Minutes of Guelph City Council

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 5:30 P.m. - 10:30 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

Council:

• Mayor C. Guthrie
• 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

Absent:

• Councillor P. Allt

Staff:

• T. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
• J. Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• D. Godfrey, General Manager, Operations
• S. O'Brien, Acting General Manager, Human Resources
• D. McMahon, Acting General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. McDonald, Council and Committee Assistant
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order 5:33 p.m.

1.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest or General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures. 

2.

Authority to move into closed meeting

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Chew

  That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239(2)(e) and (f) of the Municipal Act, regarding litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 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

Confirmation of Minutes for the closed Council meetings held

2.4

Council Consideration - Authority to Commence Legal Claim - 2024-366

3.

Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Guthrie noted the following:

Council Consideration - Authority to Commence Legal Claim - 2024-366

City Council received information and provided direction to City staff.

4.

Open Meeting

4.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5.

Confirmation of Open Minutes

• Moved By Councillor O'Rourke
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen

  That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held July 9, 16, 23, and August 22 and 28, 2024, and the Committee of the Whole Meeting held July 3, 2024 be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

6.

Committee of the Whole Consent Report

• Moved By Councillor Gibson
  Seconded By Councillor Billings

  That the September 24, 2024 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.

6.1

Downtown Collection Area Update - 2024-350

• 1. That an enhanced level of service for waste collection in the Downtown Collection Area be approved, inclusive of enhanced public space containers and communal underground waste containers subject to the project budget, estimated at $1.0 million, and associated operating budget increase of $410,000, being adopted through the 2025 budget confirmation as outlined in report IDE 2024-350, dated September 4, 2024.

6.2

Downtown Guelph Heritage Conservation District Study - 2024-334

• 1. That the recommendations of the Downtown Guelph Heritage Conservation District Study Report (prepared by ASI and dated June 2024) be approved.
  2. That staff be directed to prepare a plan and guideline for the Downtown Guelph Heritage Conservation District in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.

6.3

2024 Second Quarter Budget Monitoring Report, 2024-386

• 1. That the adjustments detailed in Tables 4, 5 and 6 of Attachement-2 of the 2024 Second Quarter Budget Monitoring Report dated September 17, 2024 be approved.

6.4

Municipal Scan of Renoviction By-Laws - 2024-217

• 1. That staff immediately create an EVICTION SURVEY to shape and capture ongoing impacts of evictions occurring within the City of Guelph.
  2. That staff be directed to immediately create a “Renting in Guelph” landing page to help guide renters of their rights, expectations and information from other orders of government and resources.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, 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.

Items for Discussion

7.1

Indigenous Relations Framework - 2024-360

The following delegates spoke:
Morgan Dandie

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the Indigenous Relations Framework for the City of Guelph, as attached to the report titled Indigenous Relations Framework, dated September 4 2024, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.2

Downtown Streetscape Level of Service and Construction Mitigation, 2024-353

The following delegate spoke:
Mike Darmon

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That an enhanced level of streetscaping be approved for the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program giving priority to improved tree canopy, flexible streets, public seating, paving stones in highlighted areas, and a design that optimizes public space for the most efficient operating budget, subject to the project budget increase (estimated at $17.1 million) being adopted through the 2025 budget confirmation.
  2. That Staff prepare the design and tender of Wyndham Street North construction to expedite construction, with reasonable mitigation measures taken to minimize construction disruption and road closures.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.3

Improving Access to Public Washrooms in Guelph - 2024-347

The following delegates spoke:
Morgan Dandie

• Moved By Councillor O'Rourke
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That the inclusion of appropriate underground infrastructure to facilitate the installation of self-cleaning, autonomous prefabricated public washroom structures be incorporated for each phase of the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program, including the design of St. George’s Square, as appropriate.
  2. That staff work with the Downtown Guelph Business Association to explore opportunities to provide public access to washrooms through a “Community Toilet Scheme.”
  3. That portable washrooms continue to be used to expand access to washrooms in public spaces until permanent facilities are provided.
  4. That staff continue to explore opportunities to make new and existing permanent washroom facilities in parks and other locations available during all seasons as these facilities are constructed, modified or upgraded.
  5. That staff incorporate public washroom locations into the City’s wayfinding strategy.
  6. That the inclusion of accessible and gender-neutral options be prioritized for new, modified or upgraded public washroom facilities.
  7. That the provision of publicly accessible washrooms be considered during the planning of future capital projects in order to continuously expand the City’s network of public washrooms.
  8. That staff include the installation of a self-cleaning public washroom as part of the Wyndham St./ St. George's Square redevelopment, subject to budget adoption through the 2025 budget confirmation.
  9. That staff explore incorporation of a drinking water fountain/water refill station as part of any future self-cleaning public washroom provided in downtown or as part of any constructed, modified or upgraded permanent washroom facilities in city-owned parks and, that in the interim, it explore temporary solutions for the provision of drinking-water fountains, subject to consultation with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and subject to budget adoption through the appropriate future budget confirmation.
  10. That staff be directed to discuss an innovation opportunity with the University of Guelph to design a fluid alternative to the current perfumed options for portable toilets to increase the accessibility of these options, and report back to council.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, 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.

By-laws

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Caron
  1. That by-laws (2024) - 20991 to (2024) - 20923 be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, 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.

Mayor’s Announcements

Councillor Klassen noted that an open house is taking place at City Hall, on October 2, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. regarding Downtown Renewal phasing and mitigation strategies, and will also be live streamed. Also being held is a Construction Café on October 17, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That Section 5.11 of the City of Guelph Procedure Bylaw be suspended to permit a motion to be placed on an agenda without prior notice to the public or members of Council in reference to item 7.2 Downtown Streetscape Level of Service and Construction Mitigation, 2024-353.

  Voting in Favour: (11)	Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
  Voting Against: (1)	Councillor Gibson

  Carried (11 to 1)
• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Goller
  1. That the mayor be directed to write a letter to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Transportation, AMO, OBCM and MPP Mike Schreiner on behalf of Guelph City Council to oppose the media reported planned provincial legislation to restrict municipal bike lane placement as counter to: Guelph’s Vision Zero goals; best practices in transportation management; climate change initiatives; cost management for future infrastructure maintenance; Bill 185’s development goals; and economic benefits to businesses. Further that the mayor request the provincial government instead invest in funding public transportation goals to reduce traffic congestion and aide future developments to be built with less parking. 

   

  Voting in Favour: (8)	Councillor Goller, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
  Voting Against: (2)	Mayor Guthrie, and Councillor Richardson

  Carried (8 to 2)

10.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Richardson
  Seconded By Councillor Caron

  That the meeting be adjourned. (6:43 p.m.)

  Voting in Favour: (10)

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

  Carried (10 to 0)