owen_sound_reporter2

owen_sound_reporter2

One-Sentence Summary

Council heard residents during Public Forum who raised issues including housing and traffic, reviewed a report from the Deputy Clerk regarding Corporate Services vacancies, and moved into Closed Session to discuss land disposition matters.

Whole Meeting Summary

The public forum opened for residents to address council, during which Tamar Sargent requested a statement condemning Israel’s tactics in Gaza while James Dingwall raised concerns about downtown traffic and the lack of male shelters for relocating drop-in services. Councillors moved a correspondence item from the Chair Owen Sound Police Service Board regarding downtown business conditions, where an amendment excluding social service providers was defeated before Council carried a motion to meet with the Police Services Board and arrange a subsequent meeting including Grey County Social Housing and Bruce Grey Public Health. Council adopted a unanimous motion declaring Ryerson Park effectively renamed following sign removal, then appointed Councillors Koepke, Hamley, and Middelboe via another unanimous vote to a working group for evaluating the formal request under Policy CS087 to rename the park as reported by the Director of Community Services. Item ten C featured a report from the Deputy Clerk concerning the Corporate Services Committee Public Member Vacancy, which was advanced as agenda evidence without any Council decision, approval, or rejection associated with this matter. A council member queried methods to integrate flexibility into the zoning bylaw review for Cash in Lieu of Parking, specifically concerning TD Bank at 901 2nd Avenue East, aiming to streamline modifications and lower administrative expenses under Report CS-25-058 from the Director of Community Services. During the discussion of additional business, a councillor acknowledged Mayor and Council greetings concerning an Alzheimer’s Walk that raised awareness and funds for the Alzheimer Society, while another speaker Speaker 05 volunteers to mentor grades one to eight children through July and August with applications due June 6th, and a third speaker Speaker 06 and Fire Safety Limited on being named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. The council moved into closed session to review minutes from a previous meeting held on April 28, 2025, and discuss matters regarding the proposed disposition of land by the municipality without public attendance during this specific agenda item.

Most Newsworthy Items

Staff Presented a List of Delegation Requests to the Association: Staff presented a list of delegation requests to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for consideration by Council. The requests prioritize physician recruitment, sustainable funding, nurse practitioner-led clinics, and rural health incentives. Additional topics include police service funding fairness, Great Lakes shipping regulations, medical isotope industry investment, public transit funding, and affordable housing support.
Council Considered a Motion to Arrange a Meeting with the Owen Sound: Council considered a motion to arrange a meeting with the Owen Sound Police Board, including Grey County Social Housing and Grey Bruce Public Health, while an amendment to strike provincial and federal prosecutors was defeated.
Council Carried Motion for Police Board Meeting: Council carried a motion to meet with the Police Services Board and arrange a subsequent meeting including Grey County Social Housing and Bruce Grey Public Health.
Deputy Mayor Reports on Grey County Bills and Accessibility: The deputy mayor provided a verbal report to Council regarding Grey County activities, including the appointment of five members to the Joint Municipal Services Committee. The report detailed overviews of Bill Five and Bill Seventeen, outlining proposed changes to special economic zones, species protection, heritage assessments, development charges, planning studies, and infrastructure standards.

Meeting Recap

8 PUBLIC FORUM

The public forum opened for residents to address council. Tamar Sargent requested a statement condemning Israel’s tactics in Gaza, citing moral consistency with previous condemnations of Hamas. James Dingwall raised concerns about downtown traffic and the lack of male shelters, suggesting relocating drop-in services. Council staff explained that bylaw enforcement is complaint-driven and that social services are largely provided through county and health partners.

9.a Correspondence from the Chair Owen Sound Police Service Board Re Request

A councillor moved to arrange a meeting with the Police Services Board regarding downtown business conditions, while another councillor opposed the motion citing concerns about excluding social service providers and interfering with Crown prosecutors. Council considered a motion to meet with the Owen Sound Police Board including Grey County Social Housing and Grey Bruce Public Health, while an amendment to strike provincial and federal prosecutors was defeated. Council carried a motion to meet with the Police Services Board and arrange a subsequent meeting including Grey County Social Housing and Bruce Grey Public Health.

Speaker 02 to Arrange a Meeting with the Police Services Board

A councillor moved to arrange a meeting with the Police Services Board and other stakeholders regarding downtown business conditions, while another councillor opposed the motion citing concerns about excluding social service providers and interfering with Crown prosecutors.

Council Relationship Building with Police Services Board

A speaker Speaker 07 previously had opportunities to sit with the Owen Sound Police Services Board twice a year and emphasized that building relationships is a whole community issue involving all stakeholders.

Council Considered a Motion to Arrange a Meeting with the Owen Sound

Council considered a motion to arrange a meeting with the Owen Sound Police Board, including Grey County Social Housing and Grey Bruce Public Health, while an amendment to strike provincial and federal prosecutors was defeated.

Council Carried Motion for Police Board Meeting

Council carried a motion to meet with the Police Services Board and arrange a subsequent meeting including Grey County Social Housing and Bruce Grey Public Health.

10.a Report CS-25-047 from the Director of Community Services Re Request Under

Council carried a motion by Speaker 03 that Ryerson Park had effectively been renamed due to the removal of its sign, which was carried unanimously. Council then carried a separate formal motion by Speaker 04 appointing Councillors Koepke, Hamley, and Middelboe to a working group to consider the renaming request, also carried unanimously.

10.c Report CR-25-070 from the Deputy Clerk Re Corporate Services Committee Public

The transcript records the meeting advancing to item ten C for a report from the deputy clerk regarding a corporate services committee public member vacancy.

11.a Report CS-25-058 from the Director of Community Services Re Cash in

A council member questioned how to incorporate flexibility into the zoning bylaw review regarding cash-in-lieu parking for TD Bank at 901 2nd Ave East to streamline changes and reduce administrative costs.

15 DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

A councillor noted greetings from the Mayor and Council regarding an Alzheimer’s Walk that raised awareness and funds for the Alzheimer Society. Another speaker Speaker 08 for Reading Buddy volunteers to mentor children in grades one to eight through July and August, with applications due June 6th. A third speaker Speaker 06 and Fire Safety Limited on being named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for its industry-leading performance and sustained growth.

19 MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION

The council moved into closed session to review minutes from a previous meeting held on April 28, 2025, and discuss matters regarding the proposed disposition of land by the municipality.