[{"text": "good morning and welcome to the uh Committee of the whole for Wednesday", "start": 17.96, "end": 23}, {"text": "December the 4th uh like to call the meeting to order", "start": 23, "end": 28.56}, {"text": "like to note that uh we do have regrets from councilor Leu and at this point I'd like to see if", "start": 28.56, "end": 36}, {"text": "there's any Council announcements uh councelor", "start": 36, "end": 41.64}, {"text": "Shu uh thank you Mr chair uh good morning everyone uh I'm so excited to to", "start": 41.64, "end": 46.879}, {"text": "announce that I will be hosting a public safety Expo in partnership with Richmond Hill Board of Trade and Community crime", "start": 46.879, "end": 53.84}, {"text": "awareness Association this event will feature yor Regional Police uh Richmond", "start": 53.84, "end": 59.359}, {"text": "Hill fire and experts on topics like home and auto Securities cyber security", "start": 59.359, "end": 65.439}, {"text": "Li liability issues and legal advice on Public Safety matters and vendors will", "start": 65.439, "end": 70.479}, {"text": "be showcasing the latest products and services both on stage and boths all", "start": 70.479, "end": 75.56}, {"text": "designed to enhance your safety so don't miss out and uh the time and date is this coming Saturday December 7th from", "start": 75.56, "end": 83.759}, {"text": "10: a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at land staff Community Center look forward to seeing you all thank you so much", "start": 83.759, "end": 91.079}, {"text": "uh thank you next is uh Mayor West uh thank you Mr chair I I just want", "start": 91.079, "end": 97.119}, {"text": "to uh announce that we have uh two flags flying one for sandgate women's shelter", "start": 97.119, "end": 102.56}, {"text": "and one for uh Yellow Brick House flying outside of our city offices uh yesterday", "start": 102.56, "end": 107.799}, {"text": "we had we're we're uh proud to have both uh staff from sandgate and uh staff from", "start": 107.799, "end": 113.68}, {"text": "yre house uh here to raise the flag um you know raising awareness of about the", "start": 113.68, "end": 120.52}, {"text": "issue of of domestic violence and intimate partner violence I I just wanted to I said at the meeting and I'll", "start": 120.52, "end": 128}, {"text": "I'll say again that you know we as a council have unanimously uh supported um", "start": 128, "end": 133.56}, {"text": "declaring intimate partner partner violence as an epidemic and uh we will continue to uh to support the great work", "start": 133.56, "end": 140.959}, {"text": "that uh organizations like sandgate and Yellow Brick House do in uh protecting women and children in our community from", "start": 140.959, "end": 147.879}, {"text": "this terrible um terrible thing uh domestic violence and you know I think", "start": 147.879, "end": 153.2}, {"text": "it's really really important as a a community that we are all uh playing a part in the solution and you know", "start": 153.2, "end": 159.64}, {"text": "particularly uh you know the men in the crowd um I think we have a real opportunity here to um be making sure", "start": 159.64, "end": 167.04}, {"text": "that that we are communicating with our peers and making it very clear to anybody that that uh we know in our", "start": 167.04, "end": 173.92}, {"text": "circles that uh domestic violence is completely unacceptable it has to stop it ruins lives and uh and it can lead to", "start": 173.92, "end": 181.36}, {"text": "very bad outcomes and uh this is we're talking about 50% of our population that's that's negatively affected here", "start": 181.36, "end": 188}, {"text": "so we needs to be uh addressed and I'm really pleased to see uh both um Yellow", "start": 188, "end": 193.319}, {"text": "Brick House and sandgate uh at at our facility here", "start": 193.319, "end": 198.48}, {"text": "yesterday thank you very much any other Council announcements uh councelor", "start": 198.48, "end": 205.68}, {"text": "Davidson thank you um I just wanted to uh remind folks that if you think you", "start": 205.68, "end": 211.56}, {"text": "need a booster shot for an immunization or your kids you're not sure if they're protected against some of the childhood", "start": 211.56, "end": 217.319}, {"text": "diseases we have vaccines for or you're looking for a flu shot I encourage everyone to Google York Region health or", "start": 217.319, "end": 224.92}, {"text": "call York Region and ask them because they have a whole website there to tell you how to catch up on old vaccines or", "start": 224.92, "end": 231}, {"text": "get a new one and that goes for your kids too so uh I really encourage people to follow up because I know a lot of", "start": 231, "end": 236.799}, {"text": "people don't have family doctors but that doesn't mean you can't be properly immunized that's all thank you okay", "start": 236.799, "end": 242.92}, {"text": "thank you any others for Council announcements seeing none uh at this", "start": 242.92, "end": 248.879}, {"text": "point I'd like to ask about introduction of emergency time sensitive matters seeing none I'd like to move", "start": 248.879, "end": 256.959}, {"text": "towards the adoption of the agenda uh Regional local counselor dalala all", "start": 256.959, "end": 263.36}, {"text": "those in favor that carries unanimously uh at this point disclosure", "start": 263.36, "end": 270.6}, {"text": "of any pecuniary interests or general nature thereof seeing", "start": 270.6, "end": 276.639}, {"text": "none uh we will be having uh so in terms of identification of items requiring", "start": 276.639, "end": 282.8}, {"text": "separate discussion 11.4 will be uh discussed is there any others that", "start": 282.8, "end": 288.84}, {"text": "people would like to pull oh okay um I personally did want to", "start": 288.84, "end": 297.759}, {"text": "make some comments on the uh tree bylaws so um that was uh", "start": 297.759, "end": 304.479}, {"text": "item uh 11.2 so I'd like to bring that up for", "start": 304.479, "end": 310.919}, {"text": "discussion okay we have a um a", "start": 311.479, "end": 318.639}, {"text": "delegation uh there's no public hearings uh no presentations but we do have a a", "start": 318.639, "end": 323.919}, {"text": "delegation and I believe that uh oh correct uh thank you very much uh", "start": 323.919, "end": 332.319}, {"text": "I was uh not uh paying attention to my duties here uh I'd like to uh adopt a", "start": 332.319, "end": 340.12}, {"text": "motion to uh move all the other items uh on consent with the exception of 11.2", "start": 340.12, "end": 346.96}, {"text": "11.4 at this time and that would be councelor Shu moving the motion all", "start": 346.96, "end": 352.36}, {"text": "those in favor that carries unanimously okay uh like I said um", "start": 352.36, "end": 360.319}, {"text": "uh public hearings we have none presentations none we do have a delegation uh by uh Michael Theodor uh", "start": 360.319, "end": 367.88}, {"text": "regarding the proposed official plan and Zoning bylaw amendments to permit additional residential units and", "start": 367.88, "end": 373.84}, {"text": "four-story building Heights in mtsa in the city of Richmond Hill I believe uh", "start": 373.84, "end": 379.88}, {"text": "Mr Theodor is online um if you wanted to unmute yourself you have five minutes to", "start": 379.88, "end": 386.24}, {"text": "address Council I can you guys he me okay absolutely thank you great yeah so I", "start": 386.24, "end": 393.479}, {"text": "actually I just want to uh touch on my latest submission for Council regarding", "start": 393.479, "end": 399.199}, {"text": "the uh zoning bylaw amendments for uh arus and also for story and uh what I", "start": 399.199, "end": 406.919}, {"text": "want to do is really address some of the comments that were made in the staff report uh to counter some of the", "start": 406.919, "end": 412.52}, {"text": "comments that were there the first point was actually to do with the uh as of WR developments uh the moning of that part", "start": 412.52, "end": 419.24}, {"text": "and found them very murky there's no real clear idea of what will happen if these byright zoning", "start": 419.24, "end": 425.72}, {"text": "things take place what type of notification will take place for uh residents will they get some type of", "start": 425.72, "end": 431.84}, {"text": "letter will you guys do some kind of scan for schools traffic that type of thing so that was the first point I want", "start": 431.84, "end": 438.4}, {"text": "to make second one is I want to again go back to the public engagement part and I", "start": 438.4, "end": 444.24}, {"text": "still have concerns that only about 230 people responded between the online survey and uh inperson thing I think you", "start": 444.24, "end": 452.68}, {"text": "guys could do a much better job in actually pushing out information rather than having residents pull it from staff", "start": 452.68, "end": 459.4}, {"text": "I'll give uh Gus ganis and staff very good credit for actually being responsive to emails but I find it takes", "start": 459.4, "end": 465.479}, {"text": "a lot of work to actually get information that uh to answer questions", "start": 465.479, "end": 470.52}, {"text": "and I think the city can do a much better job uh just for an example for Black Friday say Cyber Monday probably", "start": 470.52, "end": 477.52}, {"text": "in your own uh life you probably got the best deals probably in your inbox not actually walking at storefronts at", "start": 477.52, "end": 483.879}, {"text": "Hillcrest Mall or driving around the city and I think the city's got to do a much better job actually in pushing", "start": 483.879, "end": 491.4}, {"text": "information using email addresses for people that actually responded to certain consultations and actually uh keeping", "start": 491.4, "end": 499}, {"text": "them engaged in that way because again for a city the size of over 200,000 people to only have about 200 responses", "start": 499, "end": 505.44}, {"text": "I think is very poor like I even looked at your metrics for the post you know for me Twitter and most of them were", "start": 505.44, "end": 512.24}, {"text": "actually under 500 views so that was CED as you know one of your engagement tools but really for me I think that you've", "start": 512.24, "end": 518.279}, {"text": "got to push through more information to people like I was actually surprised for this meeting I actually got an email from zoney richm hill.ca for actively", "start": 518.279, "end": 526.56}, {"text": "letting me know about this meeting you've got to do more of that so people can actually stay engaged and be and", "start": 526.56, "end": 533}, {"text": "appear before you in a counsil meeting like this one I also touched on the uh stra thing issue getting the short-term", "start": 533, "end": 539.2}, {"text": "uh rentals and it was a little disappointed to see that there's a very dated technical report from May", "start": 539.2, "end": 546.079}, {"text": "2022 so what I did is I had just a couple Google searches and there's now a Nick Nano's uh survey that's very uh", "start": 546.079, "end": 554.04}, {"text": "recent it actually showed the younger demos actually very interested uh in uh", "start": 554.04, "end": 559.68}, {"text": "not having shortterm rental that they feel it's actually impacting rents and also for people that wanted to buy a new", "start": 559.68, "end": 565.839}, {"text": "home so if you actually as as we proceed to the housing uh accelerated funds", "start": 565.839, "end": 571.72}, {"text": "you've got to get some more timely information there and again I've given you links to a couple things de jardan", "start": 571.72, "end": 577.68}, {"text": "uh survey and also an anual report uh again you know as as you know", "start": 577.68, "end": 583.079}, {"text": "I'm very big on Transit and again uh the whole thing about higher order again I would argue and I think councelor", "start": 583.079, "end": 589.279}, {"text": "Davidson is actually really great in providing firsthand uh uh feedback that actually", "start": 589.279, "end": 595.079}, {"text": "similar to mine where you can't really consider the GO train higher order I would consider it uh daily Rush Hour", "start": 595.079, "end": 603.04}, {"text": "higher order but as we know at around 8:11 a.m. that's that's the last trip of", "start": 603.04, "end": 608.079}, {"text": "the day now there's only five in the morning five in evening and actually as I said my submission uh they've actually", "start": 608.079, "end": 615.44}, {"text": "moved up the times at a certain point where now it's extending the daily commit to 29 minutes if you take the", "start": 615.44, "end": 621.8}, {"text": "7-Eleven train it used to be 7:25 and then they kind of moved it up the 4:30 p.m. on the rebound is actually now 4:45", "start": 621.8, "end": 629.6}, {"text": "so your constituents both current and future people that move here from let's say Toronto for other corridors that", "start": 629.6, "end": 635.48}, {"text": "have better service they will realize that the services are actually very poor compared to other corridors and the", "start": 635.48, "end": 642.04}, {"text": "final thing I was just uh I also like to provide some opportunities or whatever so I came across I gave you a link to an article on chats and they're indicating", "start": 642.04, "end": 649.12}, {"text": "that our seniors uh ath lot our seniors want to stay in their homes but actually they're having trouble actually uh you", "start": 649.12, "end": 656.12}, {"text": "know managing day-to-day life and maybe there's an opportunity to actually use uh some type of initiative to actually", "start": 656.12, "end": 662.24}, {"text": "have people uh stay at from these houses like through a rental agreement or something like that there's something else you can do so again I know you guys", "start": 662.24, "end": 669.32}, {"text": "have punted to the The Province like the the byright uh amendments but I think", "start": 669.32, "end": 675.079}, {"text": "there's more than you guys can actually do with engagement the the stas uh going", "start": 675.079, "end": 680.2}, {"text": "forward all this stuff I'm going to continue to actually stay engaged with you guys as we move forward with the housing accelerator funds because I", "start": 680.2, "end": 687.279}, {"text": "think really the key opportunity is on Young Street and Highway 7 flowing to", "start": 687.279, "end": 692.399}, {"text": "the Future TTC Subway I see I run out of time there thanks for your", "start": 692.399, "end": 697.519}, {"text": "time thank you very much Mr Theodor for taking the time uh we will be speaking", "start": 697.519, "end": 702.76}, {"text": "to this item later in the agenda uh oh that's correct um again not", "start": 702.76, "end": 712.24}, {"text": "diligent in my duties here the clerk keeps reminding me that as this is the", "start": 712.24, "end": 717.32}, {"text": "delegated item this will be the first item that we speak to on the agenda uh at at this point who would", "start": 717.32, "end": 725.2}, {"text": "like to start us off uh Mayor West uh thank you uh so I've read the", "start": 725.2, "end": 733.8}, {"text": "the uh report and we've been dealing with this uh for the last little while as we've gone through this process um I", "start": 733.8, "end": 741}, {"text": "I don't I I agree with what is in the report and I agree with recommendations happy to move it um I I will say that", "start": 741, "end": 747}, {"text": "you know just to remind everybody you know this is really not a radical change in the sense that you know a few years", "start": 747, "end": 752.519}, {"text": "ago we did approve uh three as of right and um you know this is now we're adding", "start": 752.519, "end": 758.24}, {"text": "one to that that's four as of right the landscape has changed a little bit um", "start": 758.24, "end": 763.519}, {"text": "with regard to some provincial regulations that have come down so there there are some uh there are some changes", "start": 763.519, "end": 769.6}, {"text": "that are all outlined in the staff report I won't bother going into that now um I do appreciate uh Mr Theodora's", "start": 769.6, "end": 775.279}, {"text": "coming and and you know he's been uh very good at at being engaged and I really do appreciate that um I will say", "start": 775.279, "end": 782.399}, {"text": "I mean I'd like to ask a question so um further to what he was asking about the process once the um once something is", "start": 782.399, "end": 790.44}, {"text": "proposed to be for as of right um what is the process from there I think that's", "start": 790.44, "end": 795.72}, {"text": "generally speaking what he's asking and and I think I know the answer to this but I think it's good to have that on the public record I through you Mr", "start": 795.72, "end": 802.68}, {"text": "chairman to the mayor uh the process uh basically will be similar to what we have now when someone wants to build a", "start": 802.68, "end": 808.68}, {"text": "dwelling that is in Conformity with the zoning uh they would go through a building permit process there would not", "start": 808.68, "end": 814.32}, {"text": "be public notification as of because the use is permitted already so there is no", "start": 814.32, "end": 819.519}, {"text": "change per se to follow a statutory process it will be a building permit a standard process right but I think I", "start": 819.519, "end": 826.32}, {"text": "think that and that's a good point but the the point about this too is that you know as of right doesn't mean they can just go out and build it I mean there's", "start": 826.32, "end": 832.839}, {"text": "still a number of different things that they need to comply with including the zoning bylaw itself and all the things", "start": 832.839, "end": 838.44}, {"text": "that are contained in that but also the uh anything that is involved in the building code and the the parts that are", "start": 838.44, "end": 844.8}, {"text": "in the building code um are really important they they're a lot of them are Public Safety types of things with fire", "start": 844.8, "end": 851.48}, {"text": "safety and exits and entrances and and that type of thing so um you know this", "start": 851.48, "end": 856.839}, {"text": "this allows it but it doesn't mean that that anybody that wants to take us up on this has got free reign to do whatever", "start": 856.839, "end": 863.72}, {"text": "they want and and I think that's really important for people to remember um we are looking at building housing but", "start": 863.72, "end": 870.32}, {"text": "we're also looking at building housing in a way that's safe and conforms to all of the uh Ontario building code", "start": 870.32, "end": 876.04}, {"text": "regulations uh so the other thing I wanted to ask about and or maybe comment", "start": 876.04, "end": 881.279}, {"text": "about is public engagement and and you know I understand Mr theodor's um uh", "start": 881.279, "end": 886.8}, {"text": "concern I mean and frankly you know we all I'm sure on Council are noticing", "start": 886.8, "end": 892.24}, {"text": "that you know it is really hard to get people engaged and particularly about topics that are a little bit more", "start": 892.24, "end": 899.959}, {"text": "uh out there in terms of uh their their immediate uh general interest and you", "start": 899.959, "end": 906.24}, {"text": "know we I will say that you know on top of everything that the that has described in the staff report and all", "start": 906.24, "end": 912.36}, {"text": "the efforts that the staff has made to get the the the word out and I and I think they've done a good job on that um", "start": 912.36, "end": 918.68}, {"text": "and they've advertised it well um we also a number of us on Council maybe all", "start": 918.68, "end": 923.759}, {"text": "of us I don't know um certainly myself have put this out on our messaging in our newsletter and all that kind of", "start": 923.759, "end": 929.68}, {"text": "stuff and I have received very little uh feedback about it as well so I mean I don't I really honestly would have to", "start": 929.68, "end": 936.72}, {"text": "disagree and with Mr theodoris on this and say you know we have done the best", "start": 936.72, "end": 942.04}, {"text": "we can uh in within the what the tools that we have available in this kind of", "start": 942.04, "end": 947.079}, {"text": "communication environment that we live in which is very fractured and frankly kind of frustrating sometime um but we", "start": 947.079, "end": 953.88}, {"text": "are looking for and implementing very effective ways of trying to get the world out in different forms to", "start": 953.88, "end": 960.199}, {"text": "different groups to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to weigh in now whether people take the opportunity", "start": 960.199, "end": 965.88}, {"text": "or not that's really up to them but I think that um this has gone through a process and it this has not been quick I", "start": 965.88, "end": 972.72}, {"text": "mean this has been multi-step process that's been going on for quite some time and the the level of concern that we've", "start": 972.72, "end": 979.68}, {"text": "seen from the public has been pretty consistent and it has not been very high um and the final thing I wanted to just", "start": 979.68, "end": 986.36}, {"text": "say with the minute that I have left is short-term rentals um are an issue that we need to deal with for sure and uh we", "start": 986.36, "end": 993.16}, {"text": "are looking at doing that in a in a much more fome and robust way uh shortly", "start": 993.16, "end": 999.6}, {"text": "within the rest of these uh comprehensive zoning bylaw uh amendment when it comes forward and I know that in", "start": 999.6, "end": 1005.8}, {"text": "you know I've had a couple of very significant um concerns with short-term rentals and some very very bad behavior", "start": 1005.8, "end": 1013.319}, {"text": "that is going on you know around it but I think that the approach that we're going to be taking which is outside the", "start": 1013.319, "end": 1019.04}, {"text": "scope of this particular staff report uh will help us to implement best practices", "start": 1019.04, "end": 1024.918}, {"text": "uh and be effective on how to main how to regulate short-term rentals so um", "start": 1024.919, "end": 1030}, {"text": "anyway again I appreciate the fact that this is not part of this particular staff report but uh I think it was worth", "start": 1030, "end": 1035.6}, {"text": "uh commenting on that so thank you very much Mr chair and I'm happy to move the", "start": 1035.6, "end": 1040.678}, {"text": "motion hey thank you for moving the motion next we have councelor Davidson thank you and through you Mr", "start": 1040.679, "end": 1047.678}, {"text": "chair and and I appreciate app um our resident comments um I I'm kind of", "start": 1047.679, "end": 1052.799}, {"text": "excited about the Forest Story um billing idea I I I can tell you word one", "start": 1052.799, "end": 1059.24}, {"text": "there isn't one that I can think of but if you walk through older neighborhoods Force you know four story smaller unit", "start": 1059.24, "end": 1065.36}, {"text": "places are already part of the fabric of the community we just somehow lost our our thinking on that with h modern", "start": 1065.36, "end": 1072}, {"text": "subdivision development I am concerned about parking and what we're going to do about extra cars because a lot of people", "start": 1072, "end": 1078.4}, {"text": "have more than than one but I hope I hope we'll be diligent and figure that out and and frankly in word one I would", "start": 1078.4, "end": 1085.24}, {"text": "personally rather see a four-story multi-unit than a 10,000 square mansion", "start": 1085.24, "end": 1092.24}, {"text": "on a big piece of property and that it it builds the community it invites different groups of people to live in a", "start": 1092.24, "end": 1097.919}, {"text": "neighborhood so that it's not just Stone Mansion after Stone Mansion um yeah and", "start": 1097.919, "end": 1103.6}, {"text": "I'm excited to see how this goes I hope there's pickup on it and I agree with the mayor um I I know the city is", "start": 1103.6, "end": 1109.4}, {"text": "working on a comprehensive uh approach to uh airbnbs and and uh temporary", "start": 1109.4, "end": 1116.32}, {"text": "rentals so hopefully we'll get it all under control at the right times and we'll move forward with this what I", "start": 1116.32, "end": 1121.84}, {"text": "think is a really exciting new chapter in in homes in Richmond Hill thank", "start": 1121.84, "end": 1127.72}, {"text": "you thank you anyone else wish to speak to this", "start": 1127.72, "end": 1132.799}, {"text": "item okay I I'd also like to add a couple of comments and I too am", "start": 1132.799, "end": 1138.44}, {"text": "concerned erned about the shortterm uh rentals uh potentially uh moving into these mtsa", "start": 1138.44, "end": 1146.2}, {"text": "where there are there won't be parking but that's exactly where people will want to drive to because it's where the", "start": 1146.2, "end": 1154.2}, {"text": "public transit is if they're trying to to get to someplace so they're driving in they're going to need someplace to", "start": 1154.2, "end": 1159.84}, {"text": "park so uh I'm glad that that will be flagged and that will be addressed uh uh", "start": 1159.84, "end": 1166}, {"text": "on another report uh in regard regards to the uh public engagement there was something that Mr Theodore said and I", "start": 1166, "end": 1172.52}, {"text": "just want to follow up to see if this is now a standard practice and he had", "start": 1172.52, "end": 1178.48}, {"text": "indicated that because he had already engaged in this particular uh activity", "start": 1178.48, "end": 1184.12}, {"text": "he managed to get an email is that our standard practice now that if somebody", "start": 1184.12, "end": 1189.84}, {"text": "had brought forward uh a concern on any particular uh item for engagement that", "start": 1189.84, "end": 1197.159}, {"text": "uh that would be a standard practice now that they will actually be contacted going", "start": 1197.159, "end": 1204.2}, {"text": "forward uh I'll leave that to the sorry to the city clerk thanks to the chair", "start": 1204.2, "end": 1210.799}, {"text": "and the commissioner and I will probably tag team this one he might speak specifically to development applications", "start": 1210.799, "end": 1216.28}, {"text": "because I did want to point out that while the city does receive you know significant amount of email", "start": 1216.28, "end": 1222.4}, {"text": "correspondents from residents um on a variety of issues we are um strictly", "start": 1222.4, "end": 1228.72}, {"text": "follow the requirements of Municipal uh Freedom of Information and protection of privacy act and we only use those", "start": 1228.72, "end": 1234.32}, {"text": "contacts for the purpose that they were collected in the first place so if a person contacts us on X we don't then", "start": 1234.32, "end": 1242.2}, {"text": "and can't turn around and contact them on y so uh that's a very specific uh legislative requirement uh that we", "start": 1242.2, "end": 1248.84}, {"text": "follow and then I'm sure Mr glanis can speak to the development applications here you Mr chairman further to the", "start": 1248.84, "end": 1254.919}, {"text": "clerk's comments um typically in these types of statutory applications um when", "start": 1254.919, "end": 1260.28}, {"text": "we hold meetings anyone uh who does submit um uh either correspondence or", "start": 1260.28, "end": 1265.76}, {"text": "comes to a public meeting for example we ask them you know if they want to be a notification list Etc so that is a", "start": 1265.76, "end": 1271.44}, {"text": "standard practice it's very similar to how we handle a development application the same statutory uh requirements apply", "start": 1271.44, "end": 1277.72}, {"text": "and anyone who wants to receive notice like Mr theodoris obviously they would be contacted further at each step of the", "start": 1277.72, "end": 1284.44}, {"text": "way yes thank you very much and I think that uh certainly clarify I it because I", "start": 1284.44, "end": 1289.919}, {"text": "think uh Mayor West uh phrased it well in that you know we can do all these", "start": 1289.919, "end": 1295.52}, {"text": "things but getting people to actually engage is uh is is the other aspect that", "start": 1295.52, "end": 1302.36}, {"text": "if they're we can give them all the opportunities it just doesn't mean that they're going to take us up on it uh but", "start": 1302.36, "end": 1308.52}, {"text": "yes we would all like to see more engagement than what we have been seeing uh and certainly the legislative side I", "start": 1308.52, "end": 1314.679}, {"text": "I fully understand that it can only be based on uh when we're contacting somebody I", "start": 1314.679, "end": 1320.919}, {"text": "guess it's under the Freedom of Information that it's it must be tied to what they uh had actually contacted us", "start": 1320.919, "end": 1327.96}, {"text": "about in the first place so uh I appreciate that uh we have a motion on", "start": 1327.96, "end": 1333.279}, {"text": "the floor uh all those in favor that carries uh", "start": 1333.279, "end": 1339.12}, {"text": "unanimously um the uh next item is uh 11.2 this is the uh Tree by law I had", "start": 1339.12, "end": 1346.799}, {"text": "actually pulled that item did anybody wish to move that motion before I", "start": 1346.799, "end": 1352.48}, {"text": "comment Mayor West thank you I'll I'll move it so that you don't have to give up the chair but", "start": 1352.48, "end": 1358.559}, {"text": "um I just just briefly I I read through this and and I'm I'm you know it's good", "start": 1358.559, "end": 1363.919}, {"text": "it's not radically different than what we've already have and and I think you know we hear from people all the time", "start": 1363.919, "end": 1370.48}, {"text": "about how we want to save trees we want to do everything in our power to save trees it's not always possible I mean it", "start": 1370.48, "end": 1376.559}, {"text": "isn't and it's very sad when larger mature trees end up uh getting damaged", "start": 1376.559, "end": 1382.12}, {"text": "take being taken down whatever but um you know in order for us to continue the great work that we're doing and and", "start": 1382.12, "end": 1388.2}, {"text": "Greening our city and and increasing our Urban Forest canopy we need to be uh you", "start": 1388.2, "end": 1394.6}, {"text": "know doing whatever we can within our powers and within the realm of reality", "start": 1394.6, "end": 1399.84}, {"text": "to be able to save uh save as many trees as we can and I think you know it was interesting actually hearing the", "start": 1399.84, "end": 1405.6}, {"text": "statistic that you know we do have a a pretty Rob a tree canopy in the city collectively but a lot of the trees are", "start": 1405.6, "end": 1412}, {"text": "not real big you know and and and that actually was something that I kind of paused when I read that and uh and that", "start": 1412, "end": 1418.2}, {"text": "makes perfect sense uh all I'm going to say though is I really do appreciate the", "start": 1418.2, "end": 1423.4}, {"text": "fact that in this particular version of the the updated tree preservation bylaw", "start": 1423.4, "end": 1428.559}, {"text": "uh we have an appeal process and the appeal process does not include residents coming to council but it it's", "start": 1428.559, "end": 1435.52}, {"text": "an appeal process that has when when a tree permit uh removal permit is is uh", "start": 1435.52, "end": 1442}, {"text": "denied they can go to council or sorry to staff they can you know review it", "start": 1442, "end": 1447.36}, {"text": "with staff make sure that it's the right decision and I think that's a very fair process and it will be because of the", "start": 1447.36, "end": 1453.919}, {"text": "way that it it's being proposed to be done it's going to be done based on science and it's going to be done based", "start": 1453.919, "end": 1459.36}, {"text": "on a policy framework in the last term of council we had a number of occasions", "start": 1459.36, "end": 1464.48}, {"text": "where where residents were upset and I understand that that they weren't allowed to take a tree down and then", "start": 1464.48, "end": 1470.2}, {"text": "they came to council and appealed it becomes a purely Pol political decision at that point and I think you know the", "start": 1470.2, "end": 1477.52}, {"text": "the reality is with something like this tree bylaw is either we're serious about preserving trees or we're not it's not a", "start": 1477.52, "end": 1483.799}, {"text": "case of preserving trees only when it's politically expedient to do so so I", "start": 1483.799, "end": 1489.159}, {"text": "think we need to commit to doing this and I think this tree bylaw is a a", "start": 1489.159, "end": 1494.24}, {"text": "better bylaw than we had before because it modernizes itself and it it adds that appeal mechanism and I think that's", "start": 1494.24, "end": 1500.52}, {"text": "really positive um so I thank staff for doing that um I think this is uh", "start": 1500.52, "end": 1506.2}, {"text": "something that is a a reasonable approach to what we are hearing from", "start": 1506.2, "end": 1511.48}, {"text": "residents all the time which is they want to preserve trees they want to keep their their streets green and you know", "start": 1511.48, "end": 1518.48}, {"text": "with all the pressures that we've had in the last number of years and we'll probably continue to have um but", "start": 1518.48, "end": 1523.679}, {"text": "pressures like the emerald ash bore which I mean I know on my street um you know there's pretty much between the ice", "start": 1523.679, "end": 1530}, {"text": "storm a few years ago and the emerald ashbo all of those big giant beautiful ash trees that kind of hung over the", "start": 1530, "end": 1536.039}, {"text": "street and touched in the middle like they're gone and and I will tell you that trees that have been planted there", "start": 1536.039, "end": 1542.2}, {"text": "are growing much more quickly than I even expected and you know they're still not big they're still not what they were", "start": 1542.2, "end": 1548.64}, {"text": "before but they're a lot bigger than um you know than little Twigs now that we've you know a few years have gone by", "start": 1548.64, "end": 1554.919}, {"text": "so I think this is a good approach and uh I'm happy to support", "start": 1554.919, "end": 1560.24}, {"text": "oh thank you next is councelor Davidson thank you three Mr chair um I'm all for", "start": 1560.84, "end": 1567.52}, {"text": "preserving trees I do have a question about uh about when people cut down trees unauthorized and really what is", "start": 1567.52, "end": 1574.399}, {"text": "the penalty for that um there I'm thinking of a lot in like uh in Oakes", "start": 1574.399, "end": 1579.799}, {"text": "and within the last year they neighbors told me they heard saws and when I got", "start": 1579.799, "end": 1584.84}, {"text": "over there the whole lot had been leveled and we're talking big huge trees or a couple of big oak trees I mean", "start": 1584.84, "end": 1592.6}, {"text": "there's really nothing that will make up for that and now the properties for sale having been cleared cut I don't think I", "start": 1592.6, "end": 1598.88}, {"text": "think there was an issue about what could be built there in the first place and whoever bought it didn't know it or didn't care so what is the actual", "start": 1598.88, "end": 1606.64}, {"text": "reality I saw what the maximum fines could be but like is it really enforcable can we actually make it scary", "start": 1606.64, "end": 1614.48}, {"text": "for people to cut down trees unauthorized or is it just sort of ort of a a", "start": 1614.48, "end": 1621.559}, {"text": "tiger hey Miss Dobby thank you that's the", "start": 1629.039, "end": 1637.24}, {"text": "light that would have been embarrassing especially since I was so short um so through you Mr chair uh to", "start": 1637.279, "end": 1645.52}, {"text": "councelor Davidson um we have to take a caseby casee approach when there's an", "start": 1645.52, "end": 1651.159}, {"text": "infraction on a property um similar to the one that you described which was a clearcut situation um if it's the one", "start": 1651.159, "end": 1659}, {"text": "that I'm thinking of there is a planning act application running with that property already in which case typically", "start": 1659, "end": 1666.72}, {"text": "the city's approach is to um pair the voluntary compliance for the infraction", "start": 1666.72, "end": 1673.48}, {"text": "with the forthcoming planning act application um because this allows the", "start": 1673.48, "end": 1679.6}, {"text": "city the greatest opportunity to obtain actual replanting on the site versus", "start": 1679.6, "end": 1685.919}, {"text": "just um cash and Li of the infraction right through you Mr CH the", "start": 1685.919, "end": 1692.919}, {"text": "thing that's scary about that is like most people who want to build something you know I'll just pay the fines who", "start": 1692.919, "end": 1698.399}, {"text": "cares and meanwhile we've lost massive beautiful trees that'll take 125 years to grow back so I guess I'm", "start": 1698.399, "end": 1706.36}, {"text": "asking uh what can we do like seriously what can we do to make it really scary", "start": 1706.36, "end": 1712.12}, {"text": "to cut down trees unauthorized my other part of that is I I do feel like there's a lack of understanding of people like", "start": 1712.12, "end": 1719.24}, {"text": "when someone gets a piece of property and they apply to um maybe tear it down", "start": 1719.24, "end": 1724.64}, {"text": "or rebuild or add on do we do we highlight the tree policies in the", "start": 1724.64, "end": 1730.039}, {"text": "planning process make it the you know the big red letters at the top of all the correspondents for a", "start": 1730.039, "end": 1735.679}, {"text": "while um so so when there's an infraction on a site that has a planning", "start": 1735.679, "end": 1742.2}, {"text": "act application running with it uh that application won't be approved", "start": 1742.2, "end": 1748.559}, {"text": "until the infraction is dealt with so in terms of something being scary to", "start": 1748.559, "end": 1754.84}, {"text": "someone who wants to redevelop that is very scary to them because they won't be able to move forward any further with", "start": 1754.84, "end": 1762.88}, {"text": "doing something on that lot until they resolve on the infraction so that's why we we move them", "start": 1762.88, "end": 1769.64}, {"text": "along together right and in terms of letting people know when they come to Richmond Hill that we have pretty strict", "start": 1769.64, "end": 1776.88}, {"text": "rules about trees is that widely circulated in the planning process", "start": 1776.88, "end": 1782.039}, {"text": "although in this case I believe it happened before they got to the planning process I just said oh I guess we better clear this out they did but is it is it", "start": 1782.039, "end": 1790.12}, {"text": "something that we really stress um it definitely is something we stress you know now that the changes", "start": 1790.12, "end": 1798.2}, {"text": "have been made um to our pre-submission process when people are going through that process they will certainly be told", "start": 1798.2, "end": 1805.799}, {"text": "um and staff will provide comments on which trees should be saved if they've", "start": 1805.799, "end": 1811.039}, {"text": "provided a concept plan um that we can look at in that gr of", "start": 1811.039, "end": 1816.44}, {"text": "detail um and then we do with Communications in the springtime uh", "start": 1816.44, "end": 1822.159}, {"text": "promotion over the city's various social channels and the web page um just to let", "start": 1822.159, "end": 1827.76}, {"text": "people know about the tree permit process and what to do if they're looking to take down trees on their", "start": 1827.76, "end": 1833.919}, {"text": "property um we certainly could do more um and that's one of the things that's", "start": 1833.919, "end": 1839.279}, {"text": "spoken to in the report the ongoing education um but yeah we we do do quite", "start": 1839.279, "end": 1845.08}, {"text": "a lot already and um I think it's it's evidence that even in the face of all", "start": 1845.08, "end": 1850.6}, {"text": "the growth that the city is seeing our canopy is still growing which is wonderful to see right okay thank you", "start": 1850.6, "end": 1859.919}, {"text": "thank you anyone else wish to speak to this uh application okay I'd like to make a few comments and actually I want", "start": 1860, "end": 1866.279}, {"text": "to follow up on something that councelor Davidson brought up uh it was indicated that uh if an infraction incurred as", "start": 1866.279, "end": 1873.72}, {"text": "part of the planning application then uh yes that planning application would not", "start": 1873.72, "end": 1880.24}, {"text": "move forward until that was resolved if I heard that correctly but if there wasn't a planning", "start": 1880.24, "end": 1886}, {"text": "application and it was determined that I don't know it was a $50,000 violation or something like that", "start": 1886, "end": 1894}, {"text": "uh would the city be in a position to uh apply a lean on the property or is that", "start": 1894, "end": 1901.48}, {"text": "something we'd even be allowed to", "start": 1901.48, "end": 1904.88}, {"text": "do you Mr chair uh we wouldn't be able to actually um put it on lean it's not", "start": 1911.72, "end": 1919.399}, {"text": "something we were able to do Under the act so we would have to go to court in those", "start": 1919.399, "end": 1924.44}, {"text": "circumstances okay thank you um which can be difficult I guess uh at", "start": 1924.44, "end": 1932.24}, {"text": "times you may look at it that that we could be putting good money after bad so I can see where the concern can be", "start": 1932.24, "end": 1940.159}, {"text": "where you know it's difficult to follow up on some of these activities that's", "start": 1940.159, "end": 1946.519}, {"text": "unfortunate um uh in reading the uh the report there", "start": 1946.519, "end": 1951.559}, {"text": "was uh an indication that we're looking at putting minor offenses uh into the", "start": 1951.559, "end": 1957}, {"text": "amps enforcement uh system uh so it it", "start": 1957, "end": 1962.159}, {"text": "it does say minor offenses so what would actually constitute uh a major offense", "start": 1962.159, "end": 1969.2}, {"text": "that it doesn't go to amps", "start": 1969.2, "end": 1973.278}, {"text": "mby microphone now because I didn't actually realize this was here um so um", "start": 1978.72, "end": 1985.559}, {"text": "a major offense to your question would be a situation where someone's taken down trees or a tree um that if if they", "start": 1985.559, "end": 1994.76}, {"text": "came in through the regular process if they applied for a tree permit the city would likely have not approved that", "start": 1994.76, "end": 2001.72}, {"text": "perit that would be a major offense something minor is is more like what had", "start": 2001.72, "end": 2008.08}, {"text": "indicated in the report um if there's construction going on and a tree", "start": 2008.08, "end": 2013.799}, {"text": "protection fence is required around a certain tree to protect that tree through the construction process and", "start": 2013.799, "end": 2020.76}, {"text": "neighbors or city staff go by and that fence is down uh that would be a more", "start": 2020.76, "end": 2026.96}, {"text": "minor offense that we could hopefully route through the amp system in the", "start": 2026.96, "end": 2033.48}, {"text": "future so it sounds to me it's only if the city was already aware of this", "start": 2033.639, "end": 2042.2}, {"text": "particular tree that it should have had a some sort of uh site protection or", "start": 2042.2, "end": 2047.919}, {"text": "whatever if it was construction so if if this happened on just somebody's individual property and it came", "start": 2047.919, "end": 2055.72}, {"text": "down you know if you weren't aware of the tree beforehand to know what the", "start": 2055.72, "end": 2060.76}, {"text": "situation was of that particular tree it sounds like we don't have it it", "start": 2060.76, "end": 2067.878}, {"text": "would be treated as a minor versus a major um yeah in the case where it's", "start": 2067.879, "end": 2075}, {"text": "it's just fening around the tree um that's that's the instance that we think", "start": 2075, "end": 2081}, {"text": "I mean mind you there could be a situation where someone decides to start doing a whole lot of digging in and", "start": 2081, "end": 2086.96}, {"text": "around the tree that's supposed to be protected ended up injuring it ended up removing it it wasn't supposed to be", "start": 2086.96, "end": 2094.679}, {"text": "removed then that's going towards a more major a fence because that tree was", "start": 2094.679, "end": 2099.839}, {"text": "supposed to be protected and that's why the fencing was around it right um so yeah we do end up", "start": 2099.839, "end": 2107.2}, {"text": "having to get into many Case by case situations here with this bylaw right so you you you'd really have to be aware so", "start": 2107.2, "end": 2114.119}, {"text": "so if if somebody has a you know 50 diameter breast height black walnut on", "start": 2114.119, "end": 2121.92}, {"text": "their property but it's solely on their property and it's not part of any", "start": 2121.92, "end": 2127.76}, {"text": "applications or anything else if they took it down and there had been no fencing or anything else and it wasn't", "start": 2127.76, "end": 2134.119}, {"text": "on your radar it's a minor offense that's what I'm it sounds like I'm", "start": 2134.119, "end": 2139.48}, {"text": "hearing uh no that one will probably be a major offense if they took down a tree that they had no permit", "start": 2139.48, "end": 2147.839}, {"text": "for um commissioner uh through you Mr chair if", "start": 2148.079, "end": 2153.92}, {"text": "I could just add something so the difference between the amps and the p OA system is amps are meant to be deterrent", "start": 2153.92, "end": 2160.4}, {"text": "penalties not punitive so anything where we think that a a punitive fine which I", "start": 2160.4, "end": 2167.319}, {"text": "think is what you're talking about in terms of a major fine that would go through the POA system because that's", "start": 2167.319, "end": 2172.599}, {"text": "the only way you can get a punitive result from the from the the charge okay", "start": 2172.599, "end": 2179.64}, {"text": "um thank you so much um one of the uh things that was", "start": 2179.64, "end": 2185.76}, {"text": "identified in the report was that um uh typically when say somebody goes", "start": 2185.76, "end": 2192.72}, {"text": "through the process of of replanting so if they're going to remove some trees and but they are required to replant and", "start": 2192.72, "end": 2199.16}, {"text": "I saw the chart that gives you know the number of trees that they would have to do but it was indicated that typically", "start": 2199.16, "end": 2205.92}, {"text": "when they replant you're only looking at maybe something that's six", "start": 2205.92, "end": 2211.48}, {"text": "CM sorry uh diameter at uh breast height", "start": 2211.48, "end": 2217.4}, {"text": "um um which even with the proposal to move to a 15 diameter at breast height would", "start": 2217.4, "end": 2225.319}, {"text": "be less so they plant it but two days later they could take it take it down", "start": 2225.319, "end": 2232.64}, {"text": "what Provisions are we looking at putting in here to make sure that replanted trees you know in lie of ones", "start": 2232.64, "end": 2241.56}, {"text": "that were removed are not subject to being removed immediately H that's a", "start": 2241.56, "end": 2248.319}, {"text": "good question and that is one of the changes that's proposed in the draft bylaw that that is before everyone here", "start": 2248.319, "end": 2254.56}, {"text": "for comment um because we have had situations like you said where uh staff", "start": 2254.56, "end": 2260.2}, {"text": "go out do the inspection and you know a little while later that replanted tree has been removed so all that work that", "start": 2260.2, "end": 2267.96}, {"text": "the city did to obtain the replanting is is sort of lost in that instance uh the", "start": 2267.96, "end": 2274.04}, {"text": "bylaw will now be protecting the replacement planting tree as well um so", "start": 2274.04, "end": 2281.319}, {"text": "once a a tree is replanted through uh site alteration permit a planning act", "start": 2281.319, "end": 2287.44}, {"text": "permit or as a condition of a tree permit that replanted tree will be", "start": 2287.44, "end": 2292.76}, {"text": "protected uh under the new bylaw so it couldn't be removed just right away the way that it could be now okay so so is", "start": 2292.76, "end": 2301.48}, {"text": "it become sort of like a registry so now this is something that the city is aware of and", "start": 2301.48, "end": 2308}, {"text": "and is that in perpetuity or what what how is that going to work uh well I mean", "start": 2308, "end": 2313.48}, {"text": "until it gets to the size obviously that the bylaw would protect anyway um okay yeah we'll have to", "start": 2313.48, "end": 2320.88}, {"text": "develop a tracking system for that okay thank you um my final question um when", "start": 2320.88, "end": 2328.48}, {"text": "we're looking at the change to the uh um a 15 cm diameter at breast height um was", "start": 2328.48, "end": 2337.24}, {"text": "there is there any consideration to the species of trees because right now we're just painting", "start": 2337.24, "end": 2343.64}, {"text": "one brush for all species of trees and they don't all grow at the same rate so", "start": 2343.64, "end": 2348.68}, {"text": "you have like a a Burr Oak for example it it may grow one foot a year whereas a", "start": 2348.68, "end": 2355.48}, {"text": "silver maple it'll grow say three feet a year so was there any consideration", "start": 2355.48, "end": 2361.28}, {"text": "given to uh the diameter breast height being consistent with the type of", "start": 2361.28, "end": 2367.56}, {"text": "species and how it grows uh no we did not consider that and", "start": 2367.56, "end": 2373.319}, {"text": "that's partially because of the makeup of the city's Urban Forest um it is", "start": 2373.319, "end": 2378.96}, {"text": "largely comprised of very specific species only with Maples being one of", "start": 2378.96, "end": 2385.8}, {"text": "the predominant and buck Thorne being one of the other predominant ones um so", "start": 2385.8, "end": 2393.04}, {"text": "it would be very difficult I think to draft a bylaw and I mean we'd even have", "start": 2393.04, "end": 2399.28}, {"text": "to talk to Legal about whether the municipal act would authorize us to do it by species um on the size basis uh", "start": 2399.28, "end": 2407.96}, {"text": "but we did not consider that yeah I think you may have a staff member wanted to chime in am I correct", "start": 2407.96, "end": 2416.28}, {"text": "no you're absolutely right that uh the spe species of the tree does have a big impact on how big it gets and how", "start": 2424.68, "end": 2430.16}, {"text": "quickly but there's a lot of other factors that would change from sight to site like the planting location how well", "start": 2430.16, "end": 2435.839}, {"text": "it was care cared for if the resident is helping water it all those things would impact and that's not something that we", "start": 2435.839, "end": 2441.96}, {"text": "could possibly track or control so having just a set dbh and and staying", "start": 2441.96, "end": 2447.839}, {"text": "with that as a blanket rule um it makes it a lot more enforceable and easy to implement so uh understood that soil", "start": 2447.839, "end": 2456.119}, {"text": "conditions will be different from location to location and access to water will be different all those things", "start": 2456.119, "end": 2462.68}, {"text": "understood um okay those are all my questions um I I think it's more a", "start": 2462.68, "end": 2470.119}, {"text": "comment because I do know that certain types of species um you know such such", "start": 2470.119, "end": 2476.04}, {"text": "as a black walnut would be one that I think should have more consideration", "start": 2476.04, "end": 2481.2}, {"text": "than the blanket that we're doing so we do have a uh motion on the floor all", "start": 2481.2, "end": 2486.48}, {"text": "those in favor uh that carries unanimously", "start": 2486.48, "end": 2493.92}, {"text": "okay at this point uh I think I'm looking to see if there's any other business no no other business uh we", "start": 2499, "end": 2507.119}, {"text": "didn't have any emergency time sensitive matters so I think we have one final", "start": 2507.119, "end": 2513.56}, {"text": "motion that I'm looking for councilor svitz for adjournment all those in", "start": 2513.56, "end": 2519.079}, {"text": "favor that carries unanimously thank", "start": 2519.079, "end": 2523.48}]