Thread by @LoveWilmot

This evening's council meeting begins at 7pm, preceded by a Special Council Meeting at 6pm (the agenda says "Special", but I think they mean "Closed"). Get the full agenda at calendar.wilmot.ca//townshipcalen…, watch live at youtube.com/channel/UCcA8f…, or follow along here 👇

I'll be delegating tonight, about delegating.

Mayor Armstrong begins the meeting with a moment's silence to reflect on the importance of this week. On National Indigenous Veterans Day and ahead of Remembrance Day, he thanks everyone who has served.

Coun Hallman reads the territorial acknowledgement.

First up is the Third Ice Pad Location Study – Preliminary Findings Summary Report, which Sandy Jackson (Director of Facilities & Recreation Services) is introducing. Anand Desai from Monteith Brown Planning Consultants begins his presentation. The report is on p41 of the agenda.

"In Oct 2020, Council approved the Indoor Arena Usage & Needs Analysis Update which recommended a third ice pad be provided in Wilmot in the short-term. Council directed Staff & Monteith Brown to 'undertake further study to determine strategies for delivering a 3rd ice surface.'"

(BTW, the first pic shows what people in the meeting see on Zoom, and the second is how it looks on YouTube to viewers.)

Adding the third ice pad to the WRC is the preferred option amongst users because of its central location, as well as the other ice pads that are already there. The New Hamburg Community Centre is the second choice.

"The Community Players were engaged and articulated
constraints at the NHCC such as lack of rehearsal space, storage and workshop. Wilmot Soccer Club was also engaged given that expansion of the WRC building may have an impact on fields."

These are the proposed next steps.

Coun Hallman says the Township has committed to 50x30, and she asks if it would be possible to build with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in mind. Mr Desai says that Wilmot is progressive in that sense, so it is an option.

Coun Hallman says she wonders what her council colleagues and staff think about the increased costs that that would mean. Ms Jackson says there are a number of environmental efficiencies that can be explored, if the WRC is chosen.

Patrick Kelly (Director of Finance) says that a lot of the build of the original WRC saved about $150,000 by not meeting precise LEED standards.

Coun Gerber says the loss of a central location for soccer (fields would be lost at the WRC) took him by surprise.

Ms Jackson talks about the logistics of using the upper part of the WRC for the Parks & Rec workshops. This wouldn't be practical due to its upstairs location.

Coun Pfenning says it makes sense to add to the existing facility at WRC, while implementing some of the green technologies that are available. She mentions carbon budgeting. She is also concerned about relocating the soccer fields.

She suggests that it might be possible to combine workspace between Parks & Rec and the Roads department. Mr Desai says he did have that conversation with Jeff Molenhuis (Director of Public Works).

Coun Gordijk asks about combining possible energy efficiencies between the current WRC and the addition. Mr Desai says that it's too early for that conversation. The next step in the process will be the detailed drawings.

Coun Hallman asks about the proposed survey questions. Is it possible to ask residents about the 50x30 commitment? Mr Kelly says that it's possible to say that the rinks meet LEED standards, but without the plaque that goes with official certification.

Coun Fisher asks for a ballpark cost. Mr Desai says that pre-COVID it might have been around $12 million.

Mr Desai says that this study is focussed on the third ice pad. Let's see what demand is like after that is built before looking at the fourth pad, which is the one that would take over the soccer fields.

Coun Fisher asks about a potential curling rink, but Mr Desai says that he's not seeing much investment in that area by municipalities.

Ms Jackson says that the parking requirements might impact the soccer fields, not just a fourth rink.

Coun Pfenning asks about multi-level parking to make more efficient use of the space, and asks for that to be considered as an option.

Ms Jackson says that Parks & Rec will do a full consultation with soccer field users.

The recommendation is carried.

Next: The consent agenda is carried without any items being pulled for discussion.

Next up is me, delegating about delegations.

Councillors and Dawn Mittelholtz (Director of Clerk's Services/Director of Information and Legislative Services) are now discussing aspects of time allotments. Coun Fisher lists the various limits in neighbouring municipalities. Wellesley is in the middle with 7 minutes.

Ms Mittelholtz discusses other options for residents to engage with the Township on topics.

Coun Hallman: Is there a way to add wording that would enable delegations to formally request more time?

Ms Mittelholtz says that might open the door for more and more people to ask for that extension.

Coun Gordijk says that times should be equitable between applicants and residents. She suggests 10 minutes for applicants and 7 for delegations.

(For the record, the only person who saw my delegation script before I gave my presentation was the clerk.)

Coun Gordijk says that the Township has worked hard to engage the public in the council meeting process, and this should be continued and encouraged.

Coun Pfenning is in favour of residents addressing council and feeling they've been heard and respected, and that they haven't always felt that to be the case. The current council has taken a lot of steps towards addressing that.

She repeats an earlier point that applicants' presentations often contain complex technical information, but she agrees with limiting them to 10 minutes, rather than the approved 15. However, she thinks that resident delegations should be clipped at five minutes.

Coun Hallman says she would support Coun Fisher's recommendation to allow delegations seven minutes, with 10 minutes for applicants.

Coun Gerber agrees with five minutes for delegations, with 15 for applicants. He says that the applicant gets one shot, whereas there could be multiple delegations.

(He doesn't appreciate that each delegation is independent and autonomous, regardless of whether we all agree.)

The clerk has prepared an amended recommendation.

Council votes in favour of considering the amendment to the original recommendation.

There seems to be some confusion amongst council members and the clerk about what was actually voted on.

Okay; council has now voted to accept the recommendation with the amendment. In favour: Hallman, Gordijk, Fisher and Pfenning. Opposed: Gerber. The mayor didn't raise his hand; that's technically an abstention, which is a nay vote.

Correspondence has been accepted for information, including a rejected IC complaint against Coun Hallman.

Announcements: Coun Hallman acknowledges Indigenous Veterans Day and says that a wreath was laid at the New Hamburg cenotaph today. There will be an Indigenous veteran laying a wreath on Remembrance Day for the first time.

She thanks people who attended the Remembrance Day event in New Dundee on Saturday, and thanks Mayor Armstrong for his service (he's a veteran).

Coun Pfenning praises the community for tree planting at the Mike Schout Wetlands on Saturday.

She thanks corporate leadership for supporting the secondary use application for Crow Shield Lodge, especially as it was announced in Treaty Awareness Week.

Mayor Armstrong talks about Council For a Day.

https://twitter.com/WilmotTownship/status/1457709704285720582

And with that, we are adjourned at 9:10pm.