Council

That the following minutes of previous Council meetings be adopted: • Regular Meeting of December 12, 2022; • Special Meeting of January 5, 2023; • Closed Meeting of January 5, 2023; • Special Meeting of January 10, 2023; and • Closed Meeting of January 10, 2023

WHEREAS the Ontario government has recognized that there is a housing crisis and has established a goal to have 1.5 million homes built in the next ten (10) years, and has additionally set a specific target of 17,000 new homes for the Town of Ajax by 2031; AND WHEREAS on February 11, 2021, Ajax Council supported five (5) Employment Area Conversion Requests to advance residential growth in the Town; AND WHEREAS these requests were endorsed by Durham Region Council on December 22, 2021 for inclusion within a new Regional Official Plan; AND WHEREAS up to 4,100 housing units and 50 jobs per hectare could be created through developments proposed in the following Employment Area Conversion Requests: a) CNR-07 - 8.8 hectares - located at the southeast corner of Salem Road North and Kerrison Drive East, b) CNR-15 - 2.99 hectares - located at 1401 Harwood Avenue North, c) CNR-19 - 3.8 hectares - located at 250 Rossland Road East, d) CNR-20 - 0.69 hectares - located at 650 Beck Crescent, and e) CNR-33 - 1.11 hectares - located at 1541 Harwood Avenue North; AND WHEREAS these lands are located within an existing Settlement Area Boundary; AND WHEREAS the development of these urgently needed housing units could be delayed for years while final approvals are sought; AND WHEREAS Durham Region’s Official Plan process is in question due to changes to the regional planning framework implemented by the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022; AND WHEREAS by accelerating the timeline, landowners can ta

That Council receive this report for information.

That the balance of the report (Items 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, 6.18, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.22, 6.25 and 6.26) dated January 23, 2023 containing Items of Correspondence be received for information.

That Item 6.23 (“City of Cambridge – Opposition to Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act”) and Item 6.24 (“City of Kingston – New Motion 2 – Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022”) of the Correspondence Report be endorsed.

That the Community Affairs & Planning Committee Report dated January 9, 2023, be adopted.

That Council approve the FSP policy updates for the following policies: • FIN-120 – Financial Sustainability Plan • FIN-121 – Discretionary Reserve Administration • FIN-122 – Discretionary Stabilization Reserves • FIN-123 – Discretionary Capital Reserves • FIN-125 – Discretionary Reserves

That the Regional Councillors’ Reports of January 23, 2023 be received for information.

WHEREAS the Town of Ajax, as a member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, supports: protecting source water, planning for climate change impacts and shoreline resilience, ensuring safe and affordable water services for all our residents, and building up a sustainable blue economy in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin; AND WHEREAS ensuring healthy communities and a strong economy for Canadians depend on securing Canada’s source water, which includes addressing water quality issues, contaminants and pollution, supporting biodiversity and reversing wetland and fish and wildlife habitat loss and improving community knowledge to empower citizens to safeguard this essential resource; Town of Ajax Council Meeting – January 23, 2023 AND WHEREAS a Freshwater Action Plan and the Great Lakes Protection Initiative it supported were first announced in the 2017 Canadian federal budget with a $44.84 million investment over five years; AND WHEREAS the Freshwater Action Plan has combined science and action to address priorities in the Great Lakes such as preventing toxic and nuisance algae, enhancing the resilience of coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes, restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern and supporting Canada’s commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, among other priorities; AND WHEREAS a commitment was made by the Liberal Party of Canada in the 2021 federal election to strengthen the Freshwater Action Plan with an historic investment of $1

WHEREAS “No Mow May” is a campaign launched by the botanical charity Plantlife in 2019 to encourage gardeners to not mow their lawn during the month of May, in order to let wildflowers bloom and provide nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles; AND WHEREAS “No Mow May” campaigns have been held across Ontario, including by the City of Cornwall, the Town of East Gwillimbury, and Essa Township; AND WHEREAS in Canada, there are an estimated 6.2 million lawns that could provide habitat and enhance the abundance and diversity of wildlife including bees and other pollinators by reduced mowing, with the added benefit of reducing costs for property owners through decreased water and gas consumption and fewer GHG emissions associated with a reduction in the use of gas-powered lawn equipment; AND WHEREAS by returning spaces to a naturalized state, wildlife habitat can be preserved beyond the month of May; AND WHEREAS Town by-laws allow for spaces to be naturalized by plants and flowers, while requiring grass and weeds be kept below 15 centimetres; AND WHEREAS the Town of Ajax prides itself as a leader in environmental sustainability by protecting the Greenlands System, establishing vegetation protection zones, and helping pollinators by supporting initiatives that encourage the planting of native trees, shrubs and flowering plants. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Operations and Environmental Services staff be directed to identify three areas (one per ward) for

WHEREAS The Town of Ajax celebrates its history through street and public space naming practices, which identify and highlight legacies important to understanding the foundations of Ajax as a community; AND WHEREAS Louis Joseph “Joe” Dickson was a committed public servant who began his political career as a Catholic school board trustee and was first elected to Ajax Council in 1983, serving as both a local and regional councillor until 2007; AND WHEREAS Mr. Dickson went on to represent the riding of Ajax-Pickering in the Ontario legislature from 2007 until 2018; AND WHEREAS Mr. Dickson was also a passionate businessperson and community advocate, sponsoring more than 1200 sports teams over 55 years; AND WHEREAS Mr. Dickson passed away on April 6, 2022 at the age of 82, resulting in an outpouring of condolences and stories of remembrance from residents and community stakeholders who knew and respected him; AND WHEREAS in Summer 2023, an unnamed neighbourhood park within the Mulberry Meadows Subdivision (Sundial Developments) will open at the north-west corner of Ainley Road and Turnerbury Avenue and has been designed as a significant recreation focal point for the local community and will include a junior/senior playground, gazebo, fenced leash- free area, basketball court, fitness equipment, paved walkways, pedestrian seating, and other public amenities; AND WHEREAS Council deems it appropriate to commemorate Mr. Dickson’s dedication and legacy of public service to the Town of

That By-law number 03-2023 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Ajax at its meeting held on January 23, 2023, be read a first, second and third time and passed.

That the January 23, 2023 meeting of the Council of the Town of Ajax be adjourned (10:29 p.m.)