Committee Recommendations Approved at March 23 Burlington Council Meeting

At the March 23 Burlington Council meeting, numerous recommendations were approved from the March cycle of committee meetings. Below are some of the highlights split up by committee.Click this link to go through the full post-meeting minutes for all recommendations that were approved at the March 23 Regular Council meeting: Post-Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting of Council_Mar23_2021; and the March 3 Special Meeting of Council: Post-Meeting Minutes - Special Meeting of Council_Mar03_2021.Minutes from the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (CSSRA) Committee, Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (EICS) Committee, and Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility (CPRM) Committee meetings can be found under the “Related Links” header at the end of this post.There are also separate posts for Council approving:

• Burlington Council Approves Insurance Rate Reduction for Business Owners Adding Temporary Patios on Public Land
• Burlington City Council Approves 2021 Operating Budget
• Spring/Summer Temporary Patios: Burlington City Council Approves Earlier Start Date and Streamlined Approval Process

HIGHLIGHTS:CPRM COMMITTEE (March 2)

• Post-Meeting Minutes - CPRM Committee_Mar02_2021

• BURLINGTON BROWNFIELD FOCUS COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT — Burlington Economic Development report.Recommendation:

Approve the Burlington Brownfield Focus Community Improvement Plan Report contained in Appendix A to Burlington Economic Development report ECDEV-01-21, in principle as a policy document; andDirect the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility to work with Burlington Economic Development to prepare the adopting by-laws to enable the Burlington Brownfield Focus Community Improvement Plan in principle as a policy document; andDirect the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility and the Director of Finance to work with Burlington Economic Development to develop a framework and sequencing plan to assess other community improvement needs towards a comprehensive Community Improvement Plan Strategy; andDirect the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility and the Director of Finance to work with Burlington Economic Development to report back to Council in Q4 2021 for consideration of implementation of the Burlington Brownfield Focus Community Improvement Plan Incentive Programs in 2022 and the financial impacts on the 2022 Budget in the context of the proposed comprehensive Community Improvement Plan Strategy.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• Staff report: ECDEV-01-21 Burlington Brownfield Focus Community Improvement Plan
• Appendix: ECDEV-01-21 Appendix A - Burlington Brownfield Focus CIP Report – Draft January 2021
• Staff presentation: ECDEV-01-21 staff presentation

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:Our Brownfield strategy has been evolving over many years. I think the collective effort through Burlington EcDev's report has created the comprehensive plan ahead of us. The Brownfield strategy is about our future, this is paving the way for future Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) for affordable housing, heritage, etc. I think this is great work and a great first step to a future to incentivize what we want to see in our community. STATUTORY PUBLIC MEETING FOR AN OFFICIAL PLAN & ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT & PLAN OF SUBDIVISION FOR 2155 COUNTRY CLUB DR. & 4274 DUNDAS ST. (Millcroft Golf Club Development) — Community Planning Department report.*NOTE: This item was referred to the March 4 EICS Committee meeting, please see the minutes below for additional delegations' materials.Recommendation:

Direct staff to continue to process and work with the applicant (Glenn Wellings Planning Consultants Inc. on behalf of Millcroft Greens Corporation) with regard to the submitted Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and and Plan of Subdivision for 2155 Country Club Drive & 4274 Dundas Street.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• Staff report: PL-12-21 - Millcroft Greens Statutory Public Meeting and Recommendation Report
• Appendix: PL-12-21 - Appendix A - Sketches
• Staff presentation: PL-12-21_ Staff Presentation

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:I have heard from the public their concerns with staff going past the mandated time frames for this file and the associated risks of it being appealed to the LPAT. At the same time, there is benefit in allowing City staff and the applicant to continue their work and have an opportunity to share all the feedback we get on this application from the Region, Conservation Halton, and others, in open and public session. I'm in favour of allowing their work to proceed and we heard from staff that a recommendation report will come in September for a decision by Council.In addition, I’m thankful to the applicant for sharing their information during the committee meeting and the 58 residents who came to offer their knowledge research, expertise and all the young delegates (youngest being 5) and teens, as well as the young folks looking to get into the housing market, and to those who shared what this community means to you. All the delegations gave us so much to think about and consider. I’m grateful to those who dedicated their time and being with us during the lengthy, multiple-day committee meeting, and thank you for being citizens of Burlington. CSSRA COMMITTEE (March 3)

• Post-Meeting Minutes - CSSRA Committee_Mar03_2021

• COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE VERBAL UPDATERecommendation: Burlington Economic Recovery Network ResolutionCarried unanimously by Council.

• Staff presentation: CSSRA-05-21 COVID-19 Emergency Update

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:What started as a small informal conversation, quickly grew to city-wide discussion with almost 60 participants from the restaurant community. Partnership is the key word here. One of the concerns raised was where does all the feedback from participants go? It comes to Council where we can unite our voice to call for additional supports for restaurants. I hope we have reassured your views -- this is your feedback turned into action. • SERVICE REDESIGN INTERIM MODIFICATIONS & RESUMPTIONS — City Manager’s Office report.Recommendation:

Direct the City Manager to proceed with implementing the interim service delivery program recommendation as contained in appendix B attached to city manager’s office report CM-06-21 outlining the COVID-19 property tax deferral payment plan - finance; andRefer appendix A of city manager’s office report CM-06-21 to the March 23, 2021 City Council meeting regarding outdoor customer experience from recreation, community and culture; andDirect the Chief Financial Officer to track and monitor the financial implications of the above service delivery program changes in the ongoing COVID-19 financial impact reporting to Council.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• City Manager’s Office report: CM-06-21 Mar Service Re-design Interim Modifications and Resumptions
• Appendices:
  • CM-06-21 Appendix A Park Support Summer 2021 Options
  • CM-06-21 Appendix B COVID-19 Property Tax Deferral Payment Plan

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:I am fully supportive of the park ambassadors piece and staff’s approach to this — it’s all about the customer. Residents are at the centre of this. The park ambassadors have an opportunity to reach those residents we can’t traditionally, so it’s about inclusivity too. By having people right on the ground being able to interact with residents and visitors, we can deal with issues as a City right on the spot — that’s really proactive. I’m very enthusiastic about this.Concerning the property tax deferral piece -- extending this program into 2021 will continue to assist our local residents and businesses who still need support as we continue to face down and move through the COVID-19 pandemic. EICS COMMITTEE (March 4)

• Post-Meeting Minutes - EICS Committee_Mar04_2021

• CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN — Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Department ReportRecommendation:

Receive and file environment, infrastructure and community services report EICS-03-21 regarding Burlington’s upcoming Climate Adaptation Plan.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• Staff report: EICS-03-21 Climate Adaptation Plan
• Staff presentation: EICS-03-21 Staff Presentation
• Appendices:
  • EICS-03-21 - Appendix A Climate Projections for Burlington Region
  • EICS-03-21 - Appendix B Infographics for Burlington Region

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:The key with our Climate Adaptation Plan is that we are on a journey. I appreciate the detail from staff of what the City of Burlington has been doing to date, some of which has been for some time. We all have to do our bit to bend the curve and make sure the disturbing projected upward trends we heard from staff in their presentation go down. I’m looking forward to seeing the development of the community advisory group. • CITY HALL -- ONE WINDOW DESIGN UPDATE — Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Department ReportRecommendation:

Receive and file environment, infrastructure and community services report EICS-05-21 providing One Window service counter and long-term design concepts and schedule for the 1st floor City Hall renovations.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• Staff report: City Hall - One Window Design Update

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:This is absolutely incredible and outstanding work by City staff and the architect. What I really appreciate is that City staff put the customers’ needs first and designed around that. I really appreciate that’s how we’re going about this. We are building a City Hall for a post-pandemic future while serving our current pandemic needs. CPRM COMMITTEE (March 9)

• Post-Meeting Minutes - CPRM Committee_Mar09_2021

• CITY OF BURLINGTON CYCLING PLAN — Transportation Services Department report.Recommendation:

Endorse, in principle, transportation services report TS-01-21 which presents the findings of the City of Burlington Cycling Plan, recognizing that network recommendations will be incorporated into the forthcoming Integrated Mobility Plan and will be subject to final council approval.

Carried unanimously by Council.

• Staff report: TS-01-21 City of Burlington Cycling Plan
• Appendix:
  • TS-01-21 Appendix A - Cycling facility definitions and photos
  • TS-01-21 Appendix B - Cycling Plan Maps
  • TS-01-21 Appendix C - Round 1 Engagement Summary Report

MAYOR MEED WARD’S TAKE:The input we received from the public has made this a stronger plan, so I want to thank everyone for providing their feedback to us. We have been at this a long time. I’m really excited about moving forward with some of the things already outline in the plan. I do think the connection between the north and south parts of our city through the QEW crossings, I’d love to make them beautiful and completely separated from traffic, and we’ve seen examples of how to do that from around the world -- and it’s an investment in our future. When we’re a city that is carved up by highways, we really have to think about how we connect all of our neighbourhoods and are able to bring people to the north by bike and to the south to enjoy our waterfront by bike. With east/west connections, I think we have a good plan for when road work comes up, how we’re going to achieve those. When we’re talking about brand new bridges and connections over the QEW, I think we have to be brave and look at how we can fund that and definitely make that a priority.

RELATED LINKS:

• Post-Meeting Minutes - CPRM Committee_Mar02_2021
• Post-Meeting Minutes - CSSRA Committee_Mar03_2021
• Post-Meeting Minutes - Special Meeting of Council_Mar03_2021
• Post-Meeting Minutes - EICS Committee_Mar04_2021
• Post-Meeting Minutes - CPRM Committee_Mar09_2021
• Post-Meeting Minutes - Regular Meeting of Council_Mar23_2021

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist