Hall Monitor: Pet School District

September 11, 2013July 26, 2017 Josie Vallier 0 Comments

Last night, city council, staff and the public gathered in City Hall for Kingston City Council meeting number 19-2013. The city has published the agenda and addeds online.

The agenda, admittedly, seemed fairly quick – until we got there, any way, and a number of un-published additions were added. As a result, we didn’t actually get into the real meat of the meeting until nearly 8:50pm. Much of the debate was around an amendment to the Responsible Pet Ownership Program (which lost, but would have scrapped the $50,000.00 spay/neuter voucher and clinic portions) and around Belle Park.

In the end, the pet ownership program went ahead unchanged, the city agreed to start talks with the school boards about land that could be used for schools in the core centre of the city, approved the Kingston Youth Strategy, confirmed the items for the Belle Park RFP, approved the new Master Plan for Grass Creek Park and directed staff to do some research into renaming the area around Queen’s University the ‘University District’. It was a busy night – if not longer than it needed to be.

Our complete Tweet stream from last night is below. I’m still working out the kinks with the new laptop, so while I got the stream online this week – with both audio and video – there’s no recording. Sigh. Or next meeting is in council chambers on September 17th. See you then!

7:20 PM: Just settling in at City Hall. Tonight’s council meeting should start within 15 minutes. #ygkc ^TV
7:28 PM: Full house and then some in chambers tonight. Glad the overflow room is set up. #ygkc ^TV
7:39 PM: Looks like we’re running a little late tonight. Should start soon…ish. #ygkc ^TV
7:41 PM: Councillors are in the room. Should get under way shortly. #ygkc ^TV
7:48 PM: Approaching 20 minutes late. Councillors are in the room, no Mayor Gerretsen yet.
7:50 PM: City clock reads 7:50 as the bell rings and we get under way! #ygkc ^TV
7:51 PM: We open with a rise from the closed session without report. 12-0 pass. No Coun. Scott tonight. #ygkc ^TV
7:51 PM: Looks like the stream is working – at least in it’s real basic form. http://t.co/MyTgnzbkD8 #ygkc ^TV
7:52 PM: Addeds get approved 12-0, and we’re getting a few additional changes on the floor. #ygkc ^TV
7:53 PM: Motion from Coun. Hutchison and Coun. Osanic to move the youth item ahead approved 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
7:54 PM: Conflict declared from Coun. Downes on the LDSB item as he’s a school board employee. #ygkc ^TV
7:55 PM: Amendment from Coun. Schell to allow a speaker on the Grass Creek Park item carries 10-2 (Coun. Paterson and Coun. Berg opposed) #ygkc ^TV
7:56 PM: Next tabled by Coun. Osanic to allow a speaker RE the Responsible Pet Ownership Program (10-2, Coun. Paterson and Berg oppposed) #ygkc ^TV
7:58 PM: Votes on a motion to add one about high school golf at belle park and about the proposed “University district” pass 9-3. #ygkc ^TV
7:59 PM: Opposed in the last two votes were councillors Berg, George and Patterson. #ygkc ^TV
8:00 PM: We’re into a delegation now on the Youth Strategy item on the agenda. It opens with a video. #ygkc ^TV
8:02 PM: We’re hearing a bit about the history of the Kingston Youth Strategy. #ygkc ^TV
8:03 PM: 3200 volunteer hours have been contributed to create this youth strategy. #ygkc ^TV
8:04 PM: If approved tonight, the plan would be endorsed by council, and the city will spend $68,500 to fund the first year. #ygkc ^TV
8:06 PM: Mayor Gerretsen mentions that they were 4 minutes, 57 seconds. Also says they were the first to fully utilize the new A/V system. #ygkc ^TV
8:06 PM: A pair of rounds of applause from chambers. Coun. Downes asks about bus pas usage from gr. 9s and 10s. #ygkc ^TV
8:07 PM: The two at the podium say lots of people are using them, though one of our delegates doesn’t (says he’s scared to go on). #ygkc ^TV
8:08 PM: More applause before our next delegation. Now up is David Banks, speaking about memorials at City Park and Chadwick Parkette. #ygkc ^TV
8:09 PM: Banks says that by allowing this monument, Kingston can participate in a worldwide celebration next year. #ygkc ^TV
8:10 PM: Coun. Glover asks about if other organizations have had a strong presence in Kingston through the years. #ygkc ^TV
8:11 PM: A member of the gallery yells a request to address council and is denied by @MayorOfKingston. #ygkc ^TV
8:12 PM: We’re now hearing from Sister Pauline Lally of Kingston PeaceQuest; wanting to mark a tree in City Park as a Peace Tree. #ygkc ^TV
8:16 PM: @MayorOfKingston helps with the PeaceQuest project by contributing during the delegation. #ygkc ^TV
8:18 PM: We move into one of our added delegations. First is Graham Pugh. Talking about a dog park proposed for Grass Creek Park. #ygkc ^TV
8:19 PM: Current upper limit would be 4 acres – limited by the current by-law – he says the park should be 8 acres. #ygkc ^TV
8:21 PM: Coun. Downes is asking Pugh why the group wasn’t present at public meetings for the park. #ygkc ^TV
8:22 PM: Pugh implies that it wasn’t well communicated that the meetings were happening. #ygkc ^TV
8:24 PM: Pugh is suggesting that there isn’t a need for all of the changes being proposed. Suggests the park is too far away. #ygkc ^TV
8:25 PM: We’re now hearing from Janice Saunders about the Responsible Pet Ownership program. #ygkc ^TV
8:28 PM: Saunders is suggesting that a phase-in mandatory microchip program for cats. #ygkc ^TV
8:31 PM: No questions from council; @MayorOfKingston says next time things get heated, he’ll show pictures of cats. #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
8:31 PM: We’re now hearing from Andrea Blackwell of KASSA, speaking about HS-level golf at Belle Park. #ygkc ^TV
8:35 PM: Blackwell says she is a local hall-of-famer in basketball and couldn’t have done as well without community resources. #ygkc ^TV
8:36 PM: She says she’s currently the #2 ranked senior women in golf in Ontario and wants to offer those opportunities to local youth. #ygkc ^TV
8:38 PM: Our last delegate is Catherine Wright, Municipal Affairs Commissioner from @QueensAMS. #ygkc ^TV
8:39 PM: The AMS has been working for 3 years on the renaming project. Says “University District” was best received. #ygkc ^TV
8:39 PM: AMS has been using the term officially since 2011; she’s showing other city examples. #ygkc ^TV
8:41 PM: Wright is suggesting unique signage would help the name stick, compares to Portsmouth Villiage and Toronto. #ygkc ^TV
8:43 PM: Wright says that the goal would be additional pride in the neighbourhood by phasing out “ghetto”. #ygkc ^TV
8:44 PM: Coun. Glover asking about the use of “district” and wonders if Wright feels there would be confusion with electoral areas. #ygkc ^TV
8:45 PM: Wright says that the name is important to the AMS – they feel it would catch on and the dual-use would be fine. #ygkc ^TV
8:46 PM: Out of delegations and no briefings. We get a petition from Coun. Osanic about a spay/neuter facility. #ygkc ^TV
8:50 PM: We move through Congratulations, Recognition, Sympathy, Condolences and Speedy Recovery; all pass without issue. #ygkc ^TV
8:52 PM: We move straight to the Y2K vote as approved earlier in the meeting. Not the full Report 110, though. #ygkc ^TV
8:52 PM: Youth item carries unanimously to a loud applause from the gallery. @MayorOfKingston allows them to clear the room. #ygkc ^TV
8:55 PM: We move to Report 108, CAO consent. Items e and f separated, but the rest pass unanimously. #ygkc ^TV
8:56 PM: Q&A from Coun. Glover and staff about the suggestion for a plaque for Graham Pye. #ygkc ^TV
8:58 PM: The passed bunch, BTW, removes parking on much of University Ave, starts research on a Coast Guard base and approves a patio. #ygkc ^TV
9:01 PM: Last item on 108, the monuments in City Park and Chadwick Parkette get approved, and we’re into 109. #ygkc ^TV
9:02 PM: We now get a briefing from the CAO on the strategic planning update from the April meetings at SLC. #ygkc ^TV
9:10 PM: A number of items from the CAOs office are on the table tonight, including the budget target of a 2.5% max tax increase this fall. #ygkc ^TV
9:14 PM: If you haven’t read the city strategic plan, yet, you probably should: http://t.co/Nrx5DtKjNK #ygkc ^TV
9:18 PM: Coun. Glover says that culture is often the first cut in tight times, but adds that there’s a largee return on that spending. #ygkc ^TV
9:22 PM: CAO briefing wraps up, and the agenda item is carried unanimously. #ygkc ^TV
9:23 PM: And we work our way through the rest of report 109, all unanimous votes. so far, though we pause on the Belle Park item. #ygkc ^TV
9:24 PM: Coun. Paterson says staff have been “unusually blunt” about the dangers of working within Belle Park. #ygkc ^TV
9:24 PM: Coun. Paterson says he won’t support this – sees it as a “reckless and foolish” course of action. #ygkc ^TV
9:25 PM: Point of order called by Coun. Glover, suggesting that this should be a reconsideration item. #ygkc ^TV
9:28 PM: @MayorOfKingston says it would not; if this loses, staff would simply need to come back with another option. #ygkc ^TV
9:30 PM: Coun. Neill reminds council that the environmental risk will always be present – whether work is done in-house or not. #ygkc ^TV
9:32 PM: Comments from the city solicitor about the history of the site including the fines the city received in the late 90s for the site. #ygkc ^TV
9:35 PM: Linscott says the financial risks are so significant, that the city should continue to operate the site. #ygkc ^TV
9:39 PM: Coun. Hector says her preference would be to retain control of the land within the city. Says timing is wrong. #ygkc ^TV
9:41 PM: Coun. Downes says that the full list of requirements in the RFP means that the city won’t be getting any responses. #ygkc ^TV
9:44 PM: Coun. Downes says the city should start considering how they will run the golf course, since there won’t be any responses. #ygkc ^TV
9:45 PM: Clarification from @MayorOfKingston to Coun. Hutchison; the city will issue an RFP even if this item tonight fails. #ygkc ^TV
9:46 PM: Coun. Hutchison says he also doesn’t think they’ll get a response, but will endorse this list as the minimum requirements. #ygkc ^TV
9:50 PM: @MayorOfKingston says the item is a waste of $20k. Won’t get responses and the list would force out Friends of Belle Park. #ygkc ^TV
9:53 PM: Belle Park RFP item loses 5-7. Councillors Downes, Glover, Hutchison, Neill and Schell were the votes in-favour. #ygkc ^TV
9:54 PM: We’re now into the balance of report 110 from ARCP. We already dealt with the youth item earlier in the evening. #ygkc ^TV
9:55 PM: Items 2, 4 and 6 up first. 3 has already been done, 1 and 5 have been separated. #ygkc ^TV
9:56 PM: That bundle carries unanimously, amongst it was the Grass Creek Park master plan. #ygkc ^TV
9:58 PM: Coun. Osanic is talking about vouchers to help those with the cost of spaying and neutering pets. #ygkc ^TV
10:00 PM: @MayorOfKingston says staff was really impressed with the working group. #ygkc ^TV
10:01 PM: There’s an amendment from @councillorberg, removing the spay/neutering program paragraph. #ygkc ^TV
10:02 PM: Berg says she is not in favour of spending municipal funds on a spay/neuter program or of trap-neuter-release. #ygkc ^TV
10:06 PM: Coun. Paterson speaking in favour of the amendment, too, says the cost is too high. #ygkc ^TV
10:10 PM: Coun. Glover says the cost spend is worth it be repeating delegate’s words: investments now mean savings later. #ygkc ^TV
10:12 PM: @MayorOfKingston says that if this money can be spent and it will reduce money spent in the pound, it’s worth it. #ygkc ^TV
10:16 PM: On Coun. Downes’ explanation of feline reproduction, it only happens “if they like each-other”, adds @MayorOfKingston. #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
10:19 PM: Counc. Reitzel is in support of the amendment, says he is tired of being chipped away at. #ygkc ^TV
10:20 PM: My laptop opted to randomly restart. I’ll be back in service shortly. #ygkc ^TV
10:22 PM: Coun. George says there are lots of services the city pays for that not everyone uses, cites transit. #ygkc ^TV
10:23 PM: Amendment vote loses. Berg, Hector, Paterson and Reitzel were the votes in favour. #ygkc ^TV
10:23 PM: Main responsible pet ownership item carries. Only @councillorberg and Coun. Reitzel opposed. #ygkc ^TV
10:24 PM: We move to a vote on an edible forest policy research, which carries unanimously. #ygkc ^TV
10:27 PM: We pause in Misc Business on an item proclaiming a “50th anniversary celebration”. Coun. Hutchison asks: “of what”?
10:28 PM: All of misc business carry unanimously, and we move into New Motions. first is to have staff work with LDSB on a new school site. #ygkc ^TV
10:31 PM: We open with a friendly amendment adding the separate school board. Then hear from @councillorberg in favour of the motion. #ygkc ^TV
10:33 PM: Coun. Neill suggests an amendment to exclude the Memorial Ctr and Cook Bros sites; @MayorOfKingston says that’s out of order. #ygkc ^TV
10:36 PM: Second amendment from Coun. Neill reiterates that the city recognizes that a school decision is a school board one, not the city’s. #ygkc…
10:39 PM: Motion to amend is moved to a whereas clause, and carries 11-0; remember, Coun. Downes out on a conflict for this item. #ygkc ^TV
10:41 PM: Coun. Hutchison quesitons where the city has space for schools. @MayorOfKingston says that’s what the motion would determine. #ygkc ^TV
10:45 PM: @MayorOfKingston says the intent of the motion is to bring the parties together to talk. Doesn’t mean a new school would happen. #ygkc ^TV
10:47 PM: @MayorOfKingston says that voting against this would show that you don’t want to see the city work with the school board. #ygkc ^TV
10:47 PM: Motion to extend through end of agenda carries 9-2; Coun. Glover and Coun. Reitzel opposed. #ygkc ^TV
10:50 PM: Amendment to the school board item carries 11-0; we’re back to the original motion now.
10:55 PM: After a point of order from Coun. Reitzel, @MayorOfKingston rules that Coun. Glover is off-topic by discussing the mega-school. #ygkc ^TV
10:59 PM: Coun. Paterson speaks in favour of the motion. Coun. Hector reminds council that the school board can expropriate. #ygkc ^TV
11:01 PM: Coun. Hector says that by having the city at the table with the boards, they can be better prepared for the board’s plans. #ygkc ^TV
11:03 PM: Coun. Schell won’t be supporting the motion; says it’s too directive of staff, but vague in the wording. #ygkc ^TV
11:05 PM: .@councillorberg says her district has 5 schools now, 4 at risk of closing. #ygkc ^TV
11:06 PM: Vote carries 6-5, Coun. George, Coun. Glover, Coun. Hutchison, Coun. Neill, Coun. Schell opposed. #ygkc ^TV
11:06 PM: We move into the motion discussing the renaming of the area around Queen’s to the “University District” #ygkc ^TV
11:08 PM: @matt_bisson @MayorOfKingston To clarify, it was Berg’s motion. Clerical error as mentioned at the top of the discussion.
11:09 PM: .@MayorOfKingston says that the AMS would cover some of the cost to this change. #ygkc ^TV
11:10 PM: Mayor says that by recognizing the area, students may feel a greater responsibility to keep the area clean. #ygkc ^TV
11:12 PM: Coun. Hutchison tables a motion that would ask the city to hold a public consultation. #ygkc ^TV
11:13 PM: The motion would also change that staff would come back to near-campus advisory committee, not council, in October. #ygkc ^TV
11:15 PM: Coun. Schell speaks in favour of amendment; comments about Queen’s in Portsmouth District. Says it will be interesting discussion. #ygkc ^TV
11:16 PM: I stand corrected, staff would go to the near campus advisory committee in November, but staff says that’s not doable. #ygkc ^TV
11:17 PM: @councillorberg says that she won’t be supporting the amendment; friendly amendment to January 2014. #ygkc ^TV
11:20 PM: Between Coun. Glover and Coun. Hutchison, a reminder that the flow would be Near-Campus, then ARC, then council. #ygkc ^TV
11:21 PM: @MayorOfKingston says that there has already been a lot of public consultation. Is against the timeline saying January. #ygkc ^TV
11:24 PM: The clerk mentions that to go through Near-Campus, then ARC, then council, the November deadline can’t be met. #ygkc ^TV
11:25 PM: Some discussion and debate on the timelines, now, which would clarify the amendments. #ygkc ^TV
11:33 PM: We have an amendment to the amendment from @MayorOfKingston now… which has become a friendly amendment… I think? #ygkc ^TV
11:35 PM: Amendment carries, 11-0. University District item will now go to Near Campus by Nov 2013, who must hold a public meeting. #ygkc ^TV
11:36 PM: Item itself carries, too, 11-0. #ygkc ^TV
11:37 PM: Last item on the agenda is a donation to the Sunshine Foundation, to cover the rental costs of Portsmouth Olympic Habour for them. #ygkc ^TV
11:38 PM: Coun. Hector asks why this is a donation not of a waiving of the fees. @MayorOfKingston says this was the appropriate legal way. #ygkc ^TV
11:39 PM: Staff (CAO) says they do not feel this will be precedent setting. Carries 11-0. #ygkc ^TV
11:40 PM: Minutes carry and no discussion on communications or other business. Into by-laws. #ygkc ^TV
11:42 PM: Adjourned. 11:42pm. Thanks for following along. Recap on the site tomorrow! #ygkc ^TV

Thanks to reneilet for today’s original photo.

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Hall Monitor: Pet School District

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