Minutes of Guelph City Council

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

9:00 A.m. - 10:00 A.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 D. O'Rourke

Absent:

• Councillor C. Klassen
• Councillor M. Richardson

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
• T. Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
• S. O'Dwyer, Acting General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer
• E. Britnell, Manager, Corporate Performance and Strategy
• K. Newland, Manager, Budget Services
• S. Devost, Senior Corporate Analyst
• S. O'Brien, Acting General Manager, Human Resources/City Clerk
• C. Murray-Sprague, Council and Committee Coordinator
• S. Osborn, Administrative Coordinator
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator

Also Present:

• Michelle Karker, CEO, The Elliott Community
  Dan Atkins, CEO, Guelph Public Library
  Luisa Artuso, Social Services Administrator, County of Wellington
  Shauna Calder, Manager of Finance, County of Wellington
  Gord Cobey, Chief of Police, Guelph Police Services
  Melanie Clark, Staff Sergeant Investigations Services, Guelph Police Services
  Hugh Currie, Team Leader, Guelph Police Services
  

---

1.

Call to Order - 9:00 a.m.

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (9:03 a.m)

1.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

2.

2025 Budget Update Local Boards and Shared Services Agencies - 2025-18

The following presented:
Shanna O'Dwyer, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer
Michelle Karker, CEO, The Elliott Community
Dan Atkins, CEO, Guelph Public Library
Luisa Artuso, Social Services Administrator, County of Wellington
Shauna Calder, Manager of Finance, County of Wellington

Council recessed at 10:40 p.m. Council reconvened at 10:53 p.m.

The following presented:
Gord Cobey, Chief of Police, Guelph Police Services
Melanie Clark, Staff Sergeant Investigations Services, Guelph Police Services
Hugh Currie, Team Leader, Guelph Police Services

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That an amended 2025 operating budget for the City’s local boards and shared services (LBSS) agencies be approved, inclusive of the following:
     1. The LBSS agencies budget requirement, net of the proportionate share of assessment growth, totalling an increased net levy requirement over 2024 of $10,117,959 or 3.12 per cent inclusive of the following:
        1. Guelph Police Services: an increased net levy requirement over 2024 of $5,142,214;
        2. Guelph Public Library: an increased net levy requirement over 2024 of $624,346;
        3. County of Wellington: an increased net levy requirement over 2024 of $4,528,954;
        4. Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin Public Health: an increased net levy requirement over 2024 of $83,051;
        5. The Elliott Community: a decreased net levy requirement over 2024 of ($260,606).
     2. Grand River Conservation Authority budget with an increase in gross operating expenses over 2024 in the amount of $51,700.
     3. Total transfers to/from Reserve and Reserve Funds in 2025 in accordance with the LBSS reserve and reserve fund update.
  2. That Council acknowledges the administrative adjustment for debt funding in the amount of $1,634,000 between the City budget and Guelph Public Library budget, totalling a net zero impact to the total Guelph tax levy.
  3. That an amended 2025 net levy requirement from taxation and payment in lieu of property taxes inclusive of City and LBSS agencies up to $351,105,144 be approved.
  4. The Downtown Guelph Business Association budget with gross expenditures of $787,929 and a total levy of $721,200.
  5. A 2026-2027 operating budget forecast to be received as information.
  6. An amended 2025 LBSS capital budget with a net increase of $632,708 from the 2025 adopted budget resulting in the gross 2025 expenditure amount of $7,004,308 inclusive of funding transfers from capital reserve funds and other sources including partnerships, grants, and debt financing.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

3.

The Elliott Fixed-Term Loan Update - 2025-11

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That Council confirm that, subject to the satisfaction of the City Treasurer and City Solicitor, City staff are authorized to execute a fixed-term loan agreement with The Elliott for the 29-bed long-term care expansion project, in the principal amount of approximately $2.5 million.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

4.

Bylaws

• Moved By Councillor O'Rourke
  Seconded By Councillor Downer
  1. That by-law (2025)-21032 be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

4.1

By-law Number (2025) - 21032

5.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Billings
  Seconded By Councillor Caton
  1. That the meeting be adjourned (11:59 a.m.).
  Carried