Minutes of Guelph City Council

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Remote meeting live streamed
on guelph.ca/live
Council:
  • Mayor C. Guthrie
  • Councillor P. Allt
  • Councillor B. Bell
  • Councillor C. Billings
  • Councillor L. Caron
  • Councillor C. Downer
  • Councillor D. Gibson
  • Councillor R. Goller
  • Councillor J. Gordon
  • Councillor J. Hofland
  • Councillor M. MacKinnon
  • Councillor D. O'Rourke
  • Councillor M. Salisbury
Staff:
  • S. Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer
  • C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
  • K. Dedman, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
  • T. Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
  • S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
  • D. McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy City Clerk
  • L. Cline, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • T. Di Lullo, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • D. Tremblay, Council and Committee Coordinator
Also Present:
  • Erik Karvinen, Watson and Associates Economists Ltd.
    John Miller, ICA Associates Inc.
    Dr. Robert Williams


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

Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer, provided introductory remarks regarding the first phase of the City Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review.

Stephen O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk, introduced the team of consultants retained by the City of Guelph to complete the City Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review. 

Dr. Robert Williams provided an overview of the review, and outlined the key questions, public engagement, principles, recommendations, and next steps as part of the second phase of the review.

The following delegates spoke via telephone regarding this item:
Peter Hamtak
Susan Watson
Claudia Espindola
Ron East, The Council of Canadians
Morgan Dandie-Hannah
John Lawson, Old University Neighbourhood Residents' Association
Horeen Hassan, Central Students' Association, University of Guelph
Lin Grist
Ken MacKay, Fair Vote Guelph
Hugh Whiteley
Tanja Gevaert
Adriano Salvatore
Steve Dyck
Scott Frederick

The following delegates did not speak:
Jason Blokhuis
Diane Hurst

Council recessed at 8:02 p.m. and resumed at 8:11 p.m. 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings

    That Guelph City councillors be elected in a ward system.

    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Bell, Councillor Billings, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Caron
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor O'Rourke
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That staff be directed to support Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. in conducting additional rounds of community engagement, as part of the phase two ward boundary review, including the following:
      1. scenarios that include 8, 10 or 12 councillors
      2. the number of councillors elected per ward
      3. the employment status of councillors
    2. That staff be directed to bring forward a City Council composition by-law prior to the 2022 municipal election following the adoption of a ward boundary by-law and the expiration of the ward boundary by-law appeal period.

    Point of Order
    Councillor Hofland and Councillor Allt raised a point of order suggesting that the above motion should have been considered as an amendment. The Chair ruled that the motion was a separate motion and was in order.


  • Amendment:
    Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allt

    That Council direct staff to form a citizens committee with representation from each ward to work with the Council Composition consultants on Phase 2.

    Councillor Downer withdrew the amendment.


  • Call the Vote
    Moved ByCouncillor MacKinnon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller

    That the vote on the motion regarding City Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review, Phase One - City Council Composition and Employment Status be called as permitted under Section 4.10 (f) (v) of the Procedural By-law.

    Voting in Favour: (6)Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Goller, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor Billings, and Mayor Guthrie
    Voting Against: (7)Councillor Downer, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Allt, Councillor Bell, Councillor Caron, Councillor Gordon, and Councillor Gibson
    Defeated (6 to 7)
  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor O'Rourke
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That staff be directed to support Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. in conducting additional rounds of community engagement, as part of the phase two ward boundary review, including the following:
      1. scenarios that include 8, 10 or 12 councillors
      2. the number of councillors elected per ward
      3. the employment status of councillors
    2. That staff be directed to bring forward a City Council composition by-law prior to the 2022 municipal election following the adoption of a ward boundary by-law and the expiration of the ward boundary by-law appeal period.
    Voting in Favour: (7)Councillor Billings, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Voting Against: (6)Councillor Caron, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Allt, and Councillor Hofland
    Carried (7 to 6)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Allt
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller

    That By-law Numbered (2020)-20538 is hereby passed.

    Voting in Favour: (13)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Billings
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gordon

    That the meeting be adjourned. (10:28 p.m.)

    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Bell, Councillor Billings, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Caron
    Carried (13 to 0)