Minutes of Guelph City Council

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 4:00 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 K. Chew
• Councillor C. Downer
• Councillor D. Gibson
• Councillor R. Goller
• Councillor D. O'Rourke
• Councillor M. Richardson

Absent:

• Councillor C. Klassen

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
• T. Gayman, General Manager, Engineering and Transportation Services
• J. Goodram, General Manager, Economic Development and Tourism
• K. Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services
• S. Anderson, Manager, Transportation Engineering
• C. Chapman, Manager, Economic Development
• S. Laughlin, Downtown Revitalization Advisor
• B. MacKinnon, Project Manager
• J. Mallon, Heritage Planner
• L. Mollame, Planner
• G. Meades, Acting Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk
• C. Murray-Sprague, Election Coordinator
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator

Also Present:

• Oriana Aguas, Project Manager, Region of Waterloo
  Jonathan Tinney, SVN Architects and Planners

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (4:01 p.m.)

1.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

Councillor Caron declared a pecuniary interest for item 3.2 as this item relates to a property that is owned by her employer. 

2.

Council Consent Agenda

2.1

22 James Street East – Objection to Notice of Intention to Designate, 2025-41

• Moved By Councillor Caron
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That the Notice of Objection to the intention to designate 22 James Street East dated December 16, 2024 from Ajay Sharma of Elevate Law on behalf of the property owner, Hudson Lee Smith, be received.
  2. That the designation by-law for 22 James Street East be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

3.

Items for Discussion

3.1

Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design, 2025-16

Steve Anderson, Manager, Transportation Engineering and Oriana Aguas, Project Manager, Region of Waterloo presented the Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design.

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That Report 2025-16 Cambridge to Union Passenger Rail Connection Initial Business Case and Concept Design be received.
  2. That Mayor Guthrie submit a letter to Metrolinx, on behalf of the City of Guelph, supporting the Initial Business Case in principle.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

3.2

37 Christie Lane – Objection to Notice of Intention to Designate, 2024-524

Councillor Caron left the meeting and did not participate in the discussion or debate.

Jack Mallon, Heritage Planner, presented the 37 Christie Lane – Objection to Notice of Intention to Designate.

• Moved By Councillor Downer
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke
  1. That the Notice of Objection to the intention to designate 37 Christie Lane dated December 19, 2024 from the University of Guelph be received.
  2. That the designation by-law for 37 Christie Lane be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

4.

Public Meeting to Hear Applications Under Sections 17, 34 and 51 of The Planning Act, 2025-20

4.1

Public Meeting report for Downtown Building Heights draft Official Plan Amendment, 2025-20

Brenna MacKinnon, Project Manager and Jonathan Tinney, SVN Architects and Planners, presented on the Public Meeting report for Downtown Building Heights draft Official Plan Amendment.

The following delegates spoke:
Christian Tsimenidis
Bruce Ysselstein
Mitch Baker
Tim Smith

Council recessed (5:57 p.m.). Council reconvened (6:02 p.m.)

The following delegates spoke:
Irena Bliss
Susan Watson

• Moved By Councillor Chew
  Seconded By Councillor Richardson
  1. That the report titled Downtown Heights Study Proposed Official Plan Amendment Statutory Public Meeting Report from Infrastructure, Development and Environment dated February 11, 2025 be received.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

  Council recessed (7:06 p.m.). Council reconvened (7:15 p.m.).

  
  

4.2

Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan, 2025-75

Christine Chapman, Manager, Economic Development, presented the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan.

The following delegates spoke:
Chad McBain
Morgan Dandie

Council recessed (7:43 p.m.). Council reconvened (7:46 p.m.).

The following delegates spoke:
Eric Martin

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Downer
  1. That the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan as described in report 2025-75, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

5.

By-laws

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That by-laws (2025)-21026, (2025)-21035, (2025)-21036, (2025)-21042, (2025)-21043, (2025)-21046 and (2025)-21049 be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 to 0)

6.

Mayor’s Announcements

Mayor Guthrie encouraged support for local and Canadian businesses due to recent global events and acknowledged that staff are working on tools and resources to help local residents in this initiative. 

7.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Caton

  That the meeting be adjourned (7:55 p.m.).

  Carried