Date: February 23, 2021
Location: Electronic Participation only
Present: Mayor Bailey, Councillors Wheat, MacAlpine, Laferriere, Howes, Bell, Peirce, Miller, Chambers, Coleman, Gatward
Agenda
- Presentation of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Award for Community Influencer of the Year to Mayor Bailey
- Pietro Falco – Request for Grandfathering of Shipping Container at 2 Willowdale Street
- Brant Condominium Corporations Association – Request for Services
- Canadian Mental Health Association Brant Haldimand Norfolk – Request for Emergency Grant in Advance of County Grants Process
- J. Hitchon – 449/453 Mount Pleasant Road – Request for Boundary Adjustment
- Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
- Consent Items to be Received
- Paramedic Services Committee Report – February 1, 2021
- Planning and Development Committee Report – February 2, 2021
- Administration and Operations Committee Report – February 16, 2021
- RPT-21-48 – Council Structure Consultations Update
- RPT-21-50 – Enforcement of Parking on Private Property – 30 Balmoral Street
- Shawn Pratt, Grand River Cab – Request for Fare Increase and Licensing Fee Deferral
- South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR EDC) – Congratulations to Mayor Bailey on EDCO Award
- Environmental Management Reserve – Notice of Motion
- In Camera Session – COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
- By-laws
Votes at a Glance
Full Minutes
4.1. Presentation of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Award for Community Influencer of the Year to Mayor Bailey
The Director of Economic Development and Tourism presented Mayor Bailey with the EDCO Community Influencer of the Year Award. This was the second consecutive year the award had been given to a County of Brant representative. Council passed a motion formally congratulating Mayor Bailey on receiving the honour.
Congratulate Mayor Bailey on receiving the EDCO Award for Community Influencer of the Year
4.2. Pietro Falco – Request for Grandfathering of Shipping Container at 2 Willowdale Street
A property owner asked Council to either grandfather in a storage container (C-Can) that has sat on his property for over 12 years as a permitted use, or waive the $3,000 fee required for a Zoning By-law Amendment. He noted the container is barely visible from the street. Council referred the matter to staff for a report.
Refer request for grandfathering of shipping container at 2 Willowdale Street to staff for a report
4.3. Brant Condominium Corporations Association – Request for Services
A representative of the Brant Condominium Corporations Association asked the County to take over fire hydrant inspection and maintenance, provide on-street garbage and recycling collection for condo units, and conduct stormwater system inspections — services currently the responsibility of individual condo corporations. Council discussed equity concerns and the differences between municipal and condominium service levels, and referred the matter to staff for a report.
Refer Brant Condominium Corporation request for municipal services to staff for a report
4.4. Canadian Mental Health Association Brant Haldimand Norfolk – Request for Emergency Grant in Advance of County Grants Process
Representatives from the Canadian Mental Health Association requested an emergency grant to help cover costs for the 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week (May 3–9), which was being planned as a virtual event due to the pandemic. They noted that virtual events limit fundraising opportunities and that mental health needs have increased during COVID-19. Council approved a $5,000 emergency grant. Councillor Gatward declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.
Award $5,000 emergency grant to Canadian Mental Health Association Brant Haldimand Norfolk for Mental Health Awareness Week
4.5. J. Hitchon – 449/453 Mount Pleasant Road – Request for Boundary Adjustment
A representative presented a preliminary request to adjust the City of Brantford's settlement area boundary to include a small parcel of land at 449/453 Mount Pleasant Road that currently falls outside it. The goal is to allow the entire property to be developed for residential use. No action from the County was required at this stage; if the City agrees to proceed, it will seek input from the County. Council received the presentation as information.
Direct staff to follow-up with Integrity Commissioner to bring forward recommended Code of Conduct changes
5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
Council approved the minutes from the January 26, 2021 Council meeting.
Approve Planning and Development Committee report of February 2, 2021 including zoning amendments and subdivision approvals
7.2. Consent Items to be Received
Council received 14 informational items including reports on taxi licensing, the Integrity Commissioner's annual report, provincial funding updates, conservation authority minutes, and local board minutes. Discussion followed on the Integrity Commissioner's proposed changes to the County's Code of Conduct, with Council directing staff to bring forward recommended changes for consideration.
Approve Administration and Operations Committee report of February 16, 2021 including vehicle tenders, transit MOU, and road projects
Retain current County of Brant Council and Ward Boundary Structure for 2022 Municipal Elections
8.1. Paramedic Services Committee Report – February 1, 2021
Council received the Paramedic Services Committee minutes from February 1, 2021 as information. No substantive recommendations were brought forward for approval at this time.
Add 30 Balmoral Street to Schedule 16 of Parking By-law 4-19 for private parking lot enforcement
8.2. Planning and Development Committee Report – February 2, 2021
Council approved several planning recommendations including: removing a holding provision at 50 High Street to allow a 35-unit seniors apartment building; approving a zoning change at 485 Paris Road to permit an aggregate recycling facility; approving a rezoning and draft plan of vacant land condominium for 20 single-detached homes at 40, 46 and 56 Cedar Street; and approving a residential subdivision of 35 single-detached homes on Willowdale Street and Dalewood Avenue. Staff were also directed to initiate a general housekeeping zoning by-law amendment.
Refer Grand River Cab fare increase request to staff report for next Administration and Operations Committee meeting
8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – February 16, 2021
Council approved a range of operational recommendations including: an update on the Equal Ground Community Gardens partnership; awarding three road vehicle tenders totaling over $412,000; receiving the annual drinking water systems summary report; receiving aquifer monitoring reports; authorizing the County to join the Southwest Transit Association for regional transit coordination; approving the purchase of a firefighter training tower for $30,800; endorsing the 2021 roads rehabilitation program; and releasing the Governor's Road West Environmental Assessment for public review.
Authorize CAO to work with Brant County Health Unit to make municipal facilities available for COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics
9.1. RPT-21-48 – Council Structure Consultations Update
Council reviewed the results of consultations on whether to change the County's ward and council structure before the 2022 municipal election. Given limited public engagement opportunities, significant ongoing growth, and the pending Official Plan update, Council decided to keep the existing structure in place for 2022. The next review will be undertaken during the 2022–2026 term of Council.
9.2. RPT-21-50 – Enforcement of Parking on Private Property – 30 Balmoral Street
A request was made to add 30 Balmoral Street to the County's parking by-law so that the County could enforce parking rules in the private parking lot there. Council debated whether this would be inconsistent with a recent decision to refuse a similar request at 80 Willow Street and could set a precedent. The motion was defeated.
10.1. Shawn Pratt, Grand River Cab – Request for Fare Increase and Licensing Fee Deferral
Grand River Cab requested a fare increase in addition to a previously addressed licensing extension. Staff noted a comprehensive taxi by-law review is underway, with a report scheduled for the Administration and Operations Committee in March. Council referred the fare increase request to that upcoming staff report rather than acting on it immediately.
10.3. South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation (SCOR EDC) – Congratulations to Mayor Bailey on EDCO Award
Council received a letter from the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation congratulating Mayor Bailey on winning the EDCO Community Influencer of the Year Award.
11.1. Environmental Management Reserve – Notice of Motion
Councillor Laferriere gave formal notice of a motion to be considered at the next Council meeting to establish an Environmental Management Reserve. No vote was taken at this meeting as this was simply advance notice of an upcoming motion.
13. In Camera Session – COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
Council met in a closed (in camera) session to discuss collective bargaining, a proposed land acquisition at Newport River Access, and a property tax relief request. Following the in camera session, Council passed a public resolution authorizing the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Brant County Health Unit to make municipal facilities available as mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics, while maintaining other community uses where possible.
14. By-laws
Council gave three readings to and passed ten by-laws, including zoning amendments for multiple properties (Pinevest Homes, Gedco Excavating, County of Brant at 50 High Street, Cedar Street condos, and Lauderdale Developments), relief from land severance restrictions for a Paris subdivision, a collective agreement with the Power Workers' Union, appointment of by-law enforcement officers, a fence by-law amendment, and the standard confirming by-law. By-law 23-21 regarding a BIA budget was withdrawn for further consideration.
This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.
