Finance and Economic Development Committee
Minutes 26
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
9:30 am
Electronic Participation
This Meeting will be held through electronic participation in accordance with
Section 238 of the Municipal Act, 2001 as amended by Bill 197, the COVID-19
Economic Recovery Act, 2020.
Notes: 1. Underlining
indicates a new or amended recommendation approved by Committee.
2. Except where otherwise indicated,
reports requiring Council consideration will be presented to Council on 9 June
2021 in Finance and Economic
Development Committee Report 26.
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Present:
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Chair: Mayor
J. Watson
Vice-Chair: Councillor L. Dudas
Councillors: J. Cloutier, G. Darouze, E. El-Chantiry, G. Gower, J. Harder, A. Hubley,
M. Luloff, S. Moffatt, J. Sudds, T. Tierney
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No
declarations of interest were filed.
CONFIRMED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee and Council receive this report
for information.
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At the outset,
Councillor Dudas introduced the following motion:
WHEREAS
the report entitled “Anti-Racism Secretariat Progress Update”
(ACS2021-CSS-GEN-006) was distributed on May 20, 2020
to Finance and Economic Development Committee with the Agenda for its
meeting of June 1, 2021; and
WHEREAS
staff recognize the impacts of the City’s work on people with disabilities who
also experience discrimination and exclusion due to race; and
WHEREAS
staff consulted with the Accessibility Office to gain a clearer understanding
of the intersectional impacts for racialized persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS
following agenda distribution, and in consultation with the Accessibility
Office, staff has expanded the Accessibility Impacts section of this
information report to add additional information regarding the experiences of
people with disabilities, and a revised version of the report has been provided
to Members of Council on May 31, 2021;
THEREFORE
Be It Resolved that the Finance
and Economic Development Committee receive and consider the revised version of
Anti-Racism Secretariat Progress Report (ACS2021-CSS-GEN-006), reflecting the
expanded Accessibility Impacts section.
The Committee then proceeded to receive introductory remarks from
Councillor King as Council liaison for anti-racism and ethnocultural relations,
and a PowerPoint presentation from Suzanne Obiorah, Director, Gender and Race
Equity, Inclusion and Indigenous Relations and Social Development, Community
and Social Services. A copy of the presentation is held on file with the City
Clerk.
Comments and questions pertained to the evaluation process and gaps
identified in the survey; the outcome of internal workshops with city employees,
impacts in rationalized communities and removing barriers with the assistance
of Ottawa Public Health; and the connectivity with the women and gender
diversity strategy.
After discussion, the Committee voted on the motion as follows:
MOTION No. FEDC 2021 1/26
Moved by Councillor
L. Dudas
WHEREAS
the report entitled “Anti-Racism Secretariat Progress Update” (ACS2021-CSS-GEN-006)
was distributed on May 20, 2020 to Finance and
Economic Development Committee with the Agenda for its meeting of June 1, 2021;
and
WHEREAS
staff recognize the impacts of the City’s work on people with disabilities who
also experience discrimination and exclusion due to race; and
WHEREAS
staff consulted with the Accessibility Office to gain a clearer understanding
of the intersectional impacts for racialized persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS
following agenda distribution, and in consultation with the Accessibility
Office, staff has expanded the Accessibility Impacts section of this
information report to add additional information regarding the experiences of
people with disabilities, and a revised version of the report has been provided
to Members of Council on May 31, 2021;
THEREFORE
Be It Resolved that the Finance
and Economic Development Committee receive and consider the revised version of
Anti-Racism Secretariat Progress Report (ACS2021-CSS-GEN-006), reflecting the
expanded Accessibility Impacts section.
CARRIED
The Committee
then RECEIVED and CARRIED the item with the above-noted motion.
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REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That Finance
and Economic Development Committee and Council receive this report on
outstanding Lease Financing Agreements as at 31 December 2020 as required by
Ontario Regulation 653/05 and the City’s Administration of Capital Financing
and Debt Policy.
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RECEIVED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:
1. Receive
the results of the City’s investments for 2020, as required by Ontario Regulation
438/97 as amended, Section 8(1), and the City of Ottawa Investment Policy;
2. Receive
information regarding progress towards the Prudent Investor implementation;
and
3. Receive
the Long- and Short-term debt summary.
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RECEIVED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:
1. Authorize
the closing of capital projects listed in Document 1;
2. Approve
the budget adjustments as detailed in Document 2;
3. Return
to source or (funding required) the following funding balances and eliminate
debt authority resulting from the closing of projects and budget adjustments:
• General revenue: ($429,117.00)
• Capital supported reserves: $6,965,799.95
• Development Charge reserves:
$472,993.04
• Debt Authority: $6,786,447.00
4. Permit
those projects in Document 3 that qualify for closure to remain open and
revise the completion dates of projects requesting a new completion date;
5. Receive
the budget adjustments in Document 4 undertaken in accordance with the
Delegation of Authority By-law 2020-360, as amended, as they pertain to
capital works; and
6. Authorize
staff to perform the necessary financial adjustments as detailed in Documents
1 and 2.
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Questions and
comments from Committee members and members of Council pertained to the general
revenue and how the generated revenue will be allocated in the budget, and a
full review of process regarding road surfaces, including sidewalks.
After
discussion, the Committee CARRIED the item as presented.
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That
the Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council receive this
report for information.
2. That
the Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council approve the
continuation of 7.0 full-time equivalents (FTEs) that were removed in the
2021 Budget in Children’s Services for $789 thousand to reflect the 2021 one-time
funding agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Education.
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CARRIED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:
1. Receive
the information on the implications of and best practices related to the implementation
a residential vacant unit tax in the City of Ottawa, as described in this report
and including the results of the initial public consultations attached as Document
1; and
2. Direct
staff to proceed with the development of a residential vacant unit tax as
described in this report, including the proposed principles and framework and
public consultation plan, with the goal of implementing a residential vacant
unit tax regime in 2022 for billing in 2023, to be reported back to the Finance
and Economic Development Committee and Council as part of the 2022 annual Tax
Policies Report.
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Wendy
Stephanson, Chief Financial Officer and Joseph Muhuni, Deputy City Treasurer,
Revenue, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which is held on file with
the City Clerk.
Committee
heard from the following public delegations:
·
Cheryl Parrot, Chair, Hintonburg Community Association spoke in
support of the report recommendations. She described the vacant buildings in
the Hintonburg area and advised that a person has been tasked in following up
on these units. In response to a question, Ms. Parrot advised that Winnipeg is working
with the water department to identify vacant units. She also noted she would
prefer to see a higher tax rate.
·
Anne Hanna showed a video to Committee which described vacant
buildings in the Hintonburg community. She believes a higher tax will discourage
developers from evicting tenants.
·
Salma Al-Shehabi, spoke against the staff report and asked
Committee to vote against the recommendations. She noted the housing crisis and
urged members to consider the affects this would have, if approved, on housing
supply, affordability, vacancy rate and could become a systemic racism tool.
·
Tony Miller spoke on behalf of the Ottawa Small Landlord Association
did not oppose the report and reminded the Committee that small landlords need
their units to be occupied. He recommended that a mechanism be put in place to
protect small landlords such as a working group comprised of small landlords
and councillors.
·
John Dickie, Chair, Eastern Ontario Landlord Organization (EOLO) noted
that EOLO is generally in support of the report recommendations and the one per
cent tax rate. A copy of his comments and recommendations are held on file with
the City Clerk.
·
Suzanne Le, Multifaith Housing Initiative also spoke in support
of this initiative, noting the shortage of available units and the 12,000
households that are currently on the waiting list.
The following
correspondence is held on file with the Office of the City Clerk.
·
Jason Hardy emailed on May 28, 2021
·
Jason Burggraaf, Executive Director, Greater Ottawa Home
Builders’ Association (GOHBA) emailed on May 31, 2021
·
Clinton DeRushie emailed on May 31, 2021
Questions and
comments pertained to the current number of vacant units; comparability with
other municipalities in Ontario and lessons learned; whether multi-units are
included, and ways to monitor vacant units.
After
discussion, the Committee CARRIED the report recommendations as presented.
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REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee and Council receive this report
for information.
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RECEIVED
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the
Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:
1. Approve
the Heritage Community Improvement Plan Grant Program application submitted
by 2719210 Ontario Inc., owner of the property at 35-37 William Street and 62
York Street, for a Community Improvement Plan Grant not to exceed $387,301
over a maximum period of 10 years, subject to the establishment of, and in
accordance with the terms and conditions of a Community Improvement Grant
Agreement; and
2. Delegate
authority to the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development,
to finalize and execute a Heritage Community Improvement Plan Grant Agreement
with 2719210 Ontario Inc., establishing the terms and conditions governing the
payment of a Community Improvement Grant for the restoration of 35-37 William
Street and 62 York Street, to the satisfaction of the City Manager, the City
Clerk and Solicitor and the City Treasurer.
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Domenic Santaguida, owner of
Vittoria Trattoria registered to speak in support and to answer questions, however,
with the delegation’s consent, Committee CARRIED the item during the consent
portion of the agenda.
Subsequently, Councillor
Fleury proceeded to request that the property owner’s name be identified in the
report. Mayor Watson noted that the owner’s name would form part of the
minutes, and the City Clerk, Rick O’Connor, confirmed this approach.
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REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Finance and Economic Development
Committee recommend Council:
1. Approve
the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Governance By-law attached as Document 1;
2. Approve
the Council-BIA Relations Policy attached as Document 2;
3. Direct
each BIA Board of Management to adopt and provide to Economic Development
Services staff by the end of Q1 2022 the following mandatory governance documents
that include the minimum provisions set out in this report:
a. A Procedure
By-law pursuant to Subsection 238(2) and 238(2.1) of the Municipal Act,
2001, as set out in Document 4;
b. Policies
pursuant to Subsection 270(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 with respect
to sale and other disposition of land, hiring of employees, and procurement
of goods and services, as set out in Document 1; and
c. An Election-Related
Resources Policy pursuant to Section 88.18 of the Municipal Act, 1996,
as set out in Document 5.
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CARRIED
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REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
That
Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend that Council:
1. Approve
the Brownfield Redevelopment Grant application submitted by Azure Westboro
Ltd., owner of the property at 2070 Scott Street and 328 Winona Avenue, for
Rehabilitation Grant under the Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement
Plan 2015, not to exceed a total of $352,304 for which the grant payment period
will be phased over a maximum of ten years of development, subject to the
establishment of, and in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the
Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Agreement; the maximum deferral of Development
Charges of $299,459 under the Development Charge Deferral Program; and the
estimated contribution of $146,489 towards the Municipal Leadership Strategy
fund; and
2. Delegate
the authority to the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic
Development, to execute a Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Agreement with Azure
Westboro Ltd., establishing the terms and conditions governing the payment of
the grant for the redevelopment of 2070 Scott Street and 328 Winona Avenue, to
the satisfaction of the General Manager, Planning, Infrastructure and Economic
Development Department, the City Solicitor and the City Treasurer.
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CARRIED
A
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ACS2021-PWE-BTS-0002
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CITY WIDE
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B
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ACS2021-PIE-CRO-0008
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KANATA NORTH (4)
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The meeting
adjourned at 11:39 a.m.
Original
Signed by: Original Signed by:
Carole Legault Mayor
Jim Watson
_____________________________ _____________________________
Committee Coordinator Chair