The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes

MINUTES

SPECIAL COUNCIL INFORMATION MEETING

Meeting #:CR2017-06
Date:
Time:
Open Session Commencing at 2:00 p.m.
Location:
Council Chambers
City Hall
26 Francis Street, Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5R8
MEMBERS:
  • Mayor Andy Letham
  • Councillor Isaac Breadner
  • Councillor Pat Dunn
  • Councillor Doug Elmslie
  • Councillor Gord James
  • Councillor Gerard Jilesen
  • Councillor Brian S. Junkin
  • Councillor Rob Macklem
  • Councillor Mary Ann Martin
  • Councillor Gord Miller
  • Councillor Patrick O'Reilly
  • Councillor John Pollard
  • Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan
  • Councillor Heather Stauble
  • Councillor Stephen Strangway
  • Councillor Andrew Veale
  • Councillor Emmett Yeo
Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request.

1.
CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Letham called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Councillors I. Breadner, P. Dunn, D. Elmslie, G. Jilesen, B. Junkin, R. Macklem, P. O'Reilly, K. Seymour-Fagan, S. Strangway and A. Veale were in attendance.

CAO R. Taylor, City Clerk J. Currins and Administrative Assistant S. O'Connell were also in attendance.

Late Arrivals: Councillor J. Pollard 2:02 p.m.
Councillor G. James 2:15 p.m.

2.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA

  • CR2017-177
    Moved ByCouncillor Elmslie
    Seconded ByCouncillor Veale

    RESOLVED THAT the Agenda for the Open Session of the Special Council Information Meeting of Monday, March 6, 2017, be adopted as circulated.

    CARRIED

3.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest noted.

4.
PUBLIC INFORMATION

4.1
Presentations

​Mayor Letham provided a brief overview of the process that has been followed for the ward boundary review to date. He advised that Council has already made the decision to reduce the size of Council to eight Councillors and this is the next step to implement that decision. Mayor Letham reviewed the project Guiding Principles.

4.1.1
CC2017-06.4.1.1

Public Comments - Ward Boundary Options

​CAO Taylor introduced the members of the public who wished to provide comment on the Ward Options.

Ms. Linda Carder from current Ward 16 felt that Option 1, being the 4 Ward/2 Councillors/Ward as the best option, but she would support Option 4 being 8 Ward/1 Councillor/Ward. She believes that Lindsay should be divided and combined with rural areas so that Council members know the issues from both sectors. She noted it is time for change and that Option 1 would expand the outlook of Councillors for the whole municipality. She thanked Council for their work to transform the City of Kawartha Lakes electoral system and take the municipality forward into the 21st Century.

Ms. Catharine Kersteman, a business owner from Coboconk, supported an 8 Ward system with 1 Councillor/Ward. She noted that there may be confusion of the electors if two people represented the same area and who do they call, With 4 Wards, the area of each ward is massive and it would be hard for an elected official to know their ward and the interests of the people within the Ward. Councillor could come from the same part of the Ward. There is also the possibility that they could have opposing interests. She supported either Option 3 or 4 being 8 Ward options.

Mr. Dinah Wilson from Coboconk felt that an 8 Ward/1 Councillor/Ward option was better and she prefers Option 4. Option 4 puts current Wards into a new structure and has a mix of urban and rural. The proposed northern Ward is massive and hard for Councillors to be familiar with all of the issues of the Ward. She did not support the 4 Ward scenarios. The people need to know their Councillor and the Councillor needs to know the issues and concerns of the electors.

Mr. Lloyd Robertson from Lindsay is comfortable with the 8 Ward/1 Councillor/Ward options and they are preferred to the 4 Ward options. Four wards provides an area that is too large. He noted, as a former member of Council, that residents view their Councillors differently in the rural area as opposed to the urban area of Lindsay. There is more interaction in the rural area and therefore the areas should not be too large. He was concerned with two Councillors per Ward that they may work against each other. He urged Council to adopt an 8 Ward Option.

There was no other person present that wished to address Council.

  • CR2017-178
    Moved ByCouncillor Strangway
    Seconded ByCouncillor Jilesen

    RESOLVED THAT the public comments regarding Ward Boundary Options, be received.

    CARRIED

4.1.2
CC2017-06.4.1.2

Written Public Submissions - Ward Boundary Options

​The City Clerk advised that three pieces of correspondence had been received relating to the Ward Boundary Options. Correspondence was received from Ron Ashmore, Brian and Miriam Bartley and Charles Scheffel. Copies were circulated to Council and are available in the Clerk's Office.

  • CR2017-179
    Moved ByCouncillor Macklem
    Seconded ByCouncillor Breadner

    RESOLVED THAT the correspondence from Ron Ashmore, Brian and Mariam Bartley and Charles Scheffel, regarding Ward Boundary Options, be received.

    CARRIED

4.1.3
CC2017-06.4.1.3

Council Review- Ward Boundary Options

4.1.3.1
CC2017-06.4.1.3.1

Option 1 - Four Wards, Two Councillors per Ward

​There were no comments or questions for Option 1.

4.1.3.2
CC2017-06.4.1.3.2

Option 2 - Four Wards, Two Councillors per Ward

​There were no comments or questions relating to Option 2.

4.1.3.3
CC2017-06.4.1.3.3

Option 3 - Eight Wards - One Councillor per Ward

​There was a question relating to the difference between Option 3 and 4 and if the peer review comments supported one over the other. It was confirmed that each had attributes and both were defendable.

4.1.3.4
CC2017-06.4.1.3.4

Option 4 - Eight Wards - One Councillor per Ward

​General Questions

There was a question relating to population growth. It was explained that it was determined at the start of the process that the population available on January 1, 2016 plus the non-resident electors from the 2014 municipal election would form the basis for the population figures. It was decided that growth would not be considered in the scenarios.

There was a process question relating to the order of decisions. Could Council have decided the wards and then the number of Councillors? The answer was yes, however, deciding the size of Council if the foundation and then the ward structure supports that decision.

There was a comment that Rosedale and Sturgeon Point were communities of interest that were divided.

There was a question relating to the appeal process and any recourse available to the public if they do not like the ward structure. It was explained that each option is defendable and the Dr. Williams would be the expert witness should an appeal be filed.

There was a comment supporting the use of back lot lines to split wards rather than roads. Also that if the maps are adjusted for the next meeting, it may be confusing.

Mayor Letham advised that the City Clerk will be taking the comments received today and finalizing the maps and preparing for adoption of one option at the March 21st meeting.

8.
CONFIRMING BY-LAW

  • CR2017-180
    Moved ByCouncillor James
    Seconded ByCouncillor Veale

    RESOLVED THAT a by-law to confirm the proceedings of a Special Council Information Meeting held Monday, March 6, 2017 be read a first, second and third time, passed, numbered, signed and the corporate seal attached.

    CARRIED

9.
ADJOURNMENT

  • CR2017-181
    Moved ByCouncillor James
    Seconded ByCouncillor Seymour-Fagan

    RESOLVED THAT the Special Council Information Meeting adjourn at 2:42 p.m.

    CARRIED

    Read and adopted this 21st day of March, 2016.

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