Regional Council Minutes Wednesday, June 3, 2020
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Regional Council Minutes Wednesday, June 3, 2020 The following are the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held electronically at 7:06 p.m., with the Chair presiding at 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario, with the following members present: Chair K. Redman, L. Armstrong, E. Clarke, J. Erb, S. Foxton, T. Galloway, M. Harris, D. Jaworsky, H. Jowett, K. Kiefer, G. Lorentz, K. McGarry*, J. Nowak, S. Shantz, S. Strickland, B. Vrbanovic Regional Clerk Kris Fletcher conducted roll call and all members were present, except for K. McGarry who joined the meeting later. The meeting was opened with a moment of silence. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest Under The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act None declared. Delegations Chuck Howitt, Ink Stained Wretches, appeared before Council regarding a resolution for Supporting Local Journalism. He provided a brief introduction of the group that was created to assist local media and the hope that the matter will spread across Canada. He requested support of the proposed resolution. Councillors were supportive of the resolution and directed it be sent to the local M.P.s and M.P.P.s and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario. C. Howitt was encouraged to take the resolution to the local Councils as well. *K. McGarry entered the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Moved by D. Jaworsky Seconded by J. Erb Whereas a healthy, professional news media is essential for the proper functioning of civil society and democracy at the local, regional, federal and international levels; 3312966 Council Minutes - 2 - 20/06/03 Whereas the Public Policy Forum declares — on its website for the 2017 report The Shattered Mirror: News, Democracy and Trust in the Digital Age (commissioned by the federal government) — that “real news is in crisis” in this country; Whereas the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cited eight “critical information needs” the media help to provide including emergencies; other public risks to health; education; the environment; economic opportunities; civic and political knowledge of policy initiatives; and the conduct of public officials, and candidates for office (The Shattered Mirror p.4); Whereas Canadians have lost the essential services provided by nearly 500 journalists due to layoffs in the Canadian media just from the time the COVID-19 pandemic began to mid-April — a time it became clearer to the public how important it is for Canadians to receive accurate information — and advertising revenues have plunged, prompting an emergency $30-million advertising-buy by the federal government; Whereas residents of 190 Canadian communities — including residents of Kitchener, Elmira and Guelph — lost 250 established news outlets due to closings or mergers between 2008 and 2018; Whereas nearly two out of every three Canadians support or somewhat support sending financial aid to struggling news providers, according to a Nanos Research poll of April 2020; Whereas the federal government allocated nearly $600 million in aid for Canadian media over five years in its 2019 budget, including a 25-per-cent tax credit for newsroom salaries; a 15-percent tax credit for digital media subscribers; and charitable tax status for non-profit news outlets; Whereas Canada’s federal government acknowledged in its 2019 budget (p. 173) that “A strong and independent news media is crucial to a well-functioning democracy.”; Whereas the news media in Waterloo Region have been instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring local citizens have accurate local information; Therefore Be It Resolved that Regional Municipality of Waterloo Council recognizes that a healthy, professional news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in the region; urges other municipal councils within the region and across Canada to recognize that a robust news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions; endorses legislation and regulations to support and rejuvenate news outlets across Canada; and urges the federal government to move quickly to pass legislation to ensure an ecosystem for a healthy news media to serve all Canadians; 3312966 Council Minutes - 3 - 20/06/03 And that the resolution be forwarded to the area municipalities, local M.P.s and M.P.P.s and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Carried Minutes of Previous Meetings Moved by B. Vrbanovic Seconded by S. Strickland a) Closed Special Council – May 6, 2020 b) Closed Special Council – May 8, 2020 c) Closed Council – May 13, 2020 d) Council – May 13, 2020 e) Closed Committee of the Whole – May 26, 2020 f) Committee of the Whole – May 26, 2020 g) Special Council Meeting – June 1, 2020 Carried Communications a) Council Information Package – Friday, May 29, 2020 was received for information. b) Letter to Council from Kyle McLeod regarding Grand River Transit Electric Buses was received for information. c) Letter to Council from BYD regarding Electric Bus Strategy and Pilot Project was received for information. D. Jaworsky stated he will be bringing an addendum to the motion under Committee of the Whole related to this matter. Motion to Go Into Committee Of The Whole To Consider Reports Moved by S. Shantz Seconded by J. Nowak That Council go into Committee of the Whole to consider reports. Carried 3312966 Council Minutes - 4 - 20/06/03 Finance Reports a) COR-ADM-20-02, Request for Loan Guarantee from Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Incorporated (SWIFT) Moved by K. McGarry Seconded by G. Lorentz That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo provide to Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Incorporated’s (SWIFT) lender the Region’s guarantee for the Region’s proportionate share of a short term credit facility in the approximate amount of $2,179,000 to provide bridge financing to be used by SWIFT to finance Phase 3 projects identified in the SWIFT Pilot Project Contribution Agreement with the Federal/Provincial Governments, and That the Commissioner of Corporate Services/Chief Financial Officer and the Regional Solicitor be authorized to sign any and all documentation necessary for this guarantee to become effective, as set out in report COR-ADM-20-02 dated June 3, 2020. Carried b) COR-TRY-20-56, P2020-08 Driver Protection System Moved by K. McGarry Seconded by G. Lorentz That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo accept the proposal of The Aftermarket Parts Company LLC for P2020-08 Driver Protection System for a three (3) year term commencing June 4, 2020 at an estimated cost of $2,095,190 (2020 estimated cost of $844,930) plus all applicable taxes as set out in report COR-TRY-20-56 dated June 3, 2020; And that the Regional Municipality of Waterloo amend the 2020-2029 Grand River Transit Capital Program as set out in Table 1. Carried c) COR-TRY-20-57, Federation of Canadian Municipalities Debenture Issue – Membrane Aerated Biofilm Upgrades at the Hespeler Wastewater Treatment Plant was received for information. 3312966 Council Minutes - 5 - 20/06/03 d) COR-TRY-20-58, 2020-2029 Housing Services Capital Program Amendment Moved by K. McGarry Seconded by G. Lorentz That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo amend the 2020-2029 Housing Services Capital Program to reflect the revised schedule of funding advances to MennoHomes as described in report COR-TRY-20-58 dated June 3, 2020. Carried Committee Reports Committee of the Whole The Summary of Recommendations of the Committee of the Whole was presented by T. Galloway, Chair of the Committee. D. Jaworsky requested an amendment to item #1 to reflect an additional clause regarding the electric bus implementation strategy. Moved by D. Jaworsky Seconded by B. Vrbanovic That item #1 be amended to include: vi. Re-visit the electric bus implementation strategy including the timing of electric bus purchases should federal or other funding become available or should there be significant technology advances with a goal of implementing an electric Grand River Transit bus fleet as soon as feasible. Carried Moved by T. Galloway Seconded by K. Kiefer That the Summary of Recommendations of the Committee of the Whole dated May 26, 2020, items 1 to 14, be adopted as follows: 1. That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve the electric bus strategy as set out in TES-TRS-20-12 dated May 26, 2020 and direct staff to take the following actions: i. No longer purchase buses powered exclusively by diesel engines beginning with the 2021 bus procurement. ii. Purchase six electric buses in 2022 and five electric buses in 2023; 3312966 Council Minutes - 6 - 20/06/03 iii. Draft the 2021-2030 capital program to reflect incremental bus replacement costs and equipment costs associated with the electric bus strategy; iv. Reduce the current order of 12m conventional diesel buses by four (4) and proceed with a tender to purchase four (4) 9 metre mid-size lower emission conventional transit buses; v. Review the results of the pilot electric buses in 2024 and update the zero emission vehicle strategy at that time; 2. That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo amend the Consulting Services Agreement with MTE Consultants Inc. for the Ottawa Street improvements from Fischer-Hallman Road to Alpine Road, in the City of Kitchener to add additional fees in the amount of $196,000 plus applicable taxes for a revised total upset fee of $771,664 for design services as described in report TES-DCS-20-11, dated May 26, 2020. 3. That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo enter into a Consulting Services Agreement with Associated Engineering (Ont.) Ltd. to provide engineering consulting services for a Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment (EA), design, and contract administration and construction inspection services for Trussler Road (Regional Road 70) from Bleams Road (Regional Road 56) to Yellow Birch Drive at an upset fee limit of $1,175,100 plus applicable taxes for both the EA and preliminary design and detailed design and tendering phases, with contract administration and construction inspection services to be paid on a time basis, as described in report TES-DCS-20-12, dated May 26, 2020.