Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:
22
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Ben Franklin Place, The Chamber, Main Floor, 101 Centrepointe Drive, and by electronic participation
Present:
  • Chair David Brown, 
  • Vice-Chair Clarke Kelly, 
  • Councillor Catherine Kitts, 
  • and Councillor Matt Luloff 
Absent:
  • Councillor George Darouze 

1.
Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

This item has attachments. 
1.Public Notices English - Hybrid Standing Committee.pdf
2.Public Notices French - Hybrid Standing Committee.pdf

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; in camera meeting procedures; information items not subject to discussion; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.


Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.


Except where otherwise indicated, reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Report 22.


The deadline to register by phone to speak, or submit written comments or visual presentations is 4 pm on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and the deadline to register by email to speak is 9:00 am on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

These “Summary Minutes” indicate the disposition of items and actions taken at the meeting. This document does not include all of the text that will be included in the full Minutes, such as the record of written and oral submissions. Recorded votes and dissents contained in the Summary Minutes are draft until the full Minutes of the meeting are confirmed by the Committee. The draft of the full Minutes (for confirmation) will be published with the agenda for the next regular Committee meeting and, once confirmed, will replace this document.

The Chair read the following statement at the outset of the meeting pursuant to the Planning Act:

This is a public meeting to consider the proposed Comprehensive Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments listed as Item(s) 5.1 on today’s Agenda.

For the item just mentioned, only those who make oral submissions today or written submissions before the amendments are adopted may appeal the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In addition, the applicant may appeal the matter to the Ontario Land Tribunal if Council does not adopt an amendment within 90 days of receipt of the application for a Zoning By-law Amendment and 120 days for an Official Plan Amendment.

To submit written comments on these amendments, prior to their consideration by City Council on 26 March 2025, please email or call the Committee or Council Coordinator.

2.
Declarations of Interest

 

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.
Confirmation of Minutes

 

4.
Infrastructure and Water Services Department

 

4.1
Lilley Municipal Drain – Recommendation of Engineer

This item has attachments. 
1.04.1 - ACS2025-IWS-WL-0006 - Lilley MD - Findings of Engineer.pdf

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0006  – West Carleton-March (5)

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council consider the recommendation brought forward by Robinson Consultants Inc. attached as document 2 in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Drainage Act of Ontario and not proceed with the drainage works.

    Carried

4.2
East Savage Municipal Drain – Appointment of Engineer

This item has attachments. 
1.ACS2025-IWS-WL-0005 - E Savage MD - Appt of Engineer.pdf

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0005 – Orléans South-Navan (19)

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council appoint Mr. Andy Robinson, P. Eng. of Robinson Consultants Inc., as the Engineer of record to prepare a report under Section 78(5) of the Drainage Act to prepare a new report to accommodate the relocation of the existing East Savage Municipal Drain within Lot 11, Concession 11, Orleans South-Navan Ward.

    Carried

5.
Planning, Development and Building Services Department

 

5.1
Zoning By-law Amendment – 1811 Richardson Side Road

This item has attachments. 
1.05.1 - ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0017- 1811 Richardson Side Road.pdf

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PSX-0017 – West Carleton-March (5)

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    1. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law 2008-250 for 1811 Richardson Side Road, as shown in Document 1, to permit a larger on-farm diversified use for a place of assembly than what is currently permitted by the Zoning By-law, as detailed in Document 2.
    2. That Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of March 26, 2025, subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.
    Carried

5.2
Rural Community-Building Grant Program – Grant Application Review

This item has attachments. 
1.ACS2025-PDB-PS-0017 - RCBGP-Staff Report.pdf

File No. ACS2025-PDB-PS-0017 – West Carleton-March (5) Osgoode (20) Rideau-Jock (21)

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approve the recommendations on the Rural Community-Building Grants Program applications as detailed in Document 1.

    Carried

6.
Office of the City Clerk

 

6.1
Status Update – Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiries and Motions – for the Period Ending 25 February 2025

This item has attachments. 
1.ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0031 - ARAC Status Updates.pdf
2.ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0031 - Docs 1 and 2.pdf

File No. ACS2025-OCC-CCS-0031 – City-wide

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee receive this report for information.

    Received

7.
In Camera Items

 

There were no in camera items.

8.
Open Mic Session

 

There were no in camera items.

9.
Notices of Motions (For Consideration at Subsequent Meeting)

 

There were no Notices of Motion.

10.
Inquiries

 

There were no Inquiries.

11.
Other Business

 

11.1
Motion - C. Kitts - Bear River Municipal Drain

 
  • Motion No. ARAC2025-22-xx

    That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion due to flooding of private property within the Bear River Watershed.

    WHEREAS: the Bear River Municipal Drain was originally surveyed in 1902 and has undergone several modifications and maintenance efforts over the years, including major improvements in 1930, 1948, 1972, 1989, and 1990; and

    WHEREAS: Flooding and inadequate drainage capacity have persisted, affecting approximately 186 hectares of agricultural land, leading to periodic crop losses of up to 25%; and

    WHEREAS: The last major engineering review was conducted in 1990 by McNeely Engineering Limited, which identified compensation for insufficient outlet, buffer strips, and various other improvements; and

    WHEREAS: Section 78 of the Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.17, allows for improvements to an existing drainage works for better use, maintenance, or repair without requiring a petition; and

    WHEREAS: Section 124 of the Drainage Act authorizes emergency work where an urgent need exists to mitigate damage to lands or infrastructure; and

    WHEREAS Council recognizes the need for an updated engineering assessment and plan for the Bear River Municipal Drain to ensure its long-term effectiveness and sustainability.

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to appoint Andrew J. Robinson Consulting as the engineer under Section 78 of the Drainage Act to prepare a report on the necessary improvements to the Bear River Municipal Drain, including consideration of updated capacity, flood mitigation, and compliance with provincial drainage regulations; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City staff be directed to monitor the flood conditions throughout the season including the spring melt and during rain events during the summer growing months; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT should flooding occur within the Bear River Municipal Drain due to the insufficient outlet provided by the drain, staff shall provide such details to the City Clerk, who shall write to the Province of Ontario to request that the Minister authorize emergency works under Section 124 of the Drainage Act as necessary to prevent immediate flooding risks, ensuring minimal impact on affected agricultural lands and infrastructure; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the appointed engineer report back to Council with recommendations, cost estimates, and proposed implementation timelines for necessary improvements to the Bear River Municipal Drain.

12.
Adjournment

 

Next Meeting


Thursday, April 3, 2025.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.

13.
Court of Revision

 

13.1
Engineer’s Report Amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain – Court of Revision

This item has attachments. 
1.ACS2025-IWS-WL-0003 - Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain.pdf
2.Doc 2 - By-law -Thomas Gamble MD.pdf

File No. ACS2025-IWS-WL-0003 – Riverside South-Findlay Creek (22) Osgoode (20)

The Court of Revision was convened at 10:12 am.

The Chair read the following statement at the beginning of the hearing for the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain:

For the purpose of hearing appeals under Section 52 of the Drainage Act by owners of land assessed for drainage works under the engineer’s report for the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain entitled - Engineer’s report amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain dated October 2024, this court will now convene for the 1st sitting of the Court of Revision under Section 46 of the Drainage Act.

No appeals have been received by the Clerk.

Any owner of lands assessed under the Engineer’s Report who has not provided written notice of appeal to the Clerk in advance of this hearing, should identify themselves to the Clerk’s Assistant at this time with a request to be heard. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Chair stated the following:

This court adopts the assessments in Engineer’s Report dated October 2024 dated October 2024.

The decision rendered by this court may be appealed to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal within 21 days of today, March 6, 2025.

Report Recommendation(s)

That the members of the Court of Revision:

  1. Receive the report of the Engineer appointed under the Drainage Act entitled Engineer’s report amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain dated October 2024.
  2. Convene for the first sitting for the Court of Revision under subsection 46(3) of the Drainage Act for the purpose of hearing appeals under Section 52 of the Drainage Act from owners of lands that have been assessed for the drainage works in the report entitled Engineer’s report amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain dated October 2024.

Carried

The Court of Revision was adjourned at 10:15 am.

  • Report Recommendation(s)

    That the members of the Court of Revision:

    1. Receive the report of the Engineer appointed under the Drainage Act entitled Engineer’s report amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain dated October 2024.
    2. Convene for the first sitting for the Court of Revision under subsection 46(3) of the Drainage Act for the purpose of hearing appeals under Section 52 of the Drainage Act from owners of lands that have been assessed for the drainage works in the report entitled Engineer’s report amendments to the Thomas Gamble Municipal Drain dated October 2024.
    Carried
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