Richmond Hill Council Meeting Wednesday March 23, 2022 at 1pm
View Revised Agenda here and View Video Part 1 & Part 2 & Part 3
Another productive meeting completed but it went on much longer than necessary thanks to the constant and disruptive histrionics displayed by certain council members. This meeting also had a number of incidents where City staff and some council members were being targeted by other council members.
Recap:
Region of York’s Draft Official Plan
After much discussion mostly around affordable housing the motion passed.
Motion Carried
For - West, DiPaola, Beros, Liu, Sheppard, Cilevitz, Chan
Against - Perrelli, Muench
Memorandum from Kelvin Kwan, Commissioner of Planning and Infrastructure, dated March 18, 2022, regarding Alectra Utility Corporation letter dated March 17, 2022
Local Councillor Castro Liu worked with the residents and Alectra for months to find a suitable solution to the tall hydro poles practically in the backyards of impacted residents.
Councillor Perrelli blamed Councillors Liu and DiPaola for not supporting and failing Ward 3 residents stating that "they failed the residents of Ward 3 to bring a proper solution" and "they just want to blame Alectra" and that "Alectra is being used as a scapegoat". Listen to the clip here
At the February 23rd council meeting Councillor Perrelli commended Councillor Liu stating that "sometimes you have to pull the plug and you have to say there's nothing more we can do so I commend you for trying to do this" and "no approval is not necessary by the region or by the city they have the exclusive domain as theirs to do as they see fit". It seems disingenuous to now accuse Councillor Liu of failing his residents. Councillor Perrelli's solution at that time was to "mitigating of the visual aspect of those poles by planting trees along the flankage of their property so that when they do look out if the trees are strategically placed we take away the the negative visual impact". The poles in question are 80' high so they would likely be difficult to hide.
Alectra is a provincial agency and can do what they want to do as they are governed by the Electricity Act which overrides the Municipal Act. As such they do not require consent to proceed from any level of government or homeowners.
Motion Carried
For - West, DiPaola, Perrelli, Beros, Muench, Sheppard, Cilevitz, Chan
Against - Liu
Request for Direction - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications - Yonge Sixteen LP - 9251 Yonge Street
Motion passed unanimously
Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Expanding Walkable Trails and Supporting Agriculture in the Greenbelt
This motion had the most delegates who unfortunately had to wait 7 hours to speak.
A number of times during this meeting Councillor Muench accused City staff of lying. He claims that staff did not provide information requested by council in April 2021. Listen to staff's response.
Items #1 and 6 of the motion were voted on separately as council members stated that the Province had already said that they would not allow redesignation of lands in the Oak Ridges Moraine.
#1 and #6 Redesignating the Oak Ridges Moraine
Did Not Pass
For: Muench, Liu
Against: West, DiPaola, Beros, Sheppard, Cilevitz, Chan
Abstained: Perrelli calling from his cell phone could not read motion
#2, 3, 4, 5, 7 Carried
For: West, DiPaola, Beros, Muench, Liu, Sheppard, Cilevitz, Chan
Abstained: Perrelli
Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Real Estate Open House Signs
Councillor Muench brought this motion forward however he chose to not speak to it other than to say this. He left the meeting at this point.
There was no seconder for the motion however Councillor DiPaola requested a referral back to staff for consultation with stakeholders.
Motion to Refer carried
For: West, DiPaola, Liu, Sheppard, Cilevitz, Chan
Against: Perrelli, Beros
Absent: Muench
Interesting Agenda Items include:
Region of York’s Draft Official Plan
That City Council endorse the comments on the Region of York’s Draft Official Plan set out in SRPI.22.036, and in doing so, Council requests that prior to adoption, the Region:
2021 Council and Committees Remuneration and Expenses
According to the City Treasurer regarding the Event Expenses:
The deficits can be carried forward, and need to be paid/funded by nomination day which is August 19, 2022
The Council Events Policy allows for any surplus to carried forward throughout Council term.
In the year of Election (ie. 2022) a surplus must be used up for an event by nomination day or otherwise donated to a Community group or charity (as identified by the respective Councillor by May of the Election year)
Because 2022 is an election year they are allowed host one one-day event and it must be done prior to nomination day which is August 19, 2022
Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Expanding Walkable Trails and Supporting Agriculture in the Greenbelt
Request expansion of the City’s urban boundary to include lands designated ORM Countryside south of Bethesda Road
Expansion of walkable and integrated trails, where feasible within the lands in the Gormley Go Station area. This would include amending where appropriate Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) designations
Requests York Region during its 30 year MCR plan provide for parks, transit and growth needs of the Gormley Go Station area and where possible enhance Natural Linkage and Natural Core of the environment; and
Requests, the Province of Ontario to assist wherever possible to link designations and consider collaborative approaches including creating a provincial park and all assistance to create a linear park system within the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt
A similar motion was brought forward by Muench in April 2021 - Read more here
Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Real Estate Open House Signs
The Open House Signs bylaw was revised by Council July 2019
Request for Direction - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications - Yonge Sixteen LP - 9251 Yonge Street
Request for Direction - Site Plan Application - Urbacon Properties Limited - 10 Sofia Court
Staff are seeking Council’s direction with respect to Site Plan application to facilitate the construction of a two storey data centre and warehouse that has been appealed to the OLT. A settlement has been reached with the applicant and City Staff with respect to the subject Site Plan application wherein all City comments and requirements have now been satisfactorily addressed.
City facilities are open to the public to attend Council and Committee meetings beginning on March 22, 2022. The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by attending in-person or by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings which can be accessed on the City’s website (Richmondhill.ca) or on the City’s YouTube page (linked from the City’s homepage).
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. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City’s website.
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