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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 9, 2020 - SpecialCty oh DICKERING Special Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Main Committee Room 9:30 am Present: Councillors: K. Ashe M. Brenner S. Butt I. Cumming B. McLean D. Pickles Absent: Mayor David Ryan Also Present: T. Prevedel M. Carpino K. Bentley P. Bigioni R. Holborn F. Jadoon S. Karwowski S. Cassel C. Rose A. Haniff L. Harker - Chief Administrative Officer - Director, Community Services & Deputy CAO - Director, City Development & CBO - Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor - Director, Engineering Services - Director, Economic Development & Strategic Projects - Director, Finance & Treasurer - City Clerk - Chief Planner - Senior Economic Development Officer - Deputy Clerk 1. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 2. Discussion Items 2.1 Karen Wianecki, Director, Practice Planning Solutions Inc. Re: City of Pickering Council -Driven Strategic Plan Councillor Ashe, Deputy Mayor, welcomed Members of Council and City Staff to the meeting to discuss Council -driven strategic planning priorities. Deputy Mayor Ashe noted that this is the first time in recent City of Pickering history that a Strategic Plan has been developed, and that the meeting would provide an opportunity for Council to develop a collective list of priorities, and invited Members to share their thoughts openly and creatively. Cty oh DICKERING Special Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Main Committee Room 9:30 am Paul Bigioni, Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor welcomed Karen Wianecki, Director, Planning Solutions Inc. Mr. Bigioni advised that Ms. Wianecki has led numerous strategic planning processes for municipalities, including the Region of Durham, and that this process would assist the City of Pickering in prioritizing their goals and provide a way forward. Karen Wianecki, Director, Practice Planning Solutions Inc., appeared before Council to provide a presentation which included the purpose and key objectives in the development of a Strategic Plan. Through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Wianecki outlined the workshop structure and noted that it would include consideration of the trends and drivers of change that would impact the City, assessment of key departmental accomplishments, ongoing commitments and new priorities, and would collectively define a set of practical and pragmatic Council -driven strategic priorities for this term of Council. Throughout the presentation, Ms Wianecki invited Members of Council to provide feedback on several key areas. Highlights of the discussion included: • the phases of the Strategic Plan process and what each phase would entail; • the relation between the strategic plans for the City and the Region of Durham and the need to ensure they complement each other; • the importance of community engagement and the two phased approach in the process that would involve input from residents into the various priorities of the City; • the identification of priorities already included in the 2020 budget and capital forecast; • the key drivers of change in Pickering, including climate change, demographic changes, increases in density, transportation issues and congestion, major development, and the growing lack of public confidence in all levels of government; • leveraging communication opportunities with the community through the use of social media; • the need to work with other levels of government to address housing, health and transportation issues; • the need to be able to provide measurable data to demonstrate that the set priorities are being accomplished; • the need to consider expanded parks and greenspace and places of worship as the population continues to increase; • providing more amenities, restaurants and places of entertainment to attract and retain residents; • maintaining the City's capital assets, and the need to have a facility inventory to ensure that all residents have access to the programs and services needed; Cty oh DICKERING Special Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Main Committee Room 9:30 am • the importance of building resiliency within the community, including affordability, public trust, and creating an accessible community; • ensuring that the opportunities surrounding the innovation corridor are maximized in the City's economic development strategy, including attracting jobs and providing increased office space; • the need to focus on the City's waterfront as an important asset noting the rising water levels and the need to ensure that recreational programs and activities can continue on the waterfront despite the rising levels; • identifying the need for a nuclear strategy for the decommissioning of the Pickering Nuclear Plant; • the importance of an integrated transportation system, including a high speed, high frequency rail line across the northern part of the City; • the need to demonstrate progress on City initiatives, including but not limited to, the completion of the west spit at Frenchman's Bay, commencement of the City Centre development, the opening of the Durham Live casino, and the development and urbanization of the Kingston Road corridor; • the importance of a community-based Strategic Plan with tangible results that can be realized by July 2022 and the associated financial responsibility as a unifier and common interest to all residents; and, • incorporating flexibility in the Plan so the City is able to respond to change in the broader environment as needed. Ms. Wianecki provided a brief overview of the comments received, noting that "resiliency, responsibility, and results" were the important overarching themes discussed. She stated that the Plan would focus on improved accountability, enhanced communication, responsible government, creating partnerships, and focusing on a critical and small set of priorities. Ms. Wianecki noted that the next steps would include the compilation of comments received, and that this would be shared with the community for their input prior to coming to Council for approval. 3. Confirmation By-law By-law Number 7743/20 Councillor Brenner, seconded by Councillor Butt moved for leave to introduce a by-law of the City of Pickering to confirm the proceedings of March 9, 2020. Carried 4. Adjournment Moved by Councillor Brenner Seconded by Councillor Cumming Cts DICKERING Special Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Main Committee Room 9:30 am That the meeting be adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 12:02 pm. Dated this 9th of March, 2020. Carried Kevin Ashe, Deputy Mayor Susan Cassel, City Clerk