Kingston City Council - 6 Feb

The city council meeting on 6 Feb discussed the following points. Meeting details can be found here.

Members present: Councillor Gary Oosterhof, Councillor Wendy Stephen, Councillor Lisa Osanic, Councillor Jimmy Hassan, Councillor Brandon Tozzo, Councillor Don Amos, Councillor Ryan Boehme, Councillor Gregory Ridge, Councillor Cony Glenn, Councillor Jeff McLaren, Councillor Vincent Cinanni, Councillor Jeff McLaren, Mayor Bryan Paterson

Motions:

• Option One as Amended for Residential Rental Licensing: The council approved option one with amendments, with Councillor Osterhoff and Councillor McLaren opposing

Discussion:

1. Kingston Area Taxi Commission:

   • Joseph Dowser, Chair of the Kingston Area Taxi Commission, presented on the commission's evolution, focusing on improvements in accessibility, safety, and community involvement. He highlighted the technological advancements and the introduction of enforcement officers and public taxi validation apps. The commission aims for 25% of the taxi fleet to be accessible by 2030, with plans to fund this through TNC fees without impacting taxpayers.

   • Council members inquired about the features of accessible vehicles, driver training for accessibility, the increase in licensed accessible vehicles, and the mechanisms in place for ongoing training and compliance with new requirements. They also discussed the financial auditing process for the commission and efforts to address past challenges and ensure transparency.

2. Residential Rental Licensing and Property Standards:

   • Lindsay Foster, representing the Kingston Rental Property Owners Association, emphasized the challenges faced by landlords and tenants, especially due to the pandemic's impact on the landlord and tenant board system. She argued that the city's option one for a rental registry, while not ideal, was preferable to options involving licensing, which could further stress the rental market.

   • Jordan Mlli spoke against the licensing options, suggesting they would raise housing costs and not significantly benefit housing supply or quality. Instead, he advocated for enhancing existing property standards bylaws, streamlining the complaints process, and increasing education for tenants and landlords.

3. Limestone City Cooperative Housing (LCCH):

   • Ashley Perna presented the LCCH initiative, emphasizing its not-for-profit nature and member-led governance. LCCH aims to offer around 300 units focusing on community-minded living with integrated vertical farming and green spaces. The project seeks to provide housing security against unreasonable increases and evictions, contributing positively to the community.

4. Student Housing and Market Conditions:

   • Julian Mullet Hill from the Queen's University Alma Mater Society highlighted the poor quality of student housing and the low vacancy rates that empower landlords at the expense of tenants. He critiqued the council's current approach for not going far enough to protect tenants and urged for a pilot program that implements real rental licensing.

5. Educational Outreach and Property Standards:

   • The council discussed the need for better education for tenants and landlords about their responsibilities and available resources for assistance. The conversation highlighted the existing tools and resources that could be better utilized to address issues in rental properties without necessarily implementing new licensing options

6. Option One for Residential Rental Licensing:

   • There was a motion to defer and refer back Clause one of report number 22, which discussed the implementation of option one from the administrative policies committee. The council sought further details on the implementation of option one and other options that might utilize existing resources to enhance tenant and landlord knowledge

   • There was a sentiment among some council members that decisions were being made without sufficient information, particularly regarding the various options for addressing issues in the rental market. The council expressed a desire for more detailed information to make well-informed decisions, emphasizing the importance of considering all available options and the potential impact of each

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