The Mayor presented a plaque for London’s Featured Company to Givens Engineering Inc.; and recognized Glen Pearson and Jay Roy from the London Food Bank for their service to the community.
·Th The Mayor welcomed back Councillor Harold Usher who has been recovering from cancer surgery.
·Co Council had further discussions on the additional costs for construction on the new Optimist soccer dome (now called the BMO Centre). The Finance and Administration Committee of Council received an update from Baribeau Construction who explained that a large amount of unexpected material (concrete, tar, garbage, etc.) needed to be removed from the brownfield site (former industrial land at 295 Rectory Street). Council has asked City staff to seek additional funding from the Federal and Provincial Governments to help cover these costs.
·Cou Council approved an increase in fees for civil marriage ceremonies to $200 plus $25.00 per witness. The Clerk’s Office will also keep a list of local businesses which also provide civil marriage ceremonies. This change was in response to inquiries from private businesses who said that City Hall conducting weddings was negatively impacting local businesses. Since City Hall started this in 2010, over 350 weddings have been conducted.
·Co Council approved changes to itsgovernance model, including six committees of Council with new and easier to understand committee names (pages 4-7 of the pdf above) as well as a new schedule of meetings (pages 9 – 20 of the pdf above) to ensure maximum accessibility for the public. As of December 1, 2011, Council meetings will be held on Tuesdays, Civic Works Committee will meet on Mondays at 4 pm with Community Services Committees meeting at 7 pm on the same day. On alternate Mondays, the Finance and Administration Committee will meet at 1 pm and the Planning and Environment Committee will meet at 4 pm. The other committees are the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (all members of Council), the Public Safety Committee and the Investment and Economic Prosperity Committee.
·The A portion of Hale and Trafalgar streets that was left over as a result of the Hale-Trafalgar overpass will be renamed Trooper Wilson Place, effective September 1, 2011.
·Co Council held a discussion on plans to undertake further study on climate change.
·Sta Staff will report back in September with further information related to thescope of animal welfare initiatives (page 72) as part of the City’s Animal Services Program.
·Sta Staff will report in October with recommendations on taxi licensing andtaxi/limousine bylaw issues (page 241). A public participation meeting will then be held in November.
This update does not constitute the official record or minutes of the Council meeting and does not cover all items considered by Council.
