Owen Sound Committee Community Services Meeting Transcript — March 18, 2026

00:00:18 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, welcome everyone.

00:00:20 Melanie Middlebro: It is March the eighteenth, five thirty p.m., and this is the Community Services Committee that I will call to order.

00:00:27 Melanie Middlebro: At number two this evening, call for additional business.

00:00:30 Melanie Middlebro: Is there anyone with additional business this evening?

00:00:33 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none, I should also note that we have three members on virtual tonight: Councillor Dodd, Councillor Kukreja, and Member Chemick, and we have two members absent.

00:00:45 Melanie Middlebro: So, with no additional business at number three, declarations of interest.

00:00:48 Melanie Middlebro: Is there anyone with anything to declare this evening?

00:00:52 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none.

00:00:53 Melanie Middlebro: At number four, we have confirmation of minutes.

00:00:56 Melanie Middlebro: These are the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on February 18, 2026.

00:01:00 Melanie Middlebro: These have already presented to council and were accepted, but we need someone to move these minutes.

00:01:07 Melanie Middlebro: Is there someone who wanted to move them?

00:01:10 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, Connie's going to move those.

00:01:12 Melanie Middlebro: So, if there's nothing further, I'll call the question.

00:01:14 Melanie Middlebro: All in favor?

00:01:17 Melanie Middlebro: We have everyone voting for that, so that is carried.

00:01:22 Melanie Middlebro: At number five, deputations and presentations.

00:01:24 Melanie Middlebro: We have three presentations this evening.

00:01:27 Melanie Middlebro: At five a, we have a deputation from Owen Sound Minor Baseball regarding Swing for the Fences campaign, baseball diamond refurbishment partnership.

00:01:37 Melanie Middlebro: So we have some presenters here from Minor Baseball.

00:01:41 Melanie Middlebro: Welcome.

00:01:45 SPEAKER_198: Thank you very much, councillors and committee members, for the opportunity to speak.

00:01:48 SPEAKER_198: Today, I'm here on behalf of Owen Sound Minor Baseball to deliver to you the partnership proposal for the Swing for the Fences Diamond refurbishment plan.

00:02:01 SPEAKER_198: The agenda tonight would be an overview of Owen Sound Minor Baseball, looking at the current facility usage for Owen Sound Minor Baseball and the proposal itself, where we start the financials and how the city can help.

00:02:16 SPEAKER_198: First of all, looking at Owen Sound Minor Baseball, we it was established in the 1960s, as best I know by the records.

00:02:22 SPEAKER_198: But the reality is that baseball has actually been present in the Owen Sound area since the early 1900s.

00:02:29 SPEAKER_198: It would probably surprise a few to know that, at least the research that I've done, that back in the early 1900s there used to be thousands of people that attended baseball games long before Owen Sound was a hockey city.

00:02:42 SPEAKER_198: We are a member of the Western Ontario Baseball Association, which is affiliated with Baseball Ontario and then affiliated with Baseball Canada.

00:02:51 SPEAKER_198: Since two thousand and twenty-one, we have seen one hundred and thirty-four percent growth in our membership.

00:02:57 SPEAKER_198: This includes also seeing our rep and select program or travel teams grow to eight teams for the coming two thousand and twenty-six season.

00:03:06 SPEAKER_198: In two thousand and twenty-five, we rebranded the Owen Sound Minor Baseball Association under the Junior Base Sox logo.

00:03:14 SPEAKER_198: This was to align us with the senior team, so that baseball in Owen Sound was known as the Base Sox.

00:03:22 SPEAKER_198: In two thousand and twenty-four, two thousand and twenty-five, we had an expansion of our volunteer executive.

00:03:27 SPEAKER_198: It was previously run by five or six people, and we now have a sixteen, actually eighteen-person volunteer executive, and between 80 to 100 volunteers that support the league activities through coaching and other positions.

00:03:42 SPEAKER_198: And in May of 2025, we actually applied for and got our non-profit designation in hopes of it helping support the growth of the league and opening up other funds to us as well.

00:03:56 SPEAKER_198: For Owen Sound Minor Baseball, our vision is truly to have baseball as a vital thread woven into the community here.

00:04:05 SPEAKER_198: It comes to life through collaboration with other baseball and softball associations in the area, our dedicated members, supportive businesses, the municipal government, and all of the stakeholders.

00:04:17 SPEAKER_198: We want to provide exceptional baseball programs to young athletes aged four to 22 in the Owen Sound and surrounding area, paving the way for us to be recognized as one of Ontario's first-class youth baseball organizations across all levels.

00:04:30 SPEAKER_198: Our program.

00:04:31 SPEAKER_198: We believe that youth sport encompasses far more than just wins and losses on the field.

00:04:36 SPEAKER_198: Our commitment goes deeper.

00:04:38 SPEAKER_198: We strive to shape not only skilled baseball players, but also resilient leaders who actively contribute to the betterment of the community.

00:04:46 SPEAKER_198: The essence of our program thrives on the three foundational principles of community, leadership, and development.

00:04:54 SPEAKER_198: Looking at our current field and facility usage, Harrison Field is one of the areas that we use, or one of the parks that we use.

00:05:01 SPEAKER_198: It's primarily been used for practices in past seasons and will be in the upcoming season.

00:05:06 SPEAKER_198: But continued growth in our registration will require us to look at having these diamonds be game ready.

00:05:14 SPEAKER_198: We also use Kinsman Park, which is the unofficial home of Owen Sound Minor Baseball.

00:05:20 SPEAKER_198: We book this Mondays through Thursdays plus Saturdays and possibly even Sundays this year as well, and then we have on an as-needed basis also used St. George's, Calso, and St. Julian's.

00:05:34 SPEAKER_198: And I should add in there that Tom Williams is also used by our senior program in town.

00:05:40 SPEAKER_198: And with the growth of our 15U and 18U and 22U programs, we're probably going to push that diamond to capacity this year.

00:05:49 SPEAKER_198: We're very close to it.

00:05:51 SPEAKER_198: Looking at Kinsman Ballpark, for those that aren't familiar, there is three infields with backstops and baseline fencing here.

00:05:59 SPEAKER_198: This is where the storage canteen is located, where we store all of our equipment.

00:06:03 SPEAKER_198: And the building was thankfully renovated with new washrooms recently, which is great for our members.

00:06:11 SPEAKER_198: We have converging outfielders here, which can pose a problem.

00:06:15 SPEAKER_198: There is no lighting, so weekday utilization is also limited.

00:06:19 SPEAKER_198: Our five U and seven U programs do use all three fields, but the majority of our bookings, which is nine U through thirteen U, can only utilize the south and north northwest diamonds because gameplay is affected by interference.

00:06:33 SPEAKER_198: Harrison Field, this is formerly, and you can kind of see it in the picture, the site of four infields, but now there is two infields that remain with backstops and baseline fencing.

00:06:44 SPEAKER_198: The player benches on the field are unprotected.

00:06:57 SPEAKER_198: There is converging outfield space.

00:06:58 SPEAKER_198: There's no lighting here as well, which limits our availability, and it's only currently used for practices, partly because of the fact that the player benches are on the fields.

00:07:05 SPEAKER_198: Duncan McClellan, we have started to use this.

00:07:15 SPEAKER_198: It's started to use this, but it's primarily been known as a softball or fast pitch, slow pitch facility.

00:07:23 SPEAKER_198: There's minimal availability available to us on the weekdays.

00:07:26 SPEAKER_198: We have utilized it for the two thousand and twenty-five thirteen U Battle on the Bay tournament.

00:07:28 SPEAKER_198: We started hosting the Battle on the Bay tournament in two thousand and twenty-four at the eleven U division.

00:07:32 SPEAKER_198: Last year, we expanded to an eleven and a thirteen U division, and this year we actually have three separate tournaments planned at this facility for nine U, eleven U, and thirteen U. Tom Williams, as I mentioned, is utilized by fifteen U to twenty-two U, and our senior basehocks program.

00:07:51 SPEAKER_198: And the growth in these programs is going to significantly increase our usage going forward.

00:07:58 SPEAKER_198: For two thousand and twenty-four and two thousand and twenty-five, we've also engaged with the Township of Georgian Bluffs.

00:08:03 SPEAKER_198: And Bombi Beach Diamond has actually been increased usage by about four hundred percent.

00:08:08 SPEAKER_198: It's kind of become the unofficial home of our rep teams.

00:08:13 SPEAKER_198: Just makes it easier to have them all scheduled in one place and storing equipment for those teams.

00:08:18 SPEAKER_198: And we have had to use Shallow Lake as well for tournament play.

00:08:23 SPEAKER_198: So tonight, the proposal really is in order to keep up with the growth of baseball in the area.

00:08:28 SPEAKER_198: Owen Sound's in need of additional diamond space or to upgrade current facilities.

00:08:32 SPEAKER_198: As an association, we do recognize and understand that baseball fields are generally a city asset that are revenue neutral at best, and more often than not, the user fees do not cover the cost to maintain them on an annual basis.

00:08:48 SPEAKER_198: So we're here proposing a partnership with the City of Owen Sound to help identify and make needed and wanted improvements to the local baseball facilities.

00:08:59 SPEAKER_198: A baseball field, or often called a ball diamond, is an enclosed area where the sport of baseball is played.

00:09:05 SPEAKER_198: It is comprised of an infield and an outfield, with an outer edge typically marked by an outfield wall or fence.

00:09:12 SPEAKER_198: The majority of the Owen Sound diamonds utilized by minor baseball are not enclosed.

00:09:18 SPEAKER_198: Enclosing these fields not only improves gameplay and safety, while recognizing a dedicated space for our budding players, but it also presents an opportunity for revenue generation.

00:09:31 SPEAKER_198: Ball diamonds around the world have historically used open fence spacing as advertising space, or spaces where you can sell sponsorship space.

00:09:40 SPEAKER_198: Outfield fencing is ideal for these ads because it does not restrict the view for those that are at the diamond to watch the game, and a typical outfield fence made up of 200 to 300 linear feet can be enough space for 25 to 35 banners on a single diamond.

00:10:03 SPEAKER_198: Looking at Kinsman Ballpark, our proposal would be the elimination of the northeast diamond while fencing in the two other diamonds, potentially replacing the northeast diamond with a batting cage.

00:10:16 SPEAKER_198: Olsal Minor Baseball does own pitching machines that could be utilized in this cage.

00:10:23 SPEAKER_198: Looking at the proposal as well, we've done some preliminary work.

00:10:27 SPEAKER_198: You could make these diamonds 200 feet for outfield fencing, which would allow us to continue to use them for up to 13U play.

00:10:35 SPEAKER_198: It would reduce field maintenance costs with the elimination of the third diamond, and that backstop material could potentially be repurposed on another field or on another structure.

00:10:48 SPEAKER_198: Owen Sound Minor Baseball and the City of Owen Sound could potentially offer advertising opportunities to initially recoup these costs, and/or look at a diamond naming rights program for additional larger funding sources.

00:11:03 SPEAKER_198: Looking at Harrison Field, we would propose in one option to fence in the north diamond and expand that infield to support a 90 foot base path.

00:11:26 SPEAKER_198: This is really due to the increase for our older age groups.

00:11:29 SPEAKER_198: We don't have a second diamond that we can play full sized baseball on.

00:11:31 SPEAKER_198: So, looking at that, that would be our initial proposal for Harrison Park.

00:11:33 SPEAKER_198: You can see we have also added in some stuff here, like a parking lot and a play structure.

00:11:47 SPEAKER_198: Again, these are all optional.

00:11:49 SPEAKER_198: The second proposal.

00:11:51 SPEAKER_198: I know I'm getting short on time here.

00:11:53 SPEAKER_198: Would be to fence in the North Diamond, while also fencing in the South Diamond for the younger age groups.

00:11:55 SPEAKER_198: There is a lot of information that is in these slides.

00:11:57 SPEAKER_198: I've presented it to use so that it can be used for follow-up meetings with those on staff and other members of council.

00:12:02 SPEAKER_198: But please note that the conceptual images that I included in here are just for reference only.

00:12:20 SPEAKER_198: Okay, they are.

00:12:21 SPEAKER_198: While a combination of grass and clay that they show would be ideal for utilization, a full clay infield would be better because you can use any size base paths on those diamonds.

00:12:23 SPEAKER_198: And it also reduces maintenance costs, so you don't have to try and keep up with the grass.

00:12:31 SPEAKER_198: From a financial perspective, fencing in a single diamond, like I said, opens up lots of opportunity for outfield sponsors.

00:12:38 SPEAKER_198: If you were to sell these for a thousand dollars for a season, you could generate the revenue that would help pay for initially the fences, but become a sustainable model to pay for upgrades, other upgrades to the diamonds as we go forward.

00:12:52 SPEAKER_198: I know that there was discussion about dugouts being built there years ago, and again, rather than that coming from the taxpayer, I think that there is a more sustainable model here where we could look at generating that revenue from somewhere else.

00:13:22 SPEAKER_198: How can the city help?

00:13:25 SPEAKER_198: Engage in a partnership with us for the swing for the fences diamond refurbishment proposal.

00:13:27 SPEAKER_198: The city and Owen Sound Minor Baseball could finalize this program and cross promote.

00:13:37 SPEAKER_198: We can.

00:13:38 SPEAKER_198: Owen Sound Minor Baseball could engage with local banner printers for a preferred pricing program and the continued partnership to identify and execute further diamond improvements.

00:13:39 SPEAKER_198: We'd also ask the city to relax or remove any relevant bylaws that would restrict the number of banners that could be displayed on a field, if there is any.

00:13:45 SPEAKER_198: Looking at an initial investment, explore the opportunity for Owen Sound Minor Baseball and our volunteers or sponsors to complete the installation.

00:13:55 SPEAKER_198: We do have lots of members of our program that are licensed contractors that would be insured, and then also if the city was willing to look at a field naming rights program, you could look at.

00:14:10 SPEAKER_198: I have some examples on here, but you know, Vandolder's Diamond at Harrison Field or Sutherland Diamond at Kinsman Park, and promote that via a sign on the field and obviously also on the city website.

00:14:27 SPEAKER_198: So, in closing, and I appreciate you allowing me to go over time here.

00:14:46 SPEAKER_198: With youth baseball enrollment at its highest level in years, demand for quality diamonds now exceeds what current conditions can support.

00:14:52 SPEAKER_198: Baseball numbers are rising, tournament demand is rising, and visitors spend money.

00:14:55 SPEAKER_198: By improving these diamonds, it will increase our ability to host more tournaments.

00:14:57 SPEAKER_198: And as you can see, with the growth of our tournaments in just the last three years, this is an exceptional opportunity for us here in Owen Sound.

00:14:59 SPEAKER_198: We're promising a shared benefit solution to renew current spaces, increase community use, and establish an ongoing revenue model for sustainability.

00:15:06 SPEAKER_198: We're here to partner in a solution that grows youth sport, strengthens tourism, boosts economic returns, and leaves Owen Sound Minor Baseball Fields better—not just for today, but for every player steps on the field for years to come.

00:15:34 SPEAKER_198: Let's swing for the fences together.

00:15:37 Melanie Middlebro: The rest of my presentation, as I mentioned, does have some ancillary information that digs into the financials.

00:15:43 Melanie Middlebro: I won't dive into that now, but it is there for you to use for further meetings and with staff reports.

00:15:51 Melanie Middlebro: I appreciate your time.

00:15:52 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, thank you for your presentation.

00:15:55 Melanie Middlebro: It's great to hear the success of the growth of the program.

00:16:01 Melanie Middlebro: That's amazing to hear, and for you to come here in spirit of collaboration is great.

00:16:08 Pam Coulter: And I think it's a good start to open up a conversation with staff for future endeavors.

00:16:14 Pam Coulter: I'm going to go to Pam quickly just for response on some work that we're doing at a service review level that kind of ties this in.

00:16:16 Pam Coulter: Well, certainly, thank you for the presentation, and I'm a big believer that playing on a team or any sport is so important.

00:16:19 Pam Coulter: And understanding your participation is increasing that is really great, which is really driving the demand.

00:16:25 Pam Coulter: I think this committee is familiar with the partnership that we had with the Deroche family on the scoreboard, and that was really an example of how we can do more when we work together.

00:16:57 Pam Coulter: So, your presentation and the timing is really great.

00:17:01 Pam Coulter: We are right now methodically undertaking a process of service level reviews for a number of parks assets.

00:17:08 Pam Coulter: In April next month, we've got playgrounds and horticulture coming, and sports fields will be in a few.

00:17:15 Pam Coulter: Fields will be in a future report.

00:17:17 Pam Coulter: This information, I think, would be really helpful and to include as part of that overall review.

00:17:22 Pam Coulter: I would just note we did do an agreement with Minor Soccer just on the banner idea, just as you've presented.

00:17:29 Pam Coulter: So happy to share with you kind of the details of how that works.

00:17:34 Pam Coulter: They sell the banners that are on the fences out at the soccer complex, and then they share with the city.

00:17:42 Melanie Middlebro: In a lot of capital projects, we share those fifty fifty.

00:17:47 Melanie Middlebro: So happy to you know maybe we can move that along, sort of part and parcel.

00:17:50 Melanie Middlebro: But happy to work with you directly on that and include this information as part of that service level review.

00:18:01 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, great.

00:18:02 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you so much for coming.

00:18:04 SPEAKER_198: Thank you very much.

00:18:05 SPEAKER_198: Oh, did you want to go?

00:18:07 SPEAKER_198: Do you have a question?

00:18:08 SPEAKER_198: Yep, go ahead.

00:18:09 SPEAKER_198: Thank you.

00:18:09 SPEAKER_198: Can you tell me what percentage of your players are Owen Sound, youth, and outside Owen Sound?

00:18:15 SPEAKER_198: I would suggest we're probably in that seventy to eighty percent range, but I would have to look at the numbers because we do adhere to the out of town policy and make sure that those members that aren't are signed up through that as well.

00:18:35 Melanie Middlebro: So every year that fluctuates a little bit, but I would say eighty percent is probably a good target for that.

00:18:42 Melanie Middlebro: Yep.

00:18:42 SPEAKER_011: Does anyone else have any questions?

00:19:01 SPEAKER_011: Seeing none.

00:19:02 SPEAKER_011: Okay.

00:19:02 SPEAKER_011: Thank you.

00:19:02 Jarret Koop: Thank you very much.

00:19:06 Jarret Koop: Okay.

00:19:07 Jarret Koop: At five B, we have a deputation from Jarrett Koop of the Georgian Bay Folk Society regarding in kind support for Summer Folk Music and Craft Festival.

00:19:17 Jarret Koop: So welcome, Jarrett.

00:19:17 Jarret Koop: Okay, welcome.

00:19:18 Jarret Koop: Thank you.

00:19:19 Jarret Koop: It seems like just yesterday I was here.

00:19:24 Jarret Koop: Wonderful.

00:19:25 Jarret Koop: All right, so I think most of you were here for my presentation in January, but just to go over some of those things again, what I was asking for in January was a three-year, multi-year partnership akin to what was provided in support last year.

00:19:27 Jarret Koop: Again, the reasons why I think it's a good idea for the City and for the Georgian Bay Folk Society to partner on the Summer Folk Music Festival is the history, which has helped shape the park and make it what it is today.

00:19:41 Jarret Koop: The value exchange, you know, it is one of the largest events, one of the largest cultural events in the area.

00:19:51 Jarret Koop: We bring a lot of people from out of town, and we bring a lot of artists who would not play here, or be exposed to the audiences here any other way.

00:20:03 Jarret Koop: We do this through various ways that we fund the festival, and I think that's one of the things that maybe I've never mentioned is the festival itself really only pays for about sixty percent of the organization.

00:20:20 Jarret Koop: To in order to, in today's economics, for the festival to pay for itself, we would need to sell a similar number of tickets that we already do, which is between two and three thousand, depending on the year, and we would need to do that at a price that's probably somewhere between $300 and $350, which becomes a pretty large impediment for people who want to come to the festival, but also for us to deliver on our mandate, which is to expose the area to the folk arts.

00:20:52 Jarret Koop: And for an idea, like if you take a look at private festivals like Boots and Hearts and things like that, you'll see those kind of ticket prices because that's what it takes these days.

00:21:22 Jarret Koop: Um, obviously, I think the issue that I had with my earlier presentation was twofold.

00:21:26 Jarret Koop: One was I think my timing was off, coming after the budget was already set, and I didn't really think that would be an issue because the previous year it was at the same time.

00:21:28 Jarret Koop: But looking back on it now, I know it put you folks in a very difficult position, and the other issue was I don't think I made my ask very clear.

00:21:35 Jarret Koop: I made my case for why we should be partners, but I don't think I actually made the actual ask very clear.

00:21:42 Jarret Koop: So one of the reasons why I wanted to talk about it was last year you guys came on and helped support us, and I came back here to tell you that it worked.

00:22:09 Jarret Koop: It did.

00:22:10 Jarret Koop: It really did set the tone for negotiations with other potential sponsors and supporters.

00:22:14 Jarret Koop: It set the tone with our talks with Zoomer.

00:22:20 Jarret Koop: It set the tone for a lot of things, and seeing the City and the Georgian Bay Folk Society working hand in hand actually made it a lot easier to have these discussions with other organizations.

00:22:37 Jarret Koop: So just the optics alone made a lot of other aspects of our operation easier.

00:22:43 Jarret Koop: But the other thing is, you know, obviously the money support, the in-kind support, was a big one as well, and that's because of the recent increases in prices, not just yourselves with the rental prices, but also across the board.

00:22:45 Jarret Koop: Coming out of the pandemic, we had a forty percent increase in costs when averaged out across everything, and that hit everybody.

00:23:10 Jarret Koop: That didn't just hit us; that hit everybody.

00:23:13 Jarret Koop: And for an organization like ours, we're not able to absorb something like that, so we need help.

00:23:18 Jarret Koop: And the result of that was we lost money.

00:23:21 Jarret Koop: We tried to keep our prices inexpensive and to make it more available for the public, and we lost money.

00:23:28 Jarret Koop: We lost money in 2023, and we lost money in 2024.

00:23:31 Jarret Koop: Obviously, the storms in 2024 didn't help.

00:23:34 Jarret Koop: But last year we did do well, and we were able to retire two-thirds of our debt, which was about $100,000.

00:23:44 Jarret Koop: But that still left a little over $50,000 in remaining outstanding balance.

00:23:47 Jarret Koop: So, where that leaves us as an organization like this is, we need two more good years to put ourselves in a decent financial position, and that also depends a little bit on the weather.

00:23:49 Jarret Koop: But we have shown that through, you know, budgeting as close to the bone as we can, even when we get hit with the major weather, we don't lose as much money as we probably should.

00:24:01 Jarret Koop: So, by running lean and by asking for support where we can, I think we have the opportunity over the next two years to finally put this organization and the festival in a position where we can start giving back in a lot of other ways.

00:24:18 Jarret Koop: You know, I would like to see it where we reach a point where we're able to support other organizations like yourselves, like being able to purchase a banner spot and put it up, or other organizations like that to help, you know, the rest of our community because we're not the only ones who are dealing with the same problems.

00:24:36 Jarret Koop: But I think it starts with us actually putting together a long-term partnership plan.

00:24:43 Jarret Koop: Now that's not what I'm asking for here today, because I understand the circumstances that we're in this year.

00:25:04 Jarret Koop: What I'm asking for today, very clearly, is an in-kind support similar to what you would do for other festivals like the Festival of Northern Lights and others, and through that in-kind support, waive the fees, the rental fees for the park.

00:25:18 Jarret Koop: Something like that can help us a great deal with our cash flow.

00:25:23 Jarret Koop: Leading up to the festival, we will put out somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000 to $200,000 in the last couple of months, and over the festival weekend, and cash flow can become an issue.

00:25:39 Jarret Koop: And something as simple as $4,000 can make a big difference.

00:25:44 Jarret Koop: Why the support matters now?

00:25:46 Jarret Koop: I think I've talked a little bit about that already, but I did want to just pull us back to there is an economic return for our community directly from this festival, and indirectly as well.

00:25:48 Jarret Koop: But directly, you know, we'll bring $200,000 to $300,000 in economic activity.

00:25:54 Jarret Koop: We fill every room, every bed, every campground site, and we're one of the first weekends to sell out up here.

00:26:16 Jarret Koop: We support local artisans, vendors.

00:26:18 Jarret Koop: We support local food vendors.

00:26:19 Jarret Koop: We do bring some in, obviously, because we don't have all of the choices locally.

00:26:21 Jarret Koop: But we do support a lot of the local ones as well, and we attract thousands of visitors.

00:26:24 Jarret Koop: So there is definitely an economic case for why it's important for us to continue on what we're doing, and I think that it's vital and integral to our festival and to our organization that we build strong partnerships.

00:26:58 Jarret Koop: You know, we've started building a good partnership with the Salmon Derby.

00:27:02 Jarret Koop: Working with Chris has been excellent.

00:27:03 Jarret Koop: They've been taking our promotional products around already this year.

00:27:05 Jarret Koop: We try to promote them for the rest of the year.

00:27:07 Jarret Koop: We'd like to give them a spot at the festival to promote their festival.

00:27:09 Jarret Koop: We've opened up a community village which supports and showcases community-facing and not-for-profit organizations.

00:27:17 Jarret Koop: So I think there is an opportunity here still for us to continue talking to each other and work at an agreement that works for everybody and helps support the festival, keeps it here, and helps it grow and become solid and something that we can hopefully last for another fifty years.

00:27:51 Jarret Koop: Okay.

00:27:52 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you, Jarrett, for that presentation.

00:27:55 Melanie Middlebro: You are right.

00:27:56 Melanie Middlebro: You do put heads in beds, and it's great for the economic development in the City.

00:27:58 Melanie Middlebro: I know that we've worked together before as Council and the City with you.

00:28:00 Melanie Middlebro: So, hopefully, we can continue that going into the future.

00:28:14 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone have any questions for Jarrett?

00:28:16 Melanie Middlebro: Marian, go ahead.

00:28:20 Jarret Koop: Thank you.

00:28:20 Jarret Koop: Thanks for coming back again, Jarrett.

00:28:21 Jarret Koop: Can you tell me some of the major sponsors that you've already had last year that are coming back again?

00:28:24 Jarret Koop: Certainly.

00:28:25 Jarret Koop: This is going to be off the top of my head, so I'm sure I'm going to miss some.

00:28:28 Jarret Koop: But Miller Waste, right off the bat, their services are mostly in-kind, but they take great care of us.

00:28:36 Jarret Koop: And a couple of years ago, when we started up our composting, this was before the City had a compost plan.

00:28:46 Jarret Koop: They were integral in allowing us to even create the program.

00:28:51 Jarret Koop: So we've been composting at the festival now since 2022, and the first year was 600 kilograms.

00:28:58 Jarret Koop: I'm not sure what the measurement last year was, but it was probably well over 800.

00:29:12 Jarret Koop: So that's a program that's growing and a sponsorship partnership.

00:29:16 Jarret Koop: Zoomer has come in; they've been a great partner already.

00:29:18 Jarret Koop: We're talking to them about a multi-year deal now.

00:29:19 Jarret Koop: Bayshore has always been a great supporter; they're back again this year.

00:29:21 Jarret Koop: Oh, I just gave the list.

00:29:24 Jarret Koop: I should have brought a card with the list on it.

00:29:43 Jarret Koop: There would be Engage Financial is another.

00:29:45 Jarret Koop: Skyline Living.

00:29:45 Jarret Koop: We were just talking to.

00:29:46 Jarret Koop: They weren't sponsorship last year, but they are coming back, coming in this year with something.

00:29:48 Jarret Koop: I'm sorry, I'm trying to blank, but there's about eight or nine so far.

00:30:04 Jarret Koop: Do you have a like a dollar amount of sponsorship you've already gotten?

00:30:08 Jarret Koop: So the dollar amount I don't have off the top of my head, but we're looking right now in the neighborhood of about fifteen thousand dollars, and with the asks that are going out to the OTG group as well, with the asks that are going out, we should be in the range of about twenty-five thousand.

00:30:33 Jarret Koop: A range of about twenty-five thousand dollars, but we are looking at.

00:30:45 Jarret Koop: Last year we ended up at just under forty thousand dollars in cash and somewhere around thirty-five thousand dollars in in-kind, and we have that included the ten thousand dollars from the city, so we're looking to replace that, and there's also a nine thousand dollar program that we've been doing with the French language program, CSC Providence, that is part of the organization that runs Saint Dominic.

00:31:13 Melanie Middlebro: So, we're not sure if they're coming back or not.

00:31:18 Melanie Middlebro: There were some changes in their structure, so we don't know what their deal is yet.

00:31:27 Melanie Middlebro: And just a question to staff: Have we, are we in the habit of giving in-kind fees to other organizations or festivals?

00:31:42 Pam Coulter: I don't know if we've set precedence anywhere.

00:31:47 Pam Coulter: Through the chair to Councillor Koepke, the city does have agreements with Community Waterfront Heritage, Billy Bishop Festival of Northern Lights.

00:31:49 Pam Coulter: Last year, as Jared has referenced, council did waive or provide an in-kind donation equal to the park rental fee last year.

00:32:09 Lance: Does anyone else have any?

00:32:10 Lance: Lance, go ahead.

00:32:11 Lance: Really, more just of a comment.

00:32:13 Lance: I think you made a compelling argument, but we, we as a city, are certainly up against a wall in a hard place in trying to be fair to everybody and every organization.

00:32:15 Lance: Would be, I would encourage staff to work with your group to see if there is an opportunity to, to support the folk, our sorry, Summer Folk much more strongly because it is a major economic driver and your economic case, I think, is quite strong.

00:32:34 Lance: But the economic case for many other groups is strong too.

00:32:36 Lance: So we have to find a way, on a policy basis, to kind of separate you from the herd.

00:32:42 Lance: So I don't know if that's possible or not, but I think sitting down with staff might be able to find some opportunities.

00:33:05 SPEAKER_202: So I'd be supportive of that kind of a discussion.

00:33:09 SPEAKER_202: Does anyone online have anything?

00:33:11 SPEAKER_202: Any questions?

00:33:12 SPEAKER_202: Travis Morgan, tonight.

00:33:12 SPEAKER_202: Morgan, go ahead.

00:33:14 Travis Morgan: Thank you.

00:33:16 Travis Morgan: Can you guys hear me all right before I just start talking?

00:33:21 Travis Morgan: Yeah.

00:33:22 Travis Morgan: Yeah.

00:33:23 Travis Morgan: Okay.

00:33:23 Travis Morgan: No, you can you hear me or no?

00:33:27 Travis Morgan: Yes, we can.

00:33:28 Travis Morgan: Travis can't.

00:33:28 Travis Morgan: Okay.

00:33:29 Travis Morgan: Anyways, what I was going to say is I agree with Lance, and if it can be an in-kind, similar to what we've done in the past, then yes, I think if that makes an assistance in continuing this great economic basis and event for the city, I think it would be a good thing to look into.

00:33:59 Melanie Middlebro: So I'm in agreement as well.

00:34:03 Melanie Middlebro: Okay.

00:34:04 Melanie Middlebro: Just looking to staff, we would need a motion for that.

00:34:13 Melanie Middlebro: Did someone want to move formally to move a motion at this point?

00:34:21 Melanie Middlebro: See none.

00:34:24 Melanie Middlebro: How do you say it?

00:34:29 Melanie Middlebro: I think you would be looking for something along the lines of the Community Services Committee would recommend council to consider in-kind donation for the park rental for Summer Folk 2026, something along that line.

00:34:49 Melanie Middlebro: Yes, does that cover it?

00:34:51 Melanie Middlebro: Just off the top of my head.

00:34:55 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, so are we all clear on the motion?

00:34:57 Melanie Middlebro: Lance, you're moving that, correct?

00:35:00 Melanie Middlebro: Yes, that's your motion, not mine.

00:35:02 Melanie Middlebro: Okay.

00:35:04 Melanie Middlebro: So I will call the question.

00:35:09 Melanie Middlebro: All those in favor, raise your hand.

00:35:11 Melanie Middlebro: So we have two, three, four, five.

00:35:14 Melanie Middlebro: So that carries.

00:35:16 SPEAKER_011: Okay.

00:35:16 SPEAKER_011: Thanks for coming in, Jarrett.

00:35:28 Jackie: So at item 5C, we have a presentation from the Senior Planner regarding Community Improvement Plan Program 2025 wrap-up.

00:35:33 Jackie: Welcome.

00:35:33 Jackie: Thank you, Madam Chair, and good evening, members of committee.

00:35:36 Jackie: I see a couple new faces here.

00:35:37 Jackie: So for those who don't know me, I'm Jackie.

00:35:39 Jackie: I am Senior Planner here at the city, and I'm here this evening to give you an overview of the Community Improvement Plan Grant program applications that were approved last year in 2025.

00:35:48 Jackie: So, to start with a bit of background, a Community Improvement Plan, or a CIP, is a tool provided to municipalities under Section 28 of the Planning Act for incentivizing development and revitalization in targeted areas.

00:36:01 Jackie: The city CIP was adopted in December of 2020 with a menu of twelve financial incentive programs to promote and support certain priority development and revitalization projects, including promoting redevelopment and conversion of brownfield properties, supporting downtown revitalization of storefronts, and supporting the adaptive reuse of underutilized buildings.

00:36:23 Jackie: In 2021, City Council delegated approval authority for capital grant programs to the Director of Community Services and the City Manager acting jointly, subject to certain criteria, including that the applications satisfy program-specific guidelines, were adopted by the city, and that the total amount of grant funding does not exceed ten thousand dollars.

00:36:44 Jackie: The purpose of this presentation is to summarize the CIP grant applications that were approved in 2025, both through the established delegation process as well as by committee and council.

00:36:57 Jackie: This slide summarizes the capital grant and tax incentive programs available under the CIP.

00:37:03 Jackie: Each capital grant program has its own set of program-specific guidelines, and as of 2024, all are delivered on a first come, first served basis.

00:37:12 Jackie: Capital grant programs are intended for property or business owners undertaking various kinds of improvements to their properties, such as repair or repointing, new exterior lighting, new accessibility features, such as an accessible door or ramp.

00:37:27 Jackie: Four capital grant programs.

00:37:35 Jackie: For capital grant programs, eligible property or business owners submit an application to the city.

00:37:43 Jackie: Once that is approved, and then the project is complete, the applicant receives the grant money.

00:37:45 Jackie: Tax incentive programs, on the other hand, do require approval by committee and council, and these financial incentives are typically provided through a rebate or a deferral of property taxes over a period of time.

00:38:04 Jackie: The focus of this presentation will be on capital grant program applications approved in two thousand and twenty-five under the Facade and Structural Improvement Grant Program and the Accessibility Improvement Grant Program.

00:38:18 Jackie: This slide summarizes the applications approved last year.

00:38:22 Jackie: There were a total of five, including three Facade and Structural Improvement grants and two Accessibility Improvement grants.

00:38:24 Jackie: In terms of budget expenditure, City Council approved a sixty thousand dollars operating budget for CIP programs in two thousand and twenty-five, which was just over half spent among the improved Accessibility and Facade and Structural Improvement grants.

00:38:37 Jackie: The remaining twenty-five thousand dollars budget that was not spent will be added to the CIP reserve and go towards funding CIP applications.

00:38:47 Jackie: And this year are on a go-forward basis.

00:38:50 Jackie: In terms of investment dollars, this year for every dollar invested by the City, about two dollars and forty-four cents was invested into the local economy by grant applicants in two thousand and twenty-five.

00:39:02 Jackie: So the City's investment is leveraged and multiplied more than twice over by private investment.

00:39:17 Jackie: Moving on to the approved Accessibility Improvement grants, there were two approved in two thousand and twenty-five.

00:39:24 Jackie: Two thousand and twenty-five, one for the New Topper's Pizza at 1047 Second Avenue East, for the installation of a new accessibility ramp and power door operator at the rear entrance, and a universal washroom, and one for the Reach Center of Grey Bruce for the installation of a drop curb and tactile walking surface indicator at the front entrance of their building, facing 88 Street East.

00:39:52 Jackie: Total project value of Accessibility Improvement grants was almost twenty-seven thousand dollars, with approximately thirteen thousand four hundred in grant funding anticipated.

00:40:00 Jackie: There were three Facade and Structural Improvement grant applications approved in two thousand and twenty-five.

00:40:22 Jackie: The first for Bear Birch, that's located at 920 Second Avenue East within the City's River District, for improvements to the rear facade of their building, which actually faces First Avenue East and the City's newly constructed Phase Two of the Downtown River Precinct.

00:40:32 Jackie: Topper's Pizza also received approval of a Facade and Structural Improvement grant for a new structural steel beam that was determined to be required during their demolition of the interior of the existing building, and lastly the former bus terminal building at 1023 Second Avenue East, also within the River District, received approval of a Facade grant for a new front entrance wood door and transom.

00:40:46 Jackie: The total project value of approved Facade and Structural Improvement grants was twenty-seven thousand six hundred, and the estimated grant funding is just under nine thousand dollars.

00:40:58 Jackie: So over the next few slides, I'll illustrate some before and after photos of approved projects.

00:41:04 Jackie: So this is the interior of the Topper's Pizza space.

00:41:08 Jackie: Encircled in red is the area that was identified as having a structural framing deficiency, and the applicant did retain a structural engineer to assess the required repairs and determine the installation of a 12 foot by 30 foot steel beam that would be required to rectify this issue.

00:41:18 Jackie: And here are the photos of the structural steel beam installed.

00:41:23 Jackie: And while this isn't necessarily a glamorous Facade improvement, it's a bit like replacing your furnace.

00:41:31 Jackie: It's not pretty, but it is necessary.

00:41:35 Jackie: And certainly the City's Facade and Structural Improvement grant program does support the correction of structural and life safety issues.

00:41:46 Jackie: Pictured here is the condition of the existing washroom in the building prior to project completion, and here is the universal washroom after.

00:41:58 Jackie: This is the condition of the rear entrance to the building that faces a private parking area prior to project completion, and this is after with the installation of the ramp and a new accessible power door operator at the rear entrance.

00:42:16 Jackie: This slide shows the accessibility works to be undertaken at the Reach Center Grey Bruce.

00:42:21 Jackie: So the red hatching shown on the slide will be a painted pedestrian pathway connecting to 88 Street, and where that pathway meets the internal sidewalk, the curb will be cut to provide barrier-free access to their front entrance.

00:42:38 Jackie: This is the existing rear facade of the Bearbridge property that faces First Avenue East, and this is a rendering of the proposed improvements to be undertaken.

00:42:50 Jackie: So it includes siding that will match the front of the building facing Second Avenue, a canopy covering the rear entrance door, lighting, signage, new windows, and as I mentioned, this facade does face two of the Downtown River Precinct project that was recently completed.

00:43:17 Jackie: So these improvements certainly will complement this capital project.

00:43:19 Jackie: Lastly, pictured on this slide is the old bus terminal building at 1023 Second Avenue East, and the owner received a Facade grant to replace the front entrance wood door and transom with a new wood door and transom, and we call this a like-for-like replacement.

00:43:31 Jackie: So this is a designated heritage property.

00:43:33 Jackie: The building is designated under Part Four of the Ontario Heritage Act for reasons of architectural and historical value and interest, and while the scope of the Facade improvement again seems small, the grant ensures that the improvements undertaken to the building are sympathetic to the heritage character of the property.

00:43:58 Jackie: And improvements to heritage buildings under the Facade grant are generally intended to be given the highest priority to encourage the maintenance, restoration, and rehabilitation of heritage buildings and facades for the benefit of the entire community.

00:44:13 Jackie: So that includes the presentation.

00:44:15 Jackie: I'm happy to take any questions.

00:44:27 Jackie: Thank you.

00:44:27 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you, Jackie.

00:44:30 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone have any questions?

00:44:32 Melanie Middlebro: Comments?

00:44:33 Melanie Middlebro: No. Anyone on screen?

00:44:34 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none.

00:44:35 Melanie Middlebro: Okay.

00:44:35 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

00:44:36 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, so that completes our deputations and presentations for this evening.

00:44:38 Melanie Middlebro: At number six, we have Public Forum.

00:44:39 Melanie Middlebro: Is there anyone here that wants to get up?

00:44:41 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none.

00:44:41 Melanie Middlebro: At number seven, correspondence received for which direction is required.

00:44:45 Melanie Middlebro: We have none this evening, which brings us to the reports of City staff.

00:44:49 Melanie Middlebro: At eight a, under Parks and Open Space, we have a report eight a one CS twenty six zero one eight from the Director of Community Services regarding a donation by the Tyson Downs Association for an outdoor automatic external defibrillator.

00:45:14 Pam Coulter: So, we're going to Pam for this one.

00:45:17 Pam Coulter: Yes.

00:45:18 Pam Coulter: Thank you.

00:45:18 Pam Coulter: The Tyson Downs Association was developed following his death from a sudden cardiac event in twenty twenty-three.

00:45:20 Pam Coulter: Family and friends of Tyson have created this association to promote, educate, and raise awareness in the hope of increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

00:45:28 Pam Coulter: So, the association is offering training to youth in CPR and AED use.

00:45:33 Pam Coulter: The whole program takes about an hour and a half, with the goal of enabling participants in the course to recognize a cardiac arrest and take appropriate action.

00:45:43 Pam Coulter: Heard some from some participants, and I think the young people that take the course have a lot of fun along the way.

00:45:53 Pam Coulter: I want to recognize Tyson's aunt and uncle, Sean and Deb Kruger, who are with us tonight, and I think we have a representative from Safe Station maybe on the line.

00:46:05 Pam Coulter: The addition of AEDs to public spaces, along with training and education, has been demonstrated to save lives.

00:46:13 Pam Coulter: So, back in February, staff met with representatives from the association to discuss the donation to the City of a Safe Station public access defibrillator cabinet and a Zoll three defibrillator.

00:46:40 Pam Coulter: So the donation would include the Safe Station outdoor cabinet, the defib unit, and this is the unit that is consistent with other units recommended by our Fire and Emergency Services.

00:46:52 Pam Coulter: And then eight years of cell service and monitoring of the case.

00:46:57 Pam Coulter: So that provides some pretty neat sort of monitoring and oversight of the space.

00:47:03 Pam Coulter: So working with the association, we've come up with three suggested locations, and this donation would be specific to Harrison Park.

00:47:12 Pam Coulter: But we're asking the committee to consider three, so we don't have to come back in future times.

00:47:17 Pam Coulter: So the first would be Harrison Park on the wall near the Inn Restaurant.

00:47:23 Pam Coulter: It does require a small amount of power, so it's close.

00:47:26 Pam Coulter: It's well situated because it's sort of in the shade under an overhang here at City Hall, and then also at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park on the outside of a splash pad building.

00:47:31 Pam Coulter: So the location at Harrison Park is really great.

00:47:44 Pam Coulter: It's highly visible.

00:47:45 Pam Coulter: It's a high traffic area.

00:47:46 Pam Coulter: It's close to the rink, playgrounds, and basketball courts.

00:47:49 Pam Coulter: And the park has over 150,000 cars that come in and then also go out each year.

00:47:55 Pam Coulter: So the estimated cost that would be on the part of the City would be estimated by our facilities group at 500 to a thousand dollars.

00:48:04 Pam Coulter: But the rest of the case, the defib unit, and the monitoring would be a donation.

00:48:06 Pam Coulter: So the recommendation is that the committee would recommend Council accept the donation of the cabinet and AED that you would approve the proposed location at Harrison Park and approve the other locations I had mentioned, and that you would direct staff to support the efforts of the Tyson Downs Association through communication, education, and awareness.

00:48:33 Pam Coulter: And when we met with the association, they offered training for staff too in this way.

00:48:38 Melanie Middlebro: And we do have staff that are first aid trained, but people looking for a shorter course this might be a real benefit.

00:48:49 Melanie Middlebro: So happy to take any questions.

00:48:52 Melanie Middlebro: And as I mentioned, Deb and Sean are here.

00:48:57 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, thank you.

00:48:59 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone have any questions or comments?

00:49:01 Melanie Middlebro: Marion, go ahead.

00:49:31 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you, and thank you so much to the Tyson Downs Association for their generosity in donating this essential piece of equipment to park and outside areas of the city.

00:49:40 Melanie Middlebro: I would move the recommendation in the report.

00:49:42 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

00:49:42 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone else have any further questions, comments?

00:49:43 Melanie Middlebro: Go ahead, Lance.

00:49:44 Melanie Middlebro: Anyone online?

00:49:44 Melanie Middlebro: Not seeing any hands.

00:49:45 Melanie Middlebro: Okay.

00:49:45 Melanie Middlebro: We all.

00:49:46 Melanie Middlebro: I'm not even gonna go there because I'm gonna start crying.

00:49:47 Melanie Middlebro: So, yeah.

00:49:48 Melanie Middlebro: He.

00:49:48 Melanie Middlebro: Yeah.

00:49:48 Melanie Middlebro: This is amazing.

00:49:49 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

00:49:49 Melanie Middlebro: So I will call the question.

00:49:50 Melanie Middlebro: All in favor?

00:49:51 Melanie Middlebro: And three hands on line, so that carries unanimously.

00:49:53 Melanie Middlebro: Thanks for coming in, guys.

00:50:20 Jackie: At 8B this evening, which is Planning and Heritage, we have 8B-1, a report CS-2-6-0-1-3 from the senior planner on draft sidewalk patio guidelines.

00:50:29 Jackie: So, we go back to Jackie.

00:50:30 Jackie: Thank you, Madam Chair, and through you, over the last month or so, I've been working with internal staff to update the city's 2011 Street Furniture and Sidewalk Patio Guidelines, and I'm here this evening to present to the committee some of the highlights of the newly updated guidelines and obtain input that will be considered in developing a final Sidewalk Patio Bylaw that will be brought forward to this committee in April, with final approval by Council occurring in May.

00:50:45 Jackie: As a bit of background for the purpose of this project, for starters, the policies of the city's official plan and River District Action Plan certainly support patios, particularly within the River District, to maintain the attraction of the area and activate the streetscape.

00:51:05 Jackie: Sidewalk patios gained popularity in 2020 and 2021 during COVID, and many operators wish to continue after this time.

00:51:12 Jackie: Community Services Committee and Council in 2021 passed a resolution that's before you on the screen, directing staff to update the street furniture and sidewalk patio guidelines.

00:51:14 Jackie: As I mentioned, the existing guidelines are a 2011 document, so given their age, certainly warrant review.

00:51:21 Jackie: In spring of 2022, the Ontario Traffic Council or OTC released restaurant patio guidelines for patios located within a road authority's right of way.

00:51:31 Jackie: And the OTC is an organization serving as a leading voice in multimodal transportation in Ontario, and the guidance developed by them is generally considered to be best practice.

00:51:41 Jackie: The updated draft sidewalk patio guidelines generally implement the OTC guidance, particularly related to the provision of roadside barriers for patios that are located within on-street parking spaces.

00:51:53 Jackie: So, moving on to the sidewalk patio guidelines, the purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that universal accessibility, public safety, and the streetscape experience are enhanced and not negatively impacted by the introduction of a patio within the city's right of way.

00:52:24 Jackie: The guidelines generally apply citywide.

00:52:25 Jackie: However, patios are only permitted where the city's zoning bylaw would permit a commercial use, and there is adequate area within the right of way that can meet the requirements of the guidelines.

00:52:38 Jackie: So, this is generally considered to be the city's River District or downtown commercial area.

00:52:42 Jackie: And illustrated on this slide here is is is the right of way, or what what we mean when we say the right of way?

00:52:44 Jackie: So, right of ways certainly look different in different areas of the city, but within the River District, it includes everything in between the buildings on either side of Second Avenue East.

00:52:52 Jackie: So that includes the road surface, the on-street parking area, utility street furniture strip, as well as the sidewalk.

00:53:05 Jackie: So the updated sidewalk patio guidelines will continue to require patio operators to submit a sidewalk patio application, and the updated guidelines aim to provide a more robust process for sidewalk patio applications.

00:53:20 Jackie: It is proposed that we would move to an intake window process, where staff would accept applications between January 1st and April 1st of each year, and we would work with Communications and River District staff to promote the opening of the program in January, to remind businesses of the time to apply and assist with application preparation.

00:53:40 Jackie: The introduction of an intake window is intended to improve customer service by managing staff workloads and bring certainty to operators regarding the ongoing availability of the program.

00:53:51 Jackie: So, operators that submit within this window will have assurance that their patio will be approved, and their approvals will be in place in order to begin operation May 1st to October 31st of each year.

00:54:05 Jackie: Certainly, we staff will maintain flexibility as it relates to the intake window.

00:54:11 Jackie: So, if there's potentially a new business that approaches staff in May and wants a patio, we'll certainly accept their application.

00:54:36 Jackie: Just noting that timelines after the window to process an application may be increased.

00:54:42 Jackie: So, patio applications do require input from several different departments outside of Planning, including Engineering Services and Building, and those divisions do experience enhanced workload during the summer months related to development and capital projects.

00:54:46 Jackie: Also new in 2027, we will for the 2027 patio season be able to manage sidewalk patio applications online via the city's cloud permit system.

00:55:00 Jackie: The updated guidelines also include the flowchart pictured here on the slide to outline for patio operators the sidewalk patio application approval process.

00:55:11 Jackie: So as I mentioned, those applications require input from other internal staff, including Engineering, Building, Police, and Fire.

00:55:20 Jackie: In 2021, City Council delegated approval authority for sidewalk patio applications to the Director of Community Services and the City Manager.

00:55:29 Jackie: In terms of approval timeline, processing timelines for patio applications certainly is dependent on the size and location of a proposed patio.

00:55:38 Jackie: So, for example, if it's just a patio located on the sidewalk, or if it is within on-street parking, approval timelines will differ.

00:55:48 Jackie: But with the introduction of staff delegation in 2021, we were typically able to issue approvals within two weeks.

00:55:54 Jackie: And with updated guidelines, it's expected that application review timelines would be further reduced.

00:56:02 Jackie: Moving on to operation guidelines for patios, the guidelines outline general operation guidelines that must be met by all patio operators.

00:56:13 Jackie: So these include things like adherence with all municipal and provincial bylaws, rules, and regulations, such as the city's noise bylaw, zoning bylaw, Ontario Building Code, and public health requirements.

00:56:24 Jackie: Ensuring that the area of the patio and furnishings are kept clean and in good repair, and that the patio be removed at the end of the season to make way for winter operations.

00:56:35 Jackie: The guidelines permit patios to operate between May 1st and October 31st of this year.

00:56:40 Jackie: And the updated guidelines clarify that for a licensed patio, capacity must be in accordance with the requirements of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, as well.

00:56:50 Jackie: The Ontario Building Code sets out capacity limits for establishments based on the number of washrooms.

00:56:55 Jackie: So a sidewalk patio does count towards outdoor dining capacity, and patio operators will have to ensure that those capacity limits based on their available washrooms are not exceeded in accordance with the code.

00:57:09 Jackie: If the sidewalk patio application is approved, a patio agreement continues to be required with the city, that is a requirement of the 2011 guidelines as well.

00:57:20 Jackie: And patio operators will have to provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of five million dollars for the operation of the sidewalk patio, indemnifying the city as the owner of the public lands on which the patio is situated.

00:57:33 Jackie: The guidelines also introduce a new requirement that patios be subject to an inspection by the city's building division prior to operation.

00:57:45 Jackie: Moving on to design guidelines, the guidelines permit three types of patios, and these have been informed through the Ontario Traffic Council guide.

00:58:00 Jackie: So the first is a frontage patio, and that's a patio located immediately adjacent to the building face, extending onto the sidewalk, as shown on the graphic on the slide before you.

00:58:15 Jackie: The next is a curbside patio.

00:58:16 Jackie: So a curbside patio is located adjacent to the curb where there is on-street parking, with a minimum 0.5 meter setback and a pedestrian route provided between the building and patio, and that's shown on the graphic on the slide before you.

00:58:40 Jackie: And lastly is a curb lane patio.

00:58:43 Jackie: So a curb lane patio is located on the street within a maximum of two parking spaces, and it's only permitted on roadways with a speed limit of fifty kilometers per hour or less, no more than two lanes of traffic and on-street parking.

00:58:53 Jackie: So the city's roadways within the River District, including Second Avenue East, Eighth Street East, and Ninth Street East, would meet these requirements.

00:59:00 Jackie: All patio layouts must provide an accessible route on the sidewalk for pedestrians, and the accessible route is sort of circled in red on the figure on the slide before you.

00:59:13 Jackie: And requirements for the width of the accessible route differs between the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

00:59:29 Jackie: So the AODA requires it to be 1.5 meters.

00:59:33 Jackie: Ontario Traffic Council guidelines and other standards adopted by other municipalities in Ontario do require 1.8.

00:59:38 Jackie: So as part of the recommendation of the report this evening, it is recommended that staff consult with the Grey County Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee on the draft sidewalk patio guidelines, and we will consult with AAC on the desired width of the accessible route, and it's expected that generally will require 1.8 meter wide accessible route where that can be achieved, where the right of way is large enough.

01:00:02 Jackie: However, recognizing that on adjacent streets such as Eighth Street and Ninth Street, this may not be possible due to the width of the road allowance.

01:00:20 Jackie: So, 1.5 meters would be required in that instance.

01:00:23 Jackie: Platforms.

01:00:23 Jackie: So, curbside patios that are located within on-street parking require the installation of a hard surface platform to bring the patio surface at grade with the sidewalk.

01:00:27 Jackie: The guidelines require that all platforms be firm, flat, stable, and have a non-slip level surface.

01:00:33 Jackie: Composite metal or wood decking is preferred, and platforms cannot obstruct storm water flows or block stormwater drains on the road.

01:00:43 Jackie: Roadside barriers.

01:00:51 Jackie: So the Ontario Traffic Council guidelines require that for all patios occupying either a parking lane or a curb lane on a roadway, a roadside barrier be installed to mitigate the risk of an errant vehicle striking a pedestrian, restaurant patrons, or restaurant staff.

01:01:00 Jackie: The draft guidelines implement the OTC guidelines and require that where a curb lane patio is proposed, roadside barriers be provided and installed in the city road allowance at the expense of the patio operator.

01:01:13 Jackie: So in the development of the draft guidelines, staff did review guidelines from other municipalities, and some municipalities do provide and install the roadside barriers where others have implemented a user pay system for roadside barriers.

01:01:32 Jackie: Recently, the municipality of Meaford has moved to continue the use of TL1 urban barriers for the 2026 patio season, with participating businesses covering the full cost of the rental.

01:01:46 Jackie: The roadside barriers are required to be what's called mesh rated or mesh tested, and different options for roadside barriers exist, as shown on the screen.

01:01:56 Jackie: So, the TL1 urban barriers that are employed by the municipality of Meaford are shown on the left.

01:02:13 Jackie: These are generally the most cost-effective.

01:02:15 Jackie: They are approximately twelve hundred dollars to rent for the patio season, and that's based on a curb lane patio that's located within one on-street parking space.

01:02:18 Jackie: Water or sand-filled barriers are shown center to the screen.

01:02:22 Jackie: These are also widely utilized across other municipalities in Ontario, however, are the most expensive option to rent, costing approximately eighteen hundred dollars for the patio season.

01:02:37 Jackie: Concrete jersey barriers are shown in the top right.

01:02:41 Jackie: So the urban and water-filled barriers meet the minimum requirements for roadside barriers as outlined by the Ontario Traffic Council guidance.

01:02:50 Jackie: The concrete jersey barriers have a higher crash rating; they're rated TL3 versus a TL1, and would provide a higher level of protection.

01:03:00 Jackie: And the cost to rent those is actually more effective than the water-filled barriers at fifteen hundred dollars for the patio season.

01:03:08 Jackie: So city planning staff are consulting with the Engineering Services Division on the type of barrier and crash rating that's recommended to be implemented and brought forward in a sidewalk patio bylaw.

01:03:25 Jackie: The draft guidelines include requirements around patio fencing.

01:03:29 Jackie: Generally, the guidelines serve to limit the use of fencing for smaller frontage and curbside patios to reduce visual clutter.

01:03:37 Jackie: Tactile tape is required to delineate the patio area for the benefit of the visually impaired.

01:03:42 Jackie: A curb lane patio within on-street parking requires fencing, particularly where there is a change of grade between the patio platform and the road surface.

01:03:53 Jackie: The guidelines permit the use of retractable awnings, umbrellas, and tents (size less than ten square meters) as sources of shade for sidewalk patios.

01:04:02 Jackie: Umbrellas and tents must be located within the patio area and properly weighed down in a way that does not damage city property.

01:04:10 Jackie: The draft guidelines provide updated considerations for maintaining fire safety, as well as permit and provide requirements for the use of patio heaters.

01:04:21 Jackie: And city staff have previously observed impacts to city-owned public waste receptacles as a result of the commercial operation of a patio, particularly during COVID.

01:04:31 Jackie: So the updated guidelines require that patio operators provide a minimum of one garbage receptacle for patio patrons, and the size and location is to be provided through the sidewalk patio application process.

01:04:44 Jackie: So before I conclude, I would like to note some themes that have been identified through consultation with internal staff on the draft sidewalk patio guidelines.

01:04:54 Jackie: First, the installation of a sidewalk patio within the right of way would typically require a temporary encroachment permit from the city's engineering services division, in accordance with the temporary encroachment bylaw.

01:05:07 Jackie: In consulting with Engineering Services, the updated guidelines will forgo the requirement for patio operators to obtain a separate TEP from Engineering Services, and instead rope this into the sidewalk patio application process to provide more of a one-window service delivery and more streamlined approvals process.

01:05:29 Jackie: The draft guidelines also retain the definition of street furniture as it's provided under the 2011 document and continue to require that the placement, maintenance, and design of any type of street furniture comply with the guidelines.

01:05:44 Jackie: So that includes that it cannot obstruct an accessible pedestrian route, that there be a sidewalk patio agreement with the city, and insurance be provided.

01:05:56 Jackie: In consulting with the city's River District Coordinator, Planning staff recognize the opportunity to streamline the application approval process for the placement of street furniture as well as small-scale frontage and curbside patios within the updated guideline, particularly where there isn't a change to the street furniture patio layout each year.

01:06:20 Jackie: So, we're in the final sidewalk patio bylaw considering reducing the application requirements for second or subsequent year patio applications.

01:06:33 Jackie: So those operators wouldn't necessarily need to apply to the city every year for a patio, but they just would have to provide an updated certificate of insurance.

01:06:42 Jackie: Lastly, in consulting with the Clerks Division, it's been recommended that the draft guidelines be transitioned into a bylaw, and the purpose of this approach is just to allow for enforcement.

01:06:54 Jackie: So should a patio be placed illegally within the municipal right-of-way, the city has the ability to enforce, which is not authority awarded under a guideline.

01:07:07 Jackie: So the content generally presented this evening will be the same.

01:07:12 Jackie: It will just be presented in a bylaw format in April.

01:07:19 Jackie: So that summarizes the key changes in the updated sidewalk patio guidelines.

01:07:23 Jackie: Staff did consult with the River District Board of Management at its meeting on March 11, and in terms of next steps, it's recommended that staff be directed to consult with the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee on April 2nd, as well as River District business owners with previous patio approvals.

01:07:43 Jackie: From there, we'll consider the feedback received from various stakeholders and bring forward a recommendation report with a draft sidewalk patio bylaw for consideration on April 22nd, with final approval by council occurring in May.

01:07:58 Jackie: So that concludes my presentation.

01:07:59 Jackie: I'm happy to take any questions, and I'll just end with the recommendation in the report before you this evening.

01:08:07 Jackie: So, in consideration of staff report CS 26-013, respecting the draft street furniture and sidewalk patio guidelines, the Community Services Committee recommends that council direct staff to consult with the Grey County Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee and River District business owners with previous patio approvals on the draft guidelines, and bring forward a report to Community Services Committee on April 22nd, reporting on the input received from stakeholders, and with a draft sidewalk patio bylaw for consideration.

01:08:36 Jackie: Thank you.

01:08:39 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you, Jackie.

01:08:39 Melanie Middlebro: That was a great report.

01:08:41 Melanie Middlebro: And it's nice to think that patio seasons upon us.

01:08:44 Melanie Middlebro: Yay!

01:08:45 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone have any questions, Marian?

01:08:55 Melanie Middlebro: Go ahead.

01:08:56 Melanie Middlebro: If you could just flip to the next step slide, I'm a little concerned that people wanting to apply have a deadline date of May the 1st, and this looks like it's a little complicated.

01:09:03 Melanie Middlebro: Is there any steps here that we can skip or move on to?

01:09:08 Melanie Middlebro: I'm thinking, why bring it back to Community Services?

01:09:25 Pam Coulter: Can it go directly to council?

01:09:27 Pam Coulter: Through the chair, it's the exact question the City Manager just asked me.

01:09:29 Pam Coulter: So, if there's not a lot of feedback from this committee, the River District feedback was not significant, and you know the question really for Grey County accessibility is one eight meters, one five, and maybe we have a best practice or a good practice.

01:09:45 Pam Coulter: But if the revisions and changes aren't significant, we could eliminate coming back to this committee on April 22nd and take it straight to council.

01:09:56 Pam Coulter: Although I haven't really looked at how the meeting dates work out, April 27th straight to council.

01:10:10 Pam Coulter: That would that would maybe be faster if there's not a lot of feedback with the bylaw that same night.

01:10:21 Melanie Middlebro: I think that would be much better and possibly satisfy those applying for the patio applications because they're going to be a little miffed if they can't apply for one after the adoption of the bylaw.

01:10:40 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone else, Lance?

01:10:41 Melanie Middlebro: Go ahead.

01:10:43 Lance: Great report.

01:10:44 Lance: A couple questions, similar or in the same vein as Marian's question.

01:10:50 Lance: I noticed that the approval process is Director, CAO, and on.

01:10:54 Lance: And no offense, but does the CAO need to be involved in that?

01:10:58 Lance: Having been a former CAO, I'm thinking.

01:11:01 Lance: Can't it just go on?

01:11:12 Lance: That's question.

01:11:12 Lance: Don't need an answer tonight.

01:11:14 Lance: Just flag it.

01:11:14 Lance: Secondly, the on-road barriers are and the OTC state is that a standard that has to be adhered to, or is that just a recommended standard?

01:11:17 Lance: And if you don't, the insurance companies won't insure you, and all of that.

01:11:20 Lance: Is that how it works?

01:11:21 Lance: But it's not mandatory.

01:11:23 Lance: The reason I ask that I come from Kingston, and Kingston's got a gazillion of these, and I don't remember these roadside barriers.

01:11:31 Lance: Maybe they're there, and I didn't see them.

01:11:33 Lance: Which takes me to the question: Is there a more aesthetically pleasing way to place these barriers?

01:11:40 Lance: Because when you're driving down Second Avenue East, it looks like a construction zone in the summer with all these big concrete Jersey barriers.

01:11:49 Lance: It's got to be something better.

01:11:51 Lance: And I see Meadford's gone to more of a looks like an aluminum or steel farm gate, which maybe is better.

01:11:57 Lance: I don't know, but just a question.

01:11:59 Lance: And there was a picture that you showed, what just flew by, that showed one of those that didn't seem to have there that one.

01:12:06 Lance: Looks like Kingston to me, but it's not.

01:12:18 Lance: I don't think.

01:12:19 Lance: But I don't see a barrier, a concrete barrier.

01:12:23 Lance: Yeah.

01:12:24 Lance: Anyway, just a question.

01:12:25 Lance: Don't need an answer tonight necessarily.

01:12:31 Melanie Middlebro: And I absolutely love your commitment to one-window processing.

01:12:34 Melanie Middlebro: Fabulous.

01:12:35 Melanie Middlebro: More of it.

01:12:37 Travis Dodd: Thank you.

01:12:38 Travis Dodd: Anyone on the screen that have any questions, comments, feedback?

01:12:41 Travis Dodd: Not seeing any.

01:12:41 Travis Dodd: Travis?

01:12:41 Travis Dodd: Yes.

01:12:42 Travis Dodd: Go ahead.

01:12:42 Travis Dodd: Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:12:43 Travis Dodd: And I think Lance hit a pretty good point right there.

01:12:45 Travis Dodd: And I'm just wondering if maybe staff could comment on the difference between you know whether a barrier is required, whether that's something that's been put in from legislation.

01:13:01 Jackie: Just further information on that would be great.

01:13:04 Jackie: I'll aim to address sort of both of your questions.

01:13:05 Jackie: So on the delegation, that was something put in place in 2021.

01:13:07 Jackie: So as part of this process, we we planning staff will work with Clerk staff in reviewing that as part of this process, because we recognize that potentially a more appropriate delegate would be the Director of Public Works and Engineering, for example, who is responsible for the temporary encroachment bylaw.

01:13:27 Jackie: On the roadside barriers, the Ontario Traffic Council is not a provincial statute or bylaw in the way that the Ontario Building Code is, for example.

01:13:40 Jackie: It is guidance material that said it's been developed by experts in the field and generally considered to be the best practice.

01:13:50 Jackie: When we consulted with the city's insurer on these draft patio guidelines, the direction that we received is that the city should be following that guidance.

01:14:16 Travis Morgan: Anyone, Morgan, go ahead.

01:14:18 Travis Morgan: Just curious, what are the three main changes between our current policies and processes and this one?

01:14:19 Travis Morgan: Is it the fast tracking of it, the window, the inclusion of roadside barriers?

01:14:36 Jackie: Like, where are we?

01:14:39 Jackie: Where's the main changes happening?

01:14:40 Jackie: I think definitely the one of the biggest changes in the updated guidance is around the patios that are located within on-street parking areas.

01:14:43 Jackie: The previous 2011 guideline, I don't know if it really contemplated that.

01:15:00 Jackie: So that's the largest change.

01:15:02 Jackie: Before you as well.

01:15:02 Jackie: The 2011 guidelines didn't have a robust process for sidewalk patio applications.

01:15:04 Jackie: We would have people pretty much applying at any time of year.

01:15:09 Jackie: So that is one of the biggest changes as well.

01:15:15 Jackie: And then overall, just in terms of the design, the design guidelines outlined in the patio guidelines is just to provide more specific guidance around what we would like a patio to look like, the types of material or colors around platforms and fencing that are preferred.

01:15:43 Travis Morgan: Okay, in that case, I'm happy to second the motion of changing the order and bringing it back to Committee Services and Community Services Committee.

01:15:52 Travis Morgan: I don't think we can bypass that step as well.

01:15:54 Travis Morgan: Pam, did you have something?

01:15:58 Pam Coulter: Just through you and Councillor Dodd had asked maybe and was thinking about there was a report in 2023, and it is summarized in the report.

01:16:09 Pam Coulter: And Council had previously opted not to include the roadside barriers, but our recommendation is as Jackie's outlined in accordance with the guidelines, and is to include them.

01:16:25 Pam Coulter: But we hear you make them look as nice as possible.

01:16:31 Pam Coulter: Um.

01:16:33 Melanie Middlebro: So, I when I first read this, I missed the part that you were going to River District business owners with previous patio approvals.

01:16:41 Melanie Middlebro: I thought you were going to all River District business owners.

01:16:44 Melanie Middlebro: My only—I just happened to have a business owner in my shop this morning who was coming to complain about something else.

01:16:53 Melanie Middlebro: But I knew this was on the menu tonight, so I asked what his feedback was on patios, and he said patios love them, except the ones that are in taking up parking spaces.

01:17:03 Melanie Middlebro: So I think you know the other business owners might have a say about taking up parking.

01:17:12 Melanie Middlebro: I don't know whether you want to expand it to getting feedback from everybody, but I would share that concern as a downtown business owner.

01:17:21 Melanie Middlebro: But on other than that, I think this is great.

01:17:24 Melanie Middlebro: I love everything about it, and the more patios, the better.

01:17:27 Melanie Middlebro: Hopefully, not on the road.

01:17:30 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone else have any feedback questions?

01:17:33 Melanie Middlebro: Yep, Mary, go ahead.

01:17:36 Melanie Middlebro: Do we have a limit of the number of parking spaces that can be taken up by patios in the downtown area in the River District?

01:17:45 Jackie: So a business is permitted to occupy a maximum of two on-street parking spaces.

01:17:50 Jackie: We don't currently have an overall cap.

01:17:53 Jackie: So we've traditionally had a low number of patios located within the downtown.

01:18:03 Jackie: So I guess the availability of parking hasn't necessarily become an issue.

01:18:07 Jackie: But if we had you know twenty restaurants who wanted two spaces each, staff can explore a total cap if that's something that's desired by the committee.

01:18:22 Tim Simmonds: Through you, chair.

01:18:22 Tim Simmonds: I appreciate and understand what I'm hearing on the taking up of spaces on street on Second.

01:18:29 Tim Simmonds: But I just wanted to remind committee that in the River District between on-street parking and lots, there's more than 800 parking spaces.

01:18:37 Tim Simmonds: So, even if you had four or five patios on Second, you're probably losing 10 on-street parking spaces, maybe 11 or 12 out of 800.

01:18:47 Tim Simmonds: So, just again as a reminder to committee, we have more than 800 spaces in the River District between lots and on-street.

01:18:56 Melanie Middlebro: Go ahead, Mary.

01:18:58 Melanie Middlebro: I would move the recommendation with an amendment to item two, being that should there not be any significant concerns identified by the River District or Grey County Joint Accessible Committee, that the report be brought forward to Council at their May or sorry their April 27th meeting along with the bylaw.

01:19:27 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, if everyone is okay with that, then I'm going to call the question.

01:19:33 Melanie Middlebro: All in favor?

01:19:35 Melanie Middlebro: And I've got three hands on the screen, so that carries.

01:19:38 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:19:40 Melanie Middlebro: I guess you're staying because we have at eight b two a report CS 26-021 from the senior planner regarding an application for Brownfield financial incentive at 1043 and 1057 Third Avenue East, known as Saint Clair Place.

01:19:58 Jackie: Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:20:00 Jackie: And through you, an application to the city's Brownfield financial tax incentive program under the Community Improvement Plan has been received by Lutheran Social Services for environmental remediation work completed at 1043 and 1057 Third Avenue East.

01:20:13 Jackie: The lands are shown on the screen before you and are located within the city's River District, north of the intersection of Third Avenue East and Tenth Street East, the lands previously contained a dry cleaning establishment and were contaminated from this former land use.

01:20:27 Jackie: The environmental remediation work completed at the property was required to facilitate redevelopment for a mixed-use development consisting of a six-story, forty-unit affordable rental apartment building, together with a seventy-five square meter commercial unit on the ground floor.

01:20:44 Jackie: Total eligible costs for the environmental remediation are three hundred and ninety-eight thousand two hundred and fifty-two dollars and eighty-seven cents pre-HST.

01:20:53 Jackie: Staff are recommending that the Brownfield Financial Tax Incentive Program application be approved and this amount be rebated back to the applicant through the cancellation of municipal taxes over a ten-year period, as described in the financial implications section of the staff report before you.

01:21:10 Jackie: This will result in the cancellation of municipal taxes in the amount of thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-five dollars and twenty-nine cents per year, commencing upon the first reassessment of the property by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation or MPA.

01:21:25 Jackie: The application will expire in the eleventh year when the amount of tax assistance is equivalent to the total cost for remediation.

01:21:34 Jackie: As some members of committee may recall, when the city updated its CIP in 2020, the purpose of that exercise was to bring the plan into conformity with the County of Grey's template.

01:21:45 Jackie: The city's CIP is consistent with the county, therefore, it is also recommended that staff issue notice to the county for the cancellation of municipal taxes and request that the county provide a similar cancellation for taxes levied for upper tier purposes.

01:22:00 Jackie: The province, through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, also offers Brownfield financial tax assistance on the education portion of property taxes.

01:22:08 Jackie: So, should this application be approved and a bylaw to cancel municipal taxes passed, staff it's recommended that staff be directed to submit that application for matching education property tax assistance to the ministry.

01:22:24 Jackie: Participation by the county and the province in the program will reduce the overall impact on city taxation revenue.

01:22:31 Jackie: With that, Madam Chair, the recommendation before you is that, in consideration of Report CS 26-021, respecting an application to the city's Brownfield financial tax incentive program by Lutheran Social Services for environmental remediation work completed at 1043 and 1057 Third Avenue East, the Community Services Committee recommends that Council approve the application subject to the conditions outlined in Schedule B of the staff report, direct staff to bring forward bylaws upon first reassessment of the property by MPA to cancel municipal taxes to a maximum of three hundred ninety-eight thousand two hundred fifty-two dollars and eighty-seven cents, and authorize a financial incentive program agreement.

01:23:10 Jackie: Direct staff to issue notice to the county of the cancellation of municipal taxes and request that the county pass a bylaw to provide a similar cancellation of taxes for levied for upper tier purposes, and direct staff to submit an application for matching education property tax assistance to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Municipal Services Division.

01:23:30 Jackie: Thank you.

01:23:32 Jackie: Okay.

01:23:32 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:23:33 Melanie Middlebro: Great report.

01:23:33 Melanie Middlebro: Again, does anyone have any questions?

01:23:37 Melanie Middlebro: I have two hands up on screen, so we'll go to Travis first.

01:23:44 Travis Dodd: Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:23:45 Travis Dodd: No questions.

01:23:46 Travis Dodd: This is exactly why we have the programming in place is to help with these properties that do have environmental contamination, so great that they're absolutely using it.

01:23:56 Travis Dodd: Also, when you start thinking about what the end use of that project is, I think any way we can do to support to ensure that Lutheran Social Services can move forward with that project, I think is in the best interest of the city.

01:24:08 Travis Dodd: So happy with the recommendations as noted within the report.

01:24:13 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, thank you, Morgan.

01:24:14 Melanie Middlebro: Do you have anything further?

01:24:16 Melanie Middlebro: I'll go to you next.

01:24:18 Travis Morgan: Thank you, and for you, Madam Chair.

01:24:20 Travis Morgan: Um, this is the first time I've heard of this or seen this.

01:24:24 Travis Morgan: So at first, you're kind of like, hold on, how much are we giving back in taxes, or how does this all work?

01:24:32 Travis Morgan: But can you confirm that?

01:24:36 Travis Morgan: Because we're already giving you know increase property taxes and increase taxes and stuff.

01:24:42 Travis Morgan: So come over the next, you know, ten years, the thirty-nine thousand dollars or forty thousand dollars that we're not recouping, do we recoup somewhere else?

01:24:54 Travis Morgan: Like, are we getting this money from our provincial government?

01:24:57 Travis Morgan: Like, how does this, how do the numbers drive?

01:25:01 Travis Morgan: If that makes sense.

01:25:07 Pam Coulter: Through the chair, the community improvement program is, in this case, not a grant but a tax incentive.

01:25:15 Pam Coulter: And when it was approved by council, Jackie remind me, was it done in 2021?

01:25:25 Pam Coulter: Yes, 2021.

01:25:28 Pam Coulter: One of the areas where council wanted to focus their efforts was in offering an incentive to remediate brownfield sites, particularly in the River District area as well as in the harbor.

01:25:42 Pam Coulter: So, with that in mind, this is a property that was formerly contaminated, and we think about properties and the business case to develop them.

01:25:54 Pam Coulter: And often, a brownfield remediation is challenging, particularly in a case like this where the housing project is going to be, I think, described as deeply affordable.

01:26:07 Pam Coulter: And so, the city had approved a program, and it's consistent with the Municipal Act and the County's plan.

01:26:15 Pam Coulter: But it allows for the city to partner with Grey County and also with the Ministry of Education to come together and say, with the newly developed property, that the taxes will be bigger than they are now, and that over the course of the ten years, the city, county, and school board will be able to refund or provide a tax equivalent grant back to them to offset this remediation cost.

01:26:47 Pam Coulter: And it really is an incentive.

01:26:49 Pam Coulter: But what happens is properties get developed that wouldn't otherwise be developed.

01:26:54 Pam Coulter: And after the payback period, the city and the county and the school board will see the full sort of benefit of those tax increases.

01:27:02 Pam Coulter: And in this case, as Councillor Dodd mentioned, we have the added benefit that it will be a project that's supported by Grey County financially, Lutheran Social Services, and provide much needed affordable housing.

01:27:17 Pam Coulter: So maybe we could plan to give the committee a bit of a primer.

01:27:24 Pam Coulter: Maybe a bit of a primer on CIPs at a meeting coming up because I think they are a really important tool in our toolbox, and we could maybe provide some information on them.

01:27:32 Travis Morgan: And I do, yeah, I do recall the CIP, and, similar to Jackie's presentation, we're seeing the use of it, which is great.

01:27:45 Travis Morgan: This is the first kind of brownfield financial tax incentive that I had seen before, or tax assistance.

01:27:53 Travis Morgan: Follow-up question, and again, I'm happy to move, you know, I second the motion and all that.

01:27:57 Travis Morgan: Just more of a taxpayer question is how many other CIPs have fallen under this brownfield financial tax, or do we see any more going to be falling under this incentive?

01:28:23 Jackie: I'm happy to follow up with the committee on the exact number.

01:28:28 Jackie: I think it's about eight or nine grants that the tax incentive grants that the city has historically approved, either under the Brownfield or Vacant Land Tax Assistance Program under the CIP.

01:28:43 Jackie: In terms of total potential eligible properties, we're not sure, but definitely the area of the city's harbor is one that is obviously deeply affected by previous industrial use, and the redevelopment of those lands will likely benefit from this CIP program in years to come.

01:29:13 SPEAKER_205: Thank you.

01:29:14 SPEAKER_205: I appreciate that, Travis.

01:29:16 SPEAKER_205: Go ahead.

01:29:19 Travis Dodd: Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:29:20 Travis Dodd: Great questions from Morgan.

01:29:21 Travis Dodd: I would say two that come to the top of my mind are one, where we look at the BCK property that's being done currently.

01:29:27 Travis Dodd: I believe that was also just recently approved for this similar project, and that's what kind of creates that development or that push for these developers by taking removing some of those additional costs that are going to be upfront costs for them.

01:29:44 Travis Dodd: So when we have areas that have been identified in you know public feedback about areas that are site specific that need to be redeveloped, the Harbor Way, which we know the land use was treated a little bit differently a hundred years ago than it is today.

01:29:58 Travis Dodd: So there would be a number there.

01:30:01 Travis Dodd: The other one would be regarding the Family Health Team, and that would have been a vacant tax or a brownfield incentive at that time as well.

01:30:07 Travis Dodd: And we got to see the development of that property on the waterfront.

01:30:10 Travis Dodd: So, it's a program that obviously, as the director noted, is intended solely to just create a little bit of an incentive and a little bit of an initial break that we're deferring over ten years.

01:30:26 Travis Dodd: But at the period of the eleventh year, that development is in a vacant piece of land that's assessed at a very low value.

01:30:32 Travis Dodd: It's now a fully operating property that's getting full tax rate applied to it.

01:30:40 Travis Dodd: Those are my comments.

01:30:41 Travis Dodd: Thanks.

01:30:41 Travis Dodd: Go ahead, Marion.

01:30:45 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:30:45 Melanie Middlebro: Just a technical question.

01:30:48 Melanie Middlebro: I fully agree with the program and the incentives.

01:30:52 Melanie Middlebro: However, we all know taxes increase annually, and the amount is stable for this ten years.

01:31:00 Melanie Middlebro: What happens to the difference amount of the taxes if it reached forty-two thousand instead of thirty-nine thousand something?

01:31:09 Melanie Middlebro: Is there a difference that the tax the owner property owner pays, or is it just waiving those fees for ten years in whatever amount they are?

01:31:23 Jackie: So the financial incentive program agreement that will be executed between the applicant and the city will lay out this payment schedule.

01:31:34 Jackie: We don't know the exact amount that the properties will be reassessed at by MPAC staff, planning staff, and financial services staff looked at some you know recently redeveloped properties and what their new assessment is.

01:31:52 Jackie: And if far exceeds like over a hundred thousand dollars, so the applicant will receive back, will pay the full amount of their taxes and then receive back in this case the forty thousand per year.

01:32:06 Jackie: Does that?

01:32:09 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, so Travis has moved the motion, recommendation.

01:32:13 Melanie Middlebro: If there's nothing further, I'm going to call the question.

01:32:17 Melanie Middlebro: All those in favor, and that carries unanimously.

01:32:21 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:32:22 Melanie Middlebro: Thanks, Jackie.

01:32:23 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, so that ends our reports from city staff.

01:32:27 Melanie Middlebro: At number nine, we have no matters postponed.

01:32:30 Melanie Middlebro: At number ten, we have no motions for which notice was previously given.

01:32:34 Melanie Middlebro: At eleven, under correspondence provided for information, we have two items: a memorandum from the chief building official and manager of planning and heritage.

01:32:44 Melanie Middlebro: Manager of Planning and Heritage on a development update.

01:32:51 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:32:53 Sabine Robart: Good afternoon, and for you, Chair.

01:32:56 Sabine Robart: This is the development update for February 2026, and it looks a lot better on the screen than it does here.

01:33:03 Sabine Robart: So, my apologies for maybe what's in the agenda.

01:33:09 Sabine Robart: It is February, but we did issue approximately 14 building permits and construction value of almost half a million dollars.

01:33:20 Sabine Robart: The SkyDev Building A structure has been completed up to the fifth story, and so if you're on the west side looking across to the east side of the bay, you can definitely see the building coming out of the ground now.

01:33:32 Sabine Robart: So that's very exciting.

01:33:33 Sabine Robart: I think they will be starting on their second building imminently.

01:33:37 Sabine Robart: So over the next couple of months, we'll be seeing an additional building going up there, and I would encourage everybody to drive, take a drive along East Bayshore Road, and have a look at the construction site and the building.

01:33:48 Sabine Robart: It is very exciting.

01:33:51 Sabine Robart: In regards to Planning Act applications, the committee of adjustment applications continue to be strong, so we're seeing a similar trend to last year of consents for infill lots and minor variances to support those.

01:34:04 Sabine Robart: Happy to answer any questions.

01:34:07 Melanie Middlebro: Any questions for Sabine?

01:34:09 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none.

01:34:11 Melanie Middlebro: I don't see any hands up.

01:34:12 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, thank you.

01:34:14 Melanie Middlebro: We also had a webpage from the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency received for information.

01:34:21 Melanie Middlebro: So if I just can get someone to move receipt of these items, Lance.

01:34:25 Melanie Middlebro: Thank you.

01:34:27 Melanie Middlebro: And if there's nothing further, I'll call the question.

01:34:29 Melanie Middlebro: All those in favor?

01:34:31 Melanie Middlebro: One, two, three.

01:34:33 Melanie Middlebro: I have four, five on the screen, so that carries.

01:34:38 Melanie Middlebro: At number twelve, we had no additional business.

01:34:40 Melanie Middlebro: At thirteen, notices of motion.

01:34:42 Melanie Middlebro: Does anyone have any notices of motion?

01:34:44 Melanie Middlebro: Seeing none.

01:34:47 Melanie Middlebro: At number fourteen, we have a resolution to move into closed session.

01:34:51 Melanie Middlebro: I'm going to go to Marion.

01:34:54 Melanie Middlebro: Move by myself that the community services committee now move into closed session to consider one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals respecting the Jan Chamberlain Volunteer of the Year, Senior of the Year, and Youth Volunteer of the Year nominations.

01:35:14 Melanie Middlebro: Okay, so I will call the question.

01:35:18 Melanie Middlebro: All in favor?

01:35:21 Melanie Middlebro: And I see everyone's hands up, so that carries.

01:35:23 Melanie Middlebro: So we will move now into closed session.