Loading...
1999-01-11_Minutes 87-325 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of Saint John, on Monday, the eleventh day of January, AD., 1999, at 7:00 o'clock p.m. present Shirley McAlary, Mayor Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Ball, Chase, Court, Desmond, Fitzpatrick, Titus, Trites, Vincent and White - and - Messrs. 1. Totten, City Manager; J. Nugent, City Solicitor; A Beckett, Commissioner of Finance and Commissioner of Corporate Services; P. Woods, Deputy City Manager; J. C. MacKinnon, Commissioner of Environment and Development Services; P. Groody, Commissioner of Municipal Operations; W. Butler, Commissioner of Community Services; S. Galbraith, Director of Works; J. Baird, Manager of Community Planning; W. Edwards, Building Inspector; D. Logan, Purchasing Agent; P. Hanlon, Manager of Water and Sewerage Services; B. Totten, Works Superintendent; E. LeBlanc, Insurance and Claims Officer; G. Tait, Fire Chief; C. Cogswell, Chief of Police; Mrs. M. Munford, Common Clerk; and Ms. C. Mosher, Assistant Common Clerk. 1. MeetinQ Called To Order - Prayer Mayor McAlary called the meeting to order, and offered the opening prayer. 2. Approval of Minutes On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting of Common Council, held on January 4, 1999, be approved. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 3. Mayor's Remarks Mayor McAlary, referring to a recent message of congratulations she placed in the Saint John Times Globe newspaper to the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes - G.I.P. on its 75th anniversary which inadvertently included names of former Council members along with the current Council members, advised of her receipt of a letter of apology from The Telegraph Journal-Times Globe newspaper company in this regard. The Mayor advised of a Year 2000 Committee meeting to be held in the Council Chamber at 7:00 o'clock p.m. on January 19, to which an invitation was extended to a number of organizations and people in the community, and invited any other people in the community who have an interest in doing an event or project for the Year 2000 to attend this meeting. * Added Item The Mayor called for a motion to add to the agenda of this meeting a Committee of the Whole recommendation of this date for appointments to the Planning Advisory Committee. On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Court RESOLVED that the above-mentioned recommendation be added to the agenda of this meeting for consideration as item 3B. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 87 -326 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 On motion of Councillor Court Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that the proposed re-zoning of land at the corner of McAllister Drive and Golden Grove Road be added to the agenda of this meeting for consideration as item 17 A. The Mayor noted that a two-thirds majority vote of Council would be required to add the above item, which was tabled at the last meeting, to the agenda. (Councillor Vincent withdrew from the meeting.) Question being taken, the motion was lost, a tie vote having been created with Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Ball, Chase, Fitzpatrick and Trites voting "nay". (Councillor Vincent re-entered the meeting.) On motion of Councillor Titus Seconded by Deputy Mayor Chase RESOLVED that item 18 on the agenda of this meeting be brought forward for consideration at this time. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 18. South Central Citizens Council Re January 4 Presentation To Council On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that the letter from the South Central Citizens Council expressing the view that an apology is due to the citizens of Saint John and, specifically, to Dominick Eden further to his presentation to Common Council on January 4, 1999 on behalf of the Citizens Council -- be received and filed. Councillor Titus, in advising that his remarks at the last meeting were directed at Deputy Mayor Chase to whom he subsequently apologized, apologized for his words if somebody else was offended by them. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 3A. Snow Control Plan Read a letter from the City Manager advising that the presentation requested at the last meeting on the snow control plan would be made at this meeting. Mr. Groody, through a computerized presentation (copies of which were distributed to Council members at this meeting) including photographs, explained the City's snow control plan, and responded to questions in this regard. (Councillor Titus withdrew from the meeting during the above presentation. ) *3B. PlanninQ Advisory Committee Appointments On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that Joseph Mallette Jr. be appointed and Tom Bayne and Donald F. Gillis be reappointed to the Planning Advisory Committee for terms of three years. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 87 -327 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that item 17 on the agenda of this meeting be brought forward for consideration at this time. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Vincent withdrew from the meeting due to a possible conflict of interest.) 17. Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy Re Extension Of Closing Date Of Sale Of Property To Imperial Oil Limited Consideration was given to a letter from Peter R. Forestell of the law firm of Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy, solicitors for Imperial Oil, referring to Council's tabling at its last meeting of Imperial Oil's application for re-zoning of the property at the corner of McAllister Drive and Golden Grove Road in that, accordingly, it would be in order for Imperial Oil to request Common Council to agree to extend the closing date of the property sale to on or before April 30, 1999 which should give Council plenty of time to deal with the re-zoning application; and requesting the addition to the agenda of this Council meeting of the matter of the extension of the closing date to a date on or before April 30,1999. On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that the closing date for the sale of the property on the corner of McAllister Drive and Golden Grove Road be extended to April 30, 1999, as requested by Patterson Palmer Hunt Murphy, solicitors for Imperial Oil Limited. Councillor Court asked if the City had any need for the above property to which Mr. Groody advised that, as reported to Planning staff during the planning process, the City did not need the subject property now or in the future. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Vincent re-entered the meeting.) 4. HIP #31 Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager regarding Peter Robichaud's request for an extension of his Housing Incentive Program application HIP #31 for a development on the corner of Russell Hill Road and River Hill Drive, the City Solicitor in his report to Council on December 21, 1998 having suggested that, if Council wished to approve a limited extension, it be made conditional on the third unit having reached a stipulated stage of completion prior to the original March 3, 1999 deadline; advising that discussions with the applicant have indicated that, while the foundation will be finished by March 3, 1999, there is presently a 60-day waiting period for delivery of the modular unit for this site which should permit completion of the unit by the end of May; and recommending an extension until May 31, 1999. On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, Common Council extend the time limit for completion of the third unit in Housing Incentive Program application HIP #31 until May 31,1999, on condition that the foundation has been completed and a copy of the confirmed order for the modular unit is received by the Development Officer by March 3, 1999. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Chase withdrew from the meeting.) 87 -328 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 5. HIP Applications #80 and #74 Read a report from the City Manager recommending approval of Housing Incentive Application HIP #80, as well as an amendment to HIP #74, and advising, in the latter regard, of Eastcan Trading Limited's request for two amendments to its application, the October 19, 1998 approval for 19 additional units on Phase 4 having inadvertently included two lots that are not available for development as they will serve as a temporary turning area until the street is extended and Eastcan would also like to add one additional lot that remained undeveloped in an earlier phase of the same development. On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase Seconded by Councillor Desmond RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, Common Council approve the following Housing Incentive Program application: HIP #80 for Hazen Investments Limited for an estimated grant of $4,160 for a development on Prince William Street; and further that approval be granted for an amendment to Eastcan Trading Limited's Housing Incentive Program application HIP #74 for 18 units in the Meadowland Subdivision. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 6. 1999 Insurance On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, Council accept the insurance package offered by Frank Cowan Company Limited, and approve payments as follows: Frank Cowan Company Limited - $601,134; Huestis Insurance Limited - $40,500, for a total of $641,634. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 7. Agreement For Back-Up Fire Protection - Point Lepreau On motion of Deputy Mayor Chase Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, Council approve a three-year agreement 1999-2002 between the City of Saint John, N.B., and the New Brunswick Power Corporation for fire protection services to the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and, prior to the official signing, the submitted draft agreement be forwarded to the City Solicitor for review and input. Question being taken, the motion was carried. (Councillor Chase re-entered the meeting.) Mr. Nugent advised that he would be submitting a report to Council on the Y2K potential problem referenced in the above-proposed agreement. 8. Re Somerset Street Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager referring to the proposed Municipal Plan amendment and re-zoning of property at 899 Somerset Street, to which Council gave first and second readings at the January 4, 1999 public hearing at which time the Planning Advisory Committee recommended the widening to four lanes and curbing of Somerset Street and Council requested staff to prepare a cost estimate in this regard; and advising that the work, which has not been included in the recommended 1999 Capital Program, could be added to the 2000 Program at an estimated cost of $650,000, including storm sewer construction, rock excavation, road widening, curb, sidewalk, and asphalt paving, and further that the estimated cost of extending the four lanes to Millidge Avenue would be an additional $255,000, including road widening, storm drainage improvements, curb, sidewalk and asphalt paving. 87 -329 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 On motion of Councillor White Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that the above report from the City Manager be received and filed. Councillor Trites asked, as third reading of the proposed Municipal Plan amendment and re-zoning of the property at 899 Somerset Street was tabled at the last meeting pending the above report, if Council would be committing itself, in view of the Planning Advisory Committee's recommendation to build a four-lane highway, to building that road by passing third readings. Mr. Totten advised that it was not staff's intention, in submitting the above report, to commit Council to that project in either of 1999 or 2000 or delay third readings; and Mr. Nugent expressed the view that, as the Planning Advisory Committee's recommendation was that Council consider the possibility of a four-lane highway and it was not a term the Committee has the unilateral right to impose nor one Council has to accept in order to proceed with the re-zoning, it was entirely a policy matter for Council whether or not to construct the four lanes; and confirmed that Council would not be committing itself by proceeding with third readings. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 9(a) Municipal Plan Amendment & (b) Re-ZoninQ 899 Somerset Street 9{a) On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "A Law To Amend The Municipal Plan By-Law", by redesignating on Schedule 2-A, the Future Land Use Plan, a parcel of land with an area of approximately 62 acres, located at 899 Somerset Street, having frontages on Somerset Street, Rope Walk Road, Millidge Avenue and Sussex Drive, also being a portion of NBGIC Number 55144109 and a portion of NBGIC Number 415216, from Medium Density Residential to Business Park classification, be read a third time and enacted and the Corporate Common Seal be affixed thereto. The by-law entitled, "A Law To Amend The Municipal Plan By-Law", was read in its entirety. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 9{b) On motion of Councillor White Seconded by Councillor Desmond RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "By-Law Number C.P. 100-487 A Law To Amend The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint John", insofar as it concerns re-zoning zoning a parcel of land with an area of approximately 62 acres, located at 899 Somerset Street, having frontages on Somerset Street, Rope Walk Road, Millidge Avenue and Sussex Drive, also being a portion of NBGIC Number 55144109 and a portion of NBGIC Number 415216, from "P" Park, "R-2" One and Two-Family Residential, "RM-1" Three-Storey Multiple Residential and "RM-2" High-Rise Multiple Residential to "BP" Business Park classification, be read a third time and enacted and the Corporate Common Seal be affixed thereto: AND FURTHER that pursuant to Section 39 of the Community Planning Act, the said re-zoning be subject to the following conditions: (a) the use of the site is limited to a business park subdivision which may include the following uses: assembly and manufacture of electronic devices; banks and similar institutions; business office; communication and telecommunications facility; commercial school; data processing facility; daycare, nursery or kindergarten; laboratory or research centre; personal service shop; printing or publishing service; post office or postal station; repair service shop; retail store, as a secondary use to one of the permitted uses; restaurant; recreation facility, gym or health club; warehouse, as a secondary use to one of the permitted uses; 87 -330 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 wholesale business or store; subject to Section 611 (2)(a) of the Zoning By-Law and such other terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Committee, industrial service or general manufacturing; (b) a buffer area with a minimum width of 10 metres, similar to the buffer illustrated on the tentative subdivision plan dated November 1998, must be maintained around the perimeter of the business park, and such buffer must be maintained in its undisturbed natural state or, if disturbed, must be landscaped with grass, shrubs and trees, and this condition does not prevent the placement of access driveways, pedestrian walkways and municipal services and utility easements across the buffer area; (c) notwithstanding condition (b), no driveway access is permitted from Rope Walk Road, Millidge Avenue or Sussex Drive to any lot in the business park; and (d) no lot shall be developed, except in accordance with a detailed drainage plan prepared by the proponent and subject to the approval of the Chief City Engineer, and a detailed site plan prepared by the proponent and subject to the approval of the Development Officer, illustrating all buildings, structures, landscaped areas, natural buffer areas, paved parking and driveways, concrete curbing, exterior lighting and signs, and other site features. The by-law entitled, "By-Law Number C.P. 100-487 A Law To Amend The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint John", was read in its entirety. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 10. Zoning By-Law Amendment To Re-Zone 28 Richmond Street On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "By- Law Number C.P. 100-488 A Law To Amend The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint John", insofar as it concerns re-zoning a parcel of land located at 28 Richmond Street, having an area of approximately 3,036 square metres (32,680 square feet), also identified as NBGIC Number 12799, from "IL-1" Neighbourhood Institutional to "B-2" General Business classification, be read a third time and enacted and the Corporate Common Seal be affixed thereto. The by-law entitled, "By-Law Number C.P. 100-488 A Law To Amend The Zoning By-Law Of The City Of Saint John", was read in its entirety. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 11. Committee Of The Whole Report Read the report of the Committee of the Whole (as follows) To the COMMON COUNCIL of the City of Saint John The Committee of the Whole reports Your Committee reports that it sat on Monday, January 4, 1999, when there were present Mayor McAlary, Deputy Mayor Chase and Councillors Ball, Chase, Court, Desmond, Fitzpatrick, Titus, Trites, Vincent and White, and your Committee submits the following recommendations, namely: 1. That Fred Fuller be reappointed to Saint John Non-Profit Housing Inc. for a three-year term. 2. That Councillor Stephen Chase and Councillor Carl White be appointed as liaison Councillors for the Local 771, IAFF, Saint John Fire Fighters' Association Labour-Management Committee. 3. That Deputy Mayor Derek Chase be appointed to the Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission Inc. for a term of three years. 87-331 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 January 11, 1999, Saint John, N.B. Respectfully submitted, (sgd.) Shirley McAlary, C h air man. 11.1. Appointment - Saint John Non-Profit HousinQ Inc. On motion of Councillor Ball Seconded by Councillor Court RESOLVED that section 1 of the above report be adopted. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 11.2. Appointments - Local 771, IAFF Labour-ManaQement Committee On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Court RESOLVED that section 2 of the above report be adopted. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 11.3. Appointment - Greater Saint John Economic Development Commission On motion of Councillor Desmond Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that section 3 of the above report be adopted. (Rescinded February 8, 1999 Bk 87 pg. 359 ) Question being taken, the motion was carried. 12. Planning Advisory Committee Subdivision - 899 Somerset Street On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor White RESOLVED that as recommended by the Planning Advisory Committee, Common Council (1) assent to one or more subdivision plans, in one or more phases, of 899 Somerset Street, with respect to the vesting of Technology Drive and Spectrum Court as public streets, together with any necessary municipal services easements and public utility easements; and (2) authorize the execution of one or more City/developer subdivision agreements with respect to the proposal. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 13. Saint John Art Advisory Board Re Deep See Visual Arts Fest On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Vincent RESOLVED that the letter from the Saint John Art Advisory Board submitting a proposed outline of the plans for a Street Festival - Deep See - The Visual Arts for everyone, to be held May 1 to 9, 1999 to promote a week of visual arts within the Uptown area; and requesting the closure, from 7:00 a.m., Saturday, May 8 until 7:00 a.m., Sunday, May 9, of the first block of Canterbury Street from the beginning of King Street to the corner of Princess and Canterbury Streets, as well as the closure of the Church Street alley from the top of Germain Street to the 87 -332 COMMON COUNCIL JANUARY 11, 1999 bottom of Prince William Street, and the closure of the new parking lot located beside the IL Fornello Restaurant -- be referred to the City Manager and the Parking Commission. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 14. Saint John Development Corporation FundinQ For Additional Work Re Study On motion of Councillor White Seconded by Councillor Ball RESOLVED that the letter from the Saint John Development Corporation requesting, in connection with the Waterfront Strategic Plan being prepared by Malone Given Parsons, additional funding of $8,000 to cover the City's share of additional work associated with a Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre study -- be referred to the City Manager. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 15. The Rotary Club Of Saint John, N.B., Re Appointment To Saint John Non-Profit HousinQ On motion of Councillor Trites Seconded by Councillor Fitzpatrick RESOLVED that the letter from The Rotary Club of Saint John, N.B., advising of its nomination of Mr. J.C. Robert Lockhart to be one of the two Rotary members on the Board of Directors of Saint John Non-Profit Housing Inc. -- be received and filed and the appointment be approved. Question being taken, the motion was carried. 16. Eric L. Teed - Millennium Projects On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick Seconded by Councillor Ball RESOLVED that the letter from Eric L. Teed putting forth ideas as to how the community could make a fitting observance of the forthcoming Millennium; and suggesting that these ideas be referred to staff for a report on the feasibility of the concepts or forwarded to whomever Council feels is appropriate, or otherwise inform him what should or could be done -- be referred to the January 19, 1999 meeting of the Year 2000 Committee. Question being taken, the motion was carried. Adjournment On motion of Councillor Fitzpatrick Seconded by Councillor Trites RESOLVED that this meeting be adjourned and a Committee of the Whole meeting of Council be held. Question being taken, the motion was carried. Common Clerk