The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-03-24If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Co-ordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131 Council Minutes Date: Time: Location: March 24, 2025 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers or Electronic Participation Municipal Administrative Centre 40 Temperance Street, 2nd Floor Bowmanville, Ontario Members Present: Mayor A. Foster, Councillor G. Anderson, Councillor S. Elhajjeh, Councillor L. Rang, Councillor W. Woo, Councillor M. Zwart Absent: Councillor C. Traill Staff Present: M. Dempster, D. Lyons, R. Maciver, M. Perini, T. Pinn, J. Gallagher, M. Chambers Other Staff Present: M. Westover _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order Mayor Foster called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Moment of Reflection Councillor Elhajjeh led the meeting in a moment of reflection. 3. Land Acknowledgement Statement Councillor Elhajjeh recited the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 4. Declaration of Interest There were no disclosures of interest stated at this meeting. 5. Announcements Members of Council announced upcoming community events and matters of community interest. March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 2 6. Presentations / Delegations Alter the Agenda Resolution # C-049-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh That the Agenda be altered to hear Item 6.1, the delegation by Bonnie Wrightman, Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade, at this time. Carried 6.2 Delegation by Bonnie Wrightman, Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade regarding an update on initiatives supporting businesses directly impacted by the fire in downtown Bowmanville Bonnie Wrightman, Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade, was present regarding an update on initiatives supporting businesses directly impacted by the fire in downtown Bowmanville. Using an electronic presentation, Bonnie provided an overview of the following: • Businesses Directly Impacted • Immediate Response: Outreach and Call for Resources • Resources & Key Contacts Shared • Collection and Sharing Complimentary or Discounted Services & Resources Offered by Businesses • Collecting Gift Cards From Business Community for Residents Resolution # C-050-25 Moved by Councillor Zwart Seconded by Councillor Woo That the delegation of Bonnie Wrightman, be extended for an additional 3 minutes. Carried Bonne continued by providing details regarding the creation of the Bowmanville Business Fire Relief Support Website, www.cbot.ca/donate B. Wrightman thanked the community and the Members of Council and answered questions. March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 3 Resolution # C-051-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Zwart That the delegation by Bonnie Wrightman, Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade regarding an update on initiatives supporting businesses directly impacted by the fire in downtown Bowmanville, be received with thanks. Carried 6.1 Presentation by Mary-Anne Dempster, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Clarington regarding 2024 Year in Review Mary-Anne Dempster, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Clarington was present regarding a Clarington's first-ever Year in Review, reflecting on an eventful 2024. Using an electronic presentation, Mary-Anne highlighted the following: • Overview of the 2024-27 Strategic Plan • Background on Clarington’s first-ever Year in Review • Lead: Exceptional municipal services and governance: o Our people are our most valuable resource, and their dedication drives our progress o Embracing new ideas with an internal culture of innovation and collaboration o Unlocking external funding opportunities • Connect: Safe, diverse, inclusive and vibrant community: o Stepping up beyond the scope of municipal government to help improve cell service issues o Closing the gap and creating an inclusive, equitable and safe community o Clarington’s first-ever outdoor refrigerated skating rink • Grow Responsibly: Resilient, sustainable and complete community: o Engaged 23,000+ people about eight significant community projects on Clarington Connected o Ensuring that growth is proactively addressed o Taking steps towards our net-zero goals The CAO noted that the 2024 Year in Review will be shared across our digital platforms and in our facilities. The full Year in Review can be found here: www.clarington.net/YearinReview March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 4 M. Dempster answered questions from the Members of Council. Resolution # C-052-25 Moved by Councillor Woo Seconded by Councillor Zwart That the presentation by Mary-Anne Dempster, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Clarington regarding 2024 Year in Review, be received with thanks and gratitude. Carried Recess Resolution # C-053-25 Moved by Councillor Elhajjeh Seconded by Councillor Anderson That the Council recess for 10 minutes. Carried The meeting reconvened at 8:02 p.m. with Mayor Foster in the Chair. 7. Consent Agenda Resolution # C-054-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh That all items listed in Section 7, be approved, in accordance with the Agenda, with the exception of Item 8.1 of the General Government Committee minutes. Carried 7.1 Minutes from the Regular Council meeting dated February 24, 2025 Resolution # C-055-25 That the minutes from the regular meeting of Council dated February 24, 2025, be adopted. March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 5 7.2 Minutes from the General Government Committee meeting dated March 3, 2025 Resolution # C-056-25 That the minutes from the General Government Committee meeting dated March 3, 2025, be approved with the exception of Item 8.1. 7.3 Minutes from the Planning and Development Committee meeting dated March 17, 2025 Resolution # C-057-25 That the minutes from the Planning and Development Committee meeting dated March 17, 2025, be approved. 7.4 Minutes from the Newcastle Village Community Hall Board meetings dated December 20, 2024, February 26 and March 18, 2025 Resolution # C-058-25 That the minutes from the Newcastle Village Community Hall Board meetings dated December 20, 2024, February 26 and March 18, 2025, be received for information. 7.5 Minutes from the Tyrone Community Hall Board meetings dated January 15 and February 19, 2025 Resolution # C-059-25 That the minutes from the Tyrone Community Hall Board meetings dated January 15 and February 19, 2025, be received for information. 7.6 Minutes from the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee meeting dated February 18, 2025 Resolution # C-060-25 That the minutes from the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee meeting dated February 18, 2025, be received for information. 7.7 Minutes from the Clarington Heritage Committee meeting dated February 18, 2025 Resolution # C-061-25 That the minutes from the Clarington Heritage Committee meeting dated February 18, 2025, be received for information. March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 6 7.8 Minutes from the Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated February 13, 2025 Resolution # C-062-25 That the minutes from the Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated February 13, 2025, be received for information. 7.9 Minutes from the Newcastle Arena Board meetings dated February 18 and March 11, 2025 Resolution # C-063-25 That the minutes from the Newcastle Arena Board meetings dated February 18 and March 11, 2025, be received for information. 7.10 By-law 2025-009 - Being a by-law to adopt the estimates of all sums required during the year, to strike rates and levy taxes for municipal purposes for the year 2025 and to provide for the collection thereof Resolution # C-064-25 That By-law Number 2025-009, be approved. 7.11 By-law 2025-010 - Being a By-law to amend By-law 84-63, the Comprehensive Zoning By-law for the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington Resolution # C-065-25 That By-law Number 2025-010, be approved. 7.2.1 Item 8.1 -PDS-002-25 - North Bowmanville Dog Park Site Selection Resolution # C-066-25 Moved by Councillor Zwart Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh Whereas Staff were directed to locate and develop an off-leash dog park in north Bowmanville as part of the 2021 capital budget; And whereas Staff Report PDS-002-25 presented at the February 3, 2025, General Governance Committee provided a proposed location for a dog park and analysis illustrating that there were no municipally owned lands in north Bowmanville that meet the siting criteria contained in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan; March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 7 And whereas Resolution #GG-031-25 directed: “That Report PDS-002-25 – North Bowmanville Dog Park Site Selection, be referred to the March 3, 2025, General Government Committee meeting; and That Staff consult with Valleys 2000 regarding the preferred location.”; And whereas Valleys 2000, in a letter dated February 25, 2025, objects to the proposed location. Now therefore, be it resolved: 1. That that Report PDS-002-25, and any related delegations or communication items, be received for information; 2. That Staff be directed to report back to a future Planning and Development Committee with recommendations for a new dog park when municipal lands, that meet the criteria outlined in the Parks Recreation and Culture Master Plan, become available in north Bowmanville; and 3. That Staff be directed to bring forward a budget request through the appropriate annual budgeting process for the new dog park location, when available, and in the meantime return the remaining budget of $195,533.89 to the Parks and Recreation Development Charge Reserve Fund. Yes (6): Mayor Foster, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Elhajjeh, Councillor Rang, Councillor Woo, and Councillor Zwart Absent (1): Councillor Traill Carried on a recorded vote (6 to 0) 8. Items for Separate Discussion 8.1 Minutes from the Clarington Diversity Committee meeting dated March 13, 2025 Resolution # C-067-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh That the minutes from the Clarington Diversity Committee meeting dated March 13, 2025, be received for information. Carried March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 8 8.1.1 Motion - Ban Nazi Symbols and Iconography Resolution # C-068-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh Whereas in recent years, the Nazi swastika, known as the hakenkreuze, and iconography has surfaced with alarming frequency in the public sphere, used by an increasing number of groups and individuals to promote hate and instill fear within Canadian society; and Whereas the swastika word originates from the Sanskrit word "svastika” and the symbol (卐 - oriented horizontally, with its arms pointing in four cardinal directions) has been used for thousands of years in various cultures, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, to represent good fortune, well-being and auspiciousness; and Whereas the Nazi appropriation of the swastika word and symbol (卍 - rotated 45 degrees, giving it a slanted appearance) drastically changed its perception in the Western world, associating it with hate, terror and atrocities during World War II; and Whereas, despite the growing presence of the swastika word and symbol in our country becoming synonymous with systematic violence and terror, the swastika continues to be used very extensively in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain prayer, worship, and other auspicious ceremonies, symbolizing positive attributes like prosperity and well-being; and Whereas eighteen countries have already taken action to ban Nazi symbols of hate, it is imperative that Canada follow suit; Therefore, be it resolved: That Council of the Municipality of Clarington calls on the Government of Canada to pass legislation banning the public display of Nazi symbols and iconography of hate, including the Nazi hakenkreuze, while permitting the use of the sacred swastika word and symbol by communities such as the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain; and That the Clarington Diversity Advisory Committee be advised of actions taken. Yes (6): Mayor Foster, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Elhajjeh, Councillor Rang, Councillor Woo, and Councillor Zwart Absent (1): Councillor Traill Carried on a recorded vote (6 to 0) March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 9 9. Business Arising from Procedural Notice of Motion 10. Unfinished Business 11. Confidential Items Alter the Agenda Resolution # C-069-25 Moved by Councillor Elhajjeh Seconded by Councillor Anderson That the Agenda be altered to hear Item 11.3, presentation of Anthony Haines, Chair of Elexicon Corporation, first within Closed Session. Carried Closed Session Resolution # C-070-25 Moved by Councillor Zwart Seconded by Councillor Woo That, in accordance with Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, the meeting be closed for the purpose of discussing matters that deal with the following: • a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; • a matter that deals with litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board; • a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization; • a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial or financial information that belongs to the municipality or local board and has monetary value or potential monetary value; and • a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board. Carried March 24, 2025 Council Minutes 10 Rise and Report The meeting resumed in open session at 9:43 p.m. Mayor Foster advised that three items were discussed in “closed” session in accordance with Section 239(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and two resolutions were passed to provide direction to staff. 11.3 Presentation by Anthony Haines, Chair of Elexicon Corporation, Elexicon Corporation Update Resolution # C-071-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Woo That the closed session presentation by Anthony Haines, Chair of Elexicon Corporation, Elexicon Corporation Update, be received with thanks. Carried 11.1 Report LGS-009-25 - Ontario Land Tribunal Appeal This matter was considered in closed session. 11.2 Report LGS-010-25- Potential Property Disposition This matter was considered in closed session. 12. Confirming By-Law Resolution # C-072-25 Moved by Councillor Zwart Seconded by Councillor Anderson That By-law 2025-011 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Municipality of Clarington at a regular meeting held on March 24, 2025, be approved. Carried 13. Adjournment Resolution # C-073-25 Moved by Councillor Anderson Seconded by Councillor Elhajjeh That the meeting adjourn at 9:45 p.m. Carried