One-Sentence Summary

Council heard committee structure options, considered transit correspondence with no items received, and addressed capital infrastructure updates including the delayed sanitary replacement project during additional business discussion.

Whole Meeting Summary

City Manager Tim Simmons presented a report defining Municipal Act committee roles and discussing procedural bylaws regarding virtual meetings while addressing solutions for cultural sensitivity training, departmental orientations, public perception concerns about denied funding requests, and the need to increase community member representation on standing committees versus individual opinions. The Council agenda includes a Public Forum item where the chair notes that only empty seats remain in the audience and indicates that no questions will be solicited from attendees during this segment of the meeting proceedings. Item 7 reports that no correspondence was received during the current meeting session, and a single staff report concerning transit matters is included in the agenda for review without any required direction from Council at this time. The committee supported Supervisor OP-26-001 extending GOST Transit operations through August 31 with full county funding of approximately $176,000 for VoyaGo staff and fuel during the transition while Grey County prepares its regional transit study targeting September 1 implementation. The committee reviewed four capital items under additional business covering infrastructure updates including Phase 2 of the 9th Avenue project proceeding after surface restoration to Superior Street concludes, while public engagement for 4th Avenue West is scheduled with conceptual cross-section options ranging from current parking maintenance to separated bike paths.

Most Newsworthy Items

• Updates Provided on Capital Projects Including 9th Avenue East Infrastructure Completion: Under additional business, capital items were updated regarding infrastructure projects on 6th Street, 9th Avenue East, 4th Avenue West, and 16th Avenue. Phase 1 completion of 9th Avenue East occurred just shy of original limits by November end, installing 187 meters of water main, 232 meters of storm sewer, 97 meters of sanitary services, full-depth road reconstruction, paving, markings, signage, traffic signals, and intersection lighting; remaining work includes extending the water main to Superior Street, surface restoration for driveways and sidewalks, and completing minor appurtenances like catch basin lids. Phase 2 will proceed immediately thereafter. A public information session is scheduled for February 3 at 1st United Church regarding 4th Avenue West design options: replacing existing conditions with on-street parking but limiting active transportation; adding bike lanes which may reduce tree removal but offer less safety than separated paths; or narrowing pavement to eliminate on-street parking in favor of a boulevard path. The stormwater management master plan is 60% complete, targeting February 6 for full recommendations including linear low impact development features and oil grit separators, covering approximately 77 individual drainage projects costing about $70 million over the long term.
• Committee Structure Review Presentation Covering Cultural Sensitivity Training Virtual Attendance Rules: Feedback collection regarding committee structure review, noting that any council changes will not take effect until 2027. City Clerk Brianna’s work is acknowledged before defining committees under the Municipal Act as entities assisting council in decision-making and oversight. Participants discuss solutions to challenges including cultural sensitivity training for new members over a 2 or 3-year term and virtual attendance options, clarified by procedural bylaws allowing up to 3 virtual meetings unless amended by the chair for accessibility needs like disabilities. Concerns regarding public perception arise from instances where committee requests were not forwarded without explanation; suggestions include providing feedback to local radio stations after consultations to prevent perceptions of unresponsiveness. Training recommendations emphasize formal orientations detailing departmental operations, such as snow removal or parks management, and distributing written materials on who is responsible for specific areas.
• Item 7 reports no correspondence received this evening with 1 staff report: Item 7 reports no correspondence received this evening with 1 staff report on transit.
• Sidewalk Plowing Limitations Involve Equipment Speed Buried Utilities Alignment Constraints Requiring Continuous: Sidewalk plowing operations face specific constraints including slower equipment speeds compared to road plows, shallowly buried water mains requiring snow cover protection, and alignment issues where only 1 side of a road is cleared for continuous operation. Physical obstructions such as retaining walls heaved into the path can prevent clearing if clearance drops below 1.45 meters, while sidewalks narrower than this threshold or those with protrusions risk sod damage even when attempted. Staff acknowledge challenges in identifying edges on wide paths and maintain public messaging that damaged areas will be addressed later in spring.

Meeting Recap

5.a Presentation from the City Manager Re Committee Structure Review

City Manager Tim Simmons presented a report on committee structure options directed by council in 2024, which was submitted to council on December 15th, 2025 and linked via the meeting agenda for public feedback prior to a February decision. The presentation defined committees under the Municipal Act as entities assisting council with policy development and oversight, noting that procedural bylaws allow members up to 3 virtual meetings unless amended by the chair for accessibility needs like disabilities. Participants discussed solutions including cultural sensitivity training refreshers during 2 or 3-year terms and formal departmental orientations covering operations such as snow removal and parks. Concerns were raised regarding public perception when requests are not forwarded, suggesting feedback loops with local radio stations after consultations where funding was denied. Discussion highlighted the need for increased community member representation on standing committees to better reflect group opinions rather than just individual ones, noting a potential structure of 5 community members versus 4 council members.

6 PUBLIC FORUM

The speaker Speaker 01 public forum, noting that only empty chairs face the audience and no questions are expected.

7 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR WHICH DIRECTION IS REQUIRED

Item 7 reports no correspondence received this evening with 1 staff report on transit.

8.a.1 Report OP-26-001 from the Supervisor of Environmental Services Re Continuation of

Council approved a report extending GOST Transit operations beyond March 31, 2026, to ensure service continuity while Grey County prepares its regional transit study with a target implementation of September 1, 2026. During this 5-year transition period from April 1 until August 31, the county will fully fund estimated operating costs of approximately $176,000 for VoyaGo staff and fuel. Council unanimously passed the recommendation to allow STRAP to bring forward a bylaw executing necessary agreements.

12 DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

The committee reviewed 4 capital items under additional business, focusing on infrastructure updates and public engagement strategies. Phase 1 of the 9th Avenue project completed nearly all main quantities including 187 meters of water main and 232 meters of storm sewer but remains incomplete regarding surface restoration to Superior Street; phase 2 will proceed immediately thereafter. A public information session for 4th Avenue West is scheduled for February 3rd at 1st United Church, where residents can provide feedback on 3 conceptual cross-section options ranging from maintaining current parking to implementing separated bike paths or narrower pavement with boulevard paths. The stormwater management master plan stands 60 percent complete with a report due by February 6 detailing recommendations like linear low impact development and oil grit separators for bay discharge treatment; approximately 77 individual drainage projects totaling roughly $70 million are identified in the long-term strategy. Finally, updates were provided on the 16th Avenue sanitary replacement which is delayed due to unforeseen contamination issues, with a temporary connection established about 75 meters from completion pending spring repairs by contractor GSS and consultant support.

Links

Read full transcript: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/owen-sound/committee-operations/2026-01-22

Agenda page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/owen-sound/committee-operations/2026-01-22

Official meeting page: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=4ecad9e0-c48a-4cb5-aa32-ecd22d5a8f9d

Original video: https://video.isilive.ca/owensound/New Encoder_OP_2026-01-22-05-30.mp4