January 19, 2016, at 12:07 PM
Present:
Deputy M. Cassidy, J. Morgan, H.L. Usher, J. Zaifman, L. Rowe (Secretary)
Absent:
V. Ridley
Also Present:
J. Helmer, A. Hopkins, T. Park, M. Salih, P. Squire; A. Zuidema, A.L. Barbon, J.P. Barber, G. Belch, J. Braam, P. Foto, K. Graham, M. Hayward, S. Koshowski, J. Logan, J. Lucas, V. McAlea Major, D. Mounteer, M. Ribera, R. Sutton, T. Van Klink, B. Warner
1. Disclosures of
Pecuniary Interest
That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.
2. Agreement with the
Province of Ontario to Participate in the Ontario Certified Site Program with the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment for 2506 Bonder Road, Innovation Park, Phase IV
That, on the recommendation of the Director of Water and Waste Water, the proposed by-law attached as Appendix “A” to the staff report dated January 19, 2016 BE INTRODUCED at the Municipal Council meeting on January 26, 2016 to: a) approve an agreement with Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, to promote 2506 Bonder Road, Innovation Park, Phase IV, as an “Investment Ready: Certified Site” that represents an ideal location for future investment and expansion projects; and b) authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the Agreement approved in a), above.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
3. Future Tax Policy -
Possible Directions
That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the staff report dated January 19, 2016 regarding possible directions for future tax policy BE RECEIVED for information.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
Motion to Approve that the staff report BE RECEIVED and staff BE REQUESTED to report back on the following proposed actions with respect to future tax policy: “a) Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to Corporate Services Committee, in advance of the report on 2016 tax policy, on the following: i) pre / post conversion analysis of assessment, tax rates and total taxes and taxes per unit for all buildings that have converted from multi-unit residential to condominiums (and vice versa) in the period 2005-2015, including figures for the number of conversions, age of the buildings at the time of conversion, number of units in each building, when the conversions occurred, assessed value, tax rates and total taxes. ii) comparative equity analysis of different kinds of rental units (age of building, assessment, tax rates, taxes per unit, taxes per square foot, rent) for examples of each of the following: A) single detached home converted to rental housing B) affordable housing multi-unit residential with preferential tax bylaw C) high rise buildings (multi-unit residential, condo and affordable housing preferential tax bylaw)
- older (i.e. rent regulated) high-rise building (multi-unit residential and condo)
- newer (i.e. not rent regulated) high-rise building (multi-unit residential and condo) iii) analysis of the implementation of the tax policy direction established in 2011, and its impact on the following: A) commercial properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax for rented and owned properties B) industrial properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax for rented and owned properties C) multi-unit residential properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax and the extent of any rent reductions required that have been required under the Residential Tenancies Act b) Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to consult and collaborate with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and/or other local agencies, and BE AUTHORIZED to engage an external consultant to prepare an analysis of the rental housing market in London that would breakdown the regular CMHC rental housing report by how the rental properties are taxed (either as residential, multi-unit residential or via an affordable housing preferential bylaw); and c) Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to explore the potential of a Community Improvement Plan to encourage the creation of affordable housing in existing multi-unit residential buildings that would, similar to our current approach of taxing specific affordable housing multi-unit residential developments at a rate equivalent to the residential rate, provide for eligible multi-unit residential properties to be taxed at a rate somewhere between the residential rate and the multi-unit residential rate, depending on the proportion of affordable units in the building.”
Motion Failed
Vote:
Yeas: Nays: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher (2) J. Zaifman (2)
Motion Failed
Motion to Approve that: a) the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back to Corporate Services Committee, in advance of the report on 2016 tax policy, on the following: i) pre / post conversion analysis of assessment, tax rates and total taxes and taxes per unit for all buildings that have converted from multi-unit residential to condominiums (and vice versa) in the period 2005-2015, including figures for the number of conversions, age of the buildings at the time of conversion, number of units in each building, when the conversions occurred, assessed value, tax rates and total taxes. ii) comparative equity analysis of different kinds of rental units (age of building, assessment, tax rates, taxes per unit, taxes per square foot, rent) for examples of each of the following: A) single detached home converted to rental housing B) affordable housing multi-unit residential with preferential tax bylaw C) high rise buildings (multi-unit residential, condo and affordable housing preferential tax bylaw)
- older (i.e. rent regulated) high-rise building (multi-unit residential and condo)
- newer (i.e. not rent regulated) high-rise building (multi-unit residential and condo) iii) analysis of the implementation of the tax policy direction established in 2011, and its impact on the following: A) commercial properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax for rented and owned properties B) industrial properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax for rented and owned properties C) multi-unit residential properties, including discussion of the incidence of tax and the extent of any rent reductions required that have been required under the Residential Tenancies Act b) Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to consult and collaborate with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and/or other local agencies, and BE AUTHORIZED to engage an external consultant to prepare an analysis of the rental housing market in London that would breakdown the regular CMHC rental housing report by how the rental properties are taxed (either as residential, multi-unit residential or via an affordable housing preferential bylaw); and c) Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to explore the potential of a Community Improvement Plan to encourage the creation of affordable housing in existing multi-unit residential buildings that would, similar to our current approach of taxing specific affordable housing multi-unit residential developments at a rate equivalent to the residential rate, provide for eligible multi-unit residential properties to be taxed at a rate somewhere between the residential rate and the multi-unit residential rate, depending on the proportion of affordable units in the building.
Motion Failed
Vote:
Yeas: Nays: J. Morgan M. Cassidy J. Zaifman (2) H.L. Usher (2)
Motion Failed
4. Assessment Growth
for 2016, Changes in Taxable Phase-in Values and Shifts in Taxation as a Result of Reassessment
That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the staff report dated January 19, 2016 regarding assessment growth for 2016, changes in taxable phase-in values and shifts in taxation as a result of reassessment, BE RECEIVED for information.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
5. Hydro One
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
Motion to Approve that the requests for delegation status from the following individuals BE HEARD: a) Colleen Shaw, Darlene Faulds, Ange Thompson and Tina Stevens, representing Hydro One Not For Sale; and b) Roberta Cory, Co-Chair, London Chapter, Council of Canadians.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
Motion to Approve that the delegations BE RECEIVED.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
Motion to Approve that the Civic Administration BE REQUESTED to undertake a high level review, in liaison with London Hydro, as to the feasibility and desirability of investing in Hydro One.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
6. Public Question
Session/Period
That the Governance Working Group BE REQUESTED to review and recommend the necessary changes to procedural processes for including a public question session/period at Municipal Council meetings, including reviewing the best practices of those municipalities who currently provide for public question sessions/periods, for the consideration of the Municipal Council.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
7. Confirmation of
Appointment to the London Advisory Committee on Heritage
That Greg Thompson BE APPOINTED as a Voting Representative on the London Advisory Committee on Heritage, representing the Urban League of London, for the term ending February 28, 2019.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
8. Request for
Approval of an Expense on an Exception Basis
That the request by Councillor M. van Holst to provide $27.09 from his annual expense allocation for 3 nylon basketball nets for Trafalgar Public School BE DENIED.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
9. Diversity,
Integration and Inclusion in London
That the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to report back at a future meeting of the Corporate Services Committee regarding the creation of a staff position, within the approved budget, that would be responsible for assisting with the attraction and retention of qualified individuals to London who reflect the diversity of our community; providing advice and tools to the Municipal Council and the Civic Administration to assist with addressing integration, diversity and inclusion of all Londoners; and to assist with the establishment of strategies to create a City of London workforce that is more reflective of the diversity of the community.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
10. Request for
Designation of the International Food Festival as a Municipally Significant Event
That the International Food Festival, to be held June 24, 2016 to June 26, 2016, in Victoria Park, BE DESIGNATED as an event of municipal significance in the City of London.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
11. Request for
Designation of the London Rib Fest as a Municipally Significant Event
That the London Rib Fest, to be held July 28, 2016 to August 1, 2016, in Victoria Park, BE DESIGNATED as an event of municipal significance in the City of London.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
12. Corporate Services
Committee Deferred Matters List
That the Corporate Services Committee Deferred Matters List BE APPROVED, subject to the deletion of Item No. 1.9 as this matter has been dealt with through the Community and Protective Services Committee.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
13. ADDED - Provincial
Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation Program
That, on the recommendation of the Managing Director, Corporate Services and City Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, the proposed by-law attached as Appendix “A” to the staff report dated January 19, 2016 BE INTRODUCED at the Municipal Council meeting to be held on January 26, 2016 to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute a Letter of Agreement between the Province of Ontario and the City of London with respect to the Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for the Public Transportation Program.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
14. ADDED - Absence
from Meeting
That the communication dated January 12, 2016, from Councillor V. Ridley, advising of her absence from the January 19, 2016 meeting of the Corporate Services Committee BE RECEIVED.
Motion Passed
Vote:
Yeas: M. Cassidy J. Morgan H.L. Usher J. Zaifman (4)
Motion Passed
15. Hydro
One