.

 

During the election I pledged to help address homelessness as the Province removes the cost of social services from municipal shoulders.

 

This is a rare opportunity to ensure renewed investment in housing - so more children are going to sleep in their own beds, with the safety of knowing they will wake up at home.

 

I will be asking you to support this investment in the budget.

 

I will also continue to shine a light on this important issue to ensure that it gets the attention that it deserves.

 

We should also be a city of opportunity, of vibrant possibility – a city on the move with all our advantages.

 

Good jobs are at the absolute core of our city’s success.

 

I believe that there are things that we can do right away to help kick-start our local economy. 

 

We need leadership that values and boosts the industries that we already have.

 

Tourism, for instance, is our third largest industry with over 26,000 jobs and it contributes 2.2 billion dollars to our economy.

 

Over the next seven years we have a unique opportunity to mobilize around the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. 

 

I believe that we need to be in a position to welcome the country and the world to this incredible celebration and engage our local arts and heritage communities to assist us along this important journey.

 

And we need to start planning now.

We also need to leverage incredible assets like our new convention centre opening next year. 

 

I will work with Council to bring world-class events and conferences to our city.

 

And I will work to create more sports events that can boost tourism through the slow months.

 

Ottawa is also a town that understands public service.

 

I am proud of my contributions to various levels of government and the bridges I have built with friends of all stripes along the way.

 

I will ensure that Ottawa is a model of intergovernmental success.

 

We saw tremendous progress when all three levels of government put politics aside and worked for the common good under the infrastructure program.

 

Let us continue to work with our partners in a spirit of cooperation for the betterment of our citizens.

 

And Ottawa is a centre of ingenuity and innovation.

 

We have incredible assets in our universities, colleges and in our government labs like the National Research Council.

 

We have vibrant young companies that are growing and leading the next wave of high tech success. 

 

As mayor, I will reconstitute The Ottawa Partnership and give it the time and focus that it deserves. 

 

I will personally chair the TOP meetings and I will do my best to win back the collective interest and effort of our private sector leaders so that we can begin to chart a new course forward to economic success.

 

Ottawa’s economy is powered by thousands of small businesses. 

 

They are the lifeblood of our city and I will be their champion at City Hall. 

 

To begin with, I will establish a council of Business Improvement Areas that I will meet with regularly.

 

Together, we will cut the red tape and speed up approvals that currently impede too many of our entrepreneurs.

 

For as long as I have been in public office I have had a simple mantra: “How many people have we helped today?”

 

In fact, I have a plaque above the Mayor’s door that says just that.

 

I am far from the only person in our city who thinks that way. 

 

There are thousands and thousands of volunteers who contribute everyday in our community.

 

Through small acts of kindness; through contributions to the arts; through donations to our food banks and in so many other ways. 

 

It is volunteers who hold us together.

 

There is no more precious gift one can give than time and involvement.

 

All of us experienced firsthand during the campaign the untold stories of generosity.  

 

The young boy who celebrated his birthday and instead of asking his friends for gifts, they donated to the Good Companions Centre that has been so kind to his grandmother.

 

The seniors in the west end who gather every month to knit blankets for premature babies.

 

The young immigrant who barely gets by on a minimum wage job but donates money to the United Way and other charities.

 

The farmer who always ensures he drops off extra vegetables to the Food Bank.

 

Or the countless other ordinary citizens doing extraordinary work to make our city a better place for the future.

 

To recognize our many volunteers and the incredible contributions they make to our city, beginning in the New Year I will open each council meeting by awarding the City Builder Award to an outstanding group or individual.

 

I will seek nominations from each member of Council and the public.

 

There is an intangible network – an invisible and elusive thing – that animates a successful community.

 

It is sometimes called the fabric of our community – made up of many threads woven together for strength and warmth.

 

We’re lucky here in Ottawa.

 

We have a strong community fabric – many hands working every day to make light work of building a better place to live.

 

It is about far more than governments.

 

It is about the irreplaceable magic of place and people - relationships and history.

 

I love this place.

It is my home and it will always be my home.

 

To me, community and people are what it is all about.

 

So let me close by saying - I am incredibly excited to begin this journey with you.

 

My favourite quote comes from the poet Henrik Ibsen, who over 100 years ago wrote: "A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.”

 

Tonight the 24 men and women you have chosen to lead your city are being asked to take the helm and to make our city a better place:

 

Culturally 

Socially

Environmentally and 

Financially

 

We will build great projects that will serve our community for many generations.

 

We will face up to and face down great challenges.

 

We will strengthen our community fabric and care for one another.

 

It is going to be a great four years together.

 

I thank you again for your trust.

 

I promise - together with these highly dedicated and talented members of Council - we will make you proud.

 

Merci beaucoup. 

 

 

Confirmation of Minutes

 

The Minutes of the special meeting of 19-22 November 2010, the In Camera meeting of 19 November 2010 and the regular meeting of 24 November 2020 were confirmed.

 

 

Declarations of interest including those originally arising from prior meetings

 

No declarations were received.

 

 

Communications

 

The following communications were received:

 

·         Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO):

·         Appointment of Councillor P. Hume as President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Board of Directors.

·         Government Announces Provincial Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy

·         Government will make changes to welfare but Special Diet Allowance stays for now

·         Infrastructure Stimulus Deadline Extended to October 31, 2011

·         Auditor General of Ontario releases 2010 annual report

 

Regrets

 

No regrets were filed.

 

 

Motion to Introduce Reports

 

MOTION NO. 1/2

 

Moved by Councillor S. Desroches

Seconded by Councillor S. Qadri

 

That the City Manager’s Report entitled “2010-2014 Council Governance Review”, be received and considered.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

City Manager

 

 

2010-2014 COUNCIL GOVERNANCE REVIEW

 

EXAMEN DE LA GESTION PUBLIQUE DU CONSEIL DE 2010 À 2014

 

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

1.            That, at its meeting on 24 November 2010, the 2006-2010 Council receive and table the “2010-2014 Council Governance Review” report.

 

                                                                                    RECEIVED AND TABLED

 

2.            That, at its meeting of 8 December 2010, the 2010-2014 Council consider and approve the following recommendations related to the Council and Committee structure and procedures:

 

Part I – Standing Committees

 

1)      The establishment of a Transit Commission composed of eight (8) Members of Council and three (3) citizen members to oversee transit operation as outlined in this report; and the establishment of an Interim Transit Commission composed of the Members of Council appointed to the Commission until such time as the citizen members are appointed.

 

2)      The following structure for Standing Committees for the 2010-2014 term of Council as outlined in this report, effective immediately:

 

a)      Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee;

b)     Community and Protective Services Committee;

c)      Environment Committee;

d)     Finance and Economic Development Committee and its associated Sub-Committees:

e)      IT Sub-Committee;

f)       Member Services Sub-Committee;

g)      Audit Sub-Committee;

h)     Governance Renewal Sub-Committee;

i)        Planning Committee;

j)       Transportation Committee.

 

3)      The amendments to the Debenture Committee’s Terms of Reference as outlined in this report.

 

4)      The Council, Committee and Commission Calendar as outlined in this report.

 

5)      The establishment of a License and Property Standards Committee composed of five (5) qualified citizen members to hear cases with respect to licensing and property standard appeals as outlined in this report; and the establishment of an Interim License Committee with the current mandate until such time as the License and Property Standards Committee membership is finalized.

 

6)      The Nominating Committee process as outlined in this report.

 

7)  The appointment of the Mayor or the Ward Councillor to all ward/position-specific local boards as outlined in Document 1.

 

8)      The 2011 Budget process as outlined in this report.

 

9)      The changes to report protocols for Appointments to Agencies, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Commemorative Namings and City of Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards and the City of Ottawa Heritage Plaques as described in this report, such that they are no longer automatically in camera reports .

 

10)  The practice of recommending a staff member to a Council position when no Member of Council is available and formal notification to the City Clerk and Solicitor of all appointments of Members of Council to agencies, boards, committees and commissions, both internal and external.

 

11)  The establishment of two Deputy Mayor positions to be filled by two Members of Council, and that the appointments be recommended to Council by the Mayor.

 

 

Part II – Accountability Framework

 

1)      That Council approve the monthly posting of Elected Officials’ office budget expenditures on Ottawa.ca, effective Q1 2011.

 

2)      That the Governance Renewal Sub-Committee, led by the Mayor and supported by staff and a third party, be tasked with assessing the overall governance structure and processes for the City of Ottawa, identifying issues and making recommendations to Council, including:

a.      Development of an Accountability Framework (Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Lobbyist Registry, etc); and

b.      Improvements to citizen engagement.

 

3)      That the Annual Report from the Meetings Investigator included as Document 2 be received and that the current Meetings Investigator’s contract be extended for the 2010-2014 Term of Council.

 

 

Part III – Local Boards

 

1)   Receive the updated listing of Local Boards as outlined in the report and direct staff to report on the compliance of its local boards with respect to required policies as part of its Mid-Term Governance Review.

 

2)   Approve the request from the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (“OCHC”) that “its Board membership be increased to twelve (12) members” and the “appointment of Peggy Feltmate to the OCHC Board of Directors as a Community Board member”.

 

3)   The Ottawa Public Library Board Selection and Appointment Guidelines as outlined in the report.

 

4)   That the following measures be taken to proceed with the next steps for the implementation of the Board of Health, specifically that:

 

a.      The by-law to establish the size of the Board of Health in the form attached as Document 6 be enacted;

b.      The selection process for members of the Board of Health be approved as outlined in Document 7; and

c.       The per diem rate of $200.00 plus mileage and eligible expenses be approved for citizen representatives on the Board of Health and that the City Clerk and Solicitor be instructed to forward the approved per diem rate to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care for approval.

 

 

Part IV – Citizen Engagement

 

1)      That a joint facilitated priority setting session be held between Standing Committees and their associated Advisory Committees.

 

2)      That the Chair and Vice-Chair of each Standing Committee meet quarterly with the Chair and Vice Chair of their associated Advisory Committees.

 

3)      That additional reserve members be appointed for each committee during the Advisory Committee recruitment process.

 

4)      That reserve members be eligible for reimbursement of expenses under the Participation Expense Policy.

 

5)      Mileage for members using a personal vehicle to attend official meetings be tied to the rate provided to City of Ottawa staff.

 

6)      The enactment of the revised Advisory Committee Procedure By-Law (Appendix A – Code of Conduct) as outlined in the report and the associated By-law (Document 10).

 

7)      That staff be directed to conduct an in-depth review of public engagement and report back through the Governance Renewal Sub-Committee, with a target date of the end of Q2 2011.

 

8)      That Council approve the Petition Policy as outlined in the report.

 

 

Part V – Governance – Other Matters

 

1)      The amendments to the Procedure By-law outlined in the report related to the following:

(a)   Councillor Items at Standing Committee

(b)   In camera process

(c)    Emergency Measures

(d)   Nominating Committee

 

2)      The amendments to the Delegation of Authority By-law as outlined in the report.

 

3)      That the Procedure By-law and the Delegation of Authority By-law and any other related By-laws, as amended by this report, be included in the by-law listing of a subsequent Council meeting.

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/3

 

Moved by Councillor B. Monette

Seconded by Councillor Mayor Watson

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Transit Commission be comprised of 8 elected Councillors and 4 citizen representatives.

 

CARRIED on a division of 22 YEAS to 2 NAYS as follows:

 

YEAS (22):     Councillors S. Blais, D. Holmes, M. McRae, M. Wilkinson, A. Hubley, B. Monette, S. Qadri, E. El-Chantiry, S. Desroches, K. Egli, K. Hobbs, J. Harder, P. Hume, M. Taylor, T. Tierney, P. Clark, D. Thompson, M. Fleury, S. Moffatt, D. Deans, D. Chernushenko and Mayor Watson.  

 

NAYS (2):      Councillors R. Chiarelli and R. Bloess.

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/4

 

Moved by Councillor P. Hume

Seconded by Councillor P. Clark

 

WHEREAS Section 224 (d) and (d.1) of the revised Municipal Act, 2001 establishes that it is the role of City Council “to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council” and “to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality”; and

 

WHEREAS Section 8 of the Auditor General’s By-law, approved by City Council on November 28, 2007, currently reads as follows:

8.         (1) The Auditor General shall submit an annual audit plan for the next following year to Council for information by December 31st of each year.

            (2) The Auditor General may, at his or her discretion, prepare a longer term audit plan for submission to Council.

            (3) No deletions or amendments to the annual audit plan shall be made except by the Auditor General; and

 

WHEREAS the Auditor General is an important part of City Council’s accountability and oversight structure and, as such, City Council should take a more active role working with the Auditor General to determine audit priorities;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Auditor General’s annual audit plan be approved by City Council following a recommendation by the Audit Sub-Committee and the Finance and Economic Development Committee; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, due to the timelines of a newly elected Council, that the Auditor General be requested to bring his recommended 2011 Audit Plan to the first meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee in January 2011 for review and recommendation to the Finance and Economic Development Committee and Council.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/5

 

Moved by Councillor E. El-Chantiry

Seconded by Councillor R. Chiarelli

 

WHEREAS Section 224 (d) and (d.1) of the revised Municipal Act, 2001 establishes that it is the role of City Council “to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council” and “to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality”; and

 

WHEREAS the Auditor General is a senior, statutory officer reporting directly to City Council, and City Council is responsible for ensuring the accountability and transparency of the operations of the Office of the Auditor General; and

 

WHEREAS the most common and accepted method in the industry for ‘auditing the auditor’ is a Quality Assessment Review; and

 

WHEREAS there are several models and standards in place for the conduct of a Quality Assessment Review, including the Peer Review model used by the City of Toronto, and an independent review undertaken under the Institute of Internal Auditors; and

 

WHEREAS the City’s external auditor, Ernst and Young, is a well-respected firm that is independent from the City and would be prohibited from conducting a Quality Assessment Review of the Auditor General due to procurement rules;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Ernst and Young be contracted to recommend a process for a Quality Assessment Review of the Office of the Auditor General based on current best practices, reporting to the Audit Sub-Committee and the Finance and Economic Development Committee early in 2011; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Manager, under the Mayor’s direction, be delegated the authority to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract with Ernst and Young to develop the recommended process, with funds to come from the Auditor General’s budget.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/6

 

Moved by Councillor J. Harder

Seconded by Councillor S. Qadri

 

WHEREAS City Council governance reviews examine the City’s governance structure and the corresponding policies and procedures and make recommendations for change; and

 

WHEREAS the 2010-2014 Council Governance Review recommends the division of the current Planning and Environment Committee into two specific committees, being the Planning Committee and the Environment Committee; and

 

WHEREAS governance and service are enhanced by ensuring that the responsibility for infrastructure planning and implementation for developing communities remains with the Committee that has the overall development mandate; and

 

WHEREAS it is expected that the Terms of Reference for the new Committees are to be presented to the respective Standing Committees in January 2011;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Planning Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee reflect those Committees’ responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of infrastructure for developing communities, and specifically for Environmental Assessments that relate to infrastructure required for subdivision growth; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Environment Committee reflect their responsibility for the ongoing operation, maintenance and planning of future service level enhancements of the infrastructure system that relate to developed communities.

                                                                                                              CARRIED

 

MOTION NO. 1/7

 

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes

Seconded by Councillor P. Hume

 

WHEREAS City Council governance reviews examine the City’s governance structure and the corresponding policies and procedures and make recommendations for change; and

 

WHEREAS the 2010-2014 Council Governance Review recommends the division of the current Planning and Environment Committee into two specific committees, being the Planning Committee and the Environment Committee; and

 

WHEREAS the Planning Committee will continue to have an overall mandate for overseeing all development and planning within the urban boundary in accordance with the City’s Official Plan; and

 

WHEREAS the development of affordable housing, specifically meeting the Official Plan targets for affordability and policies for inclusionary zoning, is directly related to the overall mandate of the Planning Committee; and

 

WHEREAS it is expected that the Terms of Reference for the new Committees are to be presented to the respective Standing Committees in January 2011;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Planning Committee reflect the responsibility for the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy and all related housing policy initiatives.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/8

 

Moved by Councillor R. Bloess

Seconded by Councillor J. Harder

 

THAT the Appointment of the Ward Councillor to specified local boards, as outlined in Document 1, include Pineview and that the two ward Councillors directly impacted be appointed.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 


MOTION NO. 1/9

 

Moved by Councillor S. Moffatt

Seconded by Councillor M. McRae

 

WHEREAS, although the previous Council recommended a process for the 2011 Budget, it is important for this Council to set its own course with respect to the City budget it is accountable for; and

 

WHEREAS this Council wishes to proceed with the development of its 2011 Budget as soon as possible; and

 

WHEREAS the budget process identified in the Governance Report provides a good approach but one with notional timelines and no specifics regarding how staff will approach the development of the budget from a budget guideline perspective; and

 

WHEREAS it is important for the public to know when they are able to provide input on a draft budget and important for Council and the public to know how those timelines will affect Standing Committee meetings and  to understand the approach staff will take for budget development;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Treasurer be directed to bring a report forward to the December 15, 2010 meeting of City Council that includes a more specific timetable for budget and an overview of how staff will approach the development of a draft budget.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/10

 

Moved by Councillor D. Chernushenko

Seconded by Councillor M. Fleury

 

THAT staff be directed to develop a reimbursement process that encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation.

 

MOTION NO. 1/11

 

Moved by Councillor R. Chiarelli

Seconded by Councillor E. El-Chantiry

 

THAT Motion No. 1/10 be referred to the Finance and Economic Development Committee for consideration.

 

REFERRAL CARRIED on a division of 21 YEAS and 3 NAYS as follows:

 

YEAS (21):     Councillors S. Blais, M. McRae, M. Wilkinson, A. Hubley, B. Monette, R. Chiarelli S. Qadri, E. El-Chantiry, S. Desroches, K. Egli, R. Bloess, K. Hobbs, P. Hume, M. Taylor, T. Tierney, P. Clark, D. Thompson, S. Moffatt, D. Deans, D. Chernushenko and Mayor Watson.  

 

NAYS (3):      Councillors D. Holmes, J. Harder and M. Fleury.

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/12

 

Moved by Councillor P. Hume

Seconded by Councillor M. Fleury

 

WHEREAS a pilot project has been in place since January 2009, whereby all Planning and Environment Committee meetings have been audio-casted live on ottawa.ca; and

 

WHEREAS providing an audio-cast of the Planning and Environment Committee meeting to the general public through the City’s public website has increased the transparency of the Committee’s work, especially as it relates to the Planning Act; and

 

WHEREAS the response from the public and staff has been positive and complaints have only pertained to instances of technical difficulties with the system; and

 

WHEREAS there is significant interest in extending audio-casting to all Standing Committees and archiving the audio-casts; and

 

WHEREAS there is a cost to extending the audio-casting to all Standing Committees and archiving the audio-casts; and

 

WHEREAS there will be a reduced need for synopsis minutes if audio-casts are available; and

 

WHEREAS a move to action minutes for Standing Committees would yield savings and also allow for the translation of action minutes with limited cost increases;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Clerk and Solicitor be directed to report back to the Finance and Economic Development Committee in January 2011 with a cost/benefit analysis of moving from synopsis minutes to action minutes for all Standing Committees and extending audio-casting to all Standing Committees as well as archiving the audio-casts.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

MOTION NO. 1/13

 

Moved by Councillor E. El-Chantiry

Seconded by Councillor T. Tierney

 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Council approve the election and appointment of 11 members of Council to serve as the Nominating Committee, in addition to the Mayor as Chair, to make recommendations to Council on appointments of members of Council to Standing Committees, Sub-Committees, Boards and the Selection Panels.  The first meeting of the Nominating Committee is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, 14 December 2010, for consideration at the Special City Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 December 2010; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Nominating Committee be:

1.      Councillor Monette;

2.      Councillor Wilkinson;

3.      Councillor Taylor;

4.      Councillor Chiarelli;

5.      Councillor Deans;

6.      Councillor Tierney;

7.      Councillor Fleury;

8.      Councillor McRae;

9.      Councillor Blais;

10.  Councillor Thompson; and

11.  Councillor Moffatt.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

City Manager’s report – 2010-2014 Council Governance Review, as amended by Motion Nos. 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/12 and 1/13, and set out in full below for ease of reference, was then put to Council:

 

That, at its meeting of 8 December 2010, the 2010-2014 Council consider and approve the following recommendations related to the Council and Committee structure and procedures:

 

Part I – Standing Committees

 

1)      The establishment of a Transit Commission composed of eight (8) Members of Council and four (4) citizen members to oversee transit operation as outlined in this report; and the establishment of an Interim Transit Commission composed of the Members of Council appointed to the Commission until such time as the citizen members are appointed.

 

2)      The following structure for Standing Committees for the 2010-2014 term of Council as outlined in this report, effective immediately:

 

a)               Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee;

b)              Community and Protective Services Committee;

c)               Environment Committee;

d)              Finance and Economic Development Committee and its associated Sub-Committees:

e)               IT Sub-Committee;

f)                Member Services Sub-Committee;

g)               Audit Sub-Committee;

h)              Governance Renewal Sub-Committee;

i)                 Planning Committee;

j)                Transportation Committee.

 

2.1)   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Auditor General’s annual audit plan be approved by City Council following a recommendation by the Audit Sub-Committee and the Finance and Economic Development Committee; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, due to the timelines of a newly elected Council, that the Auditor General be requested to bring his recommended 2011 Audit Plan to the first meeting of the Audit Sub-Committee in January 2011 for review and recommendation to the Finance and Economic Development Committee and Council.

 

2.2)   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Ernst and Young be contracted to recommend a process for a Quality Assessment Review of the Office of the Auditor General based on current best practices, reporting to the Audit Sub-Committee and the Finance and Economic Development Committee early in 2011; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Manager, under the Mayor’s direction, be delegated the authority to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract with Ernst and Young to develop the recommended process, with funds to come from the Auditor General’s budget.

 

2.3)   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Planning Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee reflect those Committees’ responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of infrastructure for developing communities, and specifically for Environmental Assessments that relate to infrastructure required for subdivision growth; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Environment Committee reflect their responsibility for the ongoing operation, maintenance and planning of future service level enhancements of the infrastructure system that relate to developed communities.

 

2.4)   THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the new Planning Committee reflect the responsibility for the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy and all related housing policy initiatives.

 

3)   The amendments to the Debenture Committee’s Terms of Reference as outlined in this report.

 

4)   The Council, Committee and Commission Calendar as outlined in this report.

 

5)      The establishment of a License and Property Standards Committee composed of five (5) qualified citizen members to hear cases with respect to licensing and property standard appeals as outlined in this report; and the establishment of an Interim License Committee with the current mandate until such time as the License and Property Standards Committee membership is finalized.

 

6)      The Nominating Committee process as outlined in this report.

 

7)  The appointment of the Mayor or the Ward Councillor to all ward/position-specific local boards as outlined in Document 1, as amended by the following:

 

THAT the Appointment of the Ward Councillor to specified local boards, as outlined in Document 1, include Pineview and that the two ward Councillors directly impacted be appointed.

 

8)      The 2011 Budget process as outlined in this report, as amended by the following:

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Treasurer be directed to bring a report forward to the December 15, 2010 meeting of City Council that includes a more specific timetable for budget and an overview of how staff will approach the development of a draft budget.

 

9)      The changes to report protocols for Appointments to Agencies, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Commemorative Namings and City of Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards and the City of Ottawa Heritage Plaques as described in this report, such that they are no longer automatically in camera reports .

 

10)  The practice of recommending a staff member to a Council position when no Member of Council is available and formal notification to the City Clerk and Solicitor of all appointments of Members of Council to agencies, boards, committees and commissions, both internal and external.

 

11)  The establishment of two Deputy Mayor positions to be filled by two Members of Council, and that the appointments be recommended to Council by the Mayor.

 

 

Part II – Accountability Framework

 

1)      That Council approve the monthly posting of Elected Officials’ office budget expenditures on Ottawa.ca, effective Q1 2011.

 

2)      That the Governance Renewal Sub-Committee, led by the Mayor and supported by staff and a third party, be tasked with assessing the overall governance structure and processes for the City of Ottawa, identifying issues and making recommendations to Council, including:

a)      Development of an Accountability Framework (Code of Conduct for Members of Council, Lobbyist Registry, etc); and

b)     Improvements to citizen engagement.

 

3)      That the Annual Report from the Meetings Investigator included as Document 2 be received and that the current Meetings Investigator’s contract be extended for the 2010-2014 Term of Council.

 

Part III – Local Boards

 

1)      Receive the updated listing of Local Boards as outlined in the report and direct staff to report on the compliance of its local boards with respect to required policies as part of its Mid-Term Governance Review.

 

2)      Approve the request from the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (“OCHC”) that “its Board membership be increased to twelve (12) members” and the “appointment of Peggy Feltmate to the OCHC Board of Directors as a Community Board member”.

 

3)      The Ottawa Public Library Board Selection and Appointment Guidelines as outlined in the report.

 

4)      That the following measures be taken to proceed with the next steps for the implementation of the Board of Health, specifically that:

 

a.      The by-law to establish the size of the Board of Health in the form attached as Document 6 be enacted;

b.      The selection process for members of the Board of Health be approved as outlined in Document 7; and

c.       The per diem rate of $200.00 plus mileage and eligible expenses be approved for citizen representatives on the Board of Health and that the City Clerk and Solicitor be instructed to forward the approved per diem rate to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care for approval.

 

 

Part IV – Citizen Engagement

 

1)      That a joint facilitated priority setting session be held between Standing Committees and their associated Advisory Committees.

 

2)      That the Chair and Vice-Chair of each Standing Committee meet quarterly with the Chair and Vice Chair of their associated Advisory Committees.

 

3)      That additional reserve members be appointed for each committee during the Advisory Committee recruitment process.

 

4)      That reserve members be eligible for reimbursement of expenses under the Participation Expense Policy.

 

5)      Mileage for members using a personal vehicle to attend official meetings be tied to the rate provided to City of Ottawa staff.

 

6)      The enactment of the revised Advisory Committee Procedure By-Law (Appendix A – Code of Conduct) as outlined in the report and the associated By-law (Document 10).

 

7)      That staff be directed to conduct an in-depth review of public engagement and report back through the Governance Renewal Sub-Committee, with a target date of the end of Q2 2011.

 

8)      That Council approve the Petition Policy as outlined in the report.

 

 

Part V – Governance – Other Matters

 

1)      The amendments to the Procedure By-law outlined in the report related to the following:

(e)    Councillor Items at Standing Committee

(f)    In camera process

(g)   Emergency Measures

(h)   Nominating Committee

 

2)      The amendments to the Delegation of Authority By-law as outlined in the report.

 

3)      That the Procedure By-law and the Delegation of Authority By-law and any other related By-laws, as amended by this report, be included in the by-law listing of a subsequent Council meeting.

 

4)      THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Clerk and Solicitor be directed to report back the Finance and Economic Development Committee in January 2011 with a cost/benefit analysis of moving from synopsis minutes to action minutes for all Standing Committees and extending audio-casting to all Standing Committees as well as archiving the audio-casts.

 

5)      BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Council approve the election and appointment of 11 members of Council to serve as the Nominating Committee, in addition to the Mayor as Chair, to make recommendations to Council on appointments of members of Council to Standing Committees, Sub-Committees, Boards and the Selection Panels.  The first meeting of the Nominating Committee is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, 14 December 2010, for consideration at the Special City Council meeting on Wednesday, 15 December 2010; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Nominating Committee be:

1.      Councillor Monette;

2.      Councillor Wilkinson;

3.      Councillor Taylor;

4.      Councillor Chiarelli;

5.      Councillor Deans;

6.      Councillor Tierney;

7.      Councillor Fleury;

8.      Councillor McRae;

9.      Councillor Blais;

10.  Councillor Thompson; and

11.  Councillor Moffatt.

 

CARRIED with Councillor R. Bloess dissenting on Part I, Recommendation 1, as amended and Recommendation 11.


Motion to Adopt Reports

 

MOTION NO. 1/14

 

Moved by Councillor S. Desroches

Seconded by Councillor S.Qadri

 

That the City Manager’s Report entitled “2010-2014 Council Governance Review”, be received and adopted as amended.

 

                                                                                                             CARRIED

 

 

Motions of Which Notice has been Given Previously

 

MOTION NO. 1/15

 

Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson

Seconded by Councillor S. Qadri

 

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa website states that “Urban natural areas are an important element of the urban landscape. They contribute significantly to public health, community enjoyment, property values, and many areas sustain regionally and even provincially important natural features and values. The Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study (UNAEES) was commissioned in 2002 to fulfill the Official Plan direction and provide an important contribution to the Greenspace Master Plan”; and

 

WHEREAS the nine criteria used as the Evaluation Framework for this study were, Connectivity, Absence of Disturbance, Habitat Maturity, Natural Communities, Regeneration, Representative Flora, Significant Flora and Fauna, Size and Shape and Wildlife Habitat are all fully met in the South March Highlands, including the remaining KNL subdivision lands; and

 

WHEREAS the UNAEES study was underway prior to the City of Ottawa approving a subdivision on the KNL sensitive lands but this was ignored in deliberations on the development plan; and

 

WHEREAS other areas that were identified for acquisition are also urban development lands that are now being acquired at a price that is not significantly different from the cost of acquiring the KNL lands; and

 

WHEREAS it is important that the City meet its objectives to preserve the most important ecological areas wherever possible;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Ottawa immediately undertake a review of all natural areas involved in the original Urban Natural Areas Environmental Evaluation Study (UNAEES) which received a high evaluation number and report back to Council on how to protect these  lands within the urban setting; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the review also include any areas in lands which have been added to the urban boundary since that time and were not evaluated (e.g. Fernbank lands) as well as any other significant environmental areas that were considered but then excluded due to planning decisions, such as the South March Highlands.

 

MOTION NO. 1/16

 

Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson

Seconded by Councillor M. Taylor

 

WHEREAS staff is already working on a set of policy options for Council to consider in Q1 2011 on how to acquire the highly rated urban natural areas; and

 

WHEREAS staff has indicated that there are significant financial and resource issues involved in fulfilling parts of this motion, and that Committee and Council may wish to review this request in light of other priorities;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Motion No. 1/15 be referred to the Planning Committee.

 

REFERRAL CARRIED on a division of 19 YEAS and 5 NAYS as follows:

 

YEAS (19):     Councillors S. Blais, M. McRae, M. Wilkinson, A. Hubley, B. Monette, R. Chiarelli S. Qadri, E. El-Chantiry, K. Egli, R. Bloess, K. Hobbs, P. Hume, M. Taylor, T. Tierney, D. Thompson, M. Fleury, D. Deans, D. Chernushenko and Mayor Watson.  

 

NAYS (5):      Councillors D. Holmes, S. Desroches, J. Harder, P. Clark and S. Moffatt.

 

MOTION NO. 1/17

 

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes

Seconded by Councillor J. Harder

 

WHEREAS Parks form an essential part of the greenspace of the City of Ottawa;

 

AND WHEREAS it has been demonstrated that some lands are being used by communities as park and are listed on the City’s Inventory of Parkland have not been formally dedicated as Parks;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a by-law be enacted which formally dedicates all lands currently listed on the City’s Inventory of Parks as Parkland and that a report come forward to the appropriate Standing Committee in Q1 2011.

 

MOTION NO. 1/18

 

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes

Seconded by Councillor J. Harder

 

WHEREAS Motion No. 1/17 directs that a by-law be enacted which formally dedicates as Parkland, all lands currently listed on the City’s Inventory of Parks;

 

AND WHEREAS the City’s Inventory of Parks indicates there are currently 850 parks located within the boundaries of the City of Ottawa;

 

AND WHEREAS it would be prudent for Council to have specific information with respect to the possible process options, timelines and costs associated with enacting this motion, prior to consideration of same;

 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Motion No. 1/17 be referred to the City Clerk and Solicitor and the General Manager, Parks Recreation and Cultural Services, together with a direction to prepare a report setting out the various process options, timelines and costs to effect this resolution and that such report be brought forward to the Community and Protective Services Committee and Council in January 2011 for consideration.

 

                                                                                                           REFERRAL CARRIED

 

 

MOTION NO. 1/19

 

Moved by Councillor R. Bloess

Seconded by Councillor B. Monette

 

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is the sole shareholder of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. which provides electricity to more than 296,000 residential and business customers in the City as well as the village of Casselman, and

 

WHEREAS, in 2009, Hydro One Networks Inc. successfully applied to the Ontario Energy Board for an order granting Hydro One leave to sell certain distribution system assets located within Hydro Ottawa’s service area to Hydro Ottawa Limited (“Hydro Ottawa”), and

 

WHEREAS the proposed transaction was promoted as one which would enable Hydro Ottawa to improve operational flexibility and reliability while not adversely affect the safety, reliability, quality of service or operational flexibility for other customers of Hydro One, and

 

WHEREAS local MPP Phil McNeely, in spite of the provincial government’s recent imposition of significant additional energy taxes, has declared himself to be a proponent of “fair hydro prices for all residents” and promised in 2002 that he himself would oversee the transfer of Hydro One customers to Hydro Ottawa to facilitate the provision of better and less costly service for these customers, and

 

WHEREAS the HST and various levies and charges are causing financial hardship to many residents,

 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT these Hydro One customers be transferred to Hydro Ottawa at no cost in accordance with Mr. McNeely's promise of eight years ago.

 

                                                                                                            WITHDRAWN

 

 

Motion to Introduce By-laws                                                              Three Readings

 

MOTION NO. 1/20

 

Moved by Councillor S. Desroches

Seconded by Councillor S. Qadri

 

That the following by-laws be enacted and passed.

 

2010 - 380              A by-law of the City of Ottawa designating the Carp Road Corridor as an improvement area.

 

2010 - 381              A by-law of the City of Ottawa to establish a Board of Management for the Carp Road Corridor Business Improvement Area.

 

2010 - 382              A by-law of the City of Ottawa to establish certain lands as common and public highway and assume it for public use (Ziegler Street, June Court and Leita Place).

 

2010 - 383              A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2008-250 of the City of Ottawa to amend the zoning provisions of exception 1312 for lands currently and previously known as 2233 Mer Bleue Road.

 

2010 - 384              A by-law of the City of Ottawa to amend By-law No. 2004-60 to appoint Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in accordance with private property parking enforcement.

 

2010 - 385              A by-law of the City of Ottawa to designate certain lands on Rochefort Circle, Strasbourg Street and Farincourt Crescent as being exempt from Part Lot Control.

 

                                                                                    CARRIED

 

 

Confirmation By-law

 

MOTION NO. 1/21

 

Moved by Councillor S. Desroches

Seconded by Councillor S. Qadri

 

THAT By-law 2010-386 to confirm the proceedings of Council be enacted and passed.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

Inquiries

 

From Councillor Monette with respect to Duplicate Electronic Copies of Bills.

 

From Councillor Desroches with respect to the Rideau Carleton Raceway.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Council adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITY CLERK

 

MAYOR