HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 4, 1978
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COUNCIL MEETING
The Inaugural Meeting of the Pickering Town Council was held
on MONDAY, DECEMBER 4th 1978 at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT:
Mayor J. Anderson
COUNCILLORS:
L. Cahill
D. Dickerson
G. Fisher
N. Geraghty
D. Kitchen
K. Matheson
ALSO PRESENT:
N.C. Marshall - Town Manager
B. Taylor - Town Clerk
(I)
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
The Inaugural Meeting of Council was called to order by
Mayor Anderson.
(II)
OATH OF OFFICE OF MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS
The Oath of Office of Mayor and Councillors was administered
by the Town Clerk.
(III)
INVOCATION
The Invocation was given by the Reverend Gordon D. King.
(IV)
INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Mayor Anderson introduced members of Council.
(V)
STATEMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS - NON DEBATABLE
Councillor Matheson
As the Town of Pickering enters into its sixth year of Regional
Government, I am pleased to have been one of your representatives
since the beginning and look forward to the next two years which
I am sure will be exciting and challenging. When we became part
of the Region of Durham in 1974, Pickering was the fourth lar-
gest area municipality both in assessment and population, today
we are second only to the City of Oshawa. The growth that has
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Councillor Matheson's Statement (Continued)
occurred in our Town over these years is well balanced and
financially sound. This as well as the confidence business
has shown in us has made us the envy of the other area muni-
cipalities. Parochial attitudes which were quite prevalent
at one time do not exist or are starting to disintegrate within
the majority of Councillors throughout our Region. Tax increases
have been kept to a minimum at the Region, with the two biggest
tax demands coming from police and social services, which prior
to 1974 were area responsibilities. Region has little control
over these because they are dictated by provincial legislation
and social services also by economic conditions. I hope to
receive your continued support over the next two years in
order to represent you strongly and effectively both at the
area and regional levels.
Councillor Cahill's Statement
When I prepared this inaugural message two main thoughts
entered my mind:
1.
Do I wish this message to be related to my colleagues
of Council and staff, or
2.
For the general public, and especially the constituents
of Ward One.
I, therefore, believe that it must be two-fold and to express
some of the areas of their concerns, their exploits and their
achievements.
We have in the past two years with the support of our staff
and collective input from our various organizations accumu-
lated a wealth of information in a fast growing community
which in the final analysis was dealt with here in the Council
Chambers.
Therefore, as Councillors, we have to ask ourselves "What is
success" the accomplishment of knowing we did our job, and
being supported in the past election as a tribute of doing
our job.
This does not mean we can rest on our laurels and "assume"
or "take for granted" that is all there is to be done.
Knowledge is a very wonderful thing, the knowledge of knowing
is beautiful. I, therefore, believe I personally gained a
tremendous amount of "known knowledge" of others, from our
staff, and my Ward One constituents and I look forward in
the next two years of learning more, and having a good co-
operative system as we have had in the past.
Ward One as I have stated many times before, is unique in
several ways.
(1)
The border of Metro-Toronto and the Durham Region:
there have been attempts and I might say, achieve-
ments of Metro (the damn bridge for one) to invade
the privacy of our Town.
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Councillor Cahill's Statement (Continued)
There will also be other attempts. However, we have proven
that we don't need them, nor in fact do we need the remarks
of the Regional Chairman. If the Finance Chairman. would pay
attention to Pickering's progress, they would accomplish no
tax increases instead of suggesting the Regional Municipali-
ties follow their guidelines, of increases. No matter what
percentage they are, 5% of $1.00 is not much, 5% of 71 million
is another story.
Ward One is a combination of urban-rural living and it is my
intention while striving to provide the gained knowledge of
my profession, my learning experience of Council, and general
knowledge, to pledge myself to continue acting on behalf of
the constituents of Ward One and the citizens of Pickering
as I have done in the past, to create a good balance for our
future and continued growth.
Councillor Kitchen's Statement
First, I would like to congratulate the Mayor and Councillors
on their election or acclamation to Council. I hope that we
can be as successful in keeping all those wonderful promises
we made to the voters as we were successful in being elected.
There are many important decisions to be made by us during the
next two years, and many important subjects to be broached,
some of which I will outline tonight which I believe are
important to our Town.
Two important planning studies should be completed - Frenchman's
Bay Area - which is a highly sensitive area environmentally
speaking - and very important to the recreational and conser-
vation needs in this Town. The Dunbarton, Highbush, Woodlands
study has just begun, and this study is particularily important
because of the large area of land covered, and the substantial
population projected for this area in our Official Plan.
Of interest to all of us because of its effect on us regarding
energy costs, is the feasibility study now being completed on
a local electrical utility for Pickering. A lot of work and
planning will have to be, and will be done, in order to realize
the January 1,1980 date for the start-up of this utility.
Operating staff, facilities, equipment, management - all
must be acquired prior to this date to be ready to go on
time.
The "GO" Transit facility in Pickering must be improved to
expedite the movement of traffic entering and exiting; to
improve and expand parking facilities; to create a "kiss
and ride" traffic lane separate from other uses; to create
separate entrances for public vehicles; and to improve the
facilities for the comfort of the passengers, which should
include heated waiting room, covered platform to protect
passengers from weather, and washroom facilities. The
Liverpool Road bridge must be widened immediately, and the
access improved to include all traffic movements into and
from the #401 Highway.
,
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Councillor Kitchen's Statement (Continued)
Because of the inequities in the assessment of the various
municipalities in Durham, we in Pickering pay a higher pro-
portion of taxes for Regional government and education than
any other municipality in the Region. We, as a Town, and
our Regional Councillors must persuade the Region and/or the
provincial Government to put the market value assessment in
effect in Durham.
In the area of recreation, we are rapidly approaching the
saturation point in the use of our existing facilities. In
1979, I would like to see a start to our proposed Municipal
Recreation Complex.
I would also like to see some of the services now under
Regional responsibility returned, in part, to the local
municipalities. Specifically, the local water distribution
and sanitary sewers could belocal¡ the main distribution or
collector pipes, along with the processing plant would remain
with the Region.
We must continue to ensure commercial and industrial develop-
ment in our Town by having sufficient lands zoned for this
use¡ and by continuing our policy requiring residential
developers to provide industrial and commercial assessment.
Last, but not least, I must make every effort, to communicate
with the residents in my ward, newcomers and older residents
alike, to be sure that I am cognizant of their problems and
needs, and to make sure that they know what is transpiring at
the Municipality. With this in mind, I will be publishing a
newsletter on a regular basis.
Thank you for your help in the past, and I will try my best
in the next two years to make Pickering a better place for
us all.
Councillor Dickerson's Statement
When an individual sets out to seek public office, that indi-
vidual must first ask himself what he would do if he were
elected because that is the question that will ultimately
be asked a hundred times.
Generally, when a person reflects upon that question seriously
for some time, he usually decides it's better not to enter the
race.
However, there are some of us who do come up with a satisfactory
answer - if to no one else, then at least to ourself - and decide
to forge ahead.
To answer the question of what I will attempt to do in the next
two years is to tell you that I will use whatever means are
at our disposal to get the Provincial Government moving to
correct an intollerable traffic mess that exists at the Liver-
pool Road overpass. To tell you that we must press them to
get on with the opening of the White's Road interchange. To
tell you that we must press our local MPP, who sits on the side
of government, that we are tired of waiting, it's time for
action.
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Councillor Dickerson's Statement (Continued)
I would also tell you of my desire to see services in the
Dunbarton area¡ of my wish to stop Glenanna Road at Dixie
in order to protect the lives of children who must cross
that road four times daily to reach school¡ of my wish to
provide more parking space for the residents of the Radom
Street townhouses¡ of my wish to clean up the parking pro-
blems that exist throughout Bay Ridges.
But a two year goal is not enough. A person aspiring for
public office should also be concerned about what his com-
munity will be like ten years down the road.
Ten years from now, I would like to see Pickering still have
the same atmosphere, the same friendly, flavour that has
always existed here.
That is why the Dunbarton, Woodlands, Highbush Study cur-
rently under way concerns me, as it should every citizen
who lives in Pickering, not just those who live in the area
directly under study.
I am concerned because of the westward growth this study
intimates. I do not believe a majority of the citizen want
the feeling of being an extension of Metro. This has already
been turned down once in a vote.
But we must look to the future of Pickering in every direction
and in every phase. Because only in this manner can we pro-
vide our staff planners with something to sink their teeth
into so that we may all enjoy a better, more prosperous
future.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in ten years time, I think we all want
a Pickering we can be comfortable in and proud of.
Councillor Fisher's Statement
The 23rd of October was the beginning of the elections, for
most it was over on the 13th of November, but for me it wasn't
over until today. The official recount came in today at seven
votes in my favour.
I would like to thank all those who worked so hard for me
during the election, especially my family and friends for
their encouragement and faith in me. Thanks to every single
voter - you can be sure that each of your votes was counted
and made a difference.
My first two years on Council was definitely a learning exper-
ience for me and the knowledge I have gained from that will
remain with me the rest of my life. Given the opportunity to
continue this experience and to serve my constituents is
greatly appreciated.
Because the last term was a learning experience for me, I may
have not been heard from as much as some of the other Council
members. This will not be the case during the coming term.
I expect that residents of my ward will come to me directly
with their problems and get prompt and satisfying action.
Thank you all once again for your support.
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Councillor Geraghty's Statement
I wish to express my gratitude to the people who worked for
me and to those who voted for me in the recent election. I
appreciate the faith that they have shown and I will do my
utmost to be worthy of their trust.
During the last year, I have received a good education in
both the operations of a Municipality and the realities of
politics. I worked hard to be a good representative and I
intend to be an even more effective spokesman during the
next 2 years.
Some of my priorities are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
To meet as soon as possible with representatives of
all the community and ratepayers associations to
discuss their priorities for the coming term.
To continue to press for restraint in fiscal matters
during these difficult financial times.
To achieve a higher level of involvement in planning.
To be involved as a municipal representative on the
"alternate land use study committee" being organized
by the Federal Member of Parliament for the area, for
the Pickering Airport Site.
To further the study looking into the feasibility of
utilizing the waste heat from the Nuclear Plant.
To resolve as quickly as possible the matter of the
night dumping of Metro garbage in Pickering.
These are just a few of the things that will receive atten-
tion in the immediate future.
I pledge to continue to direct my energies to further the
interests of the residents of Ward Three and of the Town of
Pickering.
(VI)
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF MAYOR JOHN E. ANDERSON
I would like to take this opportunity to re-affirm the wel-
come extended to those of you who are attending the Inaugural
Meeting of the Pickering Council for the 1979-80 term of
office. It is refreshing to have this number of interested
citizens in attendance at our Council Meeting and it is a
rare opportunity that I have to extend greetings to this
number of people in the course of our regular Council act-
ivities.
This evening, I would like to confine my remarks to two
principal areas, that being, the accomplishments of the
previous Council and of equal importance, the challenges
and opportunities available to our present Council.
First, a review of the accomplishments over the past couple
of years.
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Fire
During October, we moved into our new Fire Hall on Highway
#2, immediately east of Rosebank Road, replacing a facility
which represented the first fire hall in the urban portion
of the Municipality, a property we have occupied since the
early 1950's. In addition, we were successful in selling
the former Fire Hall and the proceeds from this sale will
be held by the Municipality to provide additional fire
facilities.
The year 1978 saw the purchase of a future Fire Hall site
in the vicinity of Finch Avenue and Dixie Road, which will
be developed when the population growth warrants it.
Recreation
The Town enjoys recreation programs second to none and the
success of these programs is measured by the overwhelming
response that the Recreation Department receives during our
two principal registration programs carried out in the Fall
and Spring of each year.
It is interesting to note that the priorities of the Town
citizens tend to change over the years and we have noticed
an obvious fall-off in usage of the Arena during the non-
prime times. This has had a noticeable affect on the finan-
cial operation of this facility and for the second year in
a row we are looking at a deficit as a result of declining
revenue. This experience has repeated itself to a lesser
extent at the Dunbarton Pool, where the impact of private
swimming pools has played an important role in the declining
use of this pool by the public in general. This has certain-
ly not affected the actual swimming program, but, rather
exposed the pool to declining revenues from non-program
usage.
There has been some feeling by various Ratepayer Groups and
Associations that special consideration should be given to
them and normal operating charges associated with facilities
waived in the interests of supporting the particular agency
involved. I would like to emphasize that one of the primary
reasons for the availability of the many facilities and pro-
grams offered to the residents of this community is because
of our pay-as-you-go policy and it would be most unfortunate
to see this policy weakened by special interest groups. It
is only proper that those deriving the benefit of the use of
a facility should pay the cost of operating that facility.
Planning
In the Planning area, the past two years have seen the com-
pletion of a number of major Community Plans in the Town,
the most significant of which has to be the completion of
the Community Plan for the Town Centre and its ultimate
approval by Council. Community Plans have also been com-
pleted for Fairport, the Brock Industrial Area and the
Rosebank Community. The final draft for the Community
Plans for Liverpool Community, the Frenchman's Bay Area
and the Hamlet of Claremont will be considered by Council
in the immediate future. The Community Plan for the Dun-
barton, Woodlands, Highbush Area is well under way and
should see completion towards the Summer of 1979.
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Mayor Anderson's Statement (Continued)
With the completion of these Plans, the residents of the
Municipality can be assured that all future development in
the major urban areas of the Town will progress in an order-
ly and proper fashion, with all communities and subdivisions
completely integrated and forming a part of the greater whole.
The Grandfather of all of this community planning is the
District Plan or Official Plan for the Town of Pickering,
which has been adopted by both Council and the Region of
Durham and is presently before the Minister of Housing for
approval. It should be appreciated that each of the indi-
vidual Community Plans form a part of the overall District
Plan for the Town. The presence of these Plans assures the
residents of this Municipality that all future Plans of
Subdivision will follow the broad guidelines established
in the Community Plans, all of which reflected a high ele-
ment of public participation.
It is interesting to note that the growth of the Municipality
has been very significant in the Industrial and Commercial
sector, whereas the Residential sector has dropped noticeably.
This reflects the completion of most of the subdivisions
initiated in late 1973 and the construction of the industrial
and commercial assessment envisaged in the Subdivision Agree-
ments contemplated at that time. Whilst only 218 building
permits were issued up to the end of October of this year
for residential construction, a significant increase in
assessment has evolved to date. Up to October 31st 1978
the value of new construction in the Industrial Area repre-
sents $4,970,989.00 whilst construction in the Commercial
Area totals $5,584,306.00. To this must be added the impact
of the construction in the Institutional Area, representing
essentially the Water Pollution Control Plant and the Nuclear
Plant, where the current value of building permits in these
areas totals $4,107,900.00. It can be readily seen by a drive
through our Industrial Area the encouraging development that
is taking place. This is in spite of the fact that the
Industrial/Commercial market is very tight at the present
time. Much of the new construction in the Industrial Area
is of a speculative nature where the property owners have
expressed their confidence in the potential of the Town of
Pickering and have put up buildings without the benefit of
prior lease arrangements. They are obviously satisfied that
there is a good future in Pickering and are confident that
they will be able to lease the space that is presently being
constructed.
I find it particularly satisfying that in spite of the accom-
plishments noted, the Municipality has been able to accomplish
this growth without any significant increase in taxes over the
past five years. In actual fact, the only increase in the local
mill rate since 1974 has been a one-half mill levy imposed to
maintain an annual contribution to our Reserve Account for the
provision of major capital facilities. A good example of the
use to which such funds are put was the payment for the Fire
Hall which I mentioned previously. The entire cost was recov-
ered from a Reserve Account. The significance of this, of
course, is that by paying for facilities from our existing
reserves, we are not obliged to borrow funds or go to the
debenture market. Thus the Ratepayers are obtaining their
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Mayor Anderson's Statement (Continued)
facilities at a cost significantly below what would be the
case in earlier years. At the present time one could expect
to pay almost two-and-one-half times the construction cost of
a facility if the Town were obliged to borrow the funds to
construct it.
This is a clear cut example of the excellent financial manage-
ment which is being exercised by the Municipality and the
staff in particular.
I will now turn to some thoughts on the future of the Munici-
pality and the challenges that it presents.
I have mentioned the varying priorities that our citizens
place on the various components of Recreation in the Munici-
pality. Probably one of the greatest challenges facing the
Municipality in the coming two years will be the formulation
of the policy governing the initial phase of the Recreation
Complex. This recognizes that the major thrust of our capital
expenditure in the next few years will centre around the
Recreation Complex. The planning that must precede the con-
struction of this facility should be addressed in the immediate
future. certainly one area that does require attention is the
need for a major meeting facility capable of supporting Commun-
ity Groups in the order of 400 or 500 people.
Another significant challenge will be the continued efforts
of the Municipality in restraining the growth of taxes at the
local level. It is an interesting parallel that the anti-
growth proponents within the Town are equally as strong in
their position that taxes should not grow. Without growth,
our assessment base is stabilized and our ability to absorb
increasing costs as a result of the maintenance of existing
levels of services no longer exists. Being a service industry,
our operational costs, of necessity, are extremely labour-
intensive and like the citizens that they serve, our employees
expect annual increases in their remuneration to compensate
for the ever-spiralling inflation that they are exposed to.
Municipal activities are constantly being monitored with a
view towards controlling costs, but, there are only so many
efficiencies that can be implemented before the level of
service must be cut. This is particularly true in the Parks
area where the Municipality has assumed the responsibility for
the maintenance of significant acreages of parkland over the
past two or three years. Our increasing population has ne-
cessitated demands for additional garbage trucks, more fire-
fighters and firefighting equipment and increasing urban road
mileage requiring maintenance. All of the items are growth
orientated and highly labour-intensive.
Another area in which the Municipality is facing serious
challenges is the continuation of the present Dial-A-Bus
system. The rapid urbanization of the Municipality is taxing
the limit of the Dial-A-Bus system to its breaking point and
major decisions will have to be made in the immediate future
as to whether or not the Municipality can continue to operate
the Dial-A-Bus System in its present form or whether other
alternatives will have to be looked at. The citizens of the
Town are indeed fortunate to have a transportation system as
sophisticated as the Dial-A-Bus and it would be most unfortun-
ate if its future was jeopardized.
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Mayor Anderson's Statement (Continued)
Conclusion
In summary, I might say that the Municipality is blessed with
enormous natural resources as well as a highly qualified and
experienced staff to assist the Members of Council in formu-
lating the necessary policy that will guide the Municipality
in the coming months.
I might also say that we are indeed fortunate that we operate
under a highly efficient Council-Manager System, which gives
the elected representative an opportunity to spend the critical
time necessary in the formulation and definition of policy
directives. Leaving the technical staff to carry out the day
to day activities of the Municipality, frees the elected re-
presentative to explore with his constituents the various
areas of policy requiring definition and the establishment
of meaningful goals for the future growth of the Municipality.
In addition, the Municipality is blessed with many years of
experience both at the political and administrative level
which puts me in mind of a story of a young man who came for
an interview with a Bank President:
"Tell me, sir, how did you become so successful?"
"Two words."
"And what were they sir?"
"Right decisions."
"How do you make right decisions?"
"One word.. .experience."
"And how do you get experience?"
"Two words."
"And what are they?"
"Wrong decisions."
Thank you very much Ladies and Gentlemen for sharing with me
this evening some of my thoughts.
(VII)
CONFIRMATION BY-LAW 917/78
Councillor Kitchen, seconded by Councillor Matheson moved
for leave to introduce a By-law of the Town of Pickering to
confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of
the Town of Pickering at its meeting held on the 4th day of
December 1978, and that same be now read a first, second and
third time and that the same be now finally passed and that
the Mayor and Clerk sign the same and that the Seal of the
Corporation be thereto affixed.
CARRIED
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By-law read a first, second and third time and finally
passed.
(VIII) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at the hour of 8:10 p.m.
Dated December 11th 1978
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Clerk