How They Voted

A great feature of C.A.T.C.H. releases, is the monthly summary of how councillors and the mayor voted on issues.  An examination of how your councillor or the mayor is voting, or not voting can be interesting and quite telling. It's always good to look for trends and patterns over time. We apologize for the formatting on this. It was cut and pasted from a CATCH release, and  the formatting got a little twisted in the transfer to this blog.


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CATCH News - March 10, 2010



How they voted in February


This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of February 2010. The first line of each entry identifies the issue, followed by a brief description. This is followed by the location of the vote in the third line. Multiple votes on the same issue are reported together. Absentees are only listed where reported in the minutes and where the missing councillors are members of that committee or decision-making b ody. Links are provided to source documents. Note that the vast majority of council decisions are unanimous and the votes are not officially recorded.


City Hall cafe


The City Hall Renovations Steering Committee recommended that new first floor café be non-alcoholic, and that the tender evaluation include base rent plus a percentage of sales. Approved.< /span>


At Public Works Committee, February 1 Minutes p4, 12


For: Collins, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Mitchell, Powers


Against: Bratina


Absent: McCarthy




Tree preservation rules for development


Staff recommended amended requirements and fees be imposed on develope rs with respect to tree preservation. Committee approved re-establishment of compensation requirements and associated fees for loss of mature trees. At City Council the matter was referred back to the committee.


At Economic Development and Planning Committee, February 2 Minutes p7, 18


Recorded opposed: Ferguson, Mitchell [noted in Report to council but not in minutes; observed by CATCH]






Citizens Forum on area rating


Staff recommended terms of reference for the citizens forum charged with reviewing and making recommendations on the future of area rating policies.


At Committee of the Whole February 8 Minutes p11 (9-4)


For: Bratina, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, McHattie, Mitchell, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers


Against: Collins, Duvall, Morelli, Whitehead


Absent: Clark, McCarthy, Merulla


At City Council, February 11 Minutes p6 (9-3)


For: Bratina, Clark, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, Mitchell, Pasuta, Pearson, Power s


Against: Collins, Merulla, Morelli


Absent: Duvall, McCarthy, McHattie, Whitehead






Waterdown Road environmental assessment


Staff recommended filing the completed environmental assessment of the $23.3 million Waterdown Road corridor for the required 45 day re view, and completing a legal cost-sharing agreement with the city of Burlington. Burlington’s share is $710,000. Most of the Hamilton costs are scheduled to be collected from development charges . The recommendation was approved at the February 1 public works committee.


At City Council, February 11 Minutes p4 (11-1)


For: Bratina, Collins, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, Merulla, Mitchell, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers


Against: Clark


Absent: Duvall, McCarthy, McHattie, Whitehead






Sign bylaw changes


Staff recommended a number of changes to the sign bylaw. A number of delegations from sign companies were received by the special meeting of the committee. Pearson moved an amendment to reduce charges for corrugated plastic pole signs from $125 per sign to $125 per business. That led to a divided vote at committee .


At Economic Development and Planning Committee, February 16, Minutes


For: Ferguson, Mitchell, Pasuta, Pearson


Against: Duvall, McHattie


There were also differences over whether to delay implementation or proceed as recommended. Committee voted to proceed (4-2) recorded by CATCH.


For: Duvall, Ferguson, McHattie, Pearson


Against: Mitchell, Pasuta


At city council, Mitchell moved to refer the bylaw back to the committee for further discussion. Approved.


At City Council, February 24 Minutes p4 (13-2)


For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Jackson, McCarthy, McHattie, Mitchell, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead


Against: Eisenberger, Merulla


Absent:Ferguson






Outdoor cameras


Staff reported that the city does not have the legal authority to prohibit the private use of outdoor cameras, responding to a concern about these being aimed at neighbouring homes.


At Economic Development and Planning Committee, February 16, Minutes p3, 12


Recorded opposed to receiving the report: Ferguson






Missing HSR funds


In closed session at a special meeting, council discussed a proposed settlement with Avero Security respecting their failure to make bank deposits. The relevant reports remain confidential. Council approved the proposed settlement as well as keeping the reports confidential.


At City Council, February 17 Minutes p4 (7-4)


For: Clark, Eisenberger, Jackson, Mitchell, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson


Against: Collins, Duvall, Merulla, Whitehead


Absent: Bratina, Ferguson, McCarthy, McHattie, Powers






Property/Liability policies renewal


A motion was made by Eisenberger to renew the liability and property insurance coverage at a cost of $3,951,257. Discussion occurred in camera.


At City Council, February 17 Minutes p2 (6-4)


For: Clark, Eisenberger, Jackson, Mitchell, Pasuta, Pearson


Against: Collins, Duvall, Merulla, Whitehead


Absent: Bratina, Ferguson, McCarthy, McHattie, Morelli, Powers






Pan Am Games


Staff recommended that the west harbour area be the site of the Pan Am stadium and velodrome. Discussion occurred in public and eight amendments were added with some councillors registering their opposition to two of the changes as noted below.


At Committee of the Whole, February 18 Minutes p6-8 (10-5)


For: Collins, Duvall, Eisenberger, Ferguson, Jackson, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead


Against: Bratina, Clark, McCarthy, McHattie, Merulla


Absent: Mitchell


Amendment directing staff to review need for more on-site parking


Recorded opposed: McHattie, Merulla


Amendment approved that should the west harbour site ‘fail’ that other sites be considered including east harbour front.


Recorded opposed: Ferguson, Merulla, Pearson, Whitehead


At City Council, February 24 Minutes p5-9


Separate voting took place on each of the 13 sections of the motion. All were approved by at least 9 of the 15 councillors present, with some garnering 11 votes. See minutes for details. Ferguson was absent.






In Camera discussion on Pan Am Games


A motion to go into closed session regarding various aspects of the Pan Am Games was approved with four councillors registering their opposition.


At Committee of the Whole, February 18 Minutes p8-11


Recorded opposed: Clark, McCarthy, Merulla, Whitehead


After the in camera session, a multi-part motion was approved to hire outside legal counsel, and detail and pre-approve the land acquisition process, including applying for an Order to dispense with expropriation hearings.


Recorded opposed to applying for the Order: Clark


At City Council, February 24 Minutes p9-14


Separate voting took place on each of the 11 sections of the motion. All were approved by votes of 11-4 or 10-5. See minutes for details. Ferguson was absent.






2010 Budget


The 2010 budget discussions continued at committee of the whole on February 22. Committee agreed to defer approval of the departmental budgets until the provincial decision on providing a $14.2 million grant to the city.


At Committee of the Whole, February 22 Minutes p1-3


Recorded opposed to the deferral: Whitehead






GO Transit station locations


On a motion from Mitchell, council voted unanimously to tell GO Transit that Hamilton’s preferred locations for new stations are at James North and Fifty Road.


At City Council, February 24 Minutes p15 (15-0)


For: Bratina, Clark, Collins, Duvall, Eisenberger, Jackson, McCarthy, McHattie, Merulla, Mitchell, Morelli, Pasuta, Pearson, Powers, Whitehead


Against: none


Absent:Ferguson