Minutes of Committee of the Whole Meeting

Monday, July 04, 2022 at 1:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street

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 D. O'Rourke
• Councillor M. Salisbury

Absent:

• Councillor M. MacKinnon

Staff:

• S. Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer
• C. Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services
• J. Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services
• T. Baker, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer
• J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
• S. Sayyed, Senior Advisor, Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Initiatives
• S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
• J. da Silva, Council and Committee Assistant
• C. Murray-Sprague, Council and Committee Coordinator
• A. Sandor, Council and Committee Assistant

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1.

Call to Order - Mayor

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (1:03 pm)

1.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

There were no disclosures.

2.

Authority to move into closed meeting

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Caron

  That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 239(2) (c) (k) the Municipal Act related to the proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board; and a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)

  The following items were considered:

  
  

2.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

2.2

Grand River Conservation Authority Service Agreement Land Evaluation - 2022-248

2.3

Community Energy Initiative Contract Update

3.

Open Meeting - 2:00 p.m.

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (2:17 p.m.)

3.1

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

Councillor Allt declared a pecuniary interest with respect to item 10.2 Urgent Issues Related to Homelessness, Mental Heath and Additions, as he sits on the board of Stonehenge Therapeutic Community.

3.2

Closed Meeting Summary

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

Grand River Conservation Authority Service Agreement Land Evaluation - 2022-248

The Mayor advised that information was received and Council gave direction to staff on this matter.

Community Energy Initiative Contract Update

The Mayor advised that information was received and Council gave direction to staff on this matter.

Councillor Goller assumed the role of Chair.

4.

Staff Recognitions

Chair Goller presented the following recognitions:

4.1

Canadian Public Relations Society Pinnacle Awards  - Silver in the Government Relations Program category for the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review.

Donna Tremblay, Program Manager, Operations
Lindsay Cline, Legislative Services Supervisor/Clerk, Municipality of North Perth
Kelly Guthrie, Community Engagement Coordinator, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Tracy Suerich, Community Engagement Coordinator, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Katie Duncan, Communications Officer, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Dylan McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy City Clerk
Ashley Bertolo, Marketing and Procurement Coordinator, Environmental Services
Stephen O'Brien, General Manager City Clerk's Office/City Clerk

4.2

2022 International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Award of Merit for the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review.

Donna Tremblay, Program Manager, Operations
Lindsay Cline, Legislative Services Supervisor/Clerk, Municipality of North Perth
Kelly Guthrie, Community Engagement Coordinator, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Tracy Suerich, Community Engagement Coordinator, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Katie Duncan, Communications Officer, Strategic Communication and Community Engagement
Dylan McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services/Deputy City Clerk
Ashley Bertolo, Marketing and Procurement Coordinator, Environmental Services
Stephen O'Brien, General Manager City Clerk's Office/City Clerk

4.3

Leadership Academy Supervisors and Managers Program Recognition – Cohort #1 

Adam Geldart, Project Manager, Technical Services
Daniel Beemsigne, Manager, Corporate Community Strategic Initiatives
Dave Beaton, Program Manager, Forest and Sustainable Landscape
Ian Scott, Manager, Facility Design and Construction
Josh McDonnell, Supervisor, Logistics Solid Waste Resources
Leanne Swantko, Deputy Chief, Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services
Manjusha Pradhan, Manager, Data Delivery and Digital
Markham Wismer, Supervisor, ServiceGuelph
Mary Angelo, Manager, Development and Environmental Engineering
Paul Gray, Manager, Transit Operations
Rob Legros, Program Manager, Fleet Maintenance Transit
Shawna Hughes, Supervisor, Business Services
Steven Goode, Deputy Fire Chief Operations

4.4

Commenting Process for Planning Applications, for consideration at the International Team Excellence Awards (ITEA)

Lori Terpstra, Program Manager, Continuous Improvement Office
Natalie Aubin, Continuous Improvement Specialist, Continuous Improvement Office
Juan da Silva, Council and Committee Coordinator, Legislative Services
Trista Di Lullo, Council and Committee Coordinator, Committee of Adjustment/Secretary-Treasurer

5.

Service Area - Corporate Services 

6.

Items for Discussion - Corporate Services

6.1

2023 Council and Committee Meeting Schedule - 2022-230

Stephen O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk, introduced the item and highlighted the changes to City Council and Committee Meeting Schedules

Sara Sayyed, Senior Advisor, Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Initiatives, explained the reasoning behind the staff recommendations noted in the staff report.

• Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke
  1. That the 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule dated July 4, 2022, be approved.
• Referral Motion
  Moved By Councillor Caron
  Seconded By Councillor Gibson

  That the scheduled times of future Council meetings beginning November 1, 2022 be referred back to staff for public consultation and comparator/best practice review, and that the results be brought back to the Governance committee during Q1 of the 2023 term of the new Council.

  Voting in Favour: (7)	Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Billings, Councillor Bell, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Gordon, and Councillor Caron
  Voting Against: (5)	Councillor Downer, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, and Councillor Goller

  Carried (7 to 5)
• First Amendment
  Moved By Mayor Guthrie
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke

  That the 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule dated July 4, 2022, exclusive of meeting times, be approved.
• Amendment to the First Amendment
  Moved By Councillor Caron
  Seconded By Councillor Billings

  That Council direct staff to prepare an alternative schedule with Council meeting times scheduled as follows beginning December 1, 2022.
   
  Day: Tuesday
   
  Times:
  Committee of the Whole - 2:00 pm
  Council Planning - 4:00 pm
  Council Meeting - 6:00 pm
  Special Council Meetings:   4:00 pm

  Chair Goller deemed this amendment to be contrary to a referral motion previously passed by City Council. As the mover of this motion, Councillor Caron requested that the motion be withdrawn. City Council consented to the withdrawal of this motion.

  
  
• First Amendment
  Moved By Councillor Allt
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke

  That the 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report 2023 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule dated July 4, 2022, exclusive of meeting times, be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)

8.

Service Area - Public Services 

Mayor Guthrie assumed the role of Chair.

9.

Consent Agenda - Public Services 

9.1

Terms of Reference, Transit Advisory Committee - 2022-222

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor Downer
  1. That the Terms of Reference for the Transit Advisory Committee be approved.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)

10.

Items for Discussion - Public Services 

10.1

Paramedic Service Response Performance 2021 and Performance Plan 2023 - 2022-228

Stephen Dewar, General Manager, Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services/Chief provided introductory remarks and outlines some metrics contained in the report.

• Moved By Councillor Hofland
  Seconded By Councillor Allt
  1. That the Response Time Performance Plan for 2023 be set as recommended by staff.
  2. That Council advocate to the Minister of Health expressing concerns over the Ambulance Offloading Delays at hospitals throughout the Province, and the need for more funding and solutions to alleviate the delays.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)

  Councillor Allt left the meeting. (4:25 pm)

  
  

10.2

Urgent Issues Related to Homelessness, Mental Health and Addictions

Council recessed at 4:27 p.m. and resumed at 4:32 p.m.

Mayor Guthrie spoke to this item and explained the recommended motion.

The following delegates spoke to this item:
Barb Minett
Cara McKillop
Marty Williams

The following registered delegates did not speak:
Dejana Pogrmilovic
Cosmo Carere

• Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke
  1. That City Council respectfully requests quarterly updates from the County on the provision of social services with a focus on homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, including performance reporting and key performance indicators.
  2. That City Council endorse the Ontario's Big City Mayors call for "an emergency meeting with the Province to address the chronic homelessness, mental health, safety, and addictions crisis" in our communities.
  3. That City Council advocate to the Province in support of immediately raising Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program social assistance rates above the poverty line.
  4. That City Council urgently requests Wellington County Council to call an emergency meeting to hear from and respond to community social service providers with respect to urgent needs related to homelessness, mental health and addiction issues.
  5. That City Council respectfully requests that Wellington County work alongside the City of Guelph and other stakeholders to identify any gaps in the existing shelter system with the goal of 24 hour shelter coverage in the City of Guelph and report back by August 2022 with a plan to achieve 24 hour coverage.
  6. That City Council endorse a new sub-committee, Strategic Advisory Group on Downtown Issues, of the Mayor's Taskforce on Homelessness and Community Safety and under the direction of the CAO, that a member of City staff sit on the advisory group for general awareness.
  7. That Council use, one-time unused funds, up to $50,000, from the Mayor and Council training, travel, and conference budget, to go towards the hiring of an additional contract position for a Welcoming Streets Worker as administered through The Community Health Centre of Guelph in 2022.

  Councillor Hofland requested that the clauses be voted on separately.

  
  
• First Amendment
  Moved By Councillor Salisbury

  7. That Council use, one-time unused funds, up to $50,000, from the Mayor and Council training, travel, and conference budget, to be used as recommended by the Strategic Advisory Group on Downtown Issues.

  Voting in Favour: (13)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (13 to 0)

• Clauses from the Main Motion as Amended were voted on separately at Councillor Hofland's request.

  Main Motion as Amended
  Moved By Councillor Goller
  Seconded By Councillor O'Rourke

  1. That City Council respectfully requests quarterly updates from the County on the provision of social services with a focus on homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, including performance reporting and key performance indicators.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 2. That City Council endorse the Ontario's Big City Mayors call for "an emergency meeting with the Province to address the chronic homelessness, mental health, safety, and addictions crisis" in our communities.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 3. That City Council advocate to the Province in support of immediately raising Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program social assistance rates above the poverty line.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 4. That City Council urgently requests Wellington County Council to call an emergency meeting to hear from and respond to community social service providers with respect to urgent needs related to homelessness, mental health and addiction issues.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 5. That City Council respectfully requests that Wellington County work alongside the City of Guelph and other stakeholders to identify any gaps in the existing shelter system with the goal of 24 hour shelter coverage in the City of Guelph and report back by August 2022 with a plan to achieve 24 hour coverage.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 6. That City Council endorse a new sub-committee, Strategic Advisory Group on Downtown Issues, of the Mayor's Taskforce on Homelessness and Community Safety and under the direction of the CAO, that a member of City staff sit on the advisory group for general awareness.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)
• 7. That Council use, one-time unused funds, up to $50,000, from the Mayor and Council training, travel, and conference budget, to be used as recommended by the Strategic Advisory Group on Downtown Issues.

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)

12.

Adjournment

• Moved By Councillor Billings
  Seconded By Councillor Salisbury

  That the meeting be adjourned. (6:34 p.m.)

  Voting in Favour: (12)

  Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, and Councillor Caron

  Carried (12 to 0)