Richmond Hill Council Meeting Wednesday February 9, 2022 at 9:30am
Meeting Video Part 1 (2 1/2 hours)
Meeting Video Part 2 (4 1/2 hours)
Meeting Video Part 3 ( 1 3/4 hours)
RECAP
The first council meeting with Mayor West at the helm had an excruciatingly long rocky start but ended on a positive and productive note. All in all a successful first meeting for Mayor West with a number of important motions passing.
Meeting Video Part 1 (2 1/2 hours)
It took 2 1/2 excruciating hours in the morning just to approve the busy agenda.
The main bone of contentious was the addition of Mayor West's Time Sensitive matter to respond to the Infrastructure Ontario High Tech Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Plan.
Councillors Perrelli, Beros and Muench felt that this was not a time sensitive matter so should not be added to the agenda and attempted to used every tool in their verbal arsenal to stop the TOC item from being added.
By noon the agenda was finally adopted including the Time Sensitive TOC Matter.
In Favour: West, DiPaola, Muench, Lui, Cilevitz, Chan
Beros abstained and Perrelli was absent for the vote
Normally at this point council would approve a number of agenda items on consent. Those are items that don't require additional discussion. Councillor Perrelli however stated that he want to speak to all 20+ items on the agenda.
Meeting Video Part 2 (4 1/2 hours)
Meeting reconvened at 1pm.
Upon return from lunch there seemed to be a more subdued and collaborative approach from council members and they were finally able to get to work and hear the many delegates who had waited for hours to be heard and pass some important motions.
Councillor Perrelli determined over lunch that he didn't need to speak to all of the 20+ agenda items after all subsequently a number of agenda items were approved on consent.
Official Plan Update Key Directions Report
Motion Carried Unanimously
Member Motion - Online Voting for the October 2022 Election
Motion Carried
In Favour: West, DiPaola, Beros, Liu, Cilevitz and Chan
Opposed: Muench, Perrelli abstained
At this point Councillor Beros put forth a motion requesting that the Council meeting be adjourned and continued on Friday morning as it was his birthday and he had a dinner to attend.
Motion Failed to Carry
In Favour: Beros, Perrelli, Muench
Opposed: West, DiPaola, Liu, Cilevitz, Chan
One wonders if it had not taken 2 1/2 hours to approve the agenda in the morning the council meeting with all members present could have finished before dinner.
Meeting Video Part 3 ( 1 3/4 hours)
The meeting reconvened at 6:30pm. Councillors Perrelli and Beros were absent.
Options to fill the Vacancy in the Office of Ward 4 Councillor
Motion Carried Unanimously
Council approved Option 1 - Appointing a qualified individual to fill the vacancy
The vacancy must be advertised on the City’s website for a minimum of four (4) consecutive weeks.
Any qualified individual would be required to submit the application form and declaration required by the Procedures.
A Special Council meeting would be held after the close of the four (4) week notice period.
Member Motion - Declare Opposition to the Discriminatory Nature of the Province of Quebec's Bill 21
Motion Carried Unanimously
Member Motion - Outdoor Ice Recreation Expansion
Motion Carried Unanimously
Mayor West's Time Sensitive Matter
Respond to the Infrastructure Ontario High Tech Transit Oriented Community (TOC) Plan
Motion Carried
In Favour: West, DiPaola, Lui, Cilevitz, Chan
Opposed: Muench
Below is a screenshot of Mayor West's motion that was approved.
Items on the Agenda include:
Options to fill the Vacancy in the Office of Ward 4 Councillor
As a result of David West winning the 2022 Mayoral By-election, and taking office on January 25, 2022, the Office of Ward 4 Councillor is vacant. Council is required within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant to either appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy, or pass a by-law requiring a By-election to be held to fill the vacancy.
Council has three options at this time:
Option 1 – Fill the vacancy by appointing any other qualified individual.
Option 2 – Fill the Vacancy by By-election.
Option 2a – Authorize the By-election vote to be conducted by Internet Voting only; or
Option 2b – Authorize the By-election vote to be conducted by Internet Voting and paper ballots with vote tabulators.
Option 3 – Defer the decision on filling the vacancy to a date no later than March 4, 2022
Member Motion - Councillor Chan - Online Voting for the October 2022 Election
That Council reconsider its June 9, 2021 decision not to authorize the use of Internet Voting for municipal elections.
Request for Endorsement: Official Plan Update Key Directions
That the Key Directions Report be endorsed by City Council, and that staff utilize the key directions to guide the update to the City’s Official Plan in support of the City’s 2041planning vision.
Member Motion - Regional and Local Councillor DiPaola - Declare Opposition to the Discriminatory Nature of the Province of Quebec's Bill 21
The City of Richmond Hill opposes Bill 21 as discriminatory in nature as it undermines the Fundamental Freedoms of Canadians enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
See below if you want to make or submit any comments regarding the agenda items.
Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda matters by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. Tuesday February 8th.
Electronic Delegations: The public may apply to appear as an electronic delegation by video conference or by telephone. Applications to appear as an electronic delegation must be submitted by 12 p.m. Tuesday February 8th by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line form. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as an electronic 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. Tuesday February 8th by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line form. Public Forum will be by video conference via the internet or telephone only. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.