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2020-09-22 Growth Committee Agenda Packet - Open SessionCity of Saint John Growth Committee - Open Session AGENDA Tuesday, September 22, 2020 1:00 pm Meeting Conducted by Electronic Participation 1. Call to Order Pages 1.1 Approval of Minutes - July 28, 2020 1 - 3 1.2 Restructuring and Growth (Verbal Update) 1.3 New Aligned Regional Economic Development Agency (Verbal Update) 1.4 Development Activity (Verbal Update) 1.5 Community and Economic Recovery and Initial Feedback on next phase of Recovery Programming (Verbal Update) Growth Committee Meeting Open Session July 28, 2020 MINUTES- OPEN SESSION GROWTH COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 28, 2020 AT 11:00 A.M. MEETING CONDUCTED THROUGH ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION Present: Mayor D. Darling Deputy Mayor McAlary CouncillorJ. MacKenzie Councillor D. Hickey Councillor B. Armstrong Absent: Councillor R. Strowbridge Also Present: City ManagerJ. Collin Deputy Commissioner Building and Inspection Services A. Poffenroth Deputy Commissioner Growth and Community Development P. Ouellette Director of Strategic Affairs I. Fogan Population Growth Manager D. Dobbelsteyn Manager Real Estate C. Langille Senior Planner K. Melanson Administrative Officer R. Evans Administrative Assistant K. Tibbits 1. Meeting Called To Order Mayor Darling called the Growth Committee open session meeting to order. 1.1 Approval of Minutes — May 21, 2020 Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Deputy Mayor McAlary: RESOLVED that the minutes of May 21, 2020 be approved. MOTION CARRIED. Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Deputy Mayor McAlary: RESOLVED that the agenda of July 28, 2020 be approved with the addition of Item 1.7 Enforcement Programs —Service Restoration Update. MOTION CARRIED. 1.6 Strategic Planning Process Mr. Fogan reviewed the submitted presentation entitled, "Strategic Planning Process." Staff is recommending the creation of a steering committee to lead engagement and guide the strategic planning process. Mr. Fogan discussed the scope of the steering committee, guiding principles and policies to support the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will integrate previously approved plans such as PlanSJ and the City's Long -Term Financial Plan, Council's priorities and organizational objectives. Growth Committee Meeting Open Session July 28, 2020 Moved by Deputy Mayor McAlary, seconded by Councillor MacKenzie: RESOLVED that the Growth Committee endorse the proposed governance structure of the Steering Committee; the proposed scope of the Steering Committee; and the proposed project timeline for completion of the Strategic Plan by May 2021. MOTION CARRIED. (Mr. Fogan withdrew from the meeting) 1.4 Affordable Housing in Saint John (Narinder Singh, Kit Hickey and Graham Savage joined the meeting electronically) Mr. Melanson reviewed the submitted presentation "The City's support of the Housing Continuum and Affordable Housing". Affordable housing is very important in terms of contributing to the City's municipal plan goals of building complete communities. The Municipal Plan provides an overall continuum of housing for various incomes and needs. It is the responsibility of the provincial and federal governments to deliver affordable housing but municipalities have taken on a supportive role to facilitate affordable housing. Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Councillor MacKenzie: RESOLVED that the Affordable Housing in Saint John presentation be received for information. ►l[00001H7e17714 (Mr. Singh, Ms. Hickey and Mr. Savage withdrew from the meeting) 1.2 Mavor's Comments on Regional Economic Development Framework (Verbal Update Mayor Darling stated that Council approved a recommendation to merge the City's economic development agencies into one new regional economic development body. Council unanimously supported this recommendation, as did all of the other neighbouring municipalities. One strategy will be developed to accelerate growth outcomes and thrive as a region. Mr. Collin stated that a transition team is being created to define the skill sets required in the new board of directors and then selection of those directors. Once established, the board will develop its mandates and structure for the organization. The second stream of effort is to transition from our current model of three economic development agencies, to one organization of economic development. These organizations will cease to receive municipal funding and will wind down. It is important to not lose the momentum of these organizations during the transition period. Moved by Councillor MacKenzie, seconded by Councillor Hickey: RESOLVED that Item 1.2 Mayor's Comments on Regional Economic Development Framework (Verbal Update), be received for information. LTA to]i[M 01H7el 1.1 1.1149 1.7 Enforcement Programs —Service Restoration Update Ms. Poffenroth stated that some of the City's growth focused enforcement programs are being restored, including the Community Standards program, which targets unsightly properties, the Minimum Standards program that focuses on safe and habitable apartments and the Dangerous and Vacant Buildings program, which targets key vacant buildings. These programs were paused because of cost mitigation measures related to COVID-19. Growth Committee Meeting Open Session July 28, 2020 Building inspections have also resumed, following all safety requirements and protocols. The One -Stop Development Shop is open by appointment only. Permit applications and approval applications can be done over the phone and by email. Moved by Councillor MacKenzie, seconded by Deputy Mayor McAlary: RESOLVED that the "Enforcement Programs — Service Restoration Update" be received for information. MOTION CARRIED. 1.3 Economic and Community Recovery Programming (Verbal Update) Mr. Ouellette provided an update on the recovery related initiatives within the City. Council adopted a Community and Economic Recovery strategy. There are eight projects that are being driven from that initiative, including the Pop -Up Park, Artistic Picnic Tables, Open Streets, 1S Minute Parking Spots, Community -initiated Street Openings, Beer Garden, South Market Street and the Night Market. Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Councillor MacKenzie: RESOLVED that the Economic and Community Recovery Programming verbal update be received for information. MOTION CARRIED. 1.S Council Referral: Surplus Properties (Province of New Brunswick) Mr. Langille stated that fifteen surplus properties were offered to the City by the province, none of which has interest to the City at this time. Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Deputy Mayor McAlary: RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager in the submitted report Council Referral: Surplus Properties (Province of New Brunswick), the Finance Committee recommends that the City of Saint John graciously decline the offer from the Province of New Brunswick to acquire any of its fifteen (1S) surplus properties, as submitted. ►Ato] IIM01H7e171.114 Adjournment Moved by Councillor Hickey, seconded by Deputy Mayor McAlary: RESOLVED that the open session meeting of the Growth Committee be adjourned. MOTION CARRIED. The open session meeting of the Growth Committee held on July 28, 2020 was adjourned at 1:02 p.m.