Minutes

For the City Council Meeting

Tuesday, February 07, 2023

6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Tom Davies Square

Present (Mayor and Councillors)

• Councillor Signoretti, 
• Councillor Vagnini, 
• Councillor Fortin, 
• Councillor Parent, 
• Councillor Lapierre, 
• Councillor Labbée, 
• Councillor Sizer, 
• Councillor McIntosh, 
• Councillor Cormier, 
• Councillor Leduc, 
• Councillor Landry-Altmann, 
• and Mayor Lefebvre,  

Absent

• Councillor Montpellier 

City Officials

• Ed Archer, Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Kevin Fowke, General Manager of Corporate Services, 
• Tony Cecutti, General Manager of Growth and Infrastructure, 
• Steve Jacques, General Manager of Community Development, 
• Joseph Nicholls, General Manager of Community Safety, 
• Marie Litalien, Director of Communications & Community Engagements, 
• Kelly Gravelle, Deputy City Solicitor, 
• Ron Foster, Auditor General, 
• Eric Labelle, City Solicitor and Clerk, 
• Madison Pacey, Clerk's Services Assistant, 
• and Erin Foreshew, Clerk's Services Assistant 

His Worship Mayor Paul Lefebvre, In the Chair

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting commenced at 4:00 p.m.

2.

Roll Call

A roll call was conducted prior to the commencement of moving into closed session.

3.

Closed Session

• THAT the City of Greater Sudbury moves to Closed Session to deal with one (1) Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations Matters item regarding negotiations with CUPE in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239(2)(d).

• Rules of Procedure

  The following amendment was presented:

  CC2023-28-A
  Moved By Councillor Leduc
  Seconded By Councillor Sizer

  That the resolution be amended to add the following:

  And one (1) Personal Matters (Identifiable Individual (s)) / Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations item regarding the Community Safety Department in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239(2)(b) and (d).

  CARRIED

• Rules of Procedure

  The resolution as-amended was then presented:

  CC2023-28
  Moved By Councillor Parent
  Seconded By Councillor Fortin

  As amended:

  THAT the City of Greater Sudbury move to Closed Session to deal with one (1) Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations Matters item regarding negotiations with CUPE in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239 (2)(d);

  And one (1) Personal Matters (Identifiable Individual(s)) / Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations item regarding the Community Safety Department in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239(2)(b) and (d).

  CARRIED

  At 4:05 p.m., Council moved into Closed Session.

  
  

4.

Recess

At 5:40 p.m., Council recessed.

5.

Open Session

At 6:06 p.m., Council commenced the Open Session.

6.

Moment of Silent Reflection

Those present at the meeting observed a moment of silent reflection.

7.

Roll Call

A roll call was conducted.

8.

Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

None declared.

9.

Matters Arising from the Closed Session

Deputy Mayor Sizer, Chair of the Closed Session, reported that Council met in Closed Session to deal with one electronic presentation regarding one (1) Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations Matters item regarding negotiations with CUPE in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239 (2)(d).

Council also received one verbal presentation with respect to one (1) Personal Matters (Identifiable Individual (s)) / Labour Relations or Employee Negotiations item regarding the Community Safety Department in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, par. 239(2)(b) and (d). Council received direction from staff regarding the two items in question.

Councillor Lapierre declared a pecuniary interest regarding item CM-1, and left the meeting while this item was discussed.

10.

Matters Arising from Nominating Committee

10.1

January 30, 2023

• The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-29
  Moved By Councillor McIntosh
  Seconded By Councillor Parent

  THAT the City of Greater Sudbury approves Nominating Committee resolutions NC2023-01 to NC2023-09 from the meeting of January 30, 2023.

  CARRIED

11.

Matters Arising from Planning Committee

11.1

February 6, 2023

• The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-30
  Moved By Councillor Cormier
  Seconded By Councillor Fortin

  THAT the City of Greater Sudbury approves Planning Committee resolutions PL2023-38 to PL2023-43 from the meeting of February 06, 2023.

  CARRIED

12.

Managers' Reports

12.1

Appointment to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities

• Nominations were held for the position of an alternate Member of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities:

  The following members accepted their nomination as an alternate Member of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities:

  Councillor Signoretti

  The following members declined their nomination as an alternate Member of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities:

  Councillor Labée

  There being no further nominations, nominations were closed.

  The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-31
  Moved By Councillor McIntosh
  Seconded By Councillor Sizer

  That the City of Greater Sudbury appoints Mayor Paul Lefebvre to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities Board of Directors;

  AND THAT Councillor Signoretti be appointed as an alternate Member in the event the appointed Member of Council is unable to attend a Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities board meeting, as outlined in the report entitled "Appointment to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities" presented by the Chief Administrative Officer at the City Council meeting on February 7, 2023.

  CARRIED

13.

By-laws

• The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-32
  Moved By Councillor Parent
  Seconded By Councillor Labbée

  THAT the City of Greater Sudbury read and pass By-law 2023-15 to By-law 2023-18.

  CARRIED

  The following are the by-laws:

  
  

13.1

By-laws 2023-15 to 2023-18

14.

Members' Motions

No Motions were presented.

14.1

Request for Quarterly Report of Council and Committee Attendance

• WHEREAS open government includes sharing information with residents in regard to municipal operations as well as the Mayor and Council themselves; 

  AND WHEREAS an important function and duty of a Member of Council necessary to demonstrate responsible and accountable government involves attending and participating in City Council and Council Committee meetings regularly; 

  AND WHEREAS attendance by Council Members at those meetings is documented by the Clerk in the minutes of those meetings, but the attendance records are not currently reflected in one consolidated document;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs the City Clerk to provide a quarterly report summary of attendance or partial attendance by Members of Council to all regular, closed, and special meetings of Council and its Committees on a City Council agenda, in a format to be determined by the City Clerk.

• Rules of Procedure

  With the consent of the Mover, the following friendly amendment was requested by Councillor McIntosh to include the following in the operative clause: "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk provide a report summary of attendance to outside Board meetings by Members of Council appointed to those Boards, to include the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board, the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts, the Greater Sudbury Utilities Inc. & Subsidiary Boards, the Sudbury Airport Community Development Board, the Greater Sudbury Community Development Corporation Board, Greater Sudbury Public Library Board and the Conservation Sudbury Board, on an annual basis, on a City Council agenda."

  The resolution as-amended was then presented:

  CC2023-33
  Moved By Councillor Lapierre
  Seconded By Councillor Leduc

  As Amended:

  WHEREAS open government includes sharing information with residents in regard to municipal operations as well as the Mayor and Council themselves; 

  AND WHEREAS an important function and duty of a Member of Council necessary to demonstrate responsible and accountable government involves attending and participating in City Council and Council Committee meetings regularly; 

  AND WHEREAS attendance by Council Members at those meetings is documented by the Clerk in the minutes of those meetings, but the attendance records are not currently reflected in one consolidated document;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs the City Clerk to provide a quarterly report summary of attendance or partial attendance by Members of Council to all regular, closed, and special meetings of Council and its Committees on a City Council agenda, in a format to be determined by the City Clerk.

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk provide a report summary of attendance to outside Board meetings by Members of Council appointed to those Boards, to include the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board, the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts, the Greater Sudbury Utilities Inc. & Subsidiary Boards, the Sudbury Airport Community Development Board, the Greater Sudbury Community Development Corporation Board, Greater Sudbury Public Library Board and the Conservation Sudbury Board, on an annual basis, on a City Council agenda.

   

   

  CARRIED

14.2

Request for Traffic Study at the Intersection of Labelle and Noel Streets

• Rules of Procedure

  With the concurrence of the Mover, Councillor Sizer presented the following friendly amendment:  to replace the word "second" with "third" before "quarter of 2023", in the last paragraph.

  The resolution as-amended was then presented:

  CC2023-34
  Moved By Councillor Lapierre
  Seconded By Councillor Parent

  WHEREAS the intersection at Labelle and Noel Streets in Hanmer is designated as an intersection where a yield sign is to be erected facing oncoming traffic travelling in the direction of travel west on Labelle Street;

  AND WHEREAS local residents have identified that exiting their driveways is challenging at times because drivers often do not adhere to the yield sign;

  AND WHEREAS residents who live in the area of the intersection have requested that the yield sign be replaced with a stop sign;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs staff to undertake a traffic study at the intersection of Labelle and Noel Streets to determine whether a stop sign is warranted and that the results of that study be presented to the Operations Committee during the third quarter of 2023.

  CARRIED

14.3

Request for Report Regarding Business Attraction Development and Retention

• The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-35
  Moved By Councillor Parent
  Seconded By Councillor Signoretti

  WHEREAS the City of Greater Sudbury's Strategic Plan 2019-2027 includes Business Attraction, Development and Retention as one of its goals, which speaks to Council's priorities to foster economic activity within the private sector, with a focus on job creation and assessment growth;

  AND WHEREAS this goal is advanced by supporting existing businesses, making municipal services efficient and accessible, facilitating partnerships with private industry, and hosting promotional activities to attract targeted sectors;

  AND WHEREAS these initiatives make Greater Sudbury an attractive place to do business, signaling to new or existing local companies that we welcome businesses and enable them to thrive and that there is a local government that will support them;

  AND WHEREAS the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce outlined eight priorities in their 2022 Municipal Election Platform, seeking support from its municipal leaders to "support post pandemic recovery and create an environment that is conducive to new investment, talent attraction, and opportunity creation";

  AND WHEREAS one of the priorities identified by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and its members was the reduction of "red tape" at the municipal level, citing its commitment to "working with the business community and city staff to identify and reduce red tape at the municipal level, with support from all of Council";

  AND WHEREAS the government of Ontario created the “Ministry of Red Tape Reduction” because red tape is a significant barrier to economic growth and innovation and less red tape leads to a stronger Ontario;

  AND WHEREAS more streamlined processes for entrepreneurs to reduce costs and administrative burdens on Sudbury's business community, and initiatives such as a self-service tool to check the status of building permits to enhance the predictability of approval timelines have been suggested;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Greater Sudbury directs the Chief Administrative Officer to collaborate and engage with the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce to prepare a report to be presented to Council by the end of Q2 2023 outlining:

  a)    A description of the challenges being experienced by their members and the business community as a whole; 
  b)    An analysis of potential changes to regulations and policies that could resolve or minimize the impact of those challenges;
  c)    The role of current municipal initiatives already underway to improve service delivery and access to services;
  d)    Processes or initiatives that could be considered to further improve service delivery and access to services, and 
  e)    Resource implications, if any, associated with implementing potential changes together with an estimate of the timing associated with the work.

  CARRIED

14.4

Request for the Development of a Housing Supply Strategy

• The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-36
  Moved By Councillor Parent
  Seconded By Mayor Lefebvre
  1. That staff develop a “Housing Supply Strategy” by the fourth quarter of 2023 that includes work which can be undertaken during this term of City Council and is incorporated into the actions of the 2019-2027 Strategic Plan;
  2. That, as part of the work to develop a Housing Supply Strategy, staff include the following:  
     1. An update on current initiatives to increase the supply of housing and, where appropriate, recommendations to enhance/change those initiatives to increase their effectiveness
     2. An illustration of all of the key stakeholders and inputs involved in creating new housing, and an evaluation the city’s role in addressing any gaps
     3. Best urban planning practices, including outlining the necessary infrastructure that will be needed to support sustainable growth; and
     4. A clear definition of "Affordable Housing" in the Sudbury context, as well as a review of best practices, and if appropriate, recommendations, of policies and programs to support the creation and long-term protection of affordable housing units according to this definition
     5. Recommendations on how Greater Sudbury can help the province achieve its growth targets in the next decade by exploring policies that consider the following elements: 
        1. Accommodating additional growth and density across the city, with emphasis on identifying infill opportunities within existing infrastructure capacity, and an examination of greenfield development and associated infrastructure expansion
        2. Studying the conversion of employment lands in support of new mixed-use residential communities
        3. Protecting existing and building more market and affordable rental, as well as rent to own models
        4. Ensuring the right mix of housing stock, including family-sized units in new multi residential builds
        5. Incorporating Greater Sudbury’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan goals, by reviewing potential federal and provincial funding to support energy efficiency in new builds and retrofits, including the possibility of a muncipally-supported homeowner subsidy program
        6. Demonstrating diversity, equity and inclusion principles
        7. Reviewing Greater Sudbury’s urban design guidelines, heritage standards, parking standards, parkland requirements and urban forestry policies to ensure they align with the priority of creating housing opportunities for a range of housing forms
        8. Review parking standard in other municipalities to determine whether our current range of parking standards applied to different residential forms continues to be appropriate
        9. Working with post-secondary institutions to increase the availability of student housing
        10. A financing strategy that minimizes costs to existing taxpayers and considers financing tolls readily available to municipalities such as area rating and user fees
        11. A governance model to help the city implement this strategy, once finalized, that includes representation from key stakeholders
     6. Recccomendations for the streamlining of permitting, building services, engineering services, and planning services through increased use of the SPART process and the LMIS system
     7. A framework that defines expectations for housing starts by land type and the key activities required to acheive the starts;
     8. Performance reporting that, not less than quarterly, enables Council to assess progress using key metrics such as:
        
        1. Inventory of serviced land
        2. Inventory of public land available for housing
        3. Units created
        4. Type of units created (ie B, 1,2,3BR)
        5. Affordable units
        6. Assisted and Supportive units
        7. Cycle time on approvals
        8. Yield of units per hectar

   

  CARRIED

15.

Correspondence for Information Only

15.1

Asset Management Status Report

For information only.

16.

Addendum

• Rules of Procedure

  Council agreed to deal with the addendum.

  Carried by two-thirds majority.

  The following resolution was presented:

  CC2023-37
  Moved By Councillor Cormier
  Seconded By Councillor McIntosh

  THAT the City of Greater Sudbury read and pass By-law 2023-19.

  CARRIED

17.

Civic Petitions 

Councillor Labbée submitted a petition to the City Clerk which will be forwarded to the General Manager of Community Safety. The petition is from the residents of Skead, opposing the proposed closure of the Skead Fire Station.

18.

Question Period

No Questions were asked.

19.

Adjournment

Mayor Lefebvre moved to adjourn the meeting. Time 9:18 p.m.

CARRIED