The idea of creating a foundation for heritage properties is off the table for now.
At Large Councillor Peng You presented an amendment to a motion Monday night that originally asked for city staff to complete a report outlining potential options for creating a Heritage Tax Incentive Program.
Staff will move forward with the program study, but Fellow At Large Councillor Rebecca Johnson felt uneasy about voting for the idea of a foundation.
“I don’t like doing things outside of committee, what is the sense of having the committee if you don’t listen to what they have to say?” Johnson asked council. “They have not put this forward. According to Councillor Peng You, they have not identified anything so I can’t support this at this point in time.”
Aldo Ruberto, who seconded the motion, felt it was a good idea to at least examine the option of creating the foundation.
“(Peng You) came up with a great idea, and all he’s asking for is a report and we have all these reasons why we can’t do it,” “He didn’t go through the system, he by-passed through a few regulatory things and sprung it on us at the last minute. I do that sometimes, as do other councillors, but we’re councillors! We deal with all sorts of things at the last minute.”
Mayor Bill Mauro and At Large Councillor Mark Bentz were the only other members that voted in favour of the amendment.
Administration will report back to council on the Heritage Tax Incentive Program on or before April 25, 2022.
