Below is a summary of key items discussed at the Municipality of Port Hope Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. The agendas and staff reports are available on the Agendas and Minutes page of our website.
Council Meeting:
The following are highlights from the Council Meeting.
Appointing Council representatives to Advisory Boards and Committees
Council made the following appointments:
- Councillor Les Andrews – Audit Committee, Heritage Incentive Advisory Committee, Waterfront and Riverwalk Working Group
- Councillor Todd Attridge – Committee of Adjustment, Heritage Port Hope Advisory Committee, Heritage Business Improvement Area (HBIA) Board of Directors
- Councillor Chris Collins – Property Standards Committee, Audit Committee
- Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani – Environmental Advisory Committee, Waterfront and Riverwalk Working Group
- Councillor Vicki Mink – Accessibility Advisory Committee, Ganaraska Region Conservation Board of Directors
- Councillor Adam Pearson – Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee, Civic Awards Advisory Committee, Ganaraska Region Conservation Board of Directors
- Mayor Olena Hankivsky – West Northumberland Physician Recruitment Committee
Port Hope Archives appointed as Official Archivist
Council appointed the Port Hope Archives as the official archival repository / archivist for the Municipality of Port Hope for 2023.
Procedural By-law review
The Municipal Act requires every municipality to pass a Procedure By-law for governing the calling, place, and proceedings of meetings. A comprehensive review of this has not been completed since 2015.
Council directed staff to undertake a comprehensive review of the Procedural By-law while incorporating feedback from members of Council and public engagement. Staff will complete this review and report back to Council at a later date with results and recommendations.
65 Ward Street Heritage Permit
A Heritage Permit for the demolition of the extra buildings and structures on the property was approved by Council on February 15, 2022. This permit was granted under the conditions of a development agreement between the Municipality and Southbridge.
The agreement expired without planning approval and the proposed development on the property will not be moving forward as envisioned. The proposed rezoning of the property was defeated at the Committee of the Whole meeting in February 2022 and the property was subsequently designated as a heritage property in June 2022. Since the approved heritage permit was for demolition subject to a specific plan that is not proceeding, the outstanding heritage permit was repealed by Council.
United Nation’s Declaration
Council adopted the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada pledging to use it as the framework for indigenous reconciliation. The Municipality aspires to implement the UNDRIP at a local government level and recognizes the implementation of the UNDRIP as the minimum standard for the survival, dignity, well-being, and rights of the Indigenous peoples.
Climate Emergency Declaration
Council declared a climate emergency for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our eco systems, and our community from climate change.
Read the media release for more information about these declarations authorized by Council.
Prescribed Fees for Service
Council authorized the Prescribed Fees for Service. This By-law will come into effect on January 1, 2023.
Zoning By-law Application – 143 Walton Street
Council approved a Zoning By-law Amendment Application for the lands located at 143 Walton Street. This amendment rezones the land to permit the conversion of the ground floor area to residential use.
Repeal Development Charges By-law
Council repealed By-law 62/2022 to reflect provincial changes resulting from Bill 23, and mitigate potential revenue loss of approximately $557,000.
Committee of the Whole:
The following are highlights from the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Delegation – Garden Hill Neighborhood Coalition
Glenn Deeth provided a delegation on behalf of the Garden Hill Neighbourhood Coalition regarding the proposed development at 3852 Ganaraska Road.
Delegation – Ganaraska Members’ Action Group
Judith Blakely provided a delegation on behalf of the Ganaraska Members’ Action Group regarding the closure of the Ganaraska Forest.
Delegation – GRCA Budget and Municipal Levy
Peter Swinton provided a delegation regarding the 2023 proposed budget for the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and the Municipal Levy.
Deputy Mayor Appointment
Staff provided a report outlining various options for the process to select a Deputy Mayor. These included:
- 4-year appointment – status quo
- Annual appointment – appoint a Deputy Mayor each year
- Rotating appointment – appoint the Deputy Mayor on a rotating basis amongst the 6 Councillors throughout the 4-year term of Council
Committee deferred consideration of this report to the next regular meeting in order to allow for all members of Council to be present.
2023 Interim Levy By-law
Staff provided a report regarding the 2023 Interim Levy By-law. This is an annual requirement. The recommendation from the Finance Department, considering customer feedback received, is to have the installment dates be the third last business day of the month with penalty being applied the first day of the following month. Therefore for 2023, the interim levy due dates are proposed to be February 24, 2023 and April 27, 2023. In the event the bills are not able to be sent out 21 days in advance of the due date, the Treasurer is authorized to establish a revised due date.
A By-law will be presented to Council in early 2023.
Fire Station 2 Replacement Project
Staff provided a report, outlining the need for a replacement for Fire Station 2, the history of the project, and a recommendation of a potential location (55 Fox Road). The proposed site provides all required elements needed by a contemporary fire station, and due to the historical work and studies which have previously been completed for the project at this location, there will be a time and cost savings opportunity to the Municipality.
Committee approved, in principle, 55 Fox Road as the location for the construction of the replacement Fire Station 2 project and directed staff to initiate the community engagement phase of the project. Following community engagement, staff will provide a report and recommendations regarding the replacement of Fire Station 2. Details of the community engagement initiatives will be communicated in early 2023.
Minutes and video recordings
Meeting minutes will be available pending approval at the next Council meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
Recordings of the December 20, 2022, Council and Committee of the Whole meetings will be available at porthope.ca/council.
2022-12-21
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