Minutes of Guelph City Council

-
Remote meeting live streamed
on guelph.ca/live
Council:
  • Mayor C. Guthrie
  • Councillor P. Allt
  • Councillor B. Bell
  • Councillor C. Billings
  • Councillor L. Caron Piper
  • Councillor C. Downer
  • Councillor D. Gibson
  • Councillor R. Goller
  • Councillor J. Gordon
  • Councillor J. Hofland
  • Councillor M. Salisbury
  • Councillor M. MacKinnon
  • Councillor D. O'Rourke
Staff:
  • S. Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer
  • C. Clack, 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
  • T. Baker, General Manager, Finance/City Treasurer
  • C. Cooper, General Manager, Legal Realty and Court Services/City Solicitor
  • T. Sprigg, General Manager, Corporate Communications and Customer Service
  • J. Krauter, Manager, Taxation and Revenue/Deputy Treasurer
  • S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
  • L. Cline, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • J. da Silva, Council and Committee Assistant

2.
Call to Order
 

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (1:01 p.m.).

3.
Authority to move into closed meeting
 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland

    That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 239 (2)(c) and (f) of the Municipal Act relating to 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)Councillor Caron Piper, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Downer, Councillor Billings, Councillor Bell, Councillor Allt, and Mayor Guthrie
    Carried (11 to 0)

    The following matters were considered:


4.
Open Meeting
 

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (2:09 p.m.).

4.1
Closed Meeting Summary
 

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

Baker District Redevelopment Project - Update - 2020-43

City Council received information and staff were given direction on this matter.

5.
Council Consent Agenda
 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Caron Piper
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland

    That the May 11, 2020 Council Consent Agenda, as identified below, be adopted:

5.1
2020 Property Tax Policy Report - 2020-02, 2020-45
This item has attachments. 

1.2020 Property Tax Policy Report - 2020-02.pdf
2.Attachment-1 2020 Tax Ratios Reductions and Rates.pdf
3.Additional Information - Multi -Residential Ratio for 2020 Tax Policy - 2020-45.pdf

  • That the 2020 City of Guelph property tax ratios, subclass discounts and corresponding tax rates, as set out in Attachment-1 to the report titled 2020 Property Tax Policy dated April 16, 2020, be approved.

    Voting in Favour: (13)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron Piper, 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)

6.
Items for Discussion
 

6.1
Managing the Impacts of COVID-19: Update #2 - 2020-47
This item has attachments. 

1.Managing the Impacts of COVID-19 Update 2.pdf
2.Attachment-1 Revised May to August 2020 City Council Meeting Schedule.pdf
3.Attachment-2 Our Food Future 10-Point Recovery Plan .pdf
4.Presentation - Managing the impacts of COVID-19 Update 2.pdf
5.Smith - Correspondence.pdf

Mayor Guthrie provided introductory remarks and an update on the Mayor's Task Force for Economic Recovery.

Scott Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer, provided an update on the City's response to COVID-19. 

Christopher Beveridge, Director, Health Protection, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, provided an update on the number of cases of COVID-19 in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, discussed public health interventions being used to flatten the curve, and outlined risks and processes associated with reopening the community. 

Kealy Dedman, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services, outlined various initiatives that will contribute to the recovery of Guelph's economy.

Colleen Clack, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services, outlined various social recovery initiatives that have been implemented within the organization and the community.

Trevor Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services, outlined how the City is preparing for organizational recovery in moving towards business resumption. 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Gibson
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron Piper
    1. That report “Managing the impacts of COVID-19: Update #2” dated May 11, 2020 be forwarded to the local MP and MPP, FCM, AMO, LUMCO and the Federal Minister of Finance and the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister of Finance for the Province of Ontario.
    2. That Council endorse staff exploration of financial, economic development and culture and tourism considerations raised by the Mayor’s Task Force for Economic Recovery and report back through the next COVID-19 update with recommendations.
    3. That Council endorse the Grow Back Better: Our Food Future’s 10-point COVID-19 Recovery Plan that refocuses $1.6 million in Federal Smart Cities funding over the next 18 months to support social and economic recovery efforts in Guelph-Wellington.
    4. That due to the on-going revenue losses resulting from COIVD-19, the limited access to revenue tools to manage through these impacts, concerns with property tax and user rate affordability and the forecasted need to rely upon reserve and reserve funds for a long-term period of uncertainty, the City of Guelph support the call for emergency municipal funding by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario.
    5. That Guelph call on other levels of government to arm municipal governments with more diversified revenue streams, inclusive of both income and consumption based taxes, as a way to mitigate municipal financial vulnerability, support the sector’s recovery and improve financial independence through longer-term reforms.
    6. That Guelph Council endorse the April 28th motion from the Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) which states that running deficits as a way to manage municipal financial challenges as a result of the pandemic is not in the public interest.
    7. That the revised May to August 2020 City Council Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report titled “Managing the impacts of COVID-19: Update #2”, dated May 11, 2020, be approved.
  • Amendment:
    Moved ByCouncillor Billings
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gibson

    That clause 5 be amended as follows:

    5. That Guelph call on other levels of government to arm municipal governments with more diversified revenue streams, as a way to mitigate municipal financial vulnerability, support the sector's recovery and improve financial independence through longer-term reforms, without creating additional burden on taxpayers and recognizing affordability as an important guiding principle.

    Carried

  • It was requested that clause 6 be voted on separately.

    MainMotionAsAmmended:
    Moved ByCouncillor Gibson
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron Piper

    1. That report “Managing the impacts of COVID-19: Update #2” dated May 11, 2020 be  forwarded to the local MP and MPP, FCM, AMO, LUMCO and the Federal Minister of Finance and the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister of Finance for the Province of Ontario.

    2. That Council endorse staff exploration of financial, economic development and culture and tourism considerations raised by the Mayor’s Task Force for Economic Recovery and report back through the next COVID-19 update with recommendations.

    3. That Council endorse the Grow Back Better: Our Food Future’s 10-point COVID-19 Recovery Plan that refocuses $1.6 million in Federal Smart Cities funding over the next 18 months to support social and economic recovery efforts in Guelph-Wellington.

    4. That due to the on-going revenue losses resulting from COIVD-19, the limited access to revenue tools to manage through these impacts, concerns with property tax and user rate affordability and the forecasted need to rely upon reserve and reserve funds for a long-term period of uncertainty, the City of Guelph support the call for emergency municipal funding by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario.

    5. That Guelph call on other levels of government to arm municipal governments with more diversified revenue streams, as a way to mitigate municipal financial vulnerability, support the sector’s recovery and improve financial independence through longer-term reforms, without creating additional burden on taxpayers and recognizing affordability as an important guiding principle.

    7. That the revised May to August 2020 City Council Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report titled “Managing the impacts of COVID-19: Update #2”, dated May 11, 2020, be approved.

    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 Piper
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Gibson
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron Piper

    6. That Guelph Council endorse the April 28th motion from the Large Urban Mayor's Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) which states that running deficits as a way to manage municipal financial challenges as a result of the pandemic is not in the public interest.

    Voting in Favour: (11)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Bell, Councillor Billings, Councillor Downer, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor MacKinnon, Councillor O'Rourke, and Councillor Caron Piper
    Voting Against: (2)Councillor Allt, and Councillor Gordon
    Carried (11 to 2)

7.
Councillor Motions in Response to COVID-19
 

7.1
Motion from Councillor Downer
This item has attachments. 

1.Darmon - Correspondence(1).pdf
  • Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gibson

    That staff be directed to prepare a plan and associated funding sources for physical distancing in outdoor public spaces, where possible, that is informed by public health safety guidelines and advice in order to ready the community for a phased return to pre-COVID-19 activities and that staff report back to Council via the monthly COVID-19 update meetings. 

    Voting in Favour: (13)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron Piper, 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)

7.2
Motion from Councillor Gordon
This item has attachments. 

1.Darmon - Presentation.pdf
2.Arroyas - Correspondence.pdf
3.Case - Correspondence.pdf
4.Johnston - Correspondence.pdf
5.O'Neill - Correspondence.pdf
6.Sproule - Correspondence.pdf
7.Matheson - Correspondence.pdf
8.Beveridge - Correspondence.pdf
9.Brown - Correspondence.pdf
10.Kantamneni - Correspondence.pdf
11.Darmon - Correspondence.pdf
12.Munn - Correspondence.pdf

The following delegates spoke via telephone regarding this item:
Laura Brown
Mike Darmon
Marty Williams
Luke Weiler
Mandy Hiscocks
Martin Collier

  • Moved ByCouncillor Gordon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller

    That staff be directed to examine methods to adhere to physical distancing guidelines and public health advice through the implementation of active transportation options to support the health and wellbeing of our citizens during our collective fight against COVID-19. And that the identified funding source be reallocated as one-time use from the 2020 approved Mayor and Council training and conference budget - account 702-0000-24 and account 701-0000-34 up to $45,000. And that staff prioritize existing owned city infrastructure or materials to accomplish the separation of vehicular and pedestrian/cyclists. And that any changes to areas be clearly communicated in advance to the public. And that Council acknowledge that these actions will be temporary and on a trial basis where staff will monitor and make adjustments as necessary. And that such initiatives will be implemented as soon as possible.

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

8.
By-laws
 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Billings
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron Piper

    That By-laws Numbered (2020)-20491 to (2020)-20494, inclusive, and (2020)-20496, are hereby passed. 

    Voting in Favour: (13)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron Piper, 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)

9.
Adjournment
 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Bell
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron Piper

    That the meeting be adjourned (5:49 p.m.). 

    Carried
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