Minutes of Guelph City Council

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 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 C. Klassen
• Councillor D. O'Rourke

Absent:

• Councillor M. Richardson

Staff:

• S. Stewart, 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
• J. Goodram, General Manager, Economic Development and Tourism
• D. McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk
• G. Meades, Council and Committee Coordinator
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Coordinator
• J. Tang, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (4:01 p.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 Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Section 239(2)(b), (c) and (f) of the Municipal Act, related to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

  Voting in Favour: (11)

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

  Carried (11 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 Closed Council Meetings

2.4

Appointments to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors

2.5

Downtown Land Disposition Update - 2024-185

3.

Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Guthrie spoke regarding the matters discussed in closed session and identified the following:

Downtown Land Disposition Update
Council received information and provided direction to staff.

Appointments to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors

• Moved By Councillor Klassen
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That Jordyn Foster and Kristel Manes be appointed to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors for a term ending November 2026 or until such time as successors are appointed.

  Voting in Favour: (10)

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

  Carried (10 to 0)

  Council recessed (5:35 p.m.)

  
  

4.

Open Meeting – 6:00 p.m.

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

4.4

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5.

Committee of the Whole Consent Report

• Moved By Councillor Gibson
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That the April 16, 2024 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.

5.1

2023 Water Services’ Annual Report, Summary Report and Water Efficiency Strategy Progress Report - 2024-133

• 1. That Guelph City Council approves the 2023 Water Services’ Annual Report and Summary Report.
  2. That Guelph City Council receive the 2023 Water Efficiency Strategy Progress Report.

5.2

Guelph Greener Homes Loan Program By-law (2023) - 20764 Update - 2024-141

• 1. That Council authorize the updates to Guelph Greener Homes Loan Program By-law (2023) - 20764

5.3

A By-law Authorizing a Special Charge under the Guelph Greener Homes Program in Accordance with O. Reg. 586-06 - 2024-148

• 1. That the Special Charge By-law under the Guelph Greener Homes Program, included as Attachment-1 be approved.
  2. That Council permit the subsequent amendments of the Special Charge By-law under the Guelph Greener Homes Program directly onto future Council agendas without a corresponding staff report.

5.4

Sewer Use By-law Update - 2024-149

• 1. That City Council approve the updated Sewer Use By-law Number (2024) – 20911 as well as repeal and replace the past Sewer Use By-law (1996) -15202

5.5

Water By-law Update - 2024-150

• 1. That City Council approve the updated Water By-law (By-law (2024) – 20910) as well as repeal and replace the past Water By-law (By-law (1991) - 13791)

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

6.

Council Consent Report

The following item was extracted from the Council Consent Report:

Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-1

7.

Items for Discussion

7.1

Municipal Accommodation Tax Update and Administration Policy - 2024-132

The following delegate spoke:
John Fisher

• Moved By Councillor Gibson
  Seconded By Councillor Klassen
  1. That the Municipal Accommodation Tax Administration Policy, included as Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, be approved.
  2. That the annual Destination Animation Program, as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, to commence second quarter (Q2) 2024, be approved.
  3. That the annual Gather Here Sponsorship Program as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132 dated April 3, 2024, to commence in Q2 2024, be approved.
  4. That the Destination Gaps and Needs funding Program as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, to commence in Q2 2024, be approved.
  5. That the authority to award funding programs through the Municipal Accommodation Tax Administration Policy be delegated to the Deputy Chief Administration Officer of Public Services, as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.2

Confirmation of Open Minutes

• Moved By Councillor Busuttil
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held February 27, March 20, and 26, 2024, and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole Meeting held March 5, 2024 be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.3

Lobbyist Registry Review - 2024-108

The following delegate spoke:
Susan Watson

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor Busuttil
  1. That the City Clerk be directed to draft a Lobbyist Registry By-law and Lobbyist Registry Code of Conduct, consistent with the details of report 2024-108 dated April 3, 2024, and report back to Council in Q3 2024.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

7.4

Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-1

• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-01, dated April 3, 2024, 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 Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew

  Carried (12 to 0)
• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards and the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy as they relate to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 
  2. That the General Manager of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement be directed to offer social media training, including accessibility standards and guidelines, to members of City Council.

  It was requested that the motion be separated. 

  
  
• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards as it relates to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)
• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Allt

  2. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy as it relates to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)
• Moved By Councillor Caton
  Seconded By Councillor Allt

  3. That the General Manager of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement be directed to offer social media training, including accessibility standards and guidelines, to members of City Council.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

8.

By-laws

• Moved By Councillor Klassen
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That by-laws (2024) - 20910, (2024) - 20911, (2024) - 20926, (2024) - 20927, (2024) - 20936 and (2024) - 20937 be approved as amended and subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

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

  Carried (12 to 0)

10.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Billings
  Seconded By Councillor Caton
  1. That the meeting be adjourned. (7:02 p.m.)
  Carried (12 to 0)