COMBINED COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

OPERATIONS AND PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION

MINUTES

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, Brantford City Hall

58 Dalhousie Street, Brantford

Present:

• Mayor Davis
• Councillor Sicoli
• Councillor Sullivan
• Councillor Caputo
• Councillor Sless
• Councillor Martin
• Councillor McCreary
• Councillor Carpenter
• Councillor Samwell
• Councillor Van Tilborg

Regrets:

• Councillor Hunt

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1.

Invocation

Chair Sullivan called the meeting to order and read the invocation.

2.

Roll Call

Roll Call was confirmed.

3.

Declarations of Conflicts of Interest

No declarations of pecuniary interest were made regarding items appearing on the agenda.

4.

Separation of Items for Consideration and Consent Items for Discussion Purposes

• Moved by Councillor Martin
  Seconded by Councillor McCreary

  THAT all Items for Consideration/Consent (7.1 and 7.2) not separated for discussion purposes BE APPROVED.

  Yes (10)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Martin, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (10 to 0)

  The following items were subject to the vote and carried accordingly:

  
  

7.

Items for Consideration/Consent

7.1

Items for Consideration

7.1.2

Designation of 53 Charlotte Street under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and Adoption of Alternative Notice Policy [Financial Impact – Approximately $85], 2025-2

• 1. THAT Report 2025-2, titled “Designation of 53 Charlotte Street under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and Adoption of Alternative Notice Policy”, BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT a Notice of Intention to Designate 53 Charlotte Street as a property of cultural heritage value or interest BE ISSUED in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act; and
  3. THAT Staff BE DIRECTED to follow the process set out in the Ontario Heritage Act, summarized in Section 9.4 of Report 2025-2, with respect to the designation of 53 Charlotte Street as a property of cultural heritage value or interest; and
  4. THAT the necessary by-law to amend Chapter 15 (Procedure) of the City of Brantford Municipal Code and implement an alternative notice policy for Ontario Heritage Act notices as detailed in Report 2025-2 BE PRESENTED to Council for approval.

7.1.4

MAT Administration Policy [Financial Impact: None], 2025-14

• 1. THAT Report 2025-14 regarding MAT Administration Policy BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT the MAT Administration Policy BE PRESENTED to the Brantford Tourism Development Corporation for consideration for adoption; and
  3. THAT Corporate Policy–056 – “MAT Administration Policy” attached as Appendix “A” BE APPROVED; and
  4. THAT the necessary By-law to amend By-law 70-2010, being a Bylaw to adopt various policies of the City of Brantford and to create a Corporate Policy Manual, by adding Corporate Policy–056 – MAT Administration Policy, attached as Appendix “A”, BE PRESENTED to City Council for adoption.

7.1.5

Brantford Airport Board Report #2024-12-09

• 1. THAT Report 2024-704 titled December 2024 Real Estate and Facilities Report BE RECEIVED by the Brantford Airport Board as information and provide any feedback to be considered for the Recommendation Report to the Committee of the Whole – Operations; and
  2. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to obtain estimates for the following items:
     1. Item 3.2 - Main Runway Lighting - contained in the Appendix B, The CYFD Brantford - Capital Needs; and
     2. Item 3.3 - Approach Guidance Lighting for Runway 23 - contained in the Appendix B, The CYFD Brantford - Capital Needs; and
     3. The installation of an Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS); and
  3. THAT Staff REPORT BACK to the Brantford Airport Board with cost estimates to consider drafting a proposal to the County of Brant, requesting that they contribute to the cost.

7.2

Consent Items

7.2.1

Minutes

7.2.1.1

Committee of the Whole - Planning and Administration - December 10, 2024

7.2.1.2

Brantford Accessibility Advisory Committee - November 14, 2024

7.2.1.3

Brantford Heritage Committee - November 25, 2024

5.

Statutory Public Meetings

There were no Statutory Public Meetings.

6.

Delegations/Presentations

6.1

Delegations

There were no delegations.

6.2

Presentations

6.2.1

Selvi Kongara, Director of Environmental Services

RE: Item 7.1.1 -  Increasing Nitrate Levels in the Grand River [No Financial Impact], 2025-18

Selvi Kongara, Director of Environmental Services, appeared before the Committee and spoke to item 7.1.1 - Increasing Nitrate Levels in the Grand River. Staff answered various questions from the Committee. A PowerPoint Presentation was made and a copy was placed in the meeting folder.

• Moved by Councillor Sless
  Seconded by Councillor McCreary

  THAT section 15.12.5 (b) of Chapter 15 the City of Brantford Municipal Code BE WAIVED in order to provide staff with 20 minutes to present the staff report and answer questions from the Committee.

  Recorded vote on the waiving of rules:

  Yes (10)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Martin, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (10 to 0)
• Moved by Councillor McCreary
  Seconded by Councillor Samwell

  THAT section 15.12.5 (b) of Chapter 15 the City of Brantford Municipal Code BE WAIVED to provide staff with additional time to address questions from the Committee.

  Recorded vote on the waiving of rules:

  Yes (10)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Martin, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (10 to 0)
• Moved by Councillor Sless
  Seconded by Councillor Caputo

  THAT all Items for Consideration/Consent Items (7.1 and 7.2) separated for discussion purposes BE APPROVED.

  The following items were carried accordingly:

  
  

7.

Items for Consideration/Consent

7.1

Items for Consideration

7.1.1

Increasing Nitrate Levels in the Grand River [No Financial Impact], 2025-18

• THAT Report No. 2025-18 titled “Increasing Nitrate Levels in the Grand River” BE RECEIVED.

  Recorded vote on item 7.1.1:

  Yes (10)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Martin, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (10 to 0)

7.1.3

Animal Care Facility Project Update [Financial Impact - $800,000], 2025-4

• 1. THAT Report 2025-4, titled “Animal Care Facility Project Update” BE RECEIVED; and
  2. THAT an increase in the amount of $800,000 to the capital budget for the Animal Care Facility Project (CL1701) BE APPROVED; and
  3. THAT the following funding allocations required for the Animal Care Facility Project BE APPROVED:
     1. $700,000 for capital project Replace Aerial Truck #107420 (FD2404) be amended from the Capital Funding Envelope Reserve (RF0556) to Canada Community Benefit Fund Reserve Fund (RF0446); and
     2. $800,000 for Animal Care Facility Project (CL1701) BE FUNDED from the Capital Funding Envelope (RF0556).

  Recorded vote on item 7.1.3:

  Yes (9)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (9 to 0)

8.

Resolutions

8.1

Retroactive Charity Rebate for the Brant United Way - Councillor Sless

• Moved by Councillor Sless
  Seconded by Councillor Caputo

  WHEREAS the City of Brantford offers an annual Property Tax Rebate program for eligible registered charities occupying commercial or industrial property; and

  WHEREAS the rebate for eligible registered charities is set at 40% of the annual property taxes on property it occupies; and

  WHEREAS an eligible Registered Charity must submit a Property Tax Rebate Application annually no earlier than January 1st of the tax year and no later than the last day of February of the year following the taxation year to be considered for the rebate; and

  WHEREAS the Brant United Way is a Registered Charity occupying commercial property in the City of Brantford; and

  WHEREAS the Brant United Way has not submitted an application for the Property Tax Rebate since the 2019 tax year; and

  WHEREAS the Brant United Way intends to apply for the rebate for the 2024 tax year prior to the February 28, 2025 deadline.

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Brant United Way BE REIMBURSED the amount of $9,902.67, representing retroactive charity rebates for the years 2020 to 2023.

  Recorded vote on item 8.1:

  Yes (10)

  Councillor Sless, Councillor Carpenter, Councillor McCreary, Mayor Davis, Councillor Van Tilborg, Councillor Martin, Councillor Sicoli, Councillor Sullivan, Councillor Caputo, and Councillor Samwell

  Carried (10 to 0)

9.

Notices of Motion

9.1

Review of the Municipal Code of Conduct (Chapter 16) - Councillor McCreary

Councillor McCreary read the title of his Notice of Motion.

• WHEREAS The Council of the Corporation of the City of Brantford during each term of council or from time to time conducts reviews of Municipal Code Chapters bearing upon procedures and code of conduct; and

  WHEREAS Chapter 16 of the municipal code was last reviewed in 2020; and

  WHEREAS the integrity commissioner submitted his report on 25 November regarding the Code of Conduct violation of Councillor Richard Carpenter; and

  WHEREAS the I/C recommended that not only a penalty be imposed on Councillor Carpenter but also that “amendments be made to the Code of Conduct to provide greater clarity to members”;

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. THAT a task force be created with a mandate to review Brantford Municipal Code Chapter 16 – Code of conduct for members of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Brantford and of its Local Boards; and
  2. THAT the task force will be comprised of three members: those being Mayor Kevin Davis and two additional members of council to be named by Mayor Davis; and
  3. THAT the task force will be supported by clerks staff and utilize the resources of the integrity commissioner; and
  4. THAT the task force will present its final report to City Council on or before 27 May 2025.

9.2

Honorarium of Committee of Adjustment Members - Councillor McCreary

Councillor McCreary read the title of his Notice of Motion.

• WHEREAS City Council in December 2014 approved that an honorarium shall be paid to the members of the City of Brantford's Committee of Adjustment in the amounts listed below:

  • $70 per meeting for the Chair,
  • $50 per meeting for all other members; and

  WHEREAS a review of this Honorarium has not occurred since its inception in 2014.

  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. THAT staff BE DIRECTED to survey surrounding municipalities on the honorariums paid to their Committee of Adjustment members and bring back a report to the appropriate Committee of the Whole meeting with their findings and recommendations relating to an appropriate honorarium for the Committee members; and
  2. THAT the Honorarium By-law BE UPDATED to reflect the Honorarium Rates paid to Committee of Adjustment members.

10.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.