Hall Monitor: Cycle Break

November 20, 2013July 26, 2017 Josie Vallier

Last night, city council, staff and the public gathered in City Hall for Kingston City Council meeting number 21-2013. The city has published the agenda and addeds online.

While we opened with a bit of debate over how to procedurally add a few delegations to the agenda, most of the evening went pretty routinely. Council approved some new parking enforcement officers, granted funding to the 2015 Sir John A MacDonald Bicentennial program, approved the Rogers K-ROCK Centre’s budget and approved a little more than $5 million for the purchase of radios so that all of the city’s departments could talk with each-other, particularly important during an emergency.

The only real hiccup of the night came just before a motion to reconsider the passing of the bike lanes for the Williamsville redevelopment project. Just before the item, the city solicitor commented that a brief, closed-session meeting would probably be valuable, so, with a 12-1 vote (Only councillor Neill opposed), that’s what they did. The timing of the request was odd; considering they had a closed session before the meeting – and the request was before the reconsideration passed/failed. In any case, they took their closed meeting… and then the reconsideration lost on a 7-6 vote (it needed 2/3rds to pass). With that, the most contentious item was over, and while there was a lot of comments about the OMB item, they passed it, 9-4.

And then, just as the meeting was wrapping up…. just as we thought we were done… Councillor Scott brought forward a notice of motion, seconded by councillor Reitzell, which will ask council to approve a 2014 election ballot question, asking residents of the rural districts if they’d like to discuss municipal arrangements outside of the City of Kingston. That should be a fun evening.

Our complete Tweet stream is below. Council next meets December 3rd in council chambers. See you then!

7:31 PM: DING DING! We’re under way. Starting right on time. #ygkc ^TV
7:32 PM: We’re getting a break dwn of the closed session agenda, no report. #ygkc ^TV
7:36 PM: Addeds are being separated out for voting. They, minus the delegates, have been approved. #ygkc ^TV
7:38 PM: Coun. Glover and Coun. Hutchison call points of order and get clarification on some delegates looking to speak on reconsideration. #ygkc ^TV
7:40 PM: Delegations are being voted on individually; First one carries 9-4. #ygkc ^TV
7:41 PM: Second carries 8-5. And the third carries 13-0. #ygkc ^TV
7:41 PM: The first two delegations are only going to be allowed to speak if the reconsideration on the Williamsville parking carries. #ygkc ^TV
7:42 PM: We get a pecuniary interest declaration from Coun. Downes; there’s a motion about the LDSB on the agenda. #ygkc ^TV
7:43 PM: Our first delegation is Gillian Moss of the Community Response to Neighbour Concerns. #ygkc ^TV
7:44 PM: Ms. Moss is speaking about a motion from the addeds, looking to work with the LDSB to develop the Rideau Heights Community Hub. #ygkc ^TV
7:50 PM: No briefings or petitions; and we get a delayed pecuniary interest declaration from @MayorOfKingston. #ygkc ^TV
7:51 PM: @MayorOfKingston also says this is the first council streaming on the internet; I disagree. #ygkc ^TV
7:53 PM: We move through the motions of congratulations. #ygkc ^TV
7:55 PM: No deferred motions tonight, so we move to Report 127 from the CAO (Consent). Separating (b), (d) and (e) at Coun. Glover’s request.
7:56 PM: The other two items, (a) and (c) carry 13-0. #ygkc ^TV
7:57 PM: Question from Coun. Glover of staff on a by-law officer appointment. Asking about insurance liability. #ygkc ^TV
7:58 PM: Solicitor says they feel $2M (vs the $5M others need) is appropriate for this request. Item carries 13-0. #ygkc ^TV
8:00 PM: Next item is a funding request for the Sir John A Macdonald Bicentennial 2015 Program. #ygkc ^TV
8:00 PM: Coun. Glover asks if there’s more detail on how the money that would be allocated; Comm. Beach says that it’s not required. #ygkc ^TV
8:02 PM: Coun. Glover asks now if a more detailed request should be required. Comm. Beach says this is a one-time issue. #ygkc ^TV
8:04 PM: She adds that staff generally recommends a juried process for grants when timelines allow for it. #ygkc ^TV
8:06 PM: Coun. Glover asks about the city’s oversight to ensure historical information is accurate. #ygkc ^TV
8:11 PM: Coun. Glover asks for clauses (1) and (3) to be deferred; seconded by @JimNeill3. Carries, 7-6. #ygkc ^TV
8:11 PM: Coun. Downes, @DorothyAHector, Coun. Paterson, Coun. Reitzel, Coun. Schell and Coun. Scott opposed to that Item. #ygkc ^TV
8:14 PM: Onto the item of Settlement of Human Rights application; this was about Kingston Transit being accessible. #ygkc ^TV
8:15 PM: Some Q&A of staff about transit and transit policy; @MayorOfKingston says those questions are beyond the item’s scope. #ygkc ^TV
8:16 PM: Holding off on that cote to jump back in the agenda to tackle a vote missed for the SJAM item; which carried 13-0. #ygkc ^TV
8:18 PM: The human rights application item carried 13-0, too. We now go into the @KROCKCenre briefing, report and budget. #ygkc ^TV
8:22 PM: Biggest seller at the venue? Country artists; 93% of those tickets sell. Only 24% of children’s shows sell. #ygkc ^TV
8:25 PM: Lynn Carlotto, general manager continues to give us a breakdown of the venue’s successes for 2013. #ygkc ^TV
8:27 PM: @JimNeill3 asks about ticket sales; wants to know differences between online and the gate. #ygkc ^TV
8:29 PM: @MayorOfKingston asks if there’s bike parking; Ms Carlotto confirms there’s a rack outside of gate 3. #mayorjokes #ygkc ^TV
8:30 PM: The @KROCKCenre budget item approves unanimously. Total of $1,125,000.00. #ygkc ^TV
8:32 PM: We’re now getting a briefing from Rheaume Chaput, Fire Chief, speaking on a corporate-wide radio system purchase. #ygkc ^TV
8:33 PM: City uses 4 different systems; between transit, police, fire, utilities, etc… #ygkc ^TV
8:35 PM: The recommended solution is a P25 radio system; which would allow for growth and new groups later. #ygkc ^TV
8:38 PM: The purchase would cost the city as a whole $5.8M; some is already approved. Tonight is a request for a $4,475,660.00 increase. #ygkc ^TV
8:40 PM: Question from Coun. Downes about how dispatch is set up. Mr Chaput says new radios won’t change how they’re used. #ygkc ^TV
8:42 PM: Mr. Chaput confirms to Coun. Scott that this system will fill in all of the rural coverage gaps. #ygkc ^TV
8:44 PM: Questions form @JimNeill3 about EMS; logo wasn’t on the screen. Wondering if they were invited to be included. #ygkc ^TV
8:45 PM: Mr Chaput says that communication between city and EMS goes through a central communication point. #ygkc ^TV
8:45 PM: EMS was invited to participate, but they declined, locked into the provincial radio systems. #ygkc ^TV
8:47 PM: Mr. Chaput says KFR has radio issues currently with building penetration. Says implemention would start in 2014 and take a year. #ygkc ^TV
8:51 PM: CAO hunt praises the city departments for the cooperation during the discussion of the radio purchase. Item carries. #ygkc ^TV
8:52 PM: Capital project status report carries 13-0, too. #ygkc ^TV
8:54 PM: Planning committee report on the floor now. #ygkc ^TV
8:57 PM: First item of planning carries 8-4. Coun. Downes, Coun. Glover, Coun. Hutchison, @JimNeill3 oppoesd. #ygkc ^TV
8:57 PM: @MayorOfKingston has excused himself from the planning report on a conflict. Second item passes 12-0. #ygkc ^TV
8:59 PM: Balance of planning items carry; we move to Report 130 from heritage. #ygkc ^TV
9:00 PM: Bulk of heritage report carry 13-0. We stop on the design guidelines for Block 4. #ygkc ^TV
9:01 PM: @councillorberg says she won’t support the motion as council has previously approved 18 floors, but this says 6. #ygkc ^TV
9:08 PM: Some discussion now from @DorothyAHector on an amendment; wants to approve receiving the report and taking no action. #ygkc ^TV
9:09 PM: @MayorOfKingston says there isn’t a way to take no action. Coun. Reitzel asks if this is out of order. #ygkc ^TV
9:10 PM: @MayorOfKingston says this is just a receipt of information from a committee on a decision council made. They can do that. #ygkc ^TV
9:15 PM: Some debate on the building height options for Block 4. #ygkc ^TV
9:22 PM: We’re on a motion to amend for the design guidelines of Block 4. Heritage Cmte and council don’t see eye-to-eye. #ygkc ^TV
9:24 PM: Council passed a motion regarding Block 4’s design guidelines. The Heritage Committee was then asked to provide comment. #ygkc ^TV
9:25 PM: The MHC has now said they would like to see council reduce some building height. No action is included in the motion. #ygkc ^TV
9:26 PM: Specifically, the MHC has just made requests, and the motion would ask staff to consider their opinion. #ygkc ^TV
9:27 PM: The motion to amend would add a “take no further action” line. #ygkc ^TV
9:29 PM: Solicitor says that approving the motion as-is would send conflicting numbers to staff. #ygkc ^TV
9:30 PM: @MayorOfKingston says that he’s seen the housing concerns in the city. Says both heritage and density can work. #ygkc ^TV
9:31 PM: @MayorOfKingston says he’ll be voting for the amendment, but against the motion as a whole. #ygkc ^TV
9:35 PM: Amendment carries 8-5. Voting moves to individual clauses of the motion itself. #ygkc ^TV
9:38 PM: The items each carry, except 6-story paragraph was defeated 11-2. The amendment clause, which is the no action, is next. #ygkc ^TV
9:40 PM: Last vote for this item, the added clause, carries 8-5. #ygkc ^TV
9:41 PM: Into report 131 from the Rural Advisory Committee. Carries in its entirety, 13-0. #ygkc ^TV
9:42 PM: Clear through information reports without questions, and we receive a resignation from the Age-Friendly Advis. Cmte.. #ygkc ^TV
9:43 PM: Into new motions; first is an endorsement of the FCM housing campaign. #ygkc ^TV
9:48 PM: FCM housing item carries 13-0. Next is a statement of rejection to nuclear waste burial in the great lakes region. #ygkc ^TV
9:52 PM: Coun. Hutchison, after comments from Coun. Scott, says the motion isn’t anti-nuclear; it’s about where the waste goes. #ygkc ^TV
9:53 PM: @MayorOfKingston says he will be voting against it. Says he isn’t an expert on this; and trusts the province’s experts. #ygkc ^TV
9:55 PM: Item carries 7-6; @councillorberg, Coun. George, @MayorOfKingston, Coun. Paterson, Coun. Reitzel, Coun. Scott opposed. #ygkc ^TV
9:56 PM: Reconsideration of the Williamsville bike item is up. Requires a 2/3rd vote (9 people) to pass. #ygkc ^TV
9:57 PM: Solicitor suggests closed session for legal advice before the reconsideration. #ygkc ^TV
9:58 PM: Council moves to committee of the whole, closed session, for advice ahead of the reconsideration vote. #ygkc ^TV
9:58 PM: This, too, after @MayorOfKingston tried to confirm it was related to the vote and not the item. #ygkc ^TV
10:14 PM: Yes, @ChrisInKingston an in-camera session is a closed session.
10:18 PM: @brenda_slomka He’s on city dollars, so yes, we do. I don’t know why this wasn’t brought up at the earlier closed session.
10:20 PM: Councillors are returning to chambers. We’ll be under way soon. #ygkc ^TV
10:22 PM: We’re back under way; rising from closed session without a report. #ygkc ^TV
10:23 PM: We’re haring from Coun. George right now. He and @councillorberg are the only ones who can speak on this right now. #ygkc ^TV
10:24 PM: Coun. George says that council priority number 2 was economic growth. Asks if it’s fair to treat mid-town different than downtown. #ygkc ^TV
10:27 PM: Coun. George says that a number of supporters of the bike lanes have been vocal, but 3300 signatures want there to be parking. #ygkc ^TV
10:32 PM: Motion of reconsideration vote loses 7-6. Needed 9 to carry. #ygkc ^TV
10:34 PM: Reconsideration was supported by Councillors Berg, George Hector, Paterson, Reitzel, Scott and @MayorOfKingston. #ygkc ^TV
10:34 PM: Motion on the table now is from @MayorOfKingston and @councillorberg about the OMB hearing. #ygkc ^TV
10:35 PM: The motion would ask the OMB to use the decision it found involving #ygk to set a new provincial standard. #ygkc ^TV
10:36 PM: Coun. Hutchison says the motion is redundant, that the OMB will take the Kingston decision into consideration anyway. #ygkc ^TV
10:38 PM: Coun. Downes says he thinks this is a face-saving move. #ygkc ^TV
10:39 PM: Coun. Scott saying that these guidelines will be important. Supports the motion and cites other municipality impacts. #ygkc ^TV
10:40 PM: Coun. Scott added that the only way to avoid it is at-large votes, which don’t work in cities with large rural areas. #ygkc ^TV
10:43 PM: [email protected] says he’s not sure why this motion is here. Says the city shouldn’t tell other cities how to change things. #ygkc ^TV
10:44 PM: Coun. Osanic says she’ll be supporting it to make sure other cities don’t end up dealing with the same mess. #ygkc ^TV
10:49 PM: Coun. Glover is mentioning comparisons to other cities; saying student population isn’t as impactful in some others as in #ygk. #ygkc ^TV
10:50 PM: Coun. Glover says this motion would add to the embarrassment the city has faced from the initial motion. #ygkc ^TV
10:51 PM: We get a motion to extend to the end of the agenda. Carries 9-4. Coun. Glover, Coun. Hutchison, @JimNeill3, Coun. Reitzel opposed. #ygkc ^TV
10:52 PM: Coun. Paterson says the city will now be expected to come up with an accurate student location count. #ygkc ^TV
10:52 PM: Coun. Paterson says this is a good “head’s up” to other cities; other campuses are already talking about it. #ygkc ^TV
10:53 PM: Coun. Paterson says student count brings us close to 144k people and a possible 2nd MP and MPP. #ygkc ^TV
10:55 PM: Coun. Schell says she’s not supporting the motion because she doesn’t agree with provincial changes based on OMB decision. #ygkc ^TV
10:55 PM: She also says that moving the census date to March 31 would help this. Would catch snowbirds home and students at school. #ygkc ^TV
10:59 PM: Coun. George speaks against how the OMB chair imposed the decision; but will be supporting this motion.. #ygkc ^TV
11:01 PM: Gallery member begins calling out and is escorted out by security. @MayorOfKingston #mayorjokes that it’s almost like #TOCouncil. #ygkc ^TV
11:02 PM: [email protected] says this motion is about consistency. 443 municipalities in prov. Only #ygk impacted by OMB ruling. #ygkc ^TV
11:03 PM: [email protected] says there’s nothing to be embarrassed about; the motion is about consistency. #ygkc ^TV
11:04 PM: [email protected] says that if this is about students and not turf protection, councillors should support it. #ygkc ^TV
11:05 PM: The item carries 9-4; Coun. Downes, Coun. Glover, @JimNeill3, Coun. Schell opposed. #ygkc ^TV
11:07 PM: We’re getting a notice of motion now from Coun. Scott and Coun. Reitzel calling for a question on the ballot at election time. #ygkc ^TV
11:08 PM: Question would involve rural residents; saying benefits haven’t been realized and wants to open discussions. #ygkc ^TV
11:09 PM: Minutes, documents and communications sail through; we move into by-laws. #ygkc ^TV
11:12 PM: Adjourned. 11:12pm. Thanks for following. Recap will be on the site tomorrow! #ygkc ^TV

Thanks to reneilet for today’s original photo.

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