Richmond Hill Council Debates Disc Golf Pilot Project and Homelessness Response

Richmond Hill council debated a proposed $35,000 disc golf pilot project and whether it should proceed before further public consultation. Council removed Ada Mackenzie Park from the list of possible locations, received the staff report and approved the pilot project in a separate vote. Councillors also discussed whether Phyllis Rollinsson Park could be considered, with legal and environmental questions raised about that site. In a separate item, council backed a motion calling for more provincial action on homelessness, addiction treatment and housing.

Topics Discussed

DISC GOLF PILOT

Council considered a staff report on seasonal, temporary or pilot disc golf courses, including a proposed $35,000 allocation.

Councillor Carol Davidson opposed moving ahead with the funding at this stage. She said, "I don't see a rush here," and added that she would vote no because "it approves the money before we've even found out if it's what our residents want." Davidson also said the project had "never had any public consultations" and questioned approving "a $35,000 draw" for "a sport that I have never been asked for."

Councillor Scott Thompson said he did not want council "to try and do a referral today and try and come up with something on the fly," and said he would have preferred a deferral so he could work with staff on "a proper referral."

ADA MACKENZIE PARK REMOVED

Councillor Castro Liu moved an amendment to remove Ada Mackenzie Park from the list of potential locations.

After the amendment passed, Liu said, "My only intent is to make sure that Ada Mackenzie Park is ticking off the list." The change removed that park from further consideration as part of the pilot discussion.

PHYLLIS ROLLINSSON PARK AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Phyllis Rollinsson Park drew the most debate as a possible site.

Mayor David West said, "I think that one of the parks that would be appropriate for this is Phyllis Rollinsson. If we're going to do it, and that's up to council to decide, but if we're going to do it, I think that's the location."

Councillor Karen Cilevitz disagreed, saying, "I can't support anything that has Phyllis Rollers Park included because there are legal issues here that need to be further investigated before we can even go there."

Thompson argued for a broader parks strategy tied to restoration work. He asked, "what if we could reclaim forested areas overtaken by invasive species, restore them with native trees and plants, create opportunities for environmental education and at the same time introduce low impact recreation."

West said he shared concerns about the staff report as written, particularly for some of the listed parks, calling parts of it "a non-starter," but said he saw more potential in Thompson's broader idea than in the report before council.

PROCEDURE AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Council spent part of the debate on procedure, including whether to refer or defer the item.

Liu objected to moving directly to a referral before members had spoken to the main motion. He said, "I would like to have a chance to speak to the main motion before any referral motion be tabled."

Thompson said he preferred a deferral to the next meeting rather than drafting a referral during the meeting. Council ultimately split the matter into separate votes: one to receive the report and one to approve the pilot project.

HOMELESSNESS AND STREET HEALTH

Council also considered a motion calling for more provincial action on homelessness, addiction treatment and housing.

West said, "declaring a state of emergency in homelessness, I think, is something we are asking for right now," adding that the issue highlighted "the growing crisis." He also said there needed to be "expanded addiction treatment and rehabilitation programming" and "additional funding for housing options."

West said homelessness and addiction are health issues and that "the jurisdiction, the legislation and the funding frankly needs to be coming in a great deal more rapidly and in larger quantities" from other levels of government.

Motions

Passed: - Amendment to remove Ada Mackenzie Park from the disc golf location list - Motion to separate Clause A and Clause B of the disc golf item for individual votes - Clause A: Receive the disc golf staff report - Clause B: Approve the disc golf pilot project and associated $35,000 allocation - Motion calling for provincial action on homelessness, addiction treatment, mental-health legislation and housing funding

Discussed during debate: - Possible deferral to allow staff and council members to prepare a broader referral motion on disc golf and park restoration

Attendees

• Mayor David West
• Councillor Castro Liu
• Councillor Karen Cilevitz
• Councillor Scott Thompson
• Councillor Joe DiPaola
• Councillor Carol Davidson
• Councillor Godwin Chan
• Councillor Michael Shiu
• Councillor Simon Cui