One-Sentence Summary
Council heard zoning comments on Amendment No. 59 near 10th Street West, reviewed a deputation from Annette Pedlar regarding emergency shelter services at 612 2nd Avenue East, and addressed passing by-laws to execute agreements with Graverts Museum for transportation funding matters.
Whole Meeting Summary
The public meeting addressed Zoning By-law Amendment No. 59, Part 1, Plan 16R-12308 regarding lands at 1038 6th Avenue West and adjacent properties near the intersection of 10th Street West within the municipal planning framework. Item 10.a reports a Zoning By-law Amendment request from Senior Planner CS-26-076 regarding Part One of Plan 16R-12308 at 1038 6th Avenue West, which currently lacks an address. Annette Pedlar presented a report on the Neighborhood Response Team pilot program operating in the River District and Moquehadong to address non-criminal calls involving individuals sleeping in doorways or crying on benches, requesting council support via a letter of endorsement for the Trillium Grant application. Annette Pedlar, Executive Director of Safe 'N Sound Emergency Shelter Facility, presented details regarding a new twenty-four-hour service opening at 612 Second Avenue East in Owen Sound while speakers expressed deep concern that current emergency shelter plans fail to meet the growing need for unhoused individuals before winter arrives. The Manager of Corporate Services presented final approval requests to the committee concerning specific City Hall Illumination Requests including a document from Thrombosis Canada for World Thrombosis Day while also addressing an assessment for Police Services facility needs during this consent agenda item discussion session involving multiple municipal service evaluations and lighting project submissions. Council approved specific projects included in the 2027–2031 Multi-Year Capital Plan report submitted by the Manager of Corporate Services and directed staff to prepare an updated version for potential approval during December 2026 proceedings regarding this capital plan initiative. The Council adopted several by-laws implementing agreements concerning transportation and funding between the municipality and entities including Graverts Museum, Brad Duncan, Voyago, Centre Wellington, and Grey County regarding Part Two on 16R-8751.
Most Newsworthy Items
- Council Approves $100 000 Funding Agreement with Georgian College for Onondaga Campus: Councillor Kukreja moved to direct City Council to enter into a funding agreement with Georgian College for $100,000 payable in installments over four years starting in 2027 to support the Onondaga campus. Councillors Farmer and Koepke opposed waiving notice due to concerns about tying future councils’ hands on multi-year capital commitments and argued that municipal funds should not fill gaps left by provincial starvation rations without requiring operational retention from the college. The motion was carried after a vote where one councillor opposed, despite arguments regarding fiscal responsibility compared to hospital donations.
- Community Events and Poverty Task Force Updates: Councillor Farmer reported on the successful third annual Bandit Fest organized by local teens and highlighted an upcoming candidates education session hosted by the Poverty Task Force for Friday, September 18th.
- A Report CS-26-076 from the Senior Planner Re Technical Report - Zoning: Item 10.a reports a Zoning By-law Amendment request from Senior Planner CS-26-076 regarding Part One of Plan 16R-12308 at 1038 6th Avenue West, which currently lacks an address.
- Request Authorized for Police Service Building Needs Assessment: The Manager of Corporate Services presented Report CR-26-071 to authorize a comprehensive facility space needs assessment and business case for the Owen Sound Police Service Building under the Community Safety and Policing Act.
Meeting Recap
6.a Zoning By-law Amendment No. 59 - Part 1 Plan 16R-12308 and
The public meeting addressed Zoning By-law Amendment No. 59, Part 1, Plan 16R-12308 regarding lands at 1038 6th Avenue West and adjacent properties near the intersection of 10th Street West. This agenda item outlines the specific zoning bylaw amendment details for these designated parcels within the municipal planning framework.
10.a Report CS-26-076 from the Senior Planner Re Technical Report - Zoning
Item 10.a reports a Zoning By-law Amendment request from Senior Planner CS-26-076 regarding Part One of Plan 16R-12308 at 1038 6th Avenue West, which currently lacks an address. The proposal seeks site-specific zoning provisions for new medium-density housing and an existing single detached dwelling within the Retail Commercial C-2 zone to resolve non-conforming use issues arising from a 2025 property severance. Staff evaluated the application against residential R5 and Medium-Density Residential R2 standards, noting public notice issued July 2nd with no subsequent comments received before the recommendation report is expected for Council review.
7.a Deputation from Annette Pedlar Executive Director Safe 'N Sound Re Neighbourhood
Annette Pedler presented a report on the Neighborhood Response Team pilot program which operated in the River District plus Moquehadong from November 1st until March to address non-criminal calls involving people sleeping in doorways or crying on benches. She argues that emergency services are financially strained by these situations and requests council support via a letter of endorsement for the Trillium Grant application, noting initial funding of $152,000 with projected annual costs under $300,000 to prevent physical harm like frostbite or loss of limbs caused by exposure during brutal winters. Speaker 02 questioned how the team differs from United Way services while another councillor opposed funding without statistical proof that police call volume reduction claims are accurate.
7.b Deputation from Annette Pedlar Executive Director Safe 'N Sound Re Emergency
Annette Pedlar, Executive Director of the Safe 'N Sound Emergency Shelter Facility, presented details regarding a new 24-hour service opening at 612 2nd Avenue East in Owen Sound. Speakers expressed deep concern that current emergency shelter plans fail to meet the growing need for unhoused individuals before winter arrives.
11.n Final approvals issued for the following City Hall Illumination Requests
The Manager of Corporate Services addressed the committee regarding an assessment for Police Services facility needs.
11.d Report CR-26-074 from the Manager of Corporate Services Re Approval of
Council approved projects within the 2027–2031 multi-year capital plan and directed staff to update it for December 2026 approval.
21 BY-LAWS
The council passed a series of by-laws to execute agreements with Graverts Museum, Brad Duncan regarding Part Two on 16R-8751, Voyago, Centre Wellington, and Grey County for transportation and funding matters.
Links
Read full transcript: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/owen-sound/council-meeting-regular/2026-07-27
Agenda page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/owen-sound/council-meeting-regular/2026-07-27
Official meeting page: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=fcdfabfa-a9be-4af5-81d6-d65676478c99
Original video: https://video.isilive.ca/owensound/New Encoder_CM_2026-07-27-05-30.mp4