Minutes of Guelph City Council

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

9:00 A.m. - 5:00 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 K. Chew
• Councillor C. Downer
• Councillor D. Gibson
• Councillor R. Goller
• Councillor K. Hauser
• Councillor C. Klassen
• Councillor M. Richardson

Staff:

• T. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• T. Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• S. O'Brien, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
• D. Evans, General Manager, Culture, Tourism and Community Investment
• A. Fischer, General Manager, Information Technology
• D. Godfrey, General Manager, Operations
• G. Marcus, General Manager, Guelph Transit
• G. Matthews, General Manager, Parks
• S. O'Dwyer, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer
• J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
• I. Scott, General Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
• N. Tampacopoulos, General Manager, Environmental Services
• K. Newland, Manager, Budget Services
• J. Wei, Deputy Treasurer/Manager, Financial Strategy and Reporting
• D. McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk
• G. Brennan, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. McDonald, Council and Committee Assistant
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (9:02 a.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 Gibson
  1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, to consider:

  Mayor's Draft 2026 Budget Update (Closed Council Memo), 2025-499
     
  As per Section 239(2)(b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and labour relations or employee negotiations; and 

  Mayor's Draft 2026 Budget Update (Closed Council Memo), 2025-499
     
  As per Section 239(2)(b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and labour relations or employee negotiations.

  Voting in Favour: (10)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor K. Hauser

  Carried (10 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

Mayor's Draft 2026 Budget Update (Closed Council Memo), 2025-499

2.4

Organizational Structure Review - A Phased Approach - 2025-456

3.

Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (10:23 am). Mayor Guthrie noted the following:

Mayor's Draft 2026 Budget Update (Closed Council Memo), 2025-499

Council received information.

Organizational Structure Review - A Phased Approach - 2025-456

Council received information.

4.

Open Meeting

4.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5.

Mayor’s Draft 2026 Budget Update (Council Memo), 2025-501

Mayor Guthrie provided opening remarks regarding the Mayor’s Draft 2026 Budget Update.

The following staff presented:
Tara Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
Shanna O'Dwyer, General Manager, Finance - City Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Jodie Sales, General Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Intergovernmental Services
Colleen Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
Stephen O'Brien, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
Terry Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment

Council recessed (11:50 a.m.). Council reconvened (12:22 p.m.).

5.1

Update on the Daytime Drop-In Space Request for Proposals (Council Memo), 2025-489

6.

2026 Draft Budget Update Companion Report (Council Budget Decisions), 2025-500

• The following recommendations will be brought forward to City Council for decision at the Special City Council Budget meeting on November 26, 2025:

  1. That the 2026-2027 rates fees and charges be readopted, subject to any amendments in the 2027 budget confirmation year.
  2. That in accordance with the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy, total transfers to and from reserves and reserve funds for 2026 are approved.
  3. That the funding of FM Woods Station Upgrade (WT0064) for 2025 and prior approved budgets be adjusted to remove debt financing of $49,207,200 and replace this with funding from the Water Capital reserve fund (152).
  4. That Council acknowledges the City’s tax-supported contingency reserve balances continue to be below approved targets, and:
     1. That staff continue to be directed to replenish these reserves as a first priority through the allocation of any year-end surpluses in 2025 and future years until such point that they reach a minimum of 75 per cent of target.
     2. That Council directs staff to assess whether allocations to rebuild the contingency reserves to their target balances should be included in the next multi-year budget cycle for 2028 to 2031.
  5. That Council approves inter-reserve fund borrowing in 2026 to maintain OBC service delivery and that such inter-reserve fund borrowing be approved to maintain balance in the Ontario Building Code Stabilization reserve fund (188), which will see a shortfall as a result of transfers to address the 2025 deficit projection for this service.
  6. That Council approves the use of inter-reserve fund borrowing and recognizes some reserve fund balances are below policy targets at times within the capital budget and forecast period based on the 10-year capital budget and forecast included in the 2026 budget update.
  7. That Council approves the debt strategy included in the 2026 budget update and acknowledges that the projected debt burden level may impact the City’s future credit rating.
  8. That staff be directed to undertake an operating model analysis for downtown parking as part of the City-Wide Parking Study to identify any required adjustments to revenue, expenditures, and tax support provided for this service as part of the 2027 budget update.
  9. That staff be directed to undertake an analysis of the capital and operating budgets for corporate building maintenance to ensure alignment with corporate requirements and identify any adjustments required to be reflected in the 2027 budget update.

7.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the meeting be adjourned (1:31 p.m.).
  Carried