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. 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
  • M. Ellis, General Manager, Human Resources
  • J. Sales, General Manager, Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Services
  • A. Vilkko, General Manager, Facilities and Energy Management
  • S. O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk
  • I. Scott, Manager, Facility Design and Construction
  • L. Munoz, Manager, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
  • B. Stewart, Manager, Procurement
  • D. McMahon, Manager, Legislative Services / Deputy City Clerk
  • L. Cline, Council and Committee Coordinator
  • D. Tremblay, Council and Committee Coordinator
Also Present:
  • John Mascarin, Aird and Berlis, LLP


Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (4:00 p.m.)

  • Moved ByCouncillor Hofland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Allt

    That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 239 (2)(b) and (d) the Municipal Act, related to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and labour relations or employee negotiations.

    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)

    The following matters were considered:


Council recessed. (4:23 p.m.)

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (4:30 p.m.)

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

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof:
There were no disclosures.

Confirmation of Minutes for the closed Council meeting held November 23, 2020.
These minutes were adopted by Council.

December 2020 Public Appointments - Community Grant Allocation Panel - 2020-209
The Mayor advised that information was received and Council will report on this matter as part of the next item.

Chief Administrative Officer Sub-committee Performance Evaluation for 2020 and Performance Objective Setting for 2021.

The Mayor advised that Council received information and Council will report on this matter as part of the next item.

Councillor Gibson disclosed a pecuniary interest with respect to Item 8.1 Motion to Phase Out Gas Plants as he is employed by the provincially owned power generator in Ontario and did not believe it was appropriate to participate in provincial energy discussions as part of Guelph City Council. 

  • Moved ByCouncillor Allt
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland

    That Jill Cockburn, Kris Cummings, Daniella Johnson, Vanessa Lodge and Chidi Nwene be appointed to the Community Grant Allocation Panel, for a term ending December, 2021.  

    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Allt
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland
    1. That the 2020 Chief Administrative Officer 2020 performance evaluation from November 23, 2020 be approved; and 
    2. That the 2021 Chief Administrative Officer Performance Objectives, from December 7, 2020, be approved.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Bell
    Seconded ByCouncillor O'Rourke

    That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held November 9 and 23, 2020 and Special Council Meetings held November 5, 17 and 25, 2020 and Committee of the Whole meeting held November 2, 2020 be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)

The following reports from the December 14, 2020 Committee of the Whole and Council Consent Agenda were extracted:  

Intergovernmental Relations Strategic Framework and 2021 Advocacy Plan, 2020-228
Appointment of Integrity Commissioner, 2020-230

  • Moved ByCouncillor Hofland
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings

    The balance of the Committee of the Whole Consent Agenda as identified below be adopted: 

    1. That the City of Guelph request that the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks accommodate the City’s original request to transition its Blue Box program to full producer responsibility at the earliest transition date, January 1, 2023, or, in the event that this is not possible, that the City of Guelph receive full funding for the operation of the City’s Blue Box program based on 100% of reported costs until such time as the program is transitioned to producer responsibility.
    2. That the City’s preceding resolution be forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
    3. That staff be authorized to enter into negotiations with producers or producer responsibility organizations for the purposes of developing transition strategies with respect to Blue Box services to be transitioned under the proposed Blue Box Transition regulation of the Waste Free Ontario Act once it is enacted.
    4. That the City continue to provide a waste collection service for Electrical and Electronic Equipment at the Public Drop-off depot and analyze the program’s performance during the first year to determine direction with respect to future program offerings.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor Goller
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland
    1. That Aird & Berlis LLP be appointed as the City of Guelph’s Integrity Commissioner.
    2. That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement to contract the services of Aird & Berlis LLP as the City of Guelph Integrity Commissioner.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Moved ByCouncillor O'Rourke
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings
    1. That Council approve the Intergovernmental Relations Strategic Framework to guide intergovernmental and advocacy activities for the rest of Council’s term.
    2. That Council approve the 2021 Advocacy Priorities as amended.
    3. That Staff report back to Council in Q4 2021 to provide an update on intergovernmental activities in 2021 and to propose advocacy priorities for 2022.
    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)

Councillor Gibson did not participate in the discussion or vote on the matter. 

The following delegations spoke:
Evan Ferrari
Alex Chapman, Our Energy Guelph
Jack Gibbons
Andrea Baker
Morgan Dandie-Hannah
Elizabeth Snell
Paloma Thompson
Lin Grist
Kellie Elrick
Indigo Kim
Eli Shifflett
Thomas McIlwraith

  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Gordon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    The City of Guelph moves that the Province of Ontario:

    1. Establish an interim cap of 2.5 Megatonnes per year on our gas plant’s greenhouse gas pollution and develop a plan to phase out all gas-fired electricity generation by 2030 to ensure Ontario meets its climate targets, and 
    2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, MPP Mike Schreiner, and AMO.

     

  • First Amendment
    Moved ByCouncillor MacKinnon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings
    1. Develop a plan to phase out carbon-generating electricity generation to ensure Ontario meets its deadlines for its climate targets; and
    2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, MPP Mike Schreiner, and AMO. 

     

  • Point of Order

    Councillor Allt raised a point of order stating that the motion was contrary to the main motion. 

    The Mayor ruled that the amendment was in order.

    Councillor Allt appealed the Mayor's ruling.  

    Challenge to Chairs Ruling

    That the Mayor’s procedural ruling with regard to the amendment be upheld. 

    Voting in Favour: (6)Councillor Billings, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Bell, Councillor Goller, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Voting Against: (6)Councillor Caron, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, and Councillor Downer
    Defeated (6 to 6)
  • First Amendment
    Moved ByCouncillor MacKinnon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Billings
    1. Develop a plan to phase out carbon-generating electricity generation to ensure Ontario meets its deadlines for its climate targets; and
    2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, MPP Mike Schreiner, and AMO. 
    Voting in Favour: (4)Councillor Billings, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Voting Against: (8)Councillor Caron, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, and Councillor Downer
    Defeated (4 to 8)
  • Second Amendment
    Moved ByCouncillor Billings
    Seconded ByCouncillor Bell

    The City of Guelph moves that the Province of Ontario:

    1. Establish an interim cap of 2.5 Megatonnes per year on our gas plant’s greenhouse gas pollution as soon as possible and develop a plan to phase out all gas-fired electricity generation by 2030 to ensure Ontario meets its climate targets, and 
    2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, MPP Mike Schreiner, and AMO.

     

    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Carried (12 to 0)
  • Main Motion as Amended
    Moved ByCouncillor Gordon
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    The City of Guelph moves that the Province of Ontario:

    1. Establish an interim cap of 2.5 Megatonnes per year on our gas plant’s greenhouse gas pollution as soon as possible and develop a plan to phase out all gas-fired electricity generation by 2030 to ensure Ontario meets its climate targets, and 
    2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, MPP Mike Schreiner, and AMO.
    Voting in Favour: (11)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Bell, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Voting Against: (1)Councillor MacKinnon
    Carried (11 to 1)

The following delegations spoke: 
Morgan Dandie-Hannah
James Smith

  • Main Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Caron
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland
    1. That the property at 65 Delhi Street be deemed a surplus asset and be put up for sale.
    2. That a market sounding study to determine potential uses for the Drill Hall be completed by 2022, to coincide with the completion of the building stabilization efforts.
    3. That the porch at 341 Forestell Road be removed and catelogue for future restoration under the Ontario Heritage Act. 
    4. That staff report back to City Council in Q4 2021 to provide an update on the listed properties of interest.
  • First Amendment
    Moved ByCouncillor Caron
    Seconded ByCouncillor Downer

    That paragraph 3 be amended as follows: 

    3. That the porch at 341 Forestell Road be removed and catalogued for future restoration under the Ontario Heritage Act; and that the cost of reconstruction of the porch be forwarded to the 2022 budget process.

     

    Voting in Favour: (12)Councillor Billings, Councillor Caron, Mayor Guthrie, Councillor Gibson, Councillor Gordon, Councillor Goller, Councillor Allt, Councillor Hofland, Councillor Salisbury, Councillor Downer, Councillor MacKinnon, and Councillor O'Rourke
    Voting Against: (1)Councillor Bell
    Carried (12 to 1)
  • Main Motion as Amended
    Moved ByCouncillor Caron
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hofland
    1. That the property at 65 Delhi Street be deemed a surplus asset and be put up for sale.
    2. That a market sounding study to determine potential uses for the Drill Hall be completed by 2022, to coincide with the completion of the building stabilization efforts.
    3. That the porch at 341 Forestell Road be removed and catelogue for future restoration under the Ontario Heritage Act and that the cost of reconstruction of the porch be forwarded to the 2022 budget process. 
    4. That staff report back to City Council in Q4 2021 to provide an update on the listed properties of interest.
    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)
  • New Motion
    Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    That staff be directed to prepare a stabilization plan by Q3 2021 for any stranded or under-utilized City owned heritage assets and that it include a review of the condition of the building, identify maintenance measures to be undertaken and provide a schedule and budget for ongoing monitoring, inspection and maintenance.

    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)

12.

  • Moved ByCouncillor Downer
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    That by-laws numbered (2020)-20553 and (2020)-20559 are 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 Allt
    Seconded ByCouncillor Caron

    That the meeting be adjourned.  (7:02 p.m.)

    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)