County of Brant Council Minutes — June 27, 2023

Agenda

1. Delegation: Kate Burns Gallagher – Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus
2. Delegation: Jennifer Haley & Andrea Quenneville – County of Brant Police Services Board Bi-Annual Update
3. Delegation: Sacred Heart Church – Donation Request
4. Delegation: Matthew Cummings – Downtown Paris BIA Annual Report
5. Delegation: Brian and Martina Bruinsma – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction
6. Delegation: Erin Jaggard – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction
7. Petition – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction
8. Delegation: David Powell – The Old Town Hall / Bawcutt Centre
9. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
10. Consent Items to be Received
11. Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury – Resolution Re: Endorsement of the Right to Repair Movement
12. Planning and Development Committee Report – June 13, 2023
13. Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 20, 2023
14. RPT 260-23 – Award of OPS-RFT-23-21 Broadway Street West Storm Sewer Outlet
15. RPT-0328-23 – 2023-24 Seniors Active Living Centre Program
16. RPT 247-23 – New Library and Bawcutt Centre Project Design Concept
17. In Camera Session
18. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Sacred Heart Parish Church $100,000 donation request referred to 2024 budget	Passed	9–0
2	Onondaga speed limit reduction request referred to the Safe Streets Program	Passed	unanimous
3	Endorsement of Right to Repair Movement; Mayor to draft letter to MPs and MPPs	Passed	unanimous
4	Planning and Development Committee Report of June 13, 2023 approved (rename Broadway Lane to Keeton Lane)	Passed	unanimous
5	Administration and Operations Committee Report of June 20, 2023 approved	Passed	unanimous
6	Award OPS-RFT-23-21 Broadway Street West Storm Sewer Outlet to R&M Construction for $404,075.99	Passed	unanimous
7	Support application for Seniors Active Living Centre Program funding and commit to 20% of net annual costs	Passed	unanimous
8	Amendment to de-risk Main Library and Bawcutt Centre project prior to returning to Council	Failed	2–9
9	Approve concept design for the Main Library and Bawcutt Centre	Passed	8–3
10	Approve Main Library and Bawcutt Centre project for construction, subject to site plan and zoning applications	Passed	7–4
11	Direct CSL to issue tenders for Main Library and Bawcutt Centre to prequalified contractors	Passed	8–3
12	Include $13,489,000 in 2024 Capital Budget for Main Library and Bawcutt Centre	Passed	7–4
13	Steering Group for Main Library and Bawcutt Centre to transition to Fundraising Committee	Passed	9–2
14	Direct staff to investigate parking opportunities on adjacent streets for Main Library and Bawcutt Centre	Passed	8–3

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Full Minutes

4.1. Delegation: Kate Burns Gallagher – Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus

Kate Burns Gallagher presented on behalf of the Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus, an organization that advocates for rural municipalities at the federal and provincial levels. She outlined the group's 2023/24 priorities, which include housing, workforce retention, and addressing mental health, addictions, and homelessness. The delegation was received as information.

4.2. Delegation: Jennifer Haley & Andrea Quenneville – County of Brant Police Services Board Bi-Annual Update

The Chair of the Police Services Board and a local Inspector provided a semi-annual update on policing in the County of Brant. Topics included upcoming community events, the status of the School Resource Officer Program, traffic enforcement statistics, collaboration with the St. Leonard's Society on mental health calls, and ongoing grant applications. Council discussed local safety statistics compared to neighbouring municipalities.

4.3. Delegation: Sacred Heart Church – Donation Request

Representatives from Sacred Heart Parish requested a $100,000 donation from the County to help fund construction of a new parish hall. The hall is intended to provide services for seniors and youth programming and would be open to the broader community for scheduled programming. Council received the delegation and referred the funding request to the 2024 budget process.

4.4. Delegation: Matthew Cummings – Downtown Paris BIA Annual Report

Matthew Cummings, Chair of the Paris Business Improvement Area, delivered the BIA's annual report highlighting updated branding including a new logo, website, and social media presence. He noted that the Paris BIA has the lowest levy of any BIA in Ontario and discussed budget pressures the organization is facing along with potential solutions. The delegation was received as information.

4.5. Delegation: Brian and Martina Bruinsma – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction

Brian and Martina Bruinsma asked Council to reduce the speed limit in the hamlet of Onondaga from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, citing increased use of a local park and the absence of sidewalks. They argued the reduction would not negatively affect traffic flow and pointed to a community petition in support of the request.

4.6. Delegation: Erin Jaggard – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction

Erin Jaggard also appeared before Council to support reducing the speed limit in Onondaga to 30 km/h. She described traffic through the village as dangerous and argued that the current 50 km/h limit is too high for such a small community.

4.7. Petition – Onondaga Speed Limit Reduction

Mayor Bailey acknowledged receipt of a community petition requesting that the speed limit on local streets in Onondaga be reduced to 30 km/h. Together with the two related delegations, the petition and requests were referred to the County's Safe Streets Program for further review.

4.8. Delegation: David Powell – The Old Town Hall / Bawcutt Centre

David Powell, a neighbour of the historic Old Town Hall building, spoke in support of the proposed new library and Bawcutt Centre project. He highlighted the building's historical significance, noting it predates Canada's Parliament buildings and is designated a federally historic site, and expressed enthusiasm for the new facility's inclusive programming potential. The delegation was referred to agenda item 9.3 for further consideration.

5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from several previous meetings, including the Special Council meetings of May 16, May 29, 30, and 31, and the regular Council meetings of May 23 and June 13, 2023.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received a number of informational items including minutes from the Long Point Region Conservation Authority, City of Brantford Social Services, Paris BIA, Grand River Conservation Authority, County of Brant Police Services Board, and the Public Library Board. One item regarding the Right to Repair Movement was separated for individual discussion.

7.2.4. Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury – Resolution Re: Endorsement of the Right to Repair Movement

Council considered a resolution from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury endorsing the Right to Repair Movement, which advocates for consumers' ability to repair their own products and equipment. Council agreed to receive the resolution and directed the Mayor to send a similar letter to local Members of Parliament and Provincial Parliament expressing the County of Brant's support.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – June 13, 2023

The Planning and Development Committee recommended that Broadway Lane be officially renamed to Keeton Lane. Council approved the committee report, and a corresponding by-law was later passed at this meeting.

8.2. Administration and Operations Committee Report – June 20, 2023

Council approved a wide-ranging report from the Administration and Operations Committee covering 19 items. Key decisions included: deferring a road use by-law exemption request pending a staff report; supporting the Kloss2Cross charity swim event with free pool access and communications support; awarding contracts for road widening and boulevard construction; approving $1.4 million in additional funding for the John Noble Home Bell Court expansion; directing staff to begin detailed design of a downtown Paris streetscape renewal based on a parallel parking option; and approving a Community Improvement Plan grant for signage at a Grand River Street North property.

9.1. RPT 260-23 – Award of OPS-RFT-23-21 Broadway Street West Storm Sewer Outlet

Council approved awarding the contract for the Broadway Street West Storm Sewer Outlet project to R & M Construction at a bid price of $404,075.99 (excluding HST). This is an infrastructure improvement to manage stormwater in the area.

9.2. RPT-0328-23 – 2023-24 Seniors Active Living Centre Program

Council approved supporting an application for provincial funding through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility to continue and expand the County's Active Living Program and Seniors to Seniors: Healthy Aging Lecture Series. The County committed to funding at least 20% of the net annual costs of maintaining and operating the program.

9.3. RPT 247-23 – New Library and Bawcutt Centre Project Design Concept

Council reviewed and debated the design concept and financing plan for a new main library and Bawcutt Centre. The total project involves significant debt, with an estimated $16.7 million debenture to be repaid through property taxes and approximately $8.4 million through development charges. After a failed amendment that sought to de-risk the project before proceeding, Council voted clause-by-clause to approve the concept design, authorize construction subject to planning approvals, proceed to tendering, include $13.49 million in the 2024 capital budget, transition the steering group to a fundraising committee, and direct staff to explore parking options on nearby streets.

13. In Camera Session

Council moved into a closed (in camera) session to discuss confidential legal and property matters, including two Ontario Land Tribunal appeals, insurance litigation updates, a verbal legal update, and a potential land transaction at 142 Oakland Road. Council also held a training session during this time. The session ran from 9:23 p.m. to 10:55 p.m.

14. By-laws

Council passed eight by-laws on three readings, covering appointments of livestock valuers, fence viewers, and site alteration inspectors; updates to committee and board memberships; closing of road lands at two locations; renaming of Broadway Lane to Keeton Lane; and a confirming by-law for the proceedings of the meeting.

This post was automatically generated by BrantVotes from the official County of Brant council minutes. Always refer to the official minutes for authoritative records.