County of Brant Council Minutes — April 27, 2021

Agenda

1. Brant Cycling Club – Mountain Bike Trail Proposal
2. David Johnston – Abandoned Hydro One Corridors and Easements
3. Nathan Etherington – Demolition Permit Application – 12 Broadway Street West, Paris
4. Mike Morrison – Concerns Regarding Automated Speed Enforcement
5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings
6. Brant County Health Unit – Larviciding of Catchbasins – West Nile Virus
7. Consent Items to be Received
8. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 6, 2021
9. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – April 13, 2021
10. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 20, 2021
11. RPT-21-90 – Request to Amend Trigger Area
12. Proposed Demolition – 12 Broadway Street West
13. Brant Condominium Corporation – Request for County of Brant Representative
14. In Camera Session
15. By-laws

Votes at a Glance

#	Motion	Result	Tally
1	Support Brant Cycling Club North of the Nith River Single Track Trail Network proposal in principle; authorize staff to work with Club on next steps	Passed	unanimous
2	Support resolution requesting Province to order review of Hydro One policy on abandoned easements/lands; forward to AMO and SCOR	Passed	unanimous
3	Receive Nathan Etherington presentation on demolition of 12 Broadway Street West and refer to Correspondence Item 11.1	Passed	unanimous
4	Authorize West Nile Virus larviciding of catchbasins by Brant County Health Unit	Passed	unanimous
5	Approve Planning and Development Committee Report of April 6, 2021 (ZBA02/21/RC rezoning 556 Mount Pleasant Road; ZBA01/21/BK housekeeping amendment)	Passed	unanimous
6	Amend Recommendation 5 of Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee to include 'in principle' following approval of Fire Master Plan	Failed	unanimous
7	Approve Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report of April 13, 2021	Passed	9–1
8	Approve Administration and Operations Committee Report of April 20, 2021 (tax ratios, JNH budget, pavement markings, CIP, leases, automated speed enforcement, etc.)	Passed	unanimous
9	Deny request to remove 449 and 453 Mount Pleasant Road from the Trigger Area in the 2016 Boundary Adjustment Agreement	Passed	unanimous
10	Receive correspondence on proposed demolition of 12 Broadway Street West as information	Passed	unanimous
11	Direct staff, property owner and Brant Heritage Committee to meet to further discuss demolition permit application for 12 Broadway Street West	Passed	unanimous
12	Permit Brant Heritage Committee to resume via electronic meetings only as required for urgent matters and as resources permit	Passed	unanimous
13	Approve Cllr Bell as Council representative on the Brant Condominium Corporation	Passed	unanimous

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Full Minutes

4.2. Brant Cycling Club – Mountain Bike Trail Proposal

Representatives from the Brant Cycling Club presented a proposal to build a single-track trail network for mountain biking and non-motorized uses on Grand River Conservation Authority and County of Brant lands north of the Nith River. The trail would be open to the public, built largely by volunteers, and would help reduce pressure on existing trails and deter illegal trail building. Council supported the proposal in principle and authorized staff to work with the club on next steps including community engagement through the County's Engage Brant platform.

4.3. David Johnston – Abandoned Hydro One Corridors and Easements

A representative presented concerns about Hydro One's policy of refusing to sell or relinquish easements and land no longer in active use, which is preventing a landowner in Cainsville from developing employment-designated property. Council passed a resolution requesting the Province of Ontario to review this Hydro One policy, and directed that the resolution be forwarded to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation.

4.4. Nathan Etherington – Demolition Permit Application – 12 Broadway Street West, Paris

A heritage advocate presented concerns about a proposed demolition of one of the oldest buildings in downtown Paris, outlining provincial heritage tools such as Heritage Registers and Heritage Conservation Districts that could be used to protect historically significant structures. Council received the presentation and referred the matter for consideration alongside correspondence on the same topic.

4.5. Mike Morrison – Concerns Regarding Automated Speed Enforcement

A member of the public raised concerns about the County's plan to partner with a private company to operate an Automated Speed Enforcement program, arguing such programs tend to be profit-driven rather than safety-focused and can become financially burdensome for municipalities. Council received the presentation and referred it for consideration as part of the Administration and Operations Committee report.

5. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Council approved the minutes from its previous meetings held on March 23 and March 31, 2021.

7.1.1. Brant County Health Unit – Larviciding of Catchbasins – West Nile Virus

Council authorized the Brant County Health Unit to apply larvicide to catch basins and surface waters in the County to help reduce the risk of West Nile Virus, supporting any related permit applications submitted to the Ministry of the Environment by a licensed exterminator.

7.2. Consent Items to be Received

Council received a package of informational items including attendance reports, updates on Ontario Cannabis Legalization funding, conservation authority meeting minutes, library board minutes, and water quality program minutes. Separate votes were held for items requiring additional discussion, including a proposed housekeeping zoning by-law amendment that was withdrawn for further review.

8.1. Planning and Development Committee Report – April 6, 2021

Council approved recommendations from the Planning and Development Committee, including a rezoning application at 556 Mount Pleasant Road to allow construction of a single detached dwelling, and a county-wide housekeeping amendment to the Zoning By-law to improve its accuracy and alignment with provincial and local planning policies.

8.2. Policy Development and Strategic Direction Committee Report – April 13, 2021

Council approved a range of recommendations from this committee including the appointment of committee leadership, receipt of the Integrity Commissioner's Annual Report, approval of the County's Fire Master Plan, and a new Parks and Recreation Asset Naming Policy. An amendment to add the words 'in principle' to the Fire Master Plan approval was defeated. The overall report passed 9-1 in a recorded vote.

8.3. Administration and Operations Committee Report – April 20, 2021

Council approved a wide-ranging set of recommendations covering 2021 tax ratios for various property classes, a budget adjustment for the John Noble Home following provincial COVID-19 funding, awarding a pavement markings contract, a facade improvement grant for a Paris business, a 10-year lease of the police detachment building, support for the 988 Crisis Line and cannabis enforcement resolutions, expansion of the winter sidewalk maintenance program, Pride Month lawn signs, community garden expansion, authorization of an Automated Speed Enforcement program with a private vendor, and a tender for Hartley Ave. Park including pickleball courts.

9.1. RPT-21-90 – Request to Amend Trigger Area

Council considered a request to remove two properties at 449 and 453 Mount Pleasant Road from the Trigger Area established under the 2016 Boundary Adjustment Agreement between the County of Brant and the City of Brantford. Council voted to deny the request.

10.1. Proposed Demolition – 12 Broadway Street West

Council debated how to respond to a demolition permit application for one of the oldest buildings in downtown Paris. Staff outlined options ranging from allowing the permit to proceed to pursuing heritage designation. Council ultimately voted to receive the correspondence, directed staff and the Brant Heritage Committee to meet with the property owner to further discuss the matter, and allowed the Heritage Committee to resume electronic meetings for urgent matters as resources permit.

10.2. Brant Condominium Corporation – Request for County of Brant Representative

The Brant Condominium Corporation requested that the County appoint a Council representative to sit on its board. Councillor John Bell agreed to serve in this role, and Council approved the appointment.

13. In Camera Session

Council met in a closed session to discuss a proposed land disposition and a matter related to negotiations. The in-camera session ran from 8:55 p.m. to 9:44 p.m. and is recorded in separate confidential minutes.

14. By-laws

Council passed twelve by-laws on three readings, covering appointments of a building inspector and municipal law enforcement officers, fence by-law amendments for two properties, a facade improvement grant agreement, a zoning amendment for 556 Mount Pleasant Road, 2021 tax policies, appointment of a Drainage Superintendent, a Fire Safety Grant transfer payment agreement, and a confirming by-law. A county-wide housekeeping zoning amendment was withdrawn.

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