Richmond Hill Council Meeting Wednesday June 22, 2022 at 9:30am
View Revised Agenda here and View Meeting video here
This was likely the shortest council meeting of this term clocking in at just over 2 hours. Most of the discussion was around the Land Acknowledgement motion.
Recap:
Resident Yoke Wong gave an excellent delegation at the Public Forum about the Council Severance Policy and explains why she thinks it should change.
You may recall that at the June 8th Council meeting the Council Compensation Review Committee, of which Yoke is a member presented their recommendations, including a revised Severance Policy. Council voted in favour of the recommendations except for the revised Severance Policy. No explanation given by Councillors as to why they did not approve the revised policy.
Community Benefit Charges Strategy
Staff presented the Community Benefit Charges (CBC) Strategy and received comments back. The By-law will come forward for approval at the July 6th Council meeting.
Motion Passed
Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Land Acknowledgement
This motion proposes to adopt the Land Acknowledgement developed by the Indigenous Action Committee of Richmond Hill.
After much discussion this item was deferred to the July 6th Council Meeting
Most of the discussion around questioning the hiring by staff of an Indigenous Expert Consultant and not about the proposed Land Acknowledgement Statement
There seemed to be a reluctance to have the Indigenous Action Committee's proposed statement included with the Indigenous Communities consultation being undertaken by staff and the Indigenous Consultant.
Councillor Perrelli stated "I think we have a Land Acknowledgement that was approved by the Indigenous Action Committee. It was consulted through their their elders as was stated and is in fact a proper land acknowledgement unlike the one that our consultants suggested prior to this that was a treaty acknowledgement and was very offensive".
The direction Staff received from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and other municipalities, that had land acknowledgements, was that it was important to reach out broadly to the indigenous community so that the interests of indigenous groups, that might no longer be resident in the community, but who may have land claims/history on the land, be represented.
In Favour of deferral: Perrelli, Chan, Liu, Beros, Muench
Not in Favour of deferral: West, DiPaola, Cilevitz, Sheppard
Councillor DiPaola attempted to submit the referral below recommending that the Indigenous Action Committee's proposed Land Acknowledgement be included with the consultation. The referral was replaced by the approved deferral above regarding the Indigenous Consultant's contract.
Last November Staff was unanimously directed by Council to go back and continue consultation with the Indigenous Community. An Indigenous Expert Consultant was hired to assist with this work.
Councillor Perrelli grilled the City Manager on who gave her authority to hire the Indigenous Consultant and the cost involved and called for an amendment to have the Indigenous Consultant's contract cancelled.
Councillor Cilevitz confirmed that the City Manager has a discretionary consulting budget approved by council for her to use in this type of situation
Perrelli's amendment or his Member Motion did not go forward
All other items passed on consent including the:
Richmond Hill Public Library Board Composition which for the 2022-2024 term will have 3 Council members and 6 citizens instead of the current 4 Council members and 5 citizens.
Approval of the 2022 Parks Plan which will guide parkland needs and acquisition, outdoor recreation facility planning, and park revitalization to 2032
Agenda Items Include:
Richmond Hill Public Library Board Composition
On April 22, 2020, Council considered adopted a resolution that staff report back on recommendations to update the City’s composition requirements for the Richmond Hill Public Library Board that are consistent with the Public Libraries Act.
Staff recommends the following:
That the Richmond Hill Public Library Board, beginning with the 2022 to 2026 Term of Council be comprised of a total of nine (9) persons selected as follows:
three (3) Members of Council; and
six (6) citizen members qualified for appointment including persons who are permanent residents
Currently on the Library Board are Councillors DiPaola, Perrelli, Beros and Muench (4) and citizen members Stephen Chait, Frank DePede, Sugantha Raj, Mahnaz Shahbazi, Rona Wang (5)
The Library Board recommends maintaining the current size of the Board and the current composition of councillors and residents.
Community Benefit Charges Strategy
Staff will present the Community Benefit Charges (CBC) Strategy and the Draft CBC By-law at the Council Meeting. At the Council meeting, staff will receive further feedback from both members of the public and Council.
Request for Approval - 2022 Parks Plan
This report responds to Council’s direction by providing an updated Parks Plan which
will guide parkland needs and acquisition, outdoor recreation facility planning, and park
revitalization to 2032. It also provides the necessary background information to bring
forward an updated Parkland Dedication By-law which must be enacted by September
18, 2022 per the legislative timeline outlined in the Planning Act.
Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor Perrelli - Land Acknowledgement
This motion proposes to adopt the following Land Acknowledgement developed by the Indigenous Action Committee of Richmond Hill.
The land that we meet on today is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Huron Wendat, and is currently home to many diverse and displaced First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
We would like to recognize, acknowledge and thank the people of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Beausoleil First Nation, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, the Mississaugas of the Credit and many others who have cared for the land for thousands of years before us.
We are committed to ongoing learning, and we strive to move forward with good hearts and minds and are committed to doing so with gratitude and respect for the past, present and future caretakers of this land.
At the November 10, 2021 Council meeting staff were directed to have further consultations with local Indigenous Communities on the wording for the Land Acknowledgement and to report back to Council on a revised Land Acknowledgement at a future Council Meeting.
This Member Motion pre-empts the staff report and consultation as requested by Council.
How You Can Participate in Council Meetings
The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by attending in-person (225 East Beaver Creek) or by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings.
Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) on the day before the meeting.
Delegations: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) the day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line application form. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.
Public Forum: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) the day before the meeting. Persons wanting to address Council during the Public Forum portion of the meeting must register by sending an email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line form. Public Forum participation can be in-person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.