Meeting: Milton Budget Committee Date: August 24, 2009
This was the Budget Call meeting to set guidelines for preparation of the 2010 Budget. Staff proposed a tax increase of about 4.5%.
Mayor Krantz said that councillors should not get into details tonight. Since he has said that in the past on budget night, I wonder when he thinks it would be appropriate.
In the only discussion of detail, Scherer wanted a review of strategy and budget for transit while Mowbray suggested increasing user fees and consideration of out-sourcing where possible.
Krantz spoke in favour of a tax increase near the rate of inflation. Scherer suggested targeting a lower tax increase to force staff and Council to critically review spending proposals. Schau again spoke in favour of higher tax increases in general.
Scherer moved a motion to direct staff to a tax increase in the range of zero to 2.5%. The motion failed as Lee, Mowbray, Lunau, Day, Nelson and Schau opposed it.
Budget Call ends. Staff however deserve their award fo budget preparation but I am sure there will be no awards for Council's budget work.
Submitted by Gary Ellis
Meeting: Milton Council Date: August 24, 2009
Councillor Mowbray was on the agenda with a Notice of Motion opposing the Region's suggested Natural Heritage System designation on virtually all Halton rural lands, and asking that the item be on the next Milton Council agenda. Lieven Gevaert spoke in support of Mowbray's motion and stated that the Halton Federation of Agriculture also opposed the suggested NHS designation.
Councillor Lee did not seem concerned about NHS and thinks that no decisions on NHS will be made by the Region until ROPA 38 is released and reviewed. Krantz and Best spoke against the suggested NHS designation. Penman and Planner Mann didn't like the NHS designation applied to Greenbelt areas. Penman said the NHS proposal looked like an "Oakvillization of rural Halton".
The vote was unanimous in support of Mowbray's motion to put NHS on the September 28 Milton Council agenda.
The current Region schedule is to release ROPA 38 on September 24 and present it to the Region PPW Committee and Milton staff? on September 30.
Submitted by Gary Ellis
Meeting: Milton Budget Committee Date: July 20, 2009
Treasurer Linda Leeds made a presentation of background and priorities for the 2010 Operating and Capital Budgets. There was one citizen presentation. Councillor Mowbray made the good point that historical numbers for previous years should also include an estimate for the current year. Councillor Sherer asked if he should pose his budget questions at this meeting and Acting Chair Best suggested he wait for the next meeting or discuss them with staff.
Leeds and staff have made great progress over the years in improving the process and the data available to councillors and the public. Unfortunately the councillors are still doing things the same old way and not taking advantage of that improved process. Perhaps at the next meeting they will show an interest/ability in guiding spending and not simply provide a target for a tax increase.
Maybe?
Written budget submissions before August 7 will be included with Budget Call. Budget Call will be on the Council agenda of August 24.
Councillor Day was present, once again dodging the penalty for missing 3 meetings in a row.
Submitted by Gary Ellis
Meeting: Region Planning & Public Works Committee July 8, 2009
There were 2 items on the agenda that may be of interest to rural residents because of their possible connection to the proposed Natural Heritage System.
About 16 years ago, Region planners drew some lines on a map to designate a park at Burlington beach. The long term goal was to buy all 161 properties within the park designation. 128 have been purchased. The remaining 33 are further from the beach and do not want to be purchased. Staff commented that "the park has been designated and should be in public ownership". The purchase program marches on but some residents, and some councillors, are questioning the purchase strategy for the remaining properties. This issue will be included in a plan review.
The meeting was going long, so I couldn’t stay to hear any discussion of the Region’s Greenland Securement Strategy (Implementation Guidelines). The related document lists 23 of Halton’s “partners” in acquiring land – some private like the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and many government run and funded by our tax dollars. It notes that 11,306 acres are now secured in public control. “Only 5.8% of the region has achieved environmental long tem protection” - meaning out of private control. With that statement it sounds like the Region and partners will only be satisfied when all greenlands are under public ownership.
I believe that the 2 items are related to the Natural Heritage System Designation – Burlington Beach Park as a prototype and the Greenlands Securement Strategy as the vehicle to acquire designated rural land.
Is the objective 100% state ownership with state quotas for state farms? That has failed elsewhere.
Where are these initiatives coming from? It certainly is not the voters since the vast majority would not even be aware of the programs. To my knowledge we have not elected representatives of an Ontario Communist Party. Could it be a conspiracy of comrades in the Planning fraternity? And where are the representatives that we elected to work on our behalf, and certainly not with a mandate for state ownership?
Submitted by Gary Ellis
Meeting: Region Council
Date: June 24, 2009
The agenda topic was Sustainable Halton but the consensus was already set for the choice of 3 options for Halton growth. The real subject was the topic of Natural Heritage Designation that is buried in Sustainable Halton.
There were 2 teams of delegations, both giving the same presentations as at the PPW Committee a week before. The pro-Designation team consisted of Oakville Green, Burlington Green, PERL, the star performer Sarah Harmer, and their Councillors Elgar and Burton. The no-designation team consisted of 4 farmers who should have been cutting hay in stead of defending their property rights.
The 2 teams agreed that Halton agriculture was important. The pro-designation team would save agriculture by controlling farm lands with environmental designations. The no-designation team would save agriculture by allowing it the freedom to operate while existing environmental controls were adequate.
Almost all the questions were from Councillors Elgar and Burton whose mission seemed to be to bully and discredit the no-designation team on behalf of their green constituents. No councillor chose to support the no-designation team and property rights.
The Natural Heritage Designation issue is not over. It is one of the items that will be reviewed over the next months, to be finalized later in the year. Rural folks have a tough job ahead, fighting the Halton greens, their pet councillors, and an anti-rural bias at the Province. Common sense may not prevail without a major rural uprising.
Submitted by Gary Ellis
Meeting: Special Milton Council
Date: June 22, 2009
Council met to consider the Milton response to Sustainable Halton and the 2009 Development Charges proposal.
Sustainable Halton:
A preferred plan, with the bulk of residential and employment growth in Milton (plan 2c), was approved;
Delegations by Orlando Corp. and Glenn Schnarr & Associates called for an additional allotment of over 1000 acres of rural greenland to be set aside for future employment development;
A representative of the Roman Catholic diocese asked for council’s continued support for the diocese’s plans for a cemetery as part of the development in the southern lands;
A representative of the Willis family asked council to endorse a resolution supporting the family’s request that their farms along Fifth Line be designated for future residential development; the current plan shows these lands as remaining farmland. Council indicated they supported the Willis request, but, with the exception of Cllr. Nelson, felt it was inappropriate at this time to pass such a resolution;
A delegation from York/Trafalgar presented their assessment of the great potential that exists for employment development along the Trafalgar Road corridor. It was suggested that significant opportunities were available to council and staff to secure employment industries other than warehousing and logistics support.
The enhancement of Halton’s Natural Heritage System was opposed by council because it would restrict farmlands available for employment development use.
Submitted by Mike Grimwood
Members of the MRRA board review council and committee agendas on a weekly basis for items and issues that affect rural Milton residents. When there is a meeting in which there are such items or issues, a board member, or members, will attend the meeting to monitor - listen and observe and assess how council and staff deal with the matter, then file a report here.
In some cases, the MRRA may also delegate to the council or committee meeting to ensure that the rural voice is expressed on a matter of signifigance to the rural community.
MRRA members are encouraged to use the Join_Feedback link to let the board know if there is an item of particular interest at council or committee which the member believes should be monitored by the MRRA.
Links provides a link to the Milton town website; meetings and agendas are accessed through the council calendar.
Periodically, Regional meetings are also monitored or delegated to, and reported on.
Corporation of the Town of Milton - 2011
February 28, 2011: Town Council Meeting
The meeting started with an overflow audience to participate in presentations to the Town and to retiring members of Committees. The Town was presented with the OPWA Project of the Year Award for the Town Hall expansion and the Economic Development E-newsletter Provincial Award. Heritage Designation Plaques were presented to two Milton Families for renovations and alterations to Historic Milton homes. Certificates of Recognition were presented to retiring members of Milton committees.
Tow consent items in Staff Report CORS-011-11 were questioned. The first was an item referring to the single source award to Remenyi House of Music Ltd. For the purchase of a Steinway piano for the Milton Arts Centre in the total amount of $115,350.00. Councillor Nelson questioned the single source tender and the total amount. Councillor Best questioned the single source. Joy Anderson indicated that this was the only company in North America to hand make the piano in question and suggested many top performers include this piano in their performance contract. If Milton wants top performers and does not have the piano, rental becomes very expensive. An area of the arts Centre is climate controlled to preserve this investment. Linda Leeds conferred with this information and suggested that money had already been set aside for this purchase. Councillor Nelson motioned for this issue to go back to staff for a full report to Council. The motion was defeated 5-4 and the item returned to consent vote. The other item pulled for comment only concerned the In Camera rules for Heritage Milton and the comment by Councillor Best was that the committee members were volunteers from the community and deserved in camera protection for their discussions and decisions. After this comment the item returned to consent items and they carried in the resultant vote.
In the Public Meeting under the Planning Act for proposed amendments to the planning act applicable to the lands at 3074 Main Street much discussion ensued.
Town staff pointed out that Sherwood Survey Plan B in 2004 listed this property as being zoned residential office which would allow apartment construction to 7 stories. When Plan C-D came out it listed this parcel of land incorrectly as Greenland. Staff asked that this error be corrected now that it was noticed. Town Staff was requesting permission to allow two 6 storey apartments on this site and the developer has agreed to provide underground parking and to restore Harrison House on the site for community benefit. The staff indicated that this was done under “bonusing“ provisions allowed for in the Planning Act. When questioned about bonusing, staff replied that they have authority to increase density allocation in exchange for parkland, preservation of Heritage Homes, underground parking, etc. without public input of Council approval.
Delegates expressed concerns about improvements they have done to properties adjacent to subject lands under the designation from Sherwood Plan C-D. If they had known that apartments would be built there, they might have renovated differently. They also spoke about increased traffic, the height of the apartments being greater than at the east end of Town (4 Stories). They also suggested that financial compensation from the Town might be required if this plan change is approved.
The report was approved for information only with the assurance of the Mayor and clerk that the item would have to return to Council for debate and final approval.
Subsequent information on “bonusing” indicates that it is indeed outlined in the planning act, but the Municipal Act which has precedence over the Planning Act may cast doubt on the process if it provides private benefit to one of the parties. I am sure that this will surface again.
Of interest to Campbellville residents is that the Town has put forth an offer to purchase the property at the north-west corner of Guelph Line and Reid Side road from the Ministry of transportation. Since this property was made smaller to accommodate the widening of Reid Side road for the new onramp for the 401, the property is now too small for a building lot and therefore has lost its commercial value. It will probably be used to house the Welcome to Campbellville sign and some of the property may go to the cemetery in behind.
March 7, 2011: Community Services Standing Committee
Consent items were moved and carried with no discussion.
Move More Milton plan was presented and referred to the Physical activity Plan of 2010 with the directions to get Milton more active and promote a healthier lifestyle. They have a website at www.MoveMoreMilton.ca with ideas and information.
Information was provided on the new Milton Fire Station #3 which will be the new Headquarters for Milton Fire and will replace the existing Fire Station #3 east of the hospital. The new headquarters will be at Derry and Savoline.
The new Traffic Calming Policy was introduced and discussed and will be in effect as soon as it is passed by Council. It provides for public inquiries and complaints to be addresses and a process for investigating and solving problems. It only applies to Urban Roads and does not include arterial roads whose purpose is to move traffic through town as quickly and efficiently as possible. The purpose of the policy is to increase safety, improve liveability and return streets to initial usability. The key principle is that traffic calming measures as outlined in the policy will be implemented after careful investigation and after conventional signing and policing have not solved the identified problem. Public involvement will be paramount to the process and follow-up will occur to make sure that the process was beneficial. Initially a budget of $45,000 is in the 2011 budget and will be sufficient for a couple of trial investigations. If more $$ needed, staff will come back to Council. Each investigation could take 6-8 months from identification to completion of plan.
The Guidelines for the Milton Community Fund 2011 were presented. The vote motion before Council was requested by Councillor Malboeuf to be split by paragraph. The paragraph to accept the guidelines was carried and discussion occurred concerning the second paragraph about establishing a special category for Service Clubs to apply for matching funding for monies raised. On one side of the issue, Councillors Di Lorenzo, Huffman, Cluett and Mayor Krantz all referred to past Council decision to let CSAC define Service Club and set up guidelines for a fund of $100,000.00. This money was previously redirected from the Community Fund for the Arts Centre and was to go to a fund for the Hospital expansion before Council voted to have a tax levy of 1% for that initiative. Councillor Malboeuf countered that Council should be the ones giving the direction for the fund and he questioned the past Council decision for the sum of money. CEO Belvedere supported the past Council decisions. In the end a motion was carried that sent the guideline preparation to CSAC with an amendment to have the amount set at up to $100,000.00.
It will be interesting to see what Council does at their next meeting when the Community Services Cttee. minutes are included in the Consent Items for approval
Region of Halton - 2011
