2001-11-13_Minutes
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
At a meeting of the Common Council, held at the City Hall in the City of
Saint John, on Tuesday, the thirteenth day of November, A.D. 2001, at 7:00 o'clock p.m.
present
Shirley McAlary, Mayor
Deputy Mayor White and Councillors Ball, Chase, Court,
Desmond, Fitzgerald and Teed
- 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; P. Groody,
Commissioner of Municipal Operations; W. Butler, Commissioner
of Community Services; J. Baird, Commissioner of Planning and
Development; S. Galbraith, Director of Works; R. Simonds,
Deputy Fire Chief; C. Cogswell, Chief of Police; P. Morgan,
Personnel Officer; 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 Dr. Mark McKim of
Germain Street Baptist Church offered the opening prayer.
2. Approval of Minutes
On motion of Councillor Desmond
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting of
Common Council, held on November 5, 2001, be approved.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
5. Need For NursinQ Homes
On motion of Councillor Teed
Seconded by Councillor Desmond
RESOLVED that the letter from
Councillor Teed submitting a copy of a news article respecting an apparent shortage of
nursing homes in metropolitan Saint John, be referred to the Seniors Advisory
Committee for recommendation as to what action might be taken to ensure an adequate
number of nursing homes are located in Saint John.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
6. Greater Saint John ReQional Facilities Commission Act
Consideration was given to a letter from Councillor Teed commenting on
his examination of the Greater Saint John Regional Facilities Commission Act; and
referring to sections of the Act dealing with membership, his understanding being that
Council has not appointed an alternative member in accordance with section 4(3).
Councillor Teed proposed a motion, which was not seconded, that
Council appoint two alternative members, one for the Mayor and one for the Deputy
Mayor, in accordance with section 4(3) and, to this end, the matter be referred to the
Nominating Committee for recommendation.
The Mayor advised that alternate members were already in place with
Councillors Desmond and Court having been appointed during the last Council term for
her and the Deputy Mayor, respectively, whereupon Councillor Teed expressed the view
that, when the municipal election took place, they would have had to be re-appointed, as
were the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, by resolution of Council.
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NOVEMBER 13, 2001
On motion of Councillor Teed
Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald
RESOLVED that Councillors Desmond
and Court be re-appointed as alternate members to the Greater Saint John Regional
Facilities Commission for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
7. Proposal For Traffic Circle At Simms Corner
On motion of Councillor Teed
Seconded by Councillor Desmond
RESOLVED that with regard to the letter
from Councillor Teed referring to a letter from AI Benton recently received by each
Councillor respecting the feasibility of a traffic circle at Simms Corner and indicating that
he would like to make a public presentation to Council, Council invite Mr. Benton to
attend a Council meeting to elaborate on his concept.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
8. City Business And Media Information
On motion of Councillor Teed
Seconded by Councillor Desmond
RESOLVED that the letter from
Councillor Teed commenting on the manner in which the press reported on the matter of
City business and media information, further to the motion at the last meeting to request
the City Manager to report to Council on what the present policy is as to providing public
information on actions and findings of City employees in relation to matters which can be
within the purview of Council either as to policy or budget; and expressing the belief that
there should be a policy set by Council both as a protection to the employee and
Council, be received and filed.
The Mayor noted that the City Manager had provided Council with the
policy with respect to media information with staffs' dealings with the media, when
necessary, being restricted to Commissioners, the Deputy City Manager and the Fire
Chief, with the following exceptions: (a) division heads with the approval of department
heads on items that are very specific or technical in nature, and (b) the City's
Communication Officer on issues surrounding EMO operations or public service
announcements dealing with the rerouting of traffic, water failure or snow clearing
operations.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
9. Restoration Of KinQ Street
Read a letter from Councillor Teed advising his concern about the so-
called restoration of King Street sidewalks as the concrete panels do not join evenly, the
edges of some panels appear to be incomplete and have cracks or joints and
unattractive gaps, the concrete is slanted or pitched toward the street and the adjoining
buildings, and the type of base does not provide the necessary drainage but allows
accumulation of water; expressing the view that it would seem reasonably clear that
bricks are not suitable for sidewalks in the City of Saint John and the entire matter
should be reviewed.
A motion was proposed by Councillor Teed and seconded by Councillor
Chase that any further extensive use of this form of brick use in the Uptown area be put
on hold until further study is made of the feasibility of continuing this type of
reconstruction dealing with the use of brick and appropriately clarified on how it fits in the
decor, and that any specifications dealing with placement of brick on the streets be
reviewed to ensure adequate drainage is provided.
The Mayor asked if it were the intent of the motion to put the current job
from Germain Street to the foot of King Street on hold, her concern being that, if the
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NOVEMBER 13, 2001
contract were not finished, there would be a big hole on King Street for the winter, and
Councillors Teed and Chase indicated in the negative. The Mayor expressed the view
that the motion did not make sense as the City was not involved in any other contracts
for brickwork at the present time and suggested that perhaps the motion should be that
the policy for the use of bricks in the Uptown be reviewed by staff.
On motion of Councillor Teed
Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald
RESOLVED that the policy for the use of
bricks in the Uptown be reviewed by staff.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
10. Amending Resolution - Acquisition Of
Property At 521-529 Westmorland Road
Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager advising that,
further to Common Council resolution of June 18, 2001 authorizing the purchase of the
fee simple interest in a portion of the property at 521-529 Westmorland Road, the
required area actually calculated out to more than anticipated and, having been advised
of the area requirements, Irving Oil agreed to convey additional property at the same unit
rate as used in the original calculation of value.
On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald
Seconded by Deputy Mayor White
RESOLVED that as recommended by
the City Manager, Common Council resolution of June 18,2001 to purchase the fee
simple interest in a portion of PID 306423 from Irving Oil Company, Limited be amended
as follows: replace "312m2:t" with "359 m2:t" and change "$43,680" to $50,260", with all
other elements of the resolution to remain unchanged.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
11. J. D. O'Connell Trust
Read a report from the City Manager regarding the J.D. O'Connell Trust
of which the amount as of December 31,2000 was $84,791 with the increase in equity
during 2000 having been $4,483 and the yearly income from which was to be distributed
on a pro rata basis to each of the children cared for by the various orphanages in this
area; referring to a 1986 Council resolution authorizing the City Solicitor or his designate
to make application to the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick to vary the terms
of the Agreement of Trust in that there were no longer orphanages in the City, and
advising that there is no indication that an application was made. The report also refers
to Council's recent establishment of the P.R.O. Kids Program and a Special Purpose
Fund in support of the Program and proposes that, in light of this new initiative, Council
authorize the City Solicitor to apply to the Court of Queen's Bench to vary the terms of
the Agreement of Trust so as to allow the yearly income arising from the Trust to be
applied to this Program and, should the Court of Queen's Bench grant such variance, a
further request would be made to Council to approve that the yearly income in the
O'Connell Trust be directed to this Program.
On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that as recommended by the
City Manager, Common Council direct the City Solicitor or his designate to make all
necessary applications to the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick, Trial Division,
on behalf of the Mayor and the Commissioner of Finance in their capacity as Trustees
under the agreement made between J.D. O'Connell and the City of Saint John, on April
10, 1939, to vary the terms of the Agreement of Trust so as to allow the yearly income
arising from the Trust to be applied toward providing children and youth in financial need
with opportunities to participate in sport, art, recreation or cultural activities.
Mr. Nugent made the observation that, if and when the application to the
Court of Queen's Bench is successful, it would then be up to Council to decide, within
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NOVEMBER 13, 2001
the terms of the conditions imposed, what to do with the money and, while the P.R.O.
Kids Program has been identified here, that is not to indicate that it would be restricted to
that Program necessarily.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
12. Zoning By-law Amendment To Re-Zone
Property At 219-221 Union Street
On motion of Councillor Ball
Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "By-
law Number C.P. 100-579 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 219-221 Union Street
(NBGIC Numbers 12252 and 55065569), from "B-2" General Business to "B-3" Central
Business classification, be read.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
The by-law entitled, "By-law Number C.P. 100-579 A Law To Amend The
Zoning By-law Of The City Of Saint John", was read in its entirety
On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "By-law
Number C.P. 100-579 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 219-221 Union Street (NBGIC
Numbers 12252 and 55065569), from "B-2" General Business to "B-3" Central Business
classification, be read a third time and enacted and the Corporate Common Seal be
affixed thereto.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Read a third time the by-law entitled, "By-law Number C.P. 100-579 A
Law To Amend The Zoning By-law Of The City Of Saint John".
13. Street ClosinQ Bv-Iaw Amendment - Atlantic Avenue
On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "A By-law
To Amend A By-law Respecting The Stopping Up And Closing Of Highways In The City
Of Saint John", with regard to stopping and closing the following portion of highway:
ATLANTIC A VEN U E: All that certain portion of Atlantic Avenue a public street in the City
of Saint John in the County of Saint John and Province of New Brunswick extending
eastwardly from the eastern side of Westmorland Road and more particularly designated
"Portion of Atlantic Avenue Area = 342 sq.m2" on a plan of survey titled "Plan of Survey
Showing Portion of Atlantic Avenue, City of Saint John, County of Saint John and
Province of New Brunswick" dated August 9, 2001 and certified correct Fulton Surveys
Ltd. Per Robert A.G. Fulton NBLS #234
- be read.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
The by-law entitled, "A By-law To Amend A By-law Respecting The
Stopping Up And Closing Of Highways In The City Of Saint John", was read in its
entirety.
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
On motion of Councillor Desmond
Seconded by Councillor Court
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "A By-
law To Amend A By-law Respecting The Stopping Up And Closing Of Highways In The
City Of Saint John", with regard to stopping up and closing a portion Atlantic Avenue, be
read a third time and enacted and the Corporate Common Seal be affixed thereto.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Read a third time the by-law entitled, "A By-law To Amend A By-law
Respecting The Stopping Up And Closing Of Highways In The City Of Saint John".
14. Traffic Bv-Iaw Amendment - Brunswick Place ParkinQ
On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald
Seconded by Deputy Mayor White
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "A
By-law To Amend A By-law Respecting Traffic On Streets In The City Of Saint John
Made Under The Authority Of The Motor Vehicle Act, 1973, And Amendments Thereto",
with regard to parking at Brunswick Place, be read.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
The by-law entitled, "A By-law To Amend A By-law Respecting Traffic On
Streets In The City Of Saint John Made Under The Authority Of The Motor Vehicle Act,
1973, And Amendments Thereto", was read in its entirety.
On motion of Councillor Fitzgerald
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that the by-law entitled, "A By-law
To Amend A By-law Respecting Traffic On Streets In The City Of Saint John Made
Under The Authority Of The Motor Vehicle Act, 1973, And Amendments Thereto", with
regard to parking at Brunswick Place, be read a third time and enacted and the
Corporate Common Seal be affixed thereto.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Read a third time by-law entitled, "A By-law To Amend A By-law
Respecting Traffic On Streets In The City Of Saint John Made Under The Authority Of
The Motor Vehicle Act, 1973, And Amendments Thereto".
15. 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, November 5, 2001, when
there were present Mayor McAlary, Deputy Mayor White and Councillors Ball, Chase,
Desmond, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, Teed, Titus and Trites, and your Committee submits
the following recommendations, namely:
1. That as recommended by the City Manager, the City of Saint John sell
Lot 78-2 (PID 00000208), 400 Main Street, commonly referred to as Place 400, to
Maritime Life Assurance Company for $470,000 + HST (if applicable); the deposit of
$47,000 be held as a down payment and form part of the purchase price, and the Mayor
and Common Clerk be authorized to execute the submitted agreement of purchase and
sale as well as transfer and related documents.
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COMMON COUNCIL
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2. That as recommended by the City Manager, the City of Saint John
subdivide PID 374082 at 50-54 Main Street and convey freehold title in a 160 m2 portion
of PID 374082 to Qurrat Ain Lodhi in consideration of the conveyance of freehold title in
a 190 m2 portion of PID 377036, as generally shown on the submitted plan, and the
Mayor and Common Clerk be authorized to execute the transfer and related documents.
3. That as recommended by the City Manager, the City of Saint John
terminate its existing lease with Mega Enterprises Inc., effective December 31,2001,
and subsequently enter into a new 1 O-year lease of 154 Germain Street West, as
indicated on the submitted plan, with Mega Enterprises Inc. on the terms and conditions
as follows: (1) the term of the lease shall commence January 1,2002 and terminate
December 31, 2011 or 90 days after the giving of a written notice by either party to the
lease; (2) annual rent during the term shall be as follows: 2002 - $1,500, 2003 - $1,500,
2004 - $1,500,2005 - $1,500,2006 - $1,500,2007 - $1,800,2008 - $1,800,2009 -
$1,800, 2010- $1,800, 2011 - $1,800; (3) unless otherwise approved by the lessor, the
use of the parcel shall be for "warehousing and storage yard, body shop, mechanical
shop, sales lot, property maintenance business, and insurance service and associated
office uses"; (4) Parcel C shall be leased "as is", and the lessor offers no warranty as to
its development potential or soil conditions; (5) the lessee shall pay all real property
taxes levied against PID 368100 and the lessee may at its own means and expense
appeal the property tax assessment, and the lessor will not unreasonably withhold such
consent provided the lessee has paid all outstanding real property tax levies in full; (6)
the lessee shall not have the right to assign or sublease any portion of PID 368100
except to a company wholly owned by the lessee; (7) the lessee shall indemnify and
save harmless the lessor against all actions, expenses, claims and demands of any kind
on account of the non-performance of the covenants of the lessee in the lease, and the
lessee agrees to indemnify, protect, defend and hold the lessor, its officers, employees
and agents harmless from and against all claims, actions, losses, damages, costs,
expenses and liabilities (except those caused solely by the willful or negligent acts or
omissions of lessor), arising out of actual or alleged injury or to death of any person or
loss of or damage to property in or upon the leased lands; (8) the lessee must purchase
and maintain a public liability insurance policy in the amount of $2 million with the City of
Saint John added as an additional name insured, and the policy must be subject to a
cross liability clause and remain in effect during the term of the lease, failing which the
lessor has the right to terminate the lease; (9) there shall be no renewal of this lease;
(10) the lease shall be subject to the covenants or conditions numbered 11, 12, 13,14,
15,17,20,21,22,25,26,27,28,30,33,36,38,39,41,42,45 and 46 in Schedule C of
Regulation 83-132 (Leases Regulation - Standard Forms of Conveyances Act), and
further that the Mayor and Common Clerk be authorized to execute the lease.
Tuesday, November 13, 2001,
Saint John, N.B.
Respectfully submitted,
(sgd.) Shirley McAlary,
C h air man.
15.1. Sale Of Lot 78-2. Place 400. Main Street
On motion of Councillor Ball
Seconded by Deputy Mayor White
RESOLVED that section 1 of the above
report be adopted.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
15.2. Subdivision & Conveyance 50-54 Main Street
On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Court
RESOLVED that section 2 of the above
report be adopted.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
15.3. Lease Of 154 Germain Street
On motion of Councillor Court
Seconded by Deputy Mayor White
RESOLVED that section 3 of the above
report be adopted.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
16. Bertha Wood-Holt - Response To
Newspaper Editorial And Letter
On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Ball
RESOLVED that the letter from Bertha Wood-
Holt expressing her view about the editorial, "Will Nobody Say 'No' in the Name of
History", published in the June 26,2001 edition of the Saint John Times-Globe
newspaper and the letter of Professor Fred Donnelly, "Who Discovered Our Region?",
July 2, 2001, and submitting a copy of her response to these items which, she advises,
has not yet been published and in which she may have made an unwitting honest
mistake in cross-referencing the two newspapers, the Times-Globe and the Telegraph
Journal; and requesting that the Mayor and Councillors in their wisdom refer this matter
to the City Solicitor in the interest of his addressing the publishers of these two
newspapers with the purpose of having her letter of October 15, 2001 to the Editor
published in both newspapers, before November 27 when the Times-Globe will cease
publication, with any apologies to her for her honest mistake which may be due, be
received and filed.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
17. Anne-Marie Mullin - BudQet Deliberations
On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald
RESOLVED that the letter from Anne-
Marie Mullin urging Council to hold all budget deliberations in open session on the basis
that the citizens have a right to know the priorities of Council and how it plans to
maintain the highest level of service and at the same time maintaining at least the
current tax rate, be received and filed.
During discussion Councillor Chase proposed a motion that Council begin
by letting the public hear the same presentations as were made to Council in closed
session by the department heads, whereupon the Mayor noted the receive and file
motion on the floor, and added that it was the intent to have the department heads make
their presentations to Council in open session in due time.
Question being taken, the motion was carried with Councillor Chase
voting "nay".
18. Tim Blackmore - InauQural Concert At ABEC
Read a letter from Tim Blackmore comparing the number of recreational
facilities maintained by the City of Saint John where both youth and adults can have the
opportunity to develop their athletic skills and where the community can share in their
accomplishments to the one facility - the Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre,
maintained by the City where youth and adults with an artistic interest can have a similar
opportunity; advising that, with his recent loan of a Baldwin grand piano to ABEC, the
Centre can now offer a performance space for workshops, master classes and
professional and amateur concerts at a nominal fee, and extending an invitation to the
Mayor and Members of Council to attend the inaugural concert on November 15, 2001;
and expressing the view that those citizens with an interest in developing their artistic
skills and sharing their talents with the community should continue to have a facility in
which to do so.
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COMMON COUNCIL
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On motion of Deputy Mayor White
Seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald
RESOLVED that the letter from Tim
Blackmore regarding an inaugural concert at the Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre
be received and filed and Mr. Blackmore be thanked for his support and the loan of a
piano to the Centre.
The mover and seconder agreed to add to the motion to receive and file
that Mr. Blackmore be thanked for his support to the project and the loan of a piano to
the facility.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
3. Saint John Board Of Police Commissioners
Proposed 2002 Saint John Police Force BudQet
Consideration was given to a report on the Saint John Police Force's
proposed 2002 Operating and Capital Budgets (copies of which were distributed to
Council members at this time) setting out a proposed Operating Budget of $16,528,914,
representing a 6.75% increase over the 2001 Operating Budget of $15,484,393, the
difference of $1,044,521 related mainly to wages and benefits and four new positions,
two in Criminal Intelligence, one Volunteer Coordinator and one Crime Analyst; and
providing Operating and Capital Budget projections for the years 2003 and 2004 based
on contractual obligations and trends to 2001, as well as a 5-year Capital Budget
projection, at the City Manager's request, for which a detailed analysis and justification
would be completed at a later date. The report refers to the Commissioner of Finance's
indication at the August 20, 2001 Council meeting during his presentation on the 2002
budget deliberations that increases in protective services have been considerably less
than cost of living increases, and advises that, if given direction to reduce service
delivery and staffing levels, the Chief will return options to the Board so that the
consequences may be known; however, there is no indication that the community
favours a reduction in Police services and, in fact, the opposite is true as the current
environment appears to support an enhanced Police presence in the community and the
definition of an adequate police force now captures responsibility for greater local
response to organized crime and local aspects of the terrorism threat. The report notes
the Police Board's responsibility under the Police Act to provide and maintain an
adequate police force and comply with the provisions of any collective agreement to
which it is party, as well as to advise Common Council accordingly so that the
municipality can budget the necessary monies to enable to the Board to provide and
maintain an adequate police force; comments on the Police mandates, all of which have
cost implications, including the Municipalities Act, the Police Act, NB Policing Standards,
the collective agreement, due diligence and public expectations; includes an
organizational chart of the Saint John Police Force; and recommends a 2002 Operating
Budget of $16,528,914, and a 2002-2006 Capital Budget of $22,620,000 for the next five
years.
Edward Keyes, Chairman of the Saint John Board of Police
Commissioners, was present at the meeting, accompanied by Commission members
Anne Marie McGrath, William Farren, Dr. Edward Lund and Wes Cosman, and
management staff of the Saint John Police Force, for the presentation of the proposed
2002 Saint John Police Force budget, and indicated the intent for Chief Cogswell to
make the same presentation to Council that he made to the Board of Police
Commissioners of the proposed 2002 Operating Budget in the amount of $16,528,914
which the Board approved. Mr. Keyes advised of the public's requests for increased
Police services in areas such as crime prevention initiatives, community policing, foot
patrols in the downtown area, presence of officers in schools, drug investigations, street
crime unit, the number of officers at the Port, crossing guards, fraud investigation and
criminal intelligence investigations.
Chief Cogswell, through a computer-aided presentation, reviewed the
above report during which time he advised of the need, in view of organized crime
activity and the recent terrorism threat, to position the Saint John Police Force for the
capacity to collect and analyze criminal intelligence locally, provincially and nationally,
thus the inclusion of three new positions in the 2002 budget to meet these needs, and
compared the Saint John Police Force's organizational profile with other municipal forces
in Canada, Saint John having a lesser civilian component than any other municipal force
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serving a Canadian city and one of the lowest senior administration-to-staff ratios of all
Canadian police services. Chief Cogswell highlighted programs carried out by the Saint
John Police Force in its major activity categories of crime prevention, emergency
response, public order, victim services and law enforcement; advised that the 2002
Budget approved by the Board reflects an amount required to restore resources to the
pre-2001 level, and contractual salary and cost of living increases in goods and services,
as well as an amount to enhance the predictive and preventive capacity of the Force to
meet current expectations, and equals adequate policing; and expressed the opinion
that now was not the time to cut the Police Force Budget.
In response to a question of where the Police Force could cut back in
personnel, Chief Cogswell indicated that the Force could not do so as it was operating in
a bare-bones manner now and, while responsibilities have gone up, the complement has
gone down, and if the next step were to cut services, this would also mean cutting
personnel; and advised that, while the matter of cutting services has been looked at, he
would not like to disclose at this point what that service might be, and also that any
recommended cuts would be taken to the Board which, in turn, would bring the matter to
Council. Members of the Police delegation responded to questions on the proposed
2002 Operating Budget and Police services, and the Mayor made the observation that,
while Council decides the amount of the Police Force budget, the Commission has
jurisdiction over how the money is spent, and thanked the members of the Commission
and the Force for their presentation.
4. 2002-2006 Plan For Transportation
Consideration was given to a report from the City Manager advising the
intent, further to Common Council resolution of June 4, 2001, to present a proposed 5-
year plan (2002 to 2006) as the initial phase of a permanent and continuing program of
repair, improvement and managed maintenance for streets and sidewalks; and
recommending that Common Council (1) consider the submitted proposed Plan for
Transportation 2002-2006, prepared by Municipal Operations, in conjunction with
upcoming and future budget deliberations; (2) be prepared to consider a series of related
policy recommendations over the coming months; (3) emphasize in dialogue with the
Province of New Brunswick, specifically the Premier and the Minister of Transportation,
and local area MLAs, the vital importance of adequate Throughway access for this
community; and (4) prepare a long-term financial management plan to support this
initiative, to be considered in conjunction with budget deliberations. Included in the 5-
year plan were Appendices A, B, C, D and E, being a table for the proposed
implementation of the Transportation Study, a list of City streets indicating the proposed
classification and surface condition, maps showing road surface conditions, a summary
of maintenance, repair and operating programs, with work and funding requirements for
2002 to 2006, and an outline of the major reconstruction and upgrade requirements and
details of transportation (and storm drainage) capital construction projects, respectively.
Mr. Groody presented a computer-aided summary of the proposed Plan
for Transportation for 2002-2006 (copies of which were distributed to Council members
at this time), being a long-term plan of investment for safe, functional and sustainable
streets and sidewalks in the City of Saint John with its (a) difficult and varied topography,
(b) inventory of 962 streets/roads, (c) 1,105 lane kilometres, (d) 333 square kilometres of
land mass and (e) 90/200 kilometres of storm/combined sewers; and described the
City's challenge in this regard as being to adequately fund and effectively balance, over
the long term, necessary street maintenance, reconstruction and upgrading with the
recommended Transportation Study improvements. Mr. Groody proposed a vision
reflecting the needs and interests of the community in striving to achieve and maintain a
system of streets, sidewalks and related infrastructure that satisfies the essential criteria
of safety, needs, network, standards, economy and sustainability; and made the
observation that the ratings given to City streets ranged from very poor to very good,
with 9.4 lane kilometres rated as very poor, 439.5 lane kilometres as poor, 359.4 lane
kilometres as fair, 150.5 lane kilometres as good and 1.8 lane kilometres as very good,
representing 1 %, 45.8%, 37.4%, 15.7% and .2% of the total lane kilometres,
respectively; and commented on the reasons for the current condition of the
transportation system in the City, including topography, inadequate resources, lack of
system life-cycle focus, demands outstripping the resources and downloading. Mr.
Groody spoke to twelve specific system problems as follows: (1) East Throughway
access - the need for adequate connection and truck access; (2) Lower Cove/waterfront
truck traffic - a lack of direct East Throughway connection; (3) Red Head Road - the
need for stable, secure access; (4) parking/snow control conflicts - unsafe, inefficient
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COMMON COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
and costly; (5) sidewalks - deterioration, extensive upgrade needed; (6) North-South
Arterial - standards deficient and connections limited; (7) Sandy Point Road (2 sections)
- heavy traffic, poor design, and school children; (8) storm sewers - out of sight, out of
mind, into trouble; (9) East-West bridge capacity - unequal bridges, inadequate split; (10)
Simms Corner - network restrictions, public frustration; (11) Fairville Boulevard -
considerably less than the "Golden Mile"; and (12) asphalt road surfaces - seriously
deteriorated, budget emphasis needed; and proposed a street classification system of
nine levels - freeway (NB), major arterial, minor arterial, urban collector, rural collector,
local, commercial local, rural and private (no service). Mr. Groody commented on the
infrastructure components of the transportation system in terms of road surface,
curb/gutter, medians, sidewalk, shoulder, guide rail, rights-of-way, retaining walls,
ditching, culverts, storm sewers, drainage structures, signage and traffic signals; advised
the need for Council policies on infrastructure needs, design standards, maintenance
planning/management, risk management, staff/organizational development, and service
to the public; and referenced the ten general program areas into which the Plan was
organized - street preservation, traffic operations, street cleaning, sidewalk/curb
preservation and safety, structural maintenance, emergency services, storm sewers,
surface drainage and roadside maintenance, support and administration, and work for
others. Mr. Groody outlined a proposed transportation system construction schedule for
2002 and budget proposals for 2001 through 2006; and, on the matter of options,
suggested a managed system approach in dealing with the City's transportation system,
beginning the job in 2002 with operating and capital funding of +$1.25 million and +$1.4
million, respectively. Mr. Groody acknowledged the City employees, some of whom
were present at the meeting, for their efforts in preparing the proposed Plan for
Transportation 2002-2006, and responded to questions on the Plan.
Adiournment
The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned.
Common Clerk