2015-09-21_Minutes--Procès-verbal2015 -1
Committee of the Whole Meeting Open Session
September 21, 2015
Minutes of the Portion of the Committee of the Whole Meeting Open to the Public
Monday, September 21, 2015 at 5:45 p.m.
8th Ludlow Room, City Hall
Present: Mayor Mel Norton
Deputy Mayor Rinehart and Councillors Farren, Fullerton, Lowe, MacKenzie, McAlary,
Merrithew, Reardon and Strowbridge
Regrets: Councillor Norton
-and —
J. Trail, City Manager; W. Edwards, Commissioner of Transportation and Environment;
J. Nugent, City Solicitor; C Graham, Acting Commissioner of Finance and Administrative
Services; J. Hamilton, Commissioner of Growth and Community Development; N.
Jacobsen, Commissioner of Strategic Services; P. Ouellette, Executive Director; J.
Taylor, Common Clerk
Meeting Called To Order
The Mayor called the Committee of the Whole Open Session meeting to order.
1.2 Discussion of Confidential Matters
On motion of Councillor MacKenzie
Seconded by Councillor Merrithew
RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting for the duration
of the discussion on the following matters: 1.1 Financial Matter 10.2(4)(c); 1.2 Potential
Litigation 10.2(4)(g).
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Record Pursuant to Section 10.2(4)
The meeting of the Committee of the Whole of Common Council held on September 21, 2015
was closed to the public pursuant to Section 10.2(4) of the Municipalities Act during the
Committee's discussion of the following matters: 1.1 Financial Matter 10.2(4)(c); 1.2 Potential
Litigation 10.2(4)(g).
Approval of the agenda
On motion of Councillor Farren
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rinehart
RESOLVED that the Committee of the Whole agenda, with the addition of
item 1.4 Special Meeting Request, be approved.
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Committee of the Whole Meeting Open Session
September 21, 2015
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
1.4 Special Committee of the Whole Meetings for Safe, Clean Drinking Water program
The Mayor requested that the Special meetings of Council be scheduled for the Safe, Clean
Drinking Water Project.
On motion of Councillor Farren
Seconded by Councillor McAlary
RESOLVED that a special meeting of closed session of the Committee of
the Whole be scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th, 2015 to discuss the Safe, Clean
Drinking Water Project and further that a special open session meeting of Common Council be
scheduled for Friday, November 61h
Question being taken, the motion was carried
1.3 Facilitated Discussion on Related Parking Issues
Referring to a submitted report, Ms. Poffenroth provided an overview of the Parking Lot
Compliance Pilot Program. When the program began 36 parking lots were identified as being
non - compliant; since that time the majority of the property owners have chosen to voluntarily
comply with the city's requests. Staff believe that 31 of the 36 parking lots will soon be
compliant. Staff is recommending that legal action be pursued against the owners of the 5 non
compliant properties.
On motion of Councillor Farren
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Rinehart
RESOLVED that the City Manager be directed to provide a report to
Common Council at its meeting of October 13, 2015, identifying the properties with respect to
which prosecution proceedings are recommended.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
Mr. Edwards facilitated a discussion with Council on parking related issues within the City of
Saint John.
The Mayor offered the following comments as guiding principles for the discussion:
• Parking system should support a vibrant city that promotes commercial activities and
continued densification
• Parking system should be geared towards residents
• Parking system should be prioritized for citizens /residents and businesses
• Consider possible links between the parking and transit systems
• Parking system needs to align with the Transportation Master Plan
Council members identified free parking and snow plowing as two of the major issues affecting
the parking system.
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Committee of the Whole Meeting Open Session
September 21, 2015
On the topic of free parking, the following ideas were discussed:
• Residential cards for those living in the South Central Peninsula
• Meters for on- street parking in South Central Peninsula
• One hour parking limit for all meters with the exception of those with resident cards
• No meters uptown and no parking on uptown streets except for those with resident cards
• Eliminate all free parking south of Queen Street except for those with resident cards
• Monthly parking lots operated by the parking commission need to be more competitive
• Should parking commission take over all City parking lots?
• City lots (Peel Plaza, Harbour Station, Long Warf) should not be competing with each
other, should be charging the same rates
• Stronger enforcement of designated no- parking areas
• Prioritizing commission - operated lots for citizens
• Removing meters from uptown and offering limited free parking
• Communication issues with the current parking system (need for better communication)
On the topic of snow plowing, the following ideas were discussed:
• Addressing the parking bylaw for the City of Saint John by allow parking commission to
tow vehicles
• Stronger enforcement by Police on the twenty -four hour rule in the bylaw for towing
• Winter parking plan
• Stronger effort to identify snow ban parking lots for residents
• No on- street parking during the winter months
• Alternate -side parking
• Snow Parking Phone Line
• One way streets throughout the South Central Peninsula to allow for adequate parking
and snow removal
Council members discussed the following issues:
• Parking Incentives to promote the uptown
• Expand the scope of the parking lot compliance program throughout the City
• Peel Plaza Parking Garage
• Possible sale of the Peel Plaza parking garage if it is deemed not profitable
• Research as to why the garage is not being used
• Identify a marketing /incentive plan for the garage
• Consider shuttles to and from the garage throughout the uptown area
• Obtain best practices from other municipalities and use those to develop a `made in
Saint John' solution
• Receive a history of parking in the City from Richard Smith prior to his retirement
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Committee of the Whole Meeting Open Session
September 21, 2015
On motion of Councillor Reardon
Seconded by Councillor MacKenzie
RESOLVED that feedback provided by Council on September 21 st, 2015
respected parking issues be referred to staff for a report and recommendation.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Common Clerk