Hall Monitor: A Marathon of Motions

June 20, 2012July 26, 2017 Josie Vallier

Last night, our council took to chambers for the last meeting before the summer schedule kicks in, meeting 17-2012. You can find the agenda and addeds on the city’s website.

Going in, we knew it was going to be a marathon – which was well timed, given the Olympic-bound runner in Market Square last night. Looking around the room, there was coffee, iced coffee, coffee-based drinks and colas everywhere. Things kicked off with a pair of special meetings, and followed with council starting roughly on time. As we knew we would, it was a busy night: Council debated the meaning of “time sensitive”, swapped out it’s AMO representative and discussed cost sharing of police services with the province. Then, in a monster of a report – 23 items, each dealt with separately – council bought some new cars, gave grade nine students and attendees of the upcoming curling tournament free transit, defeated another cash-in-lieu-of-parkland waiver, and granted a transit facility expansion. Amongst others.

They also dealt with a motion about putting humane society services out for and RFP (deferred so that city could attempt a negotiation) and approved the investigation into an east-west path in the west end and expansion of the K&P trail – amongst others. Far too much to recap, really. We did get out at a minute past midnight, though, which was earlier than I’d expected us to.

Council is now on it’s summer schedule and meets next on July 17, 2012. We’re going to continue our reports then, but are hoping to chat with the councilors through the summer so that we can keep you connected. Our full tweet stream from last night is below.

7:04 PM: Settling in at the desk for the night. Looong night ahead. Agenda at http://t.co/XARikQ47 #ygkc ^TV
7:16 PM: We’re starting with a Kingston Frontenac Housing Assoc. shareholders meeting. Not tweeting this one. #ygkc ^TV
7:32 PM: And away we go! #ygkc ^TV
7:37 PM: Some debate going on about the clerk’s notes as to what’s time sensitive. Starting off with a bang, really. #ygkc ^TV
7:39 PM: Busy night here tonight, too. And a younger-than-usual crowd, too. #ygkc ^TV
7:40 PM: Podium mics were off, @mayorofkingston: “Here, let me help… I’m also the tech guy around here” #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
7:44 PM: We’ve got a delegation up now to speak about the National Wall of Remembrance. #ygkc ^TV
7:49 PM: Coun. Osanic has brought in a petition with over 1000 signatures about the RFP for the humane society. #ygkc ^TV
7:57 PM: Bit of procedural debate around an amendment for who the city will have at AMO. Was Coun. Glover, now maybe @MayorOfKingston #ygkc ^TV
8:06 PM: Amendment to place @MayorOfKingston on the motion has passed. #ygkc ^TV
8:07 PM: And that’s done. @MayorOfKingston, not Coun. Glover will represent Kingston at AMO. #ygkc ^TV
8:10 PM: Discussion is now about extending a police services partnership with the province. #ygkc ^TV
8:15 PM: Staff informs council that the ofcrs being discussed have already been hired. Comments that a req. to province doesn’t stop talks. #ygkc ^TV
8:17 PM: @DorothyAHector says that the motion (and the next) are not about hiring, but about recouping funds from the province for hires. #ygkc ^TV
8:18 PM: CAO Hunt: This is an agreement to continue a program the city entered into a decade or so ago. #ygkc ^TV
8:19 PM: CAO: Receiving these funds from the province would reduce the impact on taxes, even if they don’t cover full cost.s #ygkc ^TV
8:20 PM: First of the two police motions have passed, and we’re onto the second one. #ygkc ^TV
8:26 PM: @MayorOfKingston, after a long back-and forth Q&A about police hiring: “I don’t know how we got here…” #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
8:28 PM: @MayorOfKingston Voting for this means we can continue to get services with the prov. paying some costs. Been in place since ’98. #ygkc ^TV
8:28 PM: Second police item passes, too, and we’re into report 76 from the CAO (Consent) #ygkc ^TV
8:29 PM: Some fun at the expense of the phonetic alphabet. @MayorOfKingston: “I prefer unicorn” #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
8:30 PM: Also, coming from Coun. George: “Whiskey, please”, indicating he wanted (w) separated. Laughter. #ygkc ^TV
8:31 PM: And @MayorOfKingston has decide to separate all of them I think that makes 23 items? #ygkc ^TV
8:32 PM: We start with complementary transit during the #hearts tournament. Staff says a policy for this type of item is in works. #ygkc ^TV
8:33 PM: Council approves the complementary transit. We go onto some vehicle purchases. #ygkc ^TV
8:35 PM: @cadieness Anyone with a ticket that day, and anyone with a volunteer credential. #ygkc ^TV
8:38 PM: We’re passing through a number of the items; all passing. Vehicle purchases, transit facility expansion and transit stops. #ygkc ^TV
8:39 PM: And now, council has allowed Gr. 9 students free transit hours with student ID. #ygkc ^TV
8:40 PM: And a centralized childcare wait list is approved We’re onto a noise exemption for @queensu orientation week. #ygkc ^TV
8:42 PM: Noise exemption for Queen’s… And Homestead Land Holdings pass. We’re onto a solar farm application. #ygkc ^TV
8:44 PM: Q&A from Coun. Scott about various bylaws and rules. Solar project guidelines were made after this application came in #ygkc ^TV
8:46 PM: @apocalypseher The agenda (pg 12) and report (12-217) are at http://t.co/XARikQ47 – should cover it all.
8:49 PM: Council’s now cleared consult for the solar request, an arts fund grant and others. #ygkc ^TV
8:50 PM: Discussion moved to (and cleared) a patio for @menchiesktown, and a handful of speed limit controls. #ygkc ^TV
8:52 PM: And council acquires some wetland properties, with the intent to preserve them as protected space. #ygkc ^TV
8:53 PM: And we’re onto a Cash-in-Lieu item. Both Coun. Osanic and @JimNeill3 voicing opposition so far. #ygkc ^TV
8:58 PM: A lot of comments about denials, tonight. Coun. Downes: “It’s a straight forward proposal. We should straight forward deny it” #ygkc ^TV
9:04 PM: @DorothyAHector comments that waiving the fee lets the developer keep the heritage of the building intact. #ygkc ^TV
9:06 PM: @MayorOfKingston asking about procedure of how a fee removal request comes before council. #ygkc ^TV
9:07 PM: Our CAO explains that any fee exemption not in bylaws need to come before council. #ygkc ^TV
9:07 PM: CAO is also commenting that new policy and bylaws for this type of waiver is forthcoming. #ygkc ^TV
9:08 PM: City staff says, too, that the developer would have to follow heritage rules even without this as an incentive. #ygkc ^TV
9:11 PM: Coun. Glover says he wants someone else to respond and is checking municipal act to confirm. #ygkc ^TV
9:16 PM: Looks like @MayorOfKingston was correct on his point of order. We continue discussion. Mayor supporting item. #ygkc ^TV
9:19 PM: Looking like a lot of council are flipping from the last time this type of request came up. Coun. Osanic asks for rec. vote. #ygkc ^TV
9:21 PM: Result: Lost 11-2 | REQ: LO | Yea: SB, DH | Nay: RD, KG, MG, BG, RH, JN, LO, BP, BR, LS, JS #rv #ygkc ^TV
9:22 PM: And we move onto an RFP for transit facility expansion. #ygkc ^TV
9:24 PM: Questions from Coun. George about specifics as to why staff is suggesting they not take the lowest bid. #ygkc ^TV
9:26 PM: Coun. George says he’s not sure why the lowest bid wouldn’t be taken when they’ve done good work for the city before. #ygkc ^TV
9:38 PM: Comments from Coun. Schell that she’s uncomfortable not taking the lowest bid. #ygkc ^TV
9:39 PM: @MayorOfKingston asking if all of the details of the plan are complete. Staff confirms they are. #ygkc ^TV
9:39 PM: … and follows up with comments that if we already have details all done, this should be a tender, not an RFP. #ygkc ^TV
9:42 PM: City legal stepping in: A contract with the wrong contractor is not work the paper it’s written on. #ygkc ^TV
9:43 PM: @MayorOfKingston comments again that if all of the details are confirmed, there is no RFP. #ygkc ^TV
9:50 PM: On the transit item: Result: Pass 10-3 | REQ: JS | Yea: SB, RD, MG, BG, DH, RH, LO, BP, BR, JS | Nay: KG, JN, LS #rv #ygkc ^TV
9:51 PM: @MayorOfKingston didn’t realize when the room was overcrowded that the fire chief was here… #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
9:56 PM: We’re hearing briefly from the fire chief on their annual report ahead of council receiving it. #ygkc ^TV
9:57 PM: Coun. Downes is asking why a deputy chief for rural is needed. Fire Chief is explaining the diff btwn deputy and asst chief. #ygkc ^TV
10:00 PM: Fire annual report is received with a recorded opposed from Coun. Downes. #ygkc ^TV
10:02 PM: A quick juggle of the agenda to move the pound item up to right now. It passes, so we’re onto that now. #ygkc ^TV
10:05 PM: Questions from Coun. Osanic about what details are going to be included in the proposed RFP. #ygkc ^TV
10:10 PM: Staff is discussing the provincial act that allows impounded animals to go to research. #ygkc ^TV
10:13 PM: Coun. Osanic suggesting items for the RFP: Vaccines, temperament testing, shots, spay/neutering. #ygkc ^TV
10:17 PM: Coun. Osanic is asking for a deferral so that the city can attempt a negotiation with the Humane Society. #ygkc ^TV
10:20 PM: Coun. Osanic’s request to defer carries. #ygkc ^TV
10:20 PM: And Coun. Glover has the chair as @MayorOfKingston takes a personal recess. #ygkc ^TV
10:22 PM: We’re now getting a briefing from Com. Hurdle on funding for homelessness and changes to ODSP. #ygkc ^TV
10:31 PM: Question from Dwones about people wanting to get into workforce, but having a tough time due to poor dental care. #ygkc ^TV
10:34 PM: Staff says that there is 400.00 available for teeth, plus 200 for discretionary health that could be used. #ygkc ^TV
10:38 PM: @DorothyAHector asking how the discretionary spending is the city’s task when the province was uploading some of this. #ygkc ^TV
10:50 PM: We’ve crossed the 10:45 mark. Motion to extend to end of agenda passes from @DorothyAHector. Long, long night ahead. #ygkc ^TV
10:52 PM: @MayorOfKingston suggests that staff put up a sign directing comments to the MPP… #ygkc ^TV
10:59 PM: @JimNeill3 is fearful that the city will be blamed for lost money when it’s the province’s responsibility. #ygkc ^TV
11:06 PM: Homelessness and ODSP items have both passed. Onto an item for the Tett centre. #ygkc ^TV
11:06 PM: Coun. Glover is asking why this item gets an amendment, but another one needed reconsideration. #ygkc ^TV
11:08 PM: Item to amend a previous motion on the Tett centre passes, and we move to planning committee. #ygkc ^TV
11:12 PM: Planning committee zoning amendments are all clear. Onto a change in how some applications are handled. #ygkc ^TV
11:23 PM: The city of Kingston is the last municipality in Ontario with the legislation they’re looking to change right now. #ygkc ^TV
11:34 PM: Recorded vote on the delegation of authority issue was requested by @MayorOfKingston. #ygkc ^TV
11:34 PM: Quick amendment from Coun. Hutchison on the item fails. Vote next. #ygkc ^TV
11:34 PM: Result: Pass 8-5 | REQ: MG | Yea: SB, KG, MG, DH, BP, BR, LS, JS | Nay: RD, BG, RH, JN, LO #rv #ygkc ^TV
11:35 PM: And the heritage committee item clears. @MayorOfKingston offers a recess… council murmurs. #ygkc ^TV
11:36 PM: Parking changes for cancer patients down at KGH are approved. #ygkc ^TV
11:38 PM: We’re flying! Accessibility Advisory report and committee of the whole reports both pass. Hutchison opposed on c. whole report. #ygkc ^TV
11:38 PM: October will now be Women’s History month in Kingston. #ygkc ^TV
11:42 PM: Motion to build an east/west walking/cycling pathway along the Cataraqui Creek is on the floor. Coun. Hutchison not happy. #ygkc ^TV
11:46 PM: City staff comment that people often don’t think of the time/money that gets spent on creating plans and studies. #ygkc ^TV
11:49 PM: Just for fun, current attendance: Gallery: 1, media: 3, clerks: 2, staff: 7, council: all 13. #ygkc ^TV
11:51 PM: Path item in the west end carries, onto an item about extending the K & P trail #ygkc ^TV
11:55 PM: Looks like a bunch of research and planning will be done to extend the K&P Trail. Report comes back in 2nd Qtr, 2014. #ygkc ^TV
11:57 PM: Quick endorsement of a long-term infrastructure from the FCM, and a briefing in july. #ygkc ^TV
11:58 PM: And the Awards Committee will now be looking at nominations for local Diamond Jubilee recipients. #ygkc ^TV
12:01 AM: Minutes and by-laws both clear.We’re done. 12:01am. #ygkc ^TV

Thanks to reneilet for today’s original photo.

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