Council

That Council Agenda CL 6-2020, BE ADOPTED, as amended.

That Report CSD 30-2020, dated April 23, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Preliminary Overview of Financial Impacts, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to lobby provincial and federal levels of government for financial assistance to support Niagara Region’s COVID-19 emergency response; 2. That Niagara Region BE DIRECTED to participate in efforts with other municipalities seeking financial support from senior levels of government for the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and 3. That the Regional Clerk BE DIRECTED to forward this report to local Members of Parliament (MPs), local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities Ontario. The following friendly amendment was accepted by the Regional Chair, and the mover and seconder of the motion: 3. That the Regional Clerk BE DIRECTED to forward this report to local Members of Parliament (MPs), local Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities Ontario and the Local Area Municipalities. The Regional Chair called the vote on the motion, as amended, and declared it,

That Report CSD 31-2020, dated April 23, 2020, respecting Concessions to Local Area Municipalities regarding Taxes and Water Wastewater Billings, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the May 13, 2020 Region general and special purposes levy amounts BE REMITTED by the Local Area Municipalities to the Niagara Region based on actual amounts collected by the Local Area Municipalities and that interest charges on these levy amounts BE WAIVED until June 30, 2020; 2. That the August 5, 2020 and October 14, 2020 instalments for Region general and special purposes levy BE REMITTED by the Local Area Municipalities to the Niagara Region based on actual amounts collected by the Local Area Municipalities and that interest charges on these levy amounts BE WAIVED for a period of 30 days; 3. That the April through November water and wastewater amounts billed monthly on the 15th of the month and due at the end of the month BE REMITTED to the Niagara Region based on actual amounts collected by the Local Area Municipalities; 4. That the difference in the amount billed by the Region and collected by the Local Area Municipalities for the water and wastewater requisitions BE PAYABLE before December 31, 2020; 5. That interest charges on the outstanding amount from the Local Area Municipalities for the water and wastewater requisition payments BE WAIVED for the year 2020; 6. That By-law 2019-94, By-law 2019-95 and By-law 2020-04 BE AMENDED to adjust interest charge prov

That the motion respecting the deferral of the 2020 wholesale water and wastewater increase to October 1, 2020 BE

That the motion BE AMENDED to read as follows: 1. That Memorandum CHR 2-2020 from Daryl Barnhart Executive Officer to the Regional Chair, dated April 23, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Government Relations Strategy, BE RECEIVED; 2. That the Regional Clerk BE DIRECTED to forward a copy of the Regional Chair memo CHR 2-2020, and staff reports CSD 30-2020 and CSD 31-2020 to the Councils of the 12 local area municipalities; 3. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to engage and actively collaborate with the Councils of the 12 local area municipalities to ensure the exchange of critical information in the development of short, medium, and long-term impacts of COVID-19; 4. That the Regional Chair BE DIRECTED to work with the 12 local area municipalities to coordinate the response and required advocacy strategies to the federal and provincial governments for financial relief related to COVID-19; and 5. That the Regional Chair REQUEST that the 12 local area municipalities formally endorse motions that support the collaboration between all of Niagara’s communities and the Niagara Region.

That the motion respecting the funding of operational and infrastructure expenses BE

That Minutes CL 5-2020 being the Open Session minutes of the Regional Council meeting held on Thursday, March 26, 2020, BE ADOPTED.

That the motion BE AMENDED to read as follows: That Correspondence Item CL-C 15-2020, being a letter from W. Redekop, Mayor, Town of Fort Erie, to Dr. Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health, dated April 17, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Data, BE RECEIVED; and That Council CONFIRMS its support of the letter from the Mayor of the Town of Fort Erie to the Medical Officer of Health and Acting Commissioner of Health, dated April 17, 2020, urging more information be provided to the residents of the Niagara Region regarding COVID-19.

That Report CSD 23-2020, dated April 23, 2020, respecting 2020 Property Tax Policy, Ratios and Rates, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That Regional Council APPROVE the following tax ratios and sub-class reductions for the 2020 taxation year: Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 6-2020 Thursday April 23, 2020 Page 11 Residential 1.000000 New Multi-Residential 1.000000 Multi-Residential 1.970000 Commercial 1.734900 Commercial – Excess Land 1.734900 30% Commercial – Vacant Land 1.734900 30% Industrial 2.630000 Industrial – Excess Land 2.630000 30% Industrial – Vacant Land 2.630000 30% Pipeline 1.702100 Farmland 0.250000 Managed Forest 0.250000 Farmland Awaiting Development 1 1.000000 25% Farmland Awaiting Development 2 Class Ratio Landfill Sites 2.940261 2. That by having no properties subject to capping adjustments in 2019 in the commercial class, Regional Council OPT OUT of the capping program for the commercial tax class for the 2020 and subsequent taxation years; 3. That the necessary by-laws BE PREPARED and PRESENTED to Council for consideration and CIRCULATED to the Councils of the Area Municipalities for information; and 4. That Report CSD 23-2020 BE APPROVED and CIRCULATED to the Councils of the Area Municipalities for information.

That the following items BE DEALT with as follows: CSD 8-2020 respecting Optional Tax on Vacant Residential Units BE RECEIVED and BE CIRCULATED to the Local Area Municipalities; CSD 9-2020 respecting Impact of Reduced Industrial Tax Ratio and Subclass Discounts, BE RECEIVED; PDS 13-2020 respecting 2019 Reserve Water and Wastewater Treatment Capacities BE RECEIVED and BE CIRCULATED to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Niagara Area Municipalities; and PDS 19-2020 respecting 2019 End of Year Growth Report BE RECEIVED and BE CIRCULATED to the Local Area Municipalities, the Niagara Conservation Authority, Niagara Home Builders Association, Niagara Industrial Association, and the local Chambers of Commerce and School Boards.

That Regional Council EXTEND this meeting's curfew to 11:00 p.m.

That the rules of procedure BE SUSPENDED to permit Council to extend this meeting's curfew until business is completed. Two-thirds majority having been achieved, the Chair declared the vote,

That Report CAO 10-2020, dated April 23, 2020, respecting COVID-19 Response and Departmental Updates, and the Departmental Business Continuity updates included as appendices 1 through 7 of Report CAO 10- 2020, BE RECEIVED for information.

That, in accordance with subsection 2.4 of Niagara Region’s Procedural By-law, the rules of procedure, specifically subsection 19.16 “Motion to Reconsider” of the Procedural By-law, BE SUSPENDED to permit Council to reconsider its decision to remove All-Way Stop Control at the Intersection of Regional Road 89 (Glendale Avenue) at Bessey Street, City of St. Catharines. Two-thirds majority having been achieved, the Chair declared the vote,

That the Removal of All-Way Stop Control, Intersection of Regional Road 89 (Glendale Aveune) at Bessey Street, City of St. Catharines, BE RECONSIDERED at this time.

That Confidential Report CSD 19-2020, dated April 23, 2020, respecting A Matter respecting A Proposed Acquisition of Land by the Municipality – Smithville West Roundabout, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That the following Bills BE NOW READ and DO PASS: Bill 2020-18 A by-law to set tax ratios and tax rate reductions for prescribed property subclasses for Regional purposes and area. Bill 2020-19 A by-law to set and levy the rate of taxation for Regional general and special purposes for the year 2020. Bill 2020-20 A by-law to adopt optional tools for the purposes of administering limits for the commercial, industrial and multi-residential property classes for the year 2020. Bill 2020-21 A by-law to amend By-law No. 2019-94, being a by-law to adopt the 2020 water budget and to set the requisitions to be charged for water supplied to lower-tier municipalities for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Bill 2020-22 A by-law to amend By-law No. 2019-95, being a by-law to adopt the 2020 wastewater budget and to set the requisitions to be charged for wastewater received from the lower-tier municipalities for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Bill 2020-23 A by-law to adopt, ratify and confirm the actions of Regional Council at its meeting held on April 23, 2020. Bill 2020-24 A by-law to amend By-law No. 2020-04, being a by-law to authorize a 2020 interim and waste management special upper-tier levy for The Regional Municipality of Niagara.