If the agenda for Monday's City Council meeting is any indication, we might be in for a bumper crop of fresh thinking from Sault Ste. Marie councillors.
Less than three weeks after Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker was accused of introducing more bright ideas than city staff can handle, there are seven councillor-authored resolutions on Monday's agenda.
If City Hall bureaucrats were hoping to spend less time conducting comprehensive evaluations on every flashy new idea that enters a councillor's cranium, they might be sorely disappointed.
So far, the flow of ideas hasn't been reduced.
In fact, Monday's seven resolutions equals the 2017 record for most councillor initiatives in a single meeting set on March 6 and May 8.
The fresh new ideas even include two from Susan Myers and Sandra Hollingsworth, the Ward 2 councillors who were critical of Shoemaker's neverending light-bulb moments.
On Monday, tireless Councillor Shoemaker will take on City Hall nepotism.
He'll also try to get us some skating trails and some new box seats at the Essar Centre.
The following are the full texts of the seven councillor-authored resolutions on next week's council agenda.
Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed by SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.
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Related city employees
Mover: Councillor O. Grandinetti
Seconder: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Whereas a perception exists locally that family members of existing staff are given preference for city positions; and
Whereas such a perception negatively affects the trust of residents in the operations of the city; and
Whereas a city policy already exists that regulates nepotism in the city's hiring practices; and
Whereas full transparency of the facts is the best way to counter this perception;
Now therefore be it resolved that once yearly staff report to council on how many of the city's employees across all departments are related to one another without the use of names of those employees, but simply by providing numbers and percentages for council's information.
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Essar Centre box seats
Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor O. Grandinetti
Whereas the Essar Centre box seats have been sold out since the Essar Centre was built in 2006; and
Whereas when the Essar Centre was built, additional box seats were framed in, but were not completed; and
Whereas there is a waiting list for additional boxes if they are completed; and
Whereas there is an opportunity with greater seating capacity to attract more sports or entertainment events; and
Whereas funding may be available through provincial or federal programs to assist with the cost of completing the already-framed-in box seats;
Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to bring forward a plan to develop the additional box seats at the Essar Centre as well as investigate what other potential sources of funding may be available.
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Skating trails
Mover: Councillor O. Grandinetti
Seconder: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Whereas many municipalities across Canada have developed skating trails as a new way to keep residents active in the winter months; and
Whereas a healthy population is a happy and productive population, with lower rates of medical issues and common health problems; and
Whereas Toronto, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Huntsville and Whitehorse have developed skating trails, either on rivers or on land, ranging from one to eleven kilometres in length;
Now therefore be it resolved that city staff be requested, in consultation with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, to explore opportunities for development of a skating trail within the city.
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Downtown safety strategy
Mover: Councillor S. Hollingsworth
Seconder: Councillor S. Myers
Whereas City Council is investing significantly in supporting the downtown development strategy; and
Whereas creating a safe community is important across the community and in particular should be given the utmost consideration and inclusion in the downtown development strategy; and
Whereas development of options that increase the feeling of safety in the downtown area at all hours will have a positive economic effect as people may remain in the area longer;
Now therefore be it resolved that a downtown safety strategy be identified and included as part of the downtown development strategy; and
Further be it resolved that such a strategy be developed in consultation with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the Downtown Association, and other related community groups seeking to increase public safety.
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Pedestrian crossing – Queen and Lake Streets
Mover: Councillor S. Myers
Seconder: Councillor S. Hollingsworth
Whereas in 2001 and in 2007 City Council received reports regarding options to provide a safer means for pedestrian crossing of Queen St. at Lake St. to access Bellevue Park; and
Whereas the report to City Council dated September 24, 2007 states “Since warrants do not justify any additional traffic control devices, staff have been investigating the use of 'refuge islands' in the vicinity of the Queen/Lake St. intersection as well as the area of Bellevue Park. These islands are placed at locations where pedestrians can cross a lane of traffic onto the island and wait until a gap in the traffic allows them to cross the remaining lane. They are normally located in a centre turning lane. It is felt that the island would give protection to the pedestrian due to that fact that the island is not
located in a traveled lane;" and
Whereas the report further states that “This proposal will require the changing of the lane configuration along Queen St. from four lanes to three lanes. The initiative is being put forward since public works staff is aware that the cycling master plan has placed, as one of its top priorities, the establishing of a cycling route on Queen St. East starting east of Pim
St. This will require the changing of Queen St. to a three-lane configuration. Public works staff supports this initiative due to the fact that the three-lane configuration will help to solve turning movements at the Pine/Queen St. intersection as well as provide a lane set-up that allows the installation of 'refuge islands;' and
Whereas changing Queen St. from four lanes to three lanes has been completed;
Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to report back to City Council regarding the installation of a “refuge island” at Queen and Lake St. or any other recommendations around creating a safer option for pedestrian crossing in this area.
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Sault smart grid project – Natural Resources Canada funding
Mover: Councillor S. Butland
Seconder: Councillor S. Hollingsworth
Whereas at the November 20, 2017 council Meeting, council received a report on utility distribution microgrids; and
Whereas said report outlined the potential socio-economic and development benefits to the community of a local microgrid project; and
Whereas Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has funding available for microgrid projects under the Green Energy Funding umbrella and the PUC is preparing an application for funding of $9.2 M from this funding umbrella,
Now therefore be it resolved that City Council support the application of PUC Inc. for funding from the NRCan Green Energy Fund for the Sault Smart Grid project ; and
Further that council authorizes Mayor Provenzano to provide a letter of support to NRCan endorsing this funding application.
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Budget options
Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor P. Christian
Be it resolved that the five city departments being public works and engineering, emergency services, legal department, corporate services and community development and enterprise services be directed to present to City Council 2019 preliminary budgets with a zero per cent increase over their 2018 approved budgets, including a list of cost savings options for council to consider in achieving that zero per cent budget change; and
Further that each city department provide a further list of cost savings options for council's consideration to achieve a one per cent overall reduction from their respective 2018 approved budgets.
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