Minutes of Guelph City Council

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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
  • 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 Enterprise Services
  • T. Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services
  • S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
  • E. Barber, Board and Committee Coordinator
  • G. Meades, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • C. Murray-Sprague, Council and Committee Coordinator

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (6:31 p.m.)

Mayor Guthrie recognized the U15 Guelph Cyclones.

Mayor Guthrie recognized Kafui Hotsonyame

  • Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Klassen

    That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held August 16, 2023, September 12, 19, and 26, 2023, be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, 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 extracted from the October 24, 2023 Committee of the Whole Consent Report:

Public Art Policy Update - 2023-359

Culture Plan 2030 Staff Report - 2023-358

  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Chew

    That the remainder of the October 24, 2023 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.

    1. That staff be directed to bring forward a by-law for Council’s consideration to repeal Emergency Management Response By-law (2019)-20358 and to implement a new Emergency Management Response By-law, updating the Municipality’s obligations in providing an Emergency Management program as set out in the Emergency Management By-law and Program Amendments Report dated October 3, 2023.
    1. That the Community Grant Allocation Panel be dissolved and that the authority to award Community Grants be delegated to the Deputy Chief Administration Officer of Public Services, as outlined in the Community Grant Policy Update report dated October 3, 2023.
    2. That the Community Grant equity-related policy changes outlined in the Community Grant Policy Update report, dated October 3, 2023, be approved and added to the Community Grant Policy.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Klassen
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That the Public Art Policy Update dated October 3, 2023 be approved.
    2. That Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy be amended to reflect the change to the Public Art Reserve Fund (#356) sources of funds to include Council approved transfers from the operating budget and approved surplus allocations from the operating budget at year end and amend the authority/timing to include capital budget.
    3. That costs associated with the Public Art Policy update be referred to the multi-year budget process.
    4. That the potential future relocation of the City Hall clock be referred to staff, in consultation with the Public Art Advisory Committee and the Guelph Museums Advisory Committee, for costing and consideration as part of commemorative celebrations in 2027.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, 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 delegates spoke:
Hugh Whiteley
Morgan Dandie
Maureen Oesch

Lorelei Root, Chair, Accessibility Advisory Committee presented on behalf of the Accessibility Advisor Committee in regards to the Park and Recreation Master Plan.

Councillor Allt raised a point of order. Councillor Allt request the motion be displayed on screen. 

Mayor Guthrie ruled not to show the motion at this time. 

  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor O'Rourke
    1. That the Parks and Recreation Master Plan dated August 2023, included as Attachment-1 to this report, be approved.
    2. That the funding requirements for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan be referred to future operating and capital budgets in order to implement the recommendations of the plan.
  • First Amendment to the Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Caton
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That the final PRMP include a requirement that all new playgrounds in Guelph include a minimum of two wheelchair accessible play equipment, and that talk tubes are not considered one of those features.
    2. That the final PRMP include a requirement that all new playgrounds in Guelph include at least one play structure that is wheelchair accessible to the lowest deck.
    3. That recommendation 33 in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan be revised to read “Apply a service level target of one rubber surface playground within 2.5 kilometres of residential areas until 2025, moving to a target of one rubber surface playground within 1.5 kilometres of residential areas starting in 2026.
    4. That the final PRMP include a recommendation that areas of economic need will be a factor in determining the location of playgrounds with rubber safety surface.
    5. That the final PRMP include a recommendation to work with the Accessibility Advisory Committee to establish a target ratio of playgrounds that have rubber safety surface.

    Councillor Goller raised a point or order. Councillor Goller noted that the motions have not yet been displayed on screen. Mayor Guthrie confirmed that the motions will be read. 


  • Motion to Refer the First Amendment to the Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Richardson
    1. That Motions 1 to 5 be referred staff to continue to work with the Accessible Advisory Committee and report back to Council if any new service levels are required.
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor O'Rourke
    1. That the Parks and Recreation Master Plan dated August 2023, included as Attachment-1 to this report, be approved.
    2. That the funding requirements for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan be referred to future operating and capital budgets in order to implement the recommendations of the plan.
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Klassen
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That City Council directs the Mayor to write a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, MP Longfield, the Premier of Ontario, and MPP Schreiner, calling on these orders of government to work collaboratively towards implementing a National Guaranteed Livable Basic Income to eradicate poverty and homelessness, and ensure everyone in Canada has sufficient income to meet their basic needs.

     

    The following delegates spoke:
    Teresa McKeeman
    Elizabeth Snell


  • Amendment to the Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Richardson
    Seconded ByCouncillor Gibson
    1. That City Council directs the Mayor to write a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, MP Longfield, the Premier of Ontario, and MPP Schreiner, encouraging these orders of government to explore a National Guaranteed Livable Basic Income to eradicate poverty and homelessness, and ensure everyone in Canada has sufficient income to meet their basic needs.

    Councillor Gibson raised a point of personal privilege. Councillor Gibson requested that Councillor Goller provide a follow up to his comments. Councillor Goller provided an explanation as to the meaning of his comments.  

    Voting in Favour: (5)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Billings, Councillor Richardson, and Councillor Chew
    Voting Against: (8)Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, and Councillor Busuttil
    Defeated (5 to 8)
  • Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Klassen
    Seconded ByCouncillor Goller
    1. That City Council directs the Mayor to write a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, MP Longfield, the Premier of Ontario, and MPP Schreiner, calling on these orders of government to work collaboratively towards implementing a National Guaranteed Livable Basic Income to eradicate poverty and homelessness, and ensure everyone in Canada has sufficient income to meet their basic needs.
    Voting in Favour: (10)Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Voting Against: (3)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, and Councillor Richardson
    Carried (10 to 3)
  • Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caton
    1. That Culture Plan 2030 be approved.
    2. That costs associated with the implementation of Culture Plan 2030 be referred to the 2024-2027 multi-year budget process.
  • Amendment to the Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Downer
    1. That staff be directed to consider an additional recommendation for inclusion in the Culture Plan regarding City owned cultural, archival or heritage artifacts that considers incorporating such artifacts into public display for adaptive reuse and place making, in alignment with the existing public art policy and museum collections policies and report back to Council no later than Q2 2025.
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Busuttil
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caton
    1. That Culture Plan 2030 be approved.
    2. That costs associated with the implementation of Culture Plan 2030 be referred to the 2024-2027 multi-year budget process.
    3. That staff be directed to consider an additional recommendation for inclusion in the Culture Plan regarding City owned cultural, archival or heritage artifacts that considers incorporating such artifacts into public display for adaptive reuse and place making, in alignment with the existing public art policy and museum collections policies and report back to Council no later than Q2 2025.
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Allt
    Seconded ByCouncillor Richardson

    That By-laws numbered (2023) - 20825, (2023) - 20848 and (2023) - 20849 are hereby passed.

    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)

Mayor acknowledged the one year anniversary of the municipal election. Mayor Guthrie also thanked Council and staff for the work that has been complete in that time. 

The following Budget Town Halls were announced:

CAO and Mayor Budget Town Hall at the Guelph Chamber of Commerce on November 8, 2023.
Ward 6 Budget Town Hall on November 9, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. location to be determined.
Ward 5 Budget Town hall on November 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Harcourt Church at 87 Dean Ave.
Ward 4 Budget Town Hall on November 23, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the West End Recreation Centre. City staff will be present.
Ward 3 Budget Town Hall at City Hall on November 13, 2023. More details to come.
Ward 2 Budget Town Hall on November 20, 2023 at City Hall in the Marg MacKinnon Room at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Ward 1 Budget Town Hall on November 20, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the  Victoria Road Recreation Centre in the Cedar Room.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Klassen
    1. That the meeting be adjourned. (9:15 p.m.)
    Voting in Favour: (13)Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Downer, Councillor O'Rourke, Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Councillor Caton, Councillor Klassen, Councillor Richardson, Councillor Busuttil, and Councillor Chew
    Carried (13 to 0)
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