Minutes of Guelph City Council

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 6:00 P.m. - 11:00 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 C. Klassen
• Councillor D. O'Rourke
• Councillor M. Richardson

Staff:

• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• J. Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
• T. Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
• M. Ellis, General Manager, Human Resources
• T. Gayman, General Manager, Engineering and Transportation Services/City Engineer
• J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
• K. Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services
• J. Zettle, Program Manager, Parking
• S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• G. Meades, Council and Committee Coordinator
• C. Murray-Sprague, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator

---

2.

Call to Order

Chair Busuttil called the meeting to order (6:00 p.m.).

3.

Authority to move into closed meeting

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson

  That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239(2)(b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, related to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, and labour relations or employee negotiations.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)

  The following items were considered: 

  
  

3.1

Call to Order (closed meeting)

3.2

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

3.3

Confirmation of Minutes for closed Council meetings.

3.4

Non-Union Municipal Employee Multi-Year Compensation Increase 2024 - 2027, 2023-367

4.

Open Meeting – 6:30 p.m.

Chair Busuttil called the meeting to order (6:33 p.m.)

4.1

Closed Meeting Summary

Council received information and discussed the Non-Union Municipal Employee Multi-Year Compensation Increase.

• Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the annual non-union total compensation adjustment be set within a range of not less than 2.0 per cent and not more than 3.0 per cent for 2024 and each year thereafter in the 2024 to 2027 multi-year budget.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (12 to 0)

4.2

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

None. 

5.

Refreshed Territorial Acknowledgment, 2023-59

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke
  1. That the refreshed Territorial Acknowledgement for the City of Guelph, included in the report titled Refreshed Territorial Acknowledgement, dated September 6 2023, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.

Confirmation of Open Minutes

• Moved By Councillor O'Rourke
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held June 27th, July 5th, July 19th, July 25th, 2023 and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole Meeting held July 5th be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (12 to 0)

8.

Committee of the Whole Consent Report

• Moved By Councillor Downer
  Seconded By Councillor Billings

  That the September 26, 2023 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.

8.1

Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers, 2023-340

• 1. That the City Clerk be directed to report back regarding the opportunities, benefits and costs of a municipal lobbyist registry for City Council’s consideration in Q1, 2024.
  2. That the City Clerk be directed to amend the previously approved Special City Council Budget Meeting dates based on the outline of the new multi-year budget approval process included in the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023.
  3. That the amended Procedure By-law, included as Attachment-1 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  4. That the amended Code of Conduct for Members of City Council and Local Boards, included as Attachment-2 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  5. That the amended CAO Performance Evaluation Process – Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-3 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  6. That the amended CAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-4 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  7. That the amended Recruitment, Appointment and Contract Administration Policy for Municipal Officers, included as Attachment-5 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  8. That the amended Recruitment, Hiring and Involuntary Departure Procedures for Municipal Officers, included as Attachment-6 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.

8.2

2024 - 2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, 2023-49

• 1. That the 2024-2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report 2024-2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule dated September 6, 2023, be approved.

      

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (12 to 0)

9.

Items for Discussion

9.1

Heritage Guelph Resolution Regarding Ontario Reformatory Stone Wall - 2023-368

Councillor Downer introduced the topic.

The following delegates spoke:
Susan Ratcliffe
Lynn Bestari
John Fisher

• Moved By Councillor Downer
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That City Council requests that Infrastructure Ontario repair the damaged stone wall at the Ontario Reformatory.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)

9.2

Downtown Parking Master Plan, 2023-323

Jamie Zettle, Program Manager, Parking gave a high-level overview of the Downtown Parking Master plan.

The following delegates spoke:
Jonathan Westeinde
Mike Darmon
Victor Labreche
Mauricio Fernandez
Adrian Salvatore

A Point of Personal Privilege was raised by Councillor Allt, regarding statements a delegate made about information provided by staff being false.  Councillor Allt requested that Staff have an opportunity to clarify how the information was obtained.  Chair Busuttil provided an opportunity for staff to clarify after the delegate was finished. 

Krista Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services, provided information on the requirements of the Planning Act, should Council change the parking minimum requirements.  

A Point of Order was called by Mayor Guthrie, in relation to his feeling that his honesty was being questioned by Councillor Allt. Chair Busuttil provided Councillor Allt a chance to comment.  Councillor Allt clarified that he was speaking about the whole of Council, and not just one particular member.

• Main motion as amended
  Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That Council approve the Downtown Parking Master Plan, as included as Attachment 2, outlined in the report entitled “Downtown Parking Master Plan” dated September 6, 2023, inclusive of the tax supported financial model Scenario #2 as outlined in this report;
  2. That staff be directed to develop a Payment-in-lieu of Parking program policy, and related bylaw for Council’s approval with Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy being amended to reflect the creation of a Parking Payment-in-lieu Reserve Fund (303) with the terms and authority as identified in the 2023-323 Downtown Parking Master Plan report, dated September 6, 2023;
  3. That staff evaluate and report back during the Downtown Parking Master Plan update in 2028 on the implementation of paid parking on street following the completion of each street reconstruction in the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program;
  4. That the Zoning By-law Amendments to amend residential parking regulations in the Downtown Zones in both Zoning By-law (1995)-14864 and Zoning By-law (2023)-20790 as shown in Attachment-4 of Report 2023-323 be approved
• First amendment to main motion
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Goller
  1. That staff be directed to amend the Downtown Zoning By-law regulations within Zoning By-law No. (2023)-20790 to remove the requirement of 1 space per dwelling unit for Apartment building, Live-work unit, mixed-use building as required in Table 5.4 Rows 1 and 2
  2. That staff be directed to amend the Downtown Zoning By-law regulations within Zoning By-law No. (1995)-14864 to remove the requirement of 1 space per dwelling unit for Apartment building, Live-work unit, mixed-use building as required in Table 6.3.2.5.1 Rows 1 and 2.

  Voting in Favour: (3)	Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, and Councillor Klassen
  Voting Against: (10)	Councillor Gibson, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Defeated (3 to 10)
• Main motion restated
  1. That Council approve the Downtown Parking Master Plan, as included as Attachment 2, outlined in the report entitled “Downtown Parking Master Plan” dated September 6, 2023, inclusive of the tax supported financial model Scenario #2 as outlined in this report;
  2. That staff be directed to develop a Payment-in-lieu of Parking program policy, and related bylaw for Council’s approval with Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy being amended to reflect the creation of a Parking Payment-in-lieu Reserve Fund (303) with the terms and authority as identified in the 2023-323 Downtown Parking Master Plan report, dated September 6, 2023;
  3. That staff evaluate and report back during the Downtown Parking Master Plan update in 2028 on the implementation of paid parking on street following the completion of each street reconstruction in the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program;
  4. That the Zoning By-law Amendments to amend residential parking regulations in the Downtown Zones in both Zoning By-law (1995)-14864 and Zoning By-law (2023)-20790 as shown in Attachment-4 of Report 2023-323 be approved

  Voting in Favour: (11)	Councillor Gibson, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
  Voting Against: (2)	Mayor Guthrie, and Councillor Goller

  Carried (11 to 2)
• Additional Motion
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That staff be directed to evaluate the implementation of zero parking minimums for residential uses in Downtown zones, including community engagement, and report back to council as part of the next Downtown Parking Masterplan in 2028, or sooner.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)
• Additional Motion
  Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That staff be directed to review exempting Affordable Housing from minimum parking requirements as part of the Payment-in-Lieu of parking policy coming back to City Council in Q1, 2024.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)
• Additional Motion
  Moved By Councillor Chew
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson
  1. That staff be directed to reach out to senior staff at the City of Edmonton on best practices from their Open Option Parking bylaw and report back through an information report with best practices for the City of Guelph to consider as part of future downtown parking review.

  The motion was withdrawn by the mover and seconder.

  
  

10.

By-laws, 2023-389

• Moved By Councillor O'Rourke
  Seconded By Councillor Goller

  That By-laws numbered (2023) - 20833 through (2023) - 20836, are hereby passed.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)

11.

Mayor’s Announcements

No announcements from the Mayor. 
Chair Busuttil reminded Council and the community to wear an orange shirt on September 30th in acknowledgement of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 
Additionally, in light of the protests that took place on Wednesday, September 20, Chair Busuttil expressed that the City continues to hold a strong commitment to equity in alignment with the City's Strategic Plan. 

12.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Mayor Guthrie

  That the meeting be adjourned (10:04 p.m.).

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (13 to 0)