Agenda
City Council

(In accordance with Section 6.1.1 of the Council Expense and Healthy Community Initiative Fund Policy, Council approval is being sought for a grant and donation to a community group for Ward 1.)

WHEREAS individual municipalities across Canada have to face the resources of the telecommunications industry when it comes to the application process to install cell towers in their communities;

AND WHEREAS this is a time consuming task for our planning staff;

AND WHEREAS the Canadian Radiocommunications Information and Notification Service / Service d'Information et de notification en radiocommunication canadiennes (CRINS-SINRC) is a not-for-profit service bureau owned and operated on behalf of 150 member municipalities with the mandate to inform the public on matters pertaining to radiocommunications towers (such as cellular towers, amateur radio sites, broadcasting facilities, etc.), manage the public consultation process, and assist municipalities in evaluating proposed tower applications;

AND WHEREAS CRINS-SINRC membership is at no cost to municipalities, but instead it charges an application fee to proponents to recover CRINS-SINRC costs as well as to ensure that the costs incurred by municipalities associated with proposals are reimbursed;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to bring a report on the advisability of joining this national organization.

WHEREAS 911 systems have been in operation since 1968 and the Greater Sudbury Police Service is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) centre that processes 911 calls;

AND WHEREAS the PSAP uses some analog equipment capable of receiving voice only messaging;

AND WHEREAS wireless communication devices used to transmit text information, photographs and videos are part of everyday communications;

AND WHEREAS the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has determined that Text Messaging with 911 service would improve access to 911 for hearing- or speech-impaired persons;

AND WHEREAS the CRTC has directed the wireless carriers to make the changes in their networks, systems and processes required to support the provision of Text Messaging with 911 service and the development of a service communications plan and education program for hearing or speech-impaired persons;

AND WHEREAS current PSAPs cannot receive text messages, videos or photos nor can they accurately pinpoint the In Call Location Update of calls made on a mobile device;

AND WHEREAS 911 is currently upgrading to the Next Generation 911 (NG911) which will transform an outdated system into an IP data based network that is faster and safer for law enforcement and the public including better access for special needs communities;

AND WHEREAS NG911 will provide emergency responders with better information about crime scenes and accidents before responders arrive on the scene with this information becoming a key part of the evidentiary chain for police forces across Ontario;

AND WHEREAS there are benefits from the changes associated with NG911, there are anticipated impacts on budgets, staffing, training, technology assets, software interfaces, video assets and risk management implications;

AND WHEREAS while there will be noted benefits from NG911, the cost of improving and expanding the 911 service will become a burden to police services across Ontario who serve as the PSAP and thus to the property taxpayer;

AND WHEREAS telephone and mobile data service providers have been receiving revenues from their phone customers through surcharges on telephone and wireless lines for 911 services;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Greater Sudbury work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and other authorities to identify sources of revenue to fund the costs associated with transitioning to NG911 and maintaining these service delivery changes in the future.

WHEREAS the Ring of Fire is the largest deposit of chromite in North America;

AND WHEREAS Federal Representatives have stated that the Ring of Fire represents a once-in-a-life opportunity to create jobs and generate growth and long-term prosperity for northern Ontario and the nation;

AND WHEREAS Provincial Representatives have called the region home to one of the most promising mineral development opportunities in Ontario in more than a century;

AND WHEREAS the Provincial Government established a Ring of Fire Secretariat to develop the chromite and other deposits in the Ring of Fire as quickly as possible;

AND WHEREAS the chromite project is expected to directly employ over 1200 people across northern Ontario, with over $3 billion in capital expenditures creating at least 2500 jobs during the construction phase;

AND WHEREAS the Ring of Fire project is facing significant obstacles;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Provincial Government be requested to make the Ring of Fire a priority and take immediate action to work with all parties to resolve outstanding issues, including the question of the proposed North-South transportation corridor;

AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be forwarded to Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, The Honourable Michael Gravelle, FONOM, NOLUM, Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official Opposition and Andrea Horwath, Leader of the NDP.

WHEREAS at the meeting of January 29, 2013, City Council debated a motion, entitled “Permanent Office of The Auditor General,” a motion designed to redraft and bring clarity to the bylaws that create and empower the Office of the Auditor General for the City of Greater Sudbury;

AND WHEREAS at that same Council meeting, motion was deferred pending the receipt of a report with options;

AND WHEREAS, on March 26, 2013, City Council approved Resolution CGS 2013-108 approving the hiring to the Shenandoah Group to produce a report on options;

AND WHEREAS, on May 28, Jim Key from the Shenandoah Group made a presentation entitled “Audit Services” to City Council;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City Council again consider the motion presented on January 29, 2013, entitled “Permanent Office of The Auditor General,” a motion designed to redraft and bring clarity to the bylaws that create and empower the Office of the Auditor General for the City of Greater Sudbury.

WHEREAS the Council of the City of Greater Sudbury wishes to continue to demonstrate a high level of public accountability and continue to provide assurances to the public regarding the quality of stewardship over public funds and for the achievement of value for money and risk evaluation in municipal operations;

AND WHEREAS the Council of the City of Greater Sudbury passed By-Laws 2009-239 and 2009-281, by-laws to appoint Brian Bigger Auditor General and to establish the position and duties of the Auditor General for the City of Greater Sudbury;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Greater Sudbury instruct staff to consolidate the contents of By-Laws 2009-239 and 2009-281 by creating a new by-law which defines the terms “Office of the Auditor General” and “Position of the Auditor General”;

THAT By-laws 2009-239 and 2009-281 then be repealed;

THAT the name of the resulting by-law indicate that its purpose is to establish the position and duties of the Auditor General for the City of Greater Sudbury;

THAT staff be further instructed to draft another by-law confirming the appointment of Brian Bigger as Auditor General for the City of Greater Sudbury;

AND THAT staff report back to City Council with options regarding minimum and maximum terms and conditions of employment for appointed Auditors General.