Council

That Ted Kirkpatrick, Sales Manager, Heddle Shipyards, BE PERMITTED to appear before Council as a delegate respecting the portion of the 12.6) concerning the motion respecting Port Weller Dry Docks and National Ship Building Strategy (Minute Item 3.1).

That Councillor Kevin Townsend, City of St. Catharines, BE PERMITTED to appear before Council as a delegate respecting the portion of the Budget Review Committee of the Whole Minutes BRCOTW 10-2019 (Agenda Item 12.7) concerning the 2020 Levy Budget (Minute Item 5.1).

That consideration of the funding request for $50,000 to support the WE Youth Event BE MOVED to the consideration of the 2020 Levy Operating Budget (Minute Item 5.1 of Minutes BRCOTW 10-2019, Agenda Item 12.7).

That the following minutes of Regional Council BE ADOPTED: Open and Closed Session Minutes CL 19-2019, Thursday, November 14, 2019 (Special) Open and Closed Session Minutes CL 20-2019, Thursday, November 14, 2019 (Regular) Open and Closed Session Minutes CL 21-2019, Thursday, November 21, 2019 (Special) Open and Closed Session Minutes CL 22-2019, Thursday, December 5, 2019 (Special)

That the following items BE DEALT WITH as follows: CL-C 78-2019 respecting Appointment of Private Sewage System Inspectors under the Building Code Act, 1992, BE RECEIVED; CL-C 79-2019 respecting Response to BRCOTW 10-2019 Councillor Information Requests, BE RECEIVED; CL-C 81-2019 respecting Niagara Prosperity Initiative, BE RECEIVED; CL-C 82-2019 respecting ProKids Program, BE RECEIVED; and CL-C 84-2019 respecting 2020 Budget Deliberations, BE RECEIVED.

That Correspondence Item CL-C 77-2019, being a memorandum from A.-M. Norio, Regional Clerk, dated December 12, 2019, respecting Request for Appointment to Women’s Advisory Committee, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendation BE APPROVED: 1. That Councillor Villella BE APPOINTED to the Women’s Advisory Committee, effective immediately.

That Report BRCOTW 8-2019 being the Open Session minutes of the Budget Review Committee of the Whole meeting held on Thursday, November 21, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report BRCOTW 9-2019 being the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Budget Review Committee of the Whole meeting held on Thursday, November 28, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report PWC 12-2019 being the Open Session minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting held on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report PHSSC 12-2019 being the Open Session minutes of the Public Health & Social Services Committee meeting held on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report CSC 12-2019 being the Open Session minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

That Report PEDC 12-2019 being the Open Session minutes of the Planning & Economic Development Committee meeting held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, BE RECEIVED and the recommendations contained therein BE APPROVED.

1. That $450,000 from the tax payer relief reserve and any remaining 2019 SNIP funds BE INCLUDED for the SNIP program in the 2020 budget; and 2. That the funds BE USED for projects around affordable housing, brownfield redevelopment and heritage preservations. The following friendly amendment was accepted by the Regional Chair, and the mover and seconder of the motion: 2. That the original SNIP criteria the funds BE USED for projects around affordable housing, brownfield redevelopment and heritage preservations and affordable and subsidized housing initiatives BE INCLUDED. Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 23-2019 December 12, 2019 Page 9 The Regional Chair called the vote on motion, as amended, as follows: 1. That $450,000 from the tax payer relief reserve and any remaining 2019 SNIP funds BE INCLUDED for the SNIP program in the 2020 budget; and 2. That the original SNIP criteria BE USED and affordable and subsidized housing initiatives BE INCLUDED. Clause 1 of the motion was considered separately as follows: 1. That $450,000 from the tax payer relief reserve and any remaining 2019 SNIP funds BE INCLUDED for the SNIP program in the 2020 budget.

That the $294,000 allocated to the airport study BE

That $250,000 for the ProKids program BE INCLUDED in the budget and BE FUNDED from the levy. Councillor Edgar declared an indirect pecuniary interest with respect to the motion concerning the ProKids program as his wife is the Director of Children’s Services. At this point in the meeting Councillor Steele assumed the Chair. Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 23-2019 December 12, 2019 Page 11

WHEREAS good governance requires accountability, transparency and respectful relationships; Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 23-2019 December 12, 2019 Page 13 WHEREAS Region of Niagara staff and elected representatives are guided by a number of policies and a code of conduct, but not a policy that would protect those who reveal wrongdoing in the organization; WHEREAS whistleblowing by employees of corporate organizations, including various levels of government have proven effective in bringing to light wrongdoing while providing to employees who act in good faith protection from discrimination and retribution; Whereas employees of the Niagara Region should have the protection that a well-crafted whistleblower policy would provide to them in the event they see or hear of wrongdoing in the workplace. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That Regional Council SUPPORTS employees who, acting in good faith, bring to light wrongdoing at the Region and in the workplace and supports the protection of those employees who are whistleblowers from detrimental treatment, retaliation, retribution, discrimination or workplace harassment as a result of their actions; and That Regional Council DIRECTS staff to prepare a report with recommendations and a draft whistleblower policy for consideration by the Corporate Services Committee and presentation in due course to the Council; and That this resolution BE CIRCULATED to local area municipalities in Niagara for support.

That Regional Council publicly and formally COMMEND those members of Council, staff and the public who strived to uphold the integrity of our public institution during the last term of Council; That Regional Council THANK the journalists at the Niagara Dailies for their integrity and professionalism in reporting on matters that were of significant community interest and changed the face of politics in Niagara; and That a formal commendation and thank you BE ISSUED by Regional Chair Jim Bradley at the next regular meeting of Regional Council.

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

That this Council DO NOW MOVE into Closed Session for the purposes of receiving information of a confidential nature respecting: A Matter of Advice that is Subject to Solicitor-Client Privilege and A Matter of Litigation or Potential Litigation under s. 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 - Burgoyne Bridge Update

That the Confidential Presentation and Verbal Update, respecting A Matter of Advice that is Subject to Solicitor Client Privilege and A Matter of Litigation or Potential Litigation – Burgoyne Bridge Update, BE RECEIVED; and That staff and external legal counsel PROCEED as directed in closed session.

That the following Bills BE NOW READ and DO PASS: Bill 2019-88 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of Blocks 4 & 5, Plan M-473, in the City of Welland as part of Regional Road No. 27 (West Main Street). Bill 2019-89 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of Range 18, Plan 1, in the City of Niagara Falls as part of Regional Road No. 102 (Stanley Avenue). Regional Council Open Session Minutes CL 23-2019 December 12, 2019 Page 16 Bill 2019-90 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of Lot 1, Plan 5, in the City of Niagara Falls as part of Regional Road No. 57 (Thorold Stone Road). Bill 2019-91 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of Township Lot 32 and Blocks 109, 110 and 111, 59M-466, in the City of Thorold as part of Regional Road No. 67 (Beaverdams Road). Bill 2019-92 A by-law to accept, assume and dedicate part of lot 20, Concession 9, in the Township of West Lincoln as part of Regional Road No. 20 (Highway 20). Bill 2019-93 A by-law to appoint By-law Enforcement Officers for the purpose of enforcing the Sewer Use By-law No. 27-2014 as amended, and to repeal By-law 43-2010. Bill 2019-94 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 2019-95 A by-law to adopt the 2020 wastewater budget and to set the requisitions to be charged for wastewater received from lower-tier municipalities for the period January 1, 202