Minutes of Committee of the Whole Meeting

Tuesday, May 06, 2025 at 1:30 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Council:

• Mayor C. Guthrie
• Councillor P. Allt
• Councillor C. Billings
• Councillor L. Busuttil
• Councillor L. Caron
• Councillor E. Caton
• Councillor C. Downer
• Councillor D. Gibson
• Councillor R. Goller
• Councillor C. Klassen
• Councillor M. Richardson

Absent:

• Councillor K. Chew
• Councillor D. O'Rourke

Staff:

• T. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• J. Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• G. Matthews, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
• S. O'Dwyer, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer
• J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
• A. Vilkko, General Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
• B. Ho-Yan, Manager, Energy and Climate Change
• A. Dolcetti, Housing Stability Advisor
• D. McMahon, Acting General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• G. Meades, Acting Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk
• G. Brennan, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. McDonald, Council and Committee Assistant
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator

Also Present:

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1.

Call to Order - Mayor

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (1:31 p.m.).

1.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

2.

Authority to move into closed meeting

• Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, regarding a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil

  Carried (11 to 0)

  The following items were considered:

  
  

2.1

Call to Order (closed meeting)

2.2

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

2.3

Potential Disposition - Part of Grange Road, 2025-193

3.

Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Gurthrie called the meeting to order (2:00 p.m.).

Mayor Guthrie noted the following: 

Potential Disposition - Part of Grange Road, 2025-193

Council received information and gave direction to staff.

4.

Open Meeting - 2:00 p.m.

4.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5.

Staff Recognitions

5.1

Road Safety Professional Designation

Councillor Klassen recognized the following staff:
Lauren Short, Road Safety Technologist II

Mayor Guthrie noted that Councillor Dominique O'Rourke was in attendance and recognized them for their achievements on City Council, and in being elected to the Parliament of Canada as Guelph's Member of Parliament.

6.

Service Area - Governance and Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

7.

Consent Agenda - Governance and Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

The following item was extracted from the Governance and Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Consent Report:

Addressing Gaps in Daytime Sheltering Options for Persons Experiencing Homelessness - 2025-92

7.1

Committee of the Whole Terms of Reference Update - 2025-190, 2025-190

• Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the revised Committee of the Whole Terms of Reference, included as Attachment- 1 to report 2025-190, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil

  Carried (11 to 0)

8.

Items for Discussion - Governance and Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

8.1

2024 Year-end Financial Reporting

Shanna O'Dwyer, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer, presented on the 2024 Year-end Financial Reporting. 

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Goller
  1. That the 2024 Year-end Financial Reports identified below be adopted.

8.1.1

2024 Year-end Operating Budget Monitoring Report and Surplus Allocation and Deficit Funding, 2025-212

• 1. That the 2024 tax supported operating deficit of $397,604 be allocated to or funded from the City’s reserve and reserve funds as follows:
     1. Transfer $12,271 to the Library Operating Contingency Reserve (102) in accordance with the request from the Library Board.
     2. Transfer $245,072 to the Police Operating Contingency Reserve (115) in accordance with the anticipated request from the Guelph Police Board.
     3. Fund the deficit of $654,948 from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency Reserve (180).
  2. That the 2024 non-tax supported operating surplus of $333,814 be allocated to or funded from the non-tax supported City reserve and reserve funds as follows:
     1. Fund the Parking Services deficit of $62,273 from the Parking Operating Contingency Reserve (106).
     2. Transfer the Stormwater Services surplus of $566,747 to the Stormwater Capital Reserve Fund (165).
     3. Fund the Water Services deficit of $276,756 from the Water Operating Contingency Reserve (181).
     4. Transfer the Wastewater Services surplus of $1,705,452 to the Wastewater Operating Contingency Reserve (182).
     5. Fund the Building Services deficit of $1,752,995 from the Building Services OBC Stabilization Reserve Fund (188).
     6. Transfer the Courts Services surplus of $153,639 to the Courts Capital Reserve Fund (120).

8.1.2

2024 Year-end Capital Budget Monitoring Report - 2025-215

• 1. That the 2025 budget adjustments in Attachment 2, Tables 4, 5 and 6 be approved.
  2. That the 2026 forecasted budget of $150,000 funded from the Parkland Dedication Reserve Fund for GG0280 Parkland Dedication By-Law Update be advanced to 2025.
  3. That the 2026 forecasted budget of $841,000 funded from the Housing Accelerator Fund for PL0086 Affordable Housing Demonstration Project (HAF-4B) be advanced to 2025.
  4. That $145,000 of the 2026 forecasted budget for FS0079 Bunker Gear be advanced to 2025 for the replacement of end-of-life Firefighter Bunker Gear.
  5. That $70,000 be transferred from the Ontario Building Code (OBC) Reserve Fund to OB0001 OBC File Digitization for completion of the project.

8.1.3

2024 Long-term Financial Statement: Reserves and Debt, 2025-230

• 1. That the 2024 Long-term Financial Statement: Reserves and Debt be received for information.
  2. That $1,000,000 be transferred from the Court Contingency reserve (211) to the Courts Capital reserve fund (120) in 2025.
  3. That $2,514,340 be transferred from the Infrastructure Renewal reserve fund (150) to fund the long-term loan agreement with The Elliott Community for the 29 long-term care bed expansion, as previously approved by Council, and that the repayments of the long-term loan agreement from The Elliott Community be transferred to the Infrastructure Renewal reserve fund (150).
  4. That $862,780 be transferred from the Long-term Care DC reserve fund (364) to fund the contribution to The Elliott Community for the DC recoverable portion of the 29 long-term care bed expansion and that the previous funding for this contribution be transferred back to the Tax Operating Contingency reserve (180).

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil

  Carried (11 to 0)

8.2

Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards - 2025-196

Dylan McMahon, Acting General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk, presented on the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards.

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That the Revised Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards, included as Attachment-1 to report 2025-196 dated May 6, 2025, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (10)	Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil
  Voting Against: (1)	Councillor Caton

  Carried (10 to 1)

8.3

Addressing Gaps in Daytime Sheltering Options for Persons Experiencing Homelessness - 2025-92

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson
  1. That staff be directed to proceed with a competitive procurement process for daytime shelter services and report back through the 2026 budget update.
  2. That Council respectfully requests that the Mayor include funding for daytime shelter services in the 2026 budget update.
  3. That Council respectfully requests the County of Wellington participate in this initiative and pay 10 per cent of the cost as a discretionary social service.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil

  Carried (11 to 0)

  Council recessed (3:34 p.m.). Council reconvened (3:45 p.m.).

  
  

9.

Service Area - Infrastructure, Development and Environment

Councillor Klassen assumed the Chair.

10.

Items for Discussion - Infrastructure, Development and Environment

10.1

Guelph’s Community Call to Climate Action, 2025-213

The following staff presented on Guelph’s Community Call to Climate Action:
Antti Vilkko, General Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
Bryan Ho-Yan, Manager, Energy and Climate Change

The following delegate spoke:
David Douglas

• Moved By Councillor Downer
  Seconded By Councillor Goller
  1. That Council receive the Guelph’s Community Call to Climate Action report.
  2. That Council approve staff actions to support the community in taking collective climate action as described in Guelph’s Community Call to Climate Action.

  Voting in Favour: (10)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Busuttil

  Carried (10 to 0)

11.

Adjournment

• Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That the meeting be adjourned (5:24 p.m.).
  Carried