The Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability meeting on July 5 was about four and one quarter hours long. Report CL-21-21, about the city’s election policies survey, includes reference to a 20-question survey answered by 300 residents from March 31 to April 23, 2021. As a result of the survey, several tactics to increase voter turnout will be pursued. Of those 300 residents, 61% said they are not supportive of establishing a campaign contribution rebate program. Councillor Nisan recommended a staff direction at the committee meeting for “the City Clerk to bring forward an option for a modest election finance rebate program by Q4 2021, and to seek feedback from our advisory committees…and use any other opportunities to engage the public. The option(s) could focus on smaller donations and aim for a modest cost to the city…limit eligibility to Burlington residents only.” This staff direction also referenced the programs in Whitby and Mississauga. The staff direction was approved at the committee meeting, despite the fact that the majority of residents surveyed in April said they were not supportive. Only Councillor Bentivegna did not vote in favour of this staff direction at the council meeting. Hmmm. If you have views about the possibility of an election finance rebate program, be sure to contact the clerk’s department so you can be heard and included in the information reported back to committee and council later this year.
The Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility meeting on July 6 included Report TS-09-21, recommending replacement of the downtown parking occupancy sensors in all municipally-owned off-road parking facilities. This was approved at committee and council. Report CPRM-05-21 was approved at the committee meeting, directing a review of traffic safety in the Sheldon Creek neighbourhood. Councillor Sharman included a staff direction to report back in Q4 of 2021 with findings and recommendations for improvement. The meeting included 50 minutes in closed session and just under three hours in public (or open) session.
The Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services meeting on July 8 was just under four hours long. This agenda included Report RCC-10-21 about Burlington Central School’s 100th anniversary reunion, planned for June 2 to 5, 2022. Todd Ford and Terry Ruf, co-chairs of the steering committee, spoke in support of the event at the committee meeting and the report was approved. The reunion will have an exemption to the city’s noise bylaw for June 3 and 4, 2022, until 1 a.m. Councillor Kearns presented amendments to the report that were approved by committee and later at council. Report EICS-13-21 was approved at committee and council, so the city intends to enter into an agreement with BurlingtonGreen for an electric mobility strategy. In Report EICS-11-21, committee and council approved a connection agreement with Burlington Hydro for the new solar array at City View Park pavilion.
Report RCC-09-21 recommended discontinuation of seniors’ membership fees at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre and this was approved by committee and council. Great news for seniors, especially those who have found membership fees to be a barrier in the past.
Report RCC-11-21 resulted in several changes to Burlington’s community celebration schedule at the committee meeting. Councillor Kearns proposed the amendments, including a kite component and an enhanced Canada Day civic recognition element with the Children’s Festival at Brant Hills in 2022; an April 2022 event to commemorate the Cenotaph’s 100th anniversary; and direction to staff to report back in Q1 2022 on the concept of a new Celebrate Burlington annual event.
Stephen Paquette, Tracey Ehl Harrison, and Margo Shuttleworth spoke in support of renaming Ryerson Park at the committee meeting. Staff will be reporting back to committee with a recommendation for a new name by November 2021, “ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion is reflected in the new name.”
Motion Memorandum EICS-C-04-21 was presented in the Committee Addendum (not shown in the original meeting agenda) and resulted in a staff direction from Councillor Stolte to initiate a gradual transition of committee and council meetings “to a hybrid model” that accommodates both in-person and virtual options. A report back is expected in September with a projected transition goal of Q4 2021. The September report will be important for council, staff, and the public. Having managed virtual meetings throughout the COVID-19 restrictions, a combination or hybrid model has the potential to enhance opportunities for citizen engagement, even when all restrictions are eventually lifted.
The council meeting on July 13 was one and one quarter hours long.
Meeting agendas and minutes are available on https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/Agendas-and-Minutes.asp, by choosing the meeting calendar and clicking on the respective meeting agenda, meeting package, or minutes.
“Council Information Packages” dated June 25 and July 2 and 9 were noted in the council agenda and minutes. The contents are not included in meeting agendas but the July 2 and 9 documents are, in my opinion, must-reads. You’ll find the council information packages (CIP) on the city’s website at https://www.burlington.ca/en/modules/document/document.aspx?param=qqP9TrAPlUsIVPKi5lA5H0EmfzOSAeQuAleQuAl.
In the July 2 CIP, Burlington staff provide an update on the staff direction regarding the private tree bylaw and related work plan. There is correspondence from Halton Region with an update on their Comprehensive Housing Strategy and scorecard. Also from Halton Region, an update about Indigenous relationships, and another about protection of the Glen Abbey lands.
In the July 9 CIP, in the development application timelines memo, there is key information about several development applications whose “time limits expire during the summer break” and could position the applicants to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly LPAT) due to “no decision.” There are also several more that would expire between the scheduled September committee and council meetings. A special council meeting is anticipated.
Local-news.ca will report more on these matters in upcoming articles. Unfortunately, CIPs are often under the radar and citizens aren’t aware of the important information that can be included in them. The July 2 and 9 editions are definitely worth reviewing for the information of most interest to Burlington residents and business owners.
