Richmond Hill Council Meeting Wednesday July 6th, 2022 at 9:30am
View revised agenda here and Meeting Video Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4
The July 6th meeting had a full agenda and was an 8 hour marathon not including breaks, lunch and dinner. Many engaged residents! 15 delegates have signed up to speak and 123 letters were submitted about various motions. Including 98 resident letters in opposition to an 8 storey building proposed for Bayview Ave in Oak Ridges. This was a long meeting so it's going to be a long recap!
Recap:
At the beginning of the meeting Councillor Muench wanted to add an Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters to the Closed Session and seem somewhat vague as to the nature thereof. Councillor Perrelli interjected with a Point of Information asking "is the general nature have anything to do with the notice of application that I have presented through the courts to quash the bylaw relating to the council decision that I owe $140,0000 is that what this is about?" Muench said yes. Suffice it to say the City is once again being sued by Councillor Perrelli. (Watch discussion here)
The Motion to go into Closed Session failed on tied vote
Perrelli declared a conflict and did not vote
Yes: Muench, Beros, DiPaola, Liu
No: West, Chan, Cilevitz, Sheppard.
13.13 Pickleball courts for Observatory Park (Watch discussion here)
Motion as amended passed unanimously
13.9 SRPI.22.084 – Request for Approval – Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – First Baymac Developments Limited and Canadian Property Holdings (Ontario) Inc. –1070 Major Mackenzie Drive East (Watch discussion here)
This revised development application had 8 delegates and 3 letters
Although staff recommended approval of this application it was refused by Council for the reasons stated below.
The Motion to not approve the application Passed
Yes: West, DiPaola, Perrelli, Chan, Liu, Beros
No: Cilevitz, Muench, Sheppard
14.2 Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Enforcing Regional By-law 2015-36 (Watch discussion here)
Delegate David Silverman doesn’t want open house signs allowed on Regional roads stating "these real estate signs are polluting our communities" and thanked Councillor Perrelli for showing a keen interest in the issue
Since the Region does not actively enforce their sign by-law Councillor Perrelli's request is "that the City of Richmond Hill staff be directed by the city manager go out and proactively remove these signs they are a safety concern they are a nuisance"
Perrelli also stated regarding his "Slow Down" sign "my event of trying to get people to slow down in the community that those signs were in violation of the bylaw. I respectfully disagree and that's why my signs continue to be given to the residents of Richmond Hill place on their property so that they can alert drivers in the neighborhood that for safety reasons they should slow down and I will continue to hand out those signs" also "by the way there's an exemption for members of council for these events to put up these signs"
Mayor West moved a motion to refer this back to staff requesting that they work with the Region to address the concerns with the enforcement and report back asap
Perrelli made an amendment to the referral to have staff report back to council next week at a special council meeting on July 13th (staff indicated this was not doable)
The Amendment failed
Yes: Perrelli, Beros, Muench
No: West, DiPaola, Chan, Liu, Cilevitz, Sheppard
At this point Councillor Perrelli withdrew his Member Motion.
13.20 Letter from Charles Harnick, Integrity Commissioner, ADR Chambers, dated June 30, 2022, regarding Investigation Report for Complaint Reference Number IC-13702-0521 (Watch discussion here)
There were 2 delegates on this item
Stephen Thiele, Councillor Perrelli's lawyer (Watch delegation here)
Brian Chapnick, A Better Richmond Hill (Watch delegation here)
Councillor Sheppard moved the motion below which includes:
(b) that Perrelli's remuneration be suspended for 90 days for contravening the Code of Conduct
(c) That Perrelli issue a written apology to the City Staff named in the report
Here is Councillor Perrelli's rebuttal to comments made by Council Members
At this point Councillor Perrelli attempted to defer the motion to September strongly encouraging that Council Members obtain independent legal advice before making the decision to suspend his pay suggesting that they will be acting in bad faith. Watch video here
Motion to Defer Failed
Yes: Perrelli, Beros, Muench
No: West, DiPaola, Chan, Liu, Cilevitz, Sheppard
The Main Motion Passed
Part (a) Receive report
Passed Unanimously
Part (b) Suspend pay for 90 days - Passed
Yes: West, DiPaola, Chan, Cilevitz, Sheppard
No: Perrelli, Beros, Muench, Liu
Part (c) Written apology to City Staff - Passed
Yes: West, DiPaola, Chan, Liu, Cilevitz, Sheppard, Muench
No: Perrelli, Beros
13.10 SRPI.22.086 – Request for Approval – Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 2747883 Ontario Inc. and 275302 Ontario Inc. – 13572 and 13586 Bayview Avenue - City Files D01-20003 and D02-20009 - (Proposed By-law 97-22)
This proposed development for an 8 storey building at Bayview and Bloomington received 98 letters in opposition written by local residents
Motion Passed
Yes: DiPaola, Perrelli, Beros, Muench, Sheppard
No: West, Chan, Cilevitz
14.1 Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Land Acknowledgement - (Deferred from the June 22, 2022 Council meeting) (Watch discussion here)
Councillor Perrelli moved the motion below to cancel the contract with the Indigenous Consultant Shared Path Initiatives and direct the contract funds of $18,000 to the Indigenous Action Committee (IAC)
Motion Failed (Liu Absent)
Part (b) Cancel Consultant contract - Failed
Yes: Perrelli, Beros, Muench
No: West, DiPaola, Chan, Cilevitz, Sheppard
Part (c) Became moot because contract wasn't cancelled per (b)
Part (a) Accept Land Acknowledgement written by IAC - Failed on a Tied vote
Yes: Perrelli, Beros, Muench, Chan
No: West, DiPaola, Cilevitz, Sheppard
At this point City Staff will continue the ongoing consultation with Indigenous Communities that was unanimously agreed to by Council at it's meeting on November 10, 2021.
Councillor Chan was moving a referral motion for Staff to continue the consultation but it was determined that it was not needed so he withdrew his motion.
Since the referral motion was withdrawn there was no motion on the floor however Councillor Perrelli insisted on speaking and carried on for 4 minutes with no respect for procedure so Mayor West had no choice but to cut the video for the dinner break. (Click Image above to watch)
All other agenda items passed
This is the last Council meeting before the summer break. There will be one more on September 14th before the Richmond Hill Municipal Election on October 24th, 2022.
Items on the Agenda Include:
2021 to 2022 Season Winter Maintenance Review
According to the Staff Report, winter maintenance of the transportation network during the 2021 to 2022 winter season addressed four weather events that required plowing and de-icing, and 42 additional events that required anti-icing or de-icing treatment. The total cost to the City for the 2021 to 2022 season winter maintenance was approximately $7.86 million and target service levels were met or exceeded for all snowfall events with the exception of the January 17, 2022 storm.
Request for Approval - Greening the Hill Environment Strategy Update
The report outlines a proposed path towards a more sustainable future through release of the Environment Strategy Update. The updated goals, objectives and actions contained in this update will help guide Richmond Hill’s efforts to manage its environmental impacts, enhance local ecosystems, and create a more sustainable community over the next nine years. Together, we can cultivate a greener and more resilient community that values the environment and makes active decisions to protect it in our daily lives.
View the Staff Report and final Environment Strategy Update here
Response to Motion – Community Pickleball Facility Location
After reviewing a number of locations this Staff report has identified the panhandle lands of Richmond Hill DDO Park as a suitable location for a community pickleball facility within Richmond Hill, including the timing of designing and constructing such a facility. Given the information before staff at this time, the timeline to construct a community pickleball facility on the panhandle lands of Richmond Hill DDO Park can begin with design in 2023-24 and construction in 2025.
Memorandum from Interim City Manager, regarding Information Requested as part of deferral of Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Land Acknowledgement
The deferral motion requested that staff to provide Council with information on Indigenous Consultant including by not limited to the agreement with the consultant.
Given the sensitivity of settler-Indigenous relations and the lack of Indigenous expertise on staff, the City sought to hire an Indigenous consultant to facilitate this consultation and develop the text that would put the City in the best position to achieve agreement on an appropriate Land Acknowledgement. The process of developing the land acknowledgement in consultation with Indigenous communities is important for making it meaningful, building "buy-in" and for establishing the basis of ongoing relationships. Hiring a qualified consultant ensures our engagement with these communities is thorough and complete.
Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Land Acknowledgement - (Deferred from the June 22, 2022 Council meeting)
The Indigenous Action Committee of Richmond Hill developed a Land Acknowledgement which embodies the goals and wishes of the Richmond Hill Indigenous Community
Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Enforcing Regional By-law 2015-36
Region of York sign By-law 2015-36 regulates signs on regional roads
The motion claims that most of the signs being placed are without permit and most that are permitted, are placed contrary to the by-law; and these signs pose a host of issues, from safety to uniformity, with the City by-law; and both the City and my office continue to receive many complaints about these signs from Richmond Hill residents and businesses alike
This motion requests that City Manager Joslin be directed to ensure that the City enforces Regional by-law #2015-36 on an ongoing basis instead of on a complaint by complaint basis.
Maybe Council should also consider including the ongoing enforcement of the City sign by-law which disallows the many "Slow Down" signs that have popped up everywhere initiating many resident complaints.
Requests for Approval for Planning Applications
Zoning By-law Amendment Application – 73 Westwood Lane (and Denham Drive)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of its proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit the creation of one additional building lot on its land holdings. Staff has undertaken a comprehensive review and evaluation of the applicant’s development proposal and is of the opinion that the submitted Zoning By-law Amendment application conforms with the applicable policies of the Official Plan, and that the proposal is appropriate and represents good planning
Draft Plan of Subdivision Application – 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 Bostwick Crescent and 2, 6 and 8 Bond Crescent (Oak Ridges)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of a draft Plan of Subdivision application in support of its proposal to construct a residential development comprised of 72 townhouse dwelling units on its land holdings. The proposed draft Plan of Subdivision conforms with the City’s Official Plan, is consistent with the recommendations of the Bond Crescent Infill Study and has appropriate regard for the criteria described under Subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act
Servicing Allocation and Noise Classification Requests – 178 Centre Street East (near the CN railway tracks)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of its request to grant municipal servicing allocation and to permit a Class 4 Area noise classification for the subject lands to facilitate the construction of the subject residential development on its land holdings. The development proposal satisfies the City’s Interim Growth Management Strategy criteria, achieves a “good” score in accordance with the City’s Sustainability Metrics performance level criteria and is consistent with the City’s servicing allocation policy.
The applicant is seeking approval of its revised Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision applications to permit a residential development to be comprised of 46 common element condominium townhouse dwellings, in addition to blocks for open space, road widening and reserve purposes on its land holdings. Staff has completed a comprehensive review and evaluation of the applicant’s revised development proposal and is of the opinion that the submitted applications conform with the applicable policies of the City’s Official Plan, are consistent with the Harris-Beech Infill Study and the approved Master Environmental Servicing Plan (MESP) for the Harris-Beech Area, and have regard for the criteria described under Subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act. Staff is also of the opinion that the applicant’s revised applications are appropriate and represent good planning.
Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 1070 Major Mackenzie Drive East (at Bayview)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of its Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to permit a nine storey retirement residence on its land holdings. Staff is of the opinion that the proposed development is consistent with the PPS, conforms with the Growth Plan and the ROP, is consistent with the principles and broader policy direction for this part of the City as outlined in the Plan and represents good planning.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications – 13572 and 13586 Bayview Avenue (south of Bloomington in Oak Ridges)
The applicants are seeking Council’s approval of its revised Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment applications to permit the construction of an eight storey mid-rise apartment building on the subject lands. Staff has completed a comprehensive review and evaluation of the proposed development and is of the opinion that the submitted applications conform with the overarching principles of the Plan, are appropriate in the context of the area and represent good planning.
Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications – 11580 Leslie Street (north of 19th Ave)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of its revised Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision applications to permit a residential development to be comprised of 19 townhouse dwelling units on its land holdings. Staff has completed a comprehensive review and evaluation of the applicant’s revised development proposal and is of the opinion that the submitted applications conform with the applicable policies of the North Leslie Secondary Plan and have regard for the criteria described under Subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act. Staff is also of the opinion that the applicant’s revised Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision applications are appropriate and represent good planning.
Draft Plan of Subdivision Application – 1577 to 1621 Major Mackenzie Drive East (between Leslie and the 404)
The applicant is seeking Council’s approval of its draft Plan of Subdivision application in support of its proposal to construct a residential development to be comprised of 114 single detached dwelling units on its land holdings. The proposed draft Plan of Subdivision has regard for the criteria described under Subsection 51(24) of the Planning Act and complies with Ontario Regulation 698/20. In light of the preceding, staff considers the development proposal to be appropriate and to represent good planning.
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