The last meeting for this term of Council is Wednesday September 14, 2022 at 9:30am
View Revised Agenda here and Meeting Videos Part 1 & Part 2 & Part 3 & Part 4
Thankfully today was the last meeting for this term of council. Hopefully Richmond Hill residents will never be subjected to today's disgraceful display of unprofessionalism ever again! It was so bad that the police had to be called in.
Recap:
Meeting video Part 1- 27 minutes in length
The fireworks started about 15 minutes into the meeting. When it was time to adopt the meeting agenda Councillor DiPaola wanted to change the agenda and have "agenda item 14.4 be removed as a result of legal advice received" and chaos ensued.
Agenda item 14.4 was Councillor Beros's Member Motion for a Closed Session to receive legal advice regarding the 2 lawsuits that Councillor Perrelli brought forth against the City and one against some council members and City staff.
Perrelli lawsuit #1 Court File No. CV-22-00002095-0000
Perrelli lawsuit #2 Court File No. CV-22-00002453-0000
It did not come as a surprise that the majority of council did not want or need to discuss the pending lawsuit given that they also voted not to go into closed session at the September 7th Special Council Meeting. View Sept. 7th meeting recap here.
Councillor Beros was first to speak and proceeded to read from a prepared statement and Mayor West cautioned him to speak to the motion on the floor which was the adoption of the agenda. Beros ignored the Chair and continued to speak. The Chair was forced to mute Beros's microphone 3 times because Beros kept talking and was not following procedure and the rule of the Chair. This went on for about 10 minutes. Listen here to the exchange.
At this point, for some unknown reason, Councillor Perrelli took exception to City Clerk Huycke changing chairs with Deputy Clerk Ryan Ban. Mayor West immediately cautioned him to "use his words carefully" yet Perrelli kept on bellowing and subsequently his microphone was also muted by the Chair. Councillor Sheppard attempted to call a Point of Order but Perrelli's bellowing continued and Mayor West was forced to call a 5 minute recess and shut down the video. Listen here to the exchange.
Meeting video Part 2- 1 minute 16 seconds in length
When the Council meeting reconvened Clerk Huycke can be heard defending himself and Perrelli is continuing to shout in the background even though his microphone was still muted. Mayor West states "Councillor Perrelli clearly you are not going to be abiding by the rule of the chair. I have no other option but to ask you to leave under the Municipal Act".
At this point Perrelli refused to leave and continued bellowing so the meeting was recessed and York Regional Police were called. Listen here to the exchange.
Meeting video Part 3- 1 hour 51 minutes in length
After 2 hours the Council meeting reconvened and finally got down to business. Mayor West stated "I do have a commitment that all members of council, including Councillor Perrelli, will commit to abiding by the the rules and procedures and the ruling of the chair".
Debate continued for another 20 minutes on the Adoption of the Agenda without item 14.4 with argumentative Councillor Muench leading the charge but eventually the motion including the removal of item 14.4 Closed Session passed.
Voting in favour of Agenda without 14.4
West, DiPaola, Chan, Cilevitz, Liu, Sheppard
Voting against
Perrelli, Beros, Muench
14.6 Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Stormwater Fairness - Referred back to staff
That any property without city water or sewers be exempt from the upgraded stormwater premium charge.
After 90 minutes a motion to close the debate passed and this item was referred back to staff primarily to understand the full impact, which could cost up to $1million, of exempting all properties without city water or sewers
Voting in favour of referral
West, DiPaola, Chan, Cilevitz, Sheppard
Voting against
Perrelli, Beros, Muench, Liu
The motion to refer passed
Meeting video Part 4- 2 hours 11 minutes in length
All other agenda items passed
Items on the agenda include:
Integrity Commissioner ADR Chambers, Annual Report for the Operating Period May 12, 2021 to May 11, 2022
During this period 6 Code of Conduct complaints were investigated.
Response to Motion - Indoor Soccer Facility
The purpose of this report is to provide information in response to the Council resolution
approved on April 13, 2022 regarding investigating opportunities and locations to build
an indoor soccer facility in Richmond Hill and reporting back in Q3 of 2022.
Follow-up and Clarification - regarding 2021-2022 Season Winter Maintenance
An updated chart demonstrating the direct costs of the windrow snow removal program, and the per driveway cost of the program for information purposes.
The Windrow Program operating costs indicated in Table 2 of SRCS.22.11 include October to April salary and benefits costs for 29 full-time Operators positions hired specifically to facilitate the Windrow Program
The “Windrow Program – Direct Costs Only” row of the updated table identifies cost ranges that include 10% to 20% of the Operator winter salaries and benefits reflecting the estimated proportion of time these positions spent on tasks directly related to the Windrow Program during the 2021-2022 winter season.
Member Motion - Councillor Beros - To proclaim Ontario Cadets Week in the City of Richmond Hill
That the City of Richmond Hill proclaim Ontario Cadets Week on the first Saturday in October each year to honour the outstanding young Canadians and help them succeed.
Member Motion - Councillor Beros - Closed Session
To consider matters related to the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and related to litigation affecting the municipality.
In regards to the 2 lawsuits brought forth by Councillor Perrelli
More information about these 2 lawsuits:
Perrelli lawsuit #1 Court File No. CV-22-00002095-0000
Perrelli lawsuit #2 Court File No. CV-22-00002453-0000
Member Motion - Councillor Sheppard - Richmond Hill Village Core
Potential initiatives for the Village Core
Member Motion - Councillor Muench - Stormwater Fairness
That any property without city water or sewers be exempt from the upgraded stormwater premium charge.
Requests for Approval - Development Applications
Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications - The Duncan Rd - 16th Avenue Group Inc. - 0 Fern Avenue (near 16th Avenue)
to permit a residential infill development to be comprised of ten single detached dwelling lots and the creation of a new public street
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications - 2705785 Ontario Ltd. c/o Dilawri Real Estate Group Inc. - 9675, 9697 and 9699 Yonge Street (North of Clarissa Dr.)
to permit the construction of a high density mixed use residential/commercial development which is to be comprised of 19 and 16 storey residential apartment buildings connected by a six storey podium, at-grade townhouse dwelling units, and a four storey retail/commercial podium along the Yonge Street frontage and is intended to contain an Audi automobile sales dealership
Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Richmond Hill Ecumenical Homes Corporation c/o DMS Property Management Ltd. - 286 Major Mackenzie Drive East (west of GO Station)
revised development proposal to construct an eight storey, 90 unit residential rental apartment building
Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications - 2322669 Ontario Inc. - 18 Elm Grove Avenue (between Elm Grove and Regatta in Oak Ridges)
revised Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision applications to permit a medium density residential development to be comprised of 16 three storey townhouse dwelling units
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.