City Council

THAT Council APPROVE the Council Minutes of November 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024 as presented.

THAT Council RECEIVE the presentation led by Dan Bordenave, from the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub.

THAT Council RECEIVE the presentation made by Ehsan Dibaji, VP, Policy and Market Development from CLEAResult and to refer this matter to staff for further promotion.

THAT Council RECEIVE the presentation from Nathan Morrissette, Chair of the Niagara Association of Realtors pertaining to housing stats/facts for the Region.

THAT Council RECEIVE Staff Report COMMS-2024-02 Physician Recruitment Update and 2025 Budget Consideration as information. THAT Council REFER the funding decision for the Family Physician Recruitment program to the 2025 Tax Levy Supported Operating Budget.

THAT Council RECEIVE the 2025 Mayor's Proposed Water and Wastewater budgets with revenues and expenses totaling $29,481,441 and $38,384,938 respectively. THAT Council APPROVE the use of reserve funding as outlined in Attachment 3. Should Council be satisfied all possible amendments have been considered: THAT Council shorten the 30 day review period (December 5, 2024 to January 4, 2025), allowed under the Strong Mayors Act, b y 25 days, such that the review period ends on December 10, 2024; and THAT the Mayor shorten his 10-day veto period by 10 days, by providing written documentation to members of Council and the Municipal Clerk to shorten the veto period, such that the veto period ends on December 10, 2024, thereby allowing the Mayor's Proposed 2025 Water and Wastewater Budgets to be deemed adopted on December 10, 2024.

THAT Council DEFER the minor Zoning By-law Amendment to permit twenty-one vacation rental units, and have the applicant work with staff on an improved application. Ayes: Councillor Mike Strange, Councillor Tony Baldinelli, and Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg Nays: Councillor Lori Lococo and Councillor Chris Dabrowski

THAT Council APPROVE an Honourary Street Naming Application, to honourarily name the block on Queen Street between Buckley Avenue and St. Lawrence Avenue after Rick Rose for a period of five years, with the opportunity to apply for an extension of an additional five years, pursuant to By-Law 2023-033.

THAT Council APPROVE moving to Item #7.8 on the agenda (Report PBD-2024-54).

THAT Council RECEIVE the Cost of Council Meetings Report as information and DIRECT Staff to set each Council Meeting to start at 2:00 PM for the 2025 Council Meetings with the public portion of the agenda starting at 4:00 PM.

THAT Council RECEIVE this Report for information; THAT Council APPROVE an amendment to the Maintaining of Land Bylaw, Bylaw 2007-41, in the form included in the Bylaws section of todays agenda, for the purposes of including definitions of boulevards and abutting boulevards, and the responsibilities for maintenance of the same; THAT Council DELEGATE authority to the Chief Administrative Officer, the General Manager of Planning, Building and Development, and their further designates, to take any step or action necessary to administer the said Boulevard Maintenance By-law.

THAT Council DEFER this Report until January 14, 2025 and asked Legal Staff to provide clarification of the legalities of the recommendations.

That Council AWARD Contract 2024-396-16 - Whirlpool Road Reconstruction, to the lowest compliant bidder, Rankin Construction Inc., in the amount of $1,537,425.00 + HST. That Council APPROVE a 2024 capital budget amendment for the Whirlpool Road Reconstruction project (R138-21) in the amount of $120,000, with $70,000 funded by a contribution from Atura Power and $50,000 funded by Capital Special Purpose Reserves. That the General Manager of Municipal Works / City Engineer be AUTHORIZED to execute a cost-sharing agreement with Atura Power for their contribution to actual costs of construction of the sanitary sewer required to service the Niagara Hydrogen Centre development in the estimated amount of $70,000. That the Mayor and Clerk be AUTHORIZED to execute any other agreements related to the execution of the work described in this report.

THAT Council APPROVE the tennis/pickleball dome at John N Allan Park to remain up during the summer months. THAT Council AUTHORIZE the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the revised license agreement with the Tennis Clubs of Canada to permit year-round tennis and pickleball for the duration of the existing agreement.

THAT Council DIRECT staff to undertake necessary policy and related study work to determine the best approach in addressing privately initiated settlement area boundary expansion applications and report back to Council. THAT Council DIRECT staff to prepare an Interim Control By-law, to restrict any new settlement areas and settlement area boundary expansions for a period of one year or until the new Official Plan policies are in effect, whichever is less.

THAT Council DENY an encroachment agreement with Niagara Regional Housing to allow a fence on City property and not to approve the minor variance for the height of the proposed fence for 5528 Buchanan Avenue.

THAT Council ENTER into an In-Camera session on December 10, 2024 and on January 21, 2025.

THAT Council, in the absence of an adopted 2025 Tax Levy Supported Operating Budget, APPROVES that City departments be allowed to incur costs to a level of 50% of the departments’ expenditure budget of the prior year.

THAT Council APPROVE an all-way stop to be installed at the intersection of Crawford Street at St. James Avenue.

THAT Council APPROVE the speed limit on Baker Road between Willoughby Drive and City’s east limit be reduced from 70 km/h to 60 km/h; THAT Council APPROVE the speed limit on Marshall Road between Ort Road and Sodom Road be reduced from 70 km/h to 60 km/h; THAT Council APPROVE the speed limit on Ort Road between Marshall Road and north limit be reduced from 70 km/h to 60 km/h; THAT Council APPROVE the speed limit on Reixinger Road between Ort Road and Stanley Avenue (west) be reduced from 70 km/h to 60 km/h; and, THAT Council APPROVE the speed limit on Beechwood Road between Taylor Road and McLeod Road be set at 70 km/h.

THAT Council APPROVE the installation of a Wind Phone along the Olympic Torch Run Legacy Trail.

THAT Council APPROVE a flag-raising ceremony for the Serbian Flag at City Hall on Friday, February 14, 2025, in honour of "Serbian Statehood Day (Sretenje)."

THAT Council APPROVE a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall in the month of January 2025 and proclaim January 2025 as "Crime Stoppers Month.

THAT Council RECEIVE FOR INFORMATION Item #11.1 through to and including Item #11.5.

Direction was provided to Staff on the matters discussed In-Camera.

THAT Council waive the procedural by-law to allow for a motion to be presented and further, THAT Staff be directed to offer free parking on Queen Street for the remainder of December 2024.

THAT the by-laws be read a first, second and third time and passed.

That Council ADJOURN the meeting at 8:11 PM.