Council Meeting 23 November 2021

Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting held remotely and livestreamed on Council’s website on 23 November 2021

Meeting commenced at 6.33pm

Present:
Rochelle Porteous Pauline Lockie Marghanita Da Cruz Mark Drury Colin Hesse Tom Kiat Victor Macri Lucille McKenna OAM Vittoria Raciti John Stamolis Louise Steer Anna York Peter Gainsford Graeme Palmer	Mayor Deputy Mayor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor General Manager Acting Director Planning
Cathy Edwards-Davis	Director Infrastructure
Caroline McLeod Peter Livanes Beau-Jane De Costa Daryl Jackson Matthew Pearce	Acting Director Community Director Corporate Senior Manager Governance and Risk Chief Financial Officer General Counsel
Katherine Paixao	Governance Coordinator

APOLOGIES:    

Motion: (Drury/Da Cruz)

THAT apologies from Councillors Byrne and Passas be accepted.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

DISCLOSURES OF INTERESTS:           Nil

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Motion: (Drury/Hesse)

THAT the Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 2 November 2021 and Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 9 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

PUBLIC FORUM

The registered speakers were asked to address the meeting. The list of speakers is available on the last page of these minutes.

C1121(2) Item 14         Mayoral Minute: Inner West Light Rail - Council Actions

Motion: (Porteous)

THAT:

1. Council writes to Transport for NSW (TFNSW) requesting that temporary bus stops have waterproof enclosures, accessible paths, directional signage, printed leaflets in all community languages and maps, and that staff be allocated to each light rail station to assist residents with finding their way to temporary services;

2. Council notes that an officer level working group comprised of staff from Inner West Council and staff from TFNSW / Minister for Transport’s office has been established;

3. Council sets up an Inner West Light Rail information page on its website that residents can use to obtain up to date information;

4. The Inner West Light Rail website information page also allows residents to ask questions and lodge requests to Council which will be fed, where needed, to the Council / TFNSW working group for further action; and

5. Council writes to the Minister, thanking him for making all replacement buses now half price but noting the very considerable disruption this has caused residents, therefore re-iterating Council’s request that all replacement buses be provided free of charge.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 15         Mayoral Minute: Ensuring Accessible Footpaths In The Inner  
         West

Motion: (Porteous)

THAT Council:

1.   Note the completion of the draft Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan which has identified $8M  worth of capital works that the new Council consider fast tracking through the  development of the 22/23 budget;

2.   Note that an audit is underway of all footpaths and that funding will be allocated to renew all Condition 4 and 5 (poor) footpaths in 2022/23;

3.   Commit to working towards making all Inner West footpaths well-maintained, level and accessible so that everyone can safely travel around their local communities;

4.   Review the draft Urban Public Domain Guidelines, the Tree Master Plan, Local Approvals Policy and advise on changes needed to retain or improve existing footpath accessibility levels;

5.   Ensure findings from the above steps inform the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2025 and Council’s new Community Strategic Plan; and

6. Council considers fully funding and fully resourcing the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2025.

7. report on the number of non-compliant crossings in terms of signage and gutter guards at pedestrian crossings and signage poles on footpaths

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 17         Mayoral Minute: St Peters Triangle

Motion: (Porteous)

THAT:

1.   Council urgently write to Transport for NSW requesting that the proposed traffic plan advised by Transport for NSW for May Street St Peters and the St Peters Triangle, including Hutchinson Street, Lackey Street and Applebee Street St Peters, be immediately amended;

2.   Transport for NSW consult directly with residents of May, Hutchinson, Lackey and Applebee Streets regarding precise proposals regarding traffic access, pedestrian crossings and parking;

3.   This consultation be on site, in person, and on the weekend so as to allow maximum community involvement;

4.   Council note that a considerable number of residents have expressed serious concerns regarding access to and from Hutchinson, Lackey and Applebee Streets if the right hand turn from the Princes Highway into May Street is removed, and the right hand turn from May Street onto the Princes Highway is removed;

5.   Council note that should access be restricted into the St Peters triangle that emergency services access would be impeded, and that this could threaten the lives of residents in an emergency;

6.   Council note that should an accident block the Princes Highway south of May Street that should access to May Street be closed from the Princes Highway that access to suburbs south toward Sydenham, Tempe and St Peters could be seriously compromised;

7.   Council note that the planned restriction of traffic entering and leaving May Street would likely cause an increase in traffic on Lord and Alice Streets Newtown, Railway Road Sydenham and Campbell Street St Peters;

8.   Council note that earlier Notice of Motions have expressed serious concerns about the impact of increased traffic on Campbell Street, particularly the safety of children walking to and from St Peters Public School;

9.   Council requests Transport for NSW to restrict May Street to vehicles of less than 2 tonnes, light trucks, but no trailers;

10. The proposed pedestrian crossing on May Street be located south of Applebee Street;

11. The above matters be referred to the Traffic Committee of Inner West Council for further advice; and

12. Council supports active transport and bike paths in this area and calls on Transport for NSW to do so to.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 16         Mayoral Minute: Thank You

Motion: (Porteous)

THAT Council thank all Councillors, staff and community members for their commitment and dedication to our community and their service on the Inner West Council.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 1        Parking Meter Operations Following Lockdown

Motion: (Porteous/Stamolis)

THAT Council maintains its current commitment to continuing the parking meters being turned off on Norton Street, Leichhardt; Darling Street, Rozelle/Balmain, King Street and Enmore Road, Newtown/Enmore until 31 December 2021.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 2        Annual report 2020-21 (including audited financial statements)

Motion: (Drury/McKenna OAM)

THAT Council receive and note the Annual Report 2020-21 (including audited financial statements), publish the report on Council’s website and notify Office of Local Government.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

C1121(2) Item 3        Inner West Council News - additional editions

Motion: (Drury/McKenna OAM)

THAT this matter be deferred to the next Council term.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Macri, McKenna OAM, Raciti, Stamolis and York

Against Motion:          Crs Da Cruz, Lockie, Porteous and Steer

Foreshadowed Motion (Da Cruz/Steer)

THAT endorse an 11-month a year publication cycle of Inner West Council News, the official Council newsletter until the end of the financial year and a report to come back to Council in March 2022.

This foreshadowed motion lapsed.

Councillor Macri retired from the at 8:18 pm.

C1121(2) Item 4       December 2021 - June 2022 Events

Motion: (McKenna OAM/Hesse)

THAT Council:

1.   Proceed with New Year’s Eve Balmain Operations as previously delivered in 2019 (pre-Covid) including no fencing or ticketing of Balmain foreshore parks;

2.   Cancel Summer Fest and reallocate this funding of $74,237 to free small-scale cultural activities ($30,000) and the Outdoor Dining program ($42,237) to ensure continuing activations within the Inner West during the summer period working within Public Health Orders;

3.   Change the Carnival of Cultures date to September/October 2022 utilising the 22/23 budget allocation for this event; and

4.   In place of the 2022 Bairro Portugues which would be greatly impacted by Public Health Order density limits in March 2022, implement an events program of smaller scale activities with local Petersham businesses and Portuguese community groups as part of Inner West Fest; allocating the $93,914 event budget as follows, $40,000 for a Petersham activation program and the remaining $53,914 for the Outdoor Dining program.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Cr Macri

C1121(2) Item 5       Major Partnerships Program:  Carols on Norton and Yabun Festival

Motion: (Porteous/Drury)

THAT Council:

1.   Provide an additional $20,000 funding to the Leichhardt Expresso Choir to deliver the 2021 Carols on Norton event with these funds reallocated from the next Quarterly review; and

2.   Delegate authorisation to the General Manager to allocate funding up to $30,000 for Yabun Festival once program details are confirmed.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Cr Macri

C1121(2) Item 6       2021/22 First Quarter Budget Review

Motion: (Drury/Stamolis)

THAT the First Quarter Budget Review for 2021/22 be adopted.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Cr Macri

Councillor Raciti retired from the Meeting at 8:35 pm.

C1121(2) Item 7       Rates Review

Motion: (McKenna OAM/Hesse)

THAT Council receive and note the report.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

C1121(2) Item 8      Investment Report at 31 October 2021

Motion: (Stamolis/Lockie)

THAT Council receive and note the report.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

C1121(2) Item 9       Sydney Metro West - Bays to CBD Environmental Impact Statement   
     Exhibition

Motion: (Porteous/Stamolis)

THAT Council in its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submission to the Sydney MetroWest - Bays to CBD EIS:

1. Reconfirms its support for the MetroWest as a major public transport project which will bring significant improvements to Sydney's public transport network;

2. Incorporates into its submission points as outlined in this report;

3. In addition includes relevant points to this EIS as are contained in the Concept and Stage 1 EIS (June 2020) Inner West Council submission;

4. Pays particular attention to the build environment around the Bays Precinct station in terms of ensuring height. density and housing diversity align Council's stated positions on this issue, including the requirement for 30% affordable housing; and

5. Include in the submission impact on trees and heritage buildings especially towers

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Cr Hesse

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

C1121(2) Item 10         Public Toilet Strategy construction schedule progress report

Motion: (Steer/Lockie)

THAT Council:

1. Receive and note the report; and

2. Receive a report on progress of construction of Camperdown Memorial Rest Park Toilet and implementation of the Public Toilet Strategy on March 2022.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

C1121(2) Item 11         Resident Precinct Committees

Motion: (Porteous/Hesse)

THAT Council investigates the interest in the community on the establishment of Resident Precincts by an initial survey early in 2022 which is then reported back to the Council with recommendations. 

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Porteous, Stamolis and Steer

Against Motion:          Crs Drury, McKenna OAM and York

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

Foreshadowed Motion (Drury/McKenna OAM)

THAT Council recommend that the new Council considers whether to establish Resident Precinct Committees as part of its review of the Community Engagement Strategy in early 2022

This foreshadowed motion lapsed.

C1121(2) Item 12         Notice of Motion: Verge Maintenance

Motion: (Lockie/Hesse)

THAT a report be brought back to the March 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting on service standards for grass verge mowing including considerations on how the sustainable streets program will contribute to this.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

C1121(2) Item 13         HJ Mahoney Oval Amenities Update

Motion: (Drury/Porteous)

THAT:

1. Council receive and note the report;

2. The design consultants, consult with the Newtown Breakaways as part of the process to:

a) provide an accessible unisex public toilet in line with the Inner West Public Toilet Strategy;

b) make Accessibility improvements including improved entries to change rooms and compliant amenities signage;

c) do building condition works including roof, gutter and brick work repairs;

d) provide Club storage within the change rooms; and

e)  provide additional power in the canteen.

3. Furthermore we allocate addition funding for architectural services to work with the Breakaways so that designs will be completed for amenities improvements for women in sport, referee room refurbishment and other works;

4. Once these designs are costed we request a report be brought back to council on funding options including grant opportunities; and

5. Staff meet with members of the sporting clubs as soon as possible to identify what work can be done before the 2022 season.  

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Cr Macri and Raciti

Urgency motion - Local Traffic Committee Meeting - November 2021 (urgent items)

Councillor Porteous requested that an Urgency Motion be considered regarding  Local Traffic Committee Meeting - November 2021 (urgent items).

Motion: (Porteous/Stamolis)

THAT the matter be considered urgently.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

The Chairperson ruled this matter urgent.

Motion: (Porteous/Drury)

THAT the recommendations for items 2-6 of the Local Traffic Committee meeting held on 15 November 2021 be received and the recommendations be adopted.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Da Cruz, Drury, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM, Porteous, Stamolis, Steer and York

Against Motion:          Nil

Absent:                        Crs Macri and Raciti

Meeting closed at 9.48pm.

Public Speakers:

Item #	Speaker	Suburb
Item 3:	Sarah Maguire	Drummoyne
Item 5:	Michelle Leonard OAM	Petersham

Unconfirmed minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 23 November 2021.