Owen Sound Committee - Operations Meeting Transcript — January 22, 2026

00:00:14 Speaker 01: Welcome, everyone.

00:00:14 Speaker 01: It's January the twenty-two nd, and this time I'll call the meeting of the operations committee to order.

00:00:22 Speaker 01: We are all gathered together in the chambers this evening, other than Member Krohn, who's absent.

00:00:29 Speaker 01: So. are there any items of additional business from any of staff first?

00:00:36 Speaker 01: Not seeing any, and from committee members, not seeing any.

00:00:41 Speaker 01: I do have a few which pertain to capital year end of year project updates for four capital items and one operational item.

00:00:56 Speaker 01: So I'll raise those at the end of the meeting.

00:01:00 Speaker 01: Declarations of interest.

00:01:11 Speaker 01: I'd be shocked if there's an interest at this time, and I'm not seeing. any to be mentioned.

00:01:25 Speaker 01: Confirmation of minutes: these minutes were approved by council without any comments or changes.

00:01:33 Speaker 01: So, are there any questions from committee members?

00:01:37 Speaker 02: Not seeing any.

00:01:41 Speaker 02: Just looking for a mover to receive those.

00:01:50 Speaker 02: Member Anderson has so moved.

00:01:54 Speaker 02: All those in favor, carried unanimously.

00:01:58 Speaker 02: Thank you.

00:02:04 Speaker 02: And we have a deputation this evening, and this time we'll go over the city.

00:02:16 Speaker 02: The city manager.

00:02:26 Speaker 02: Go over to city the city manager Tim Simmons to walk us through different proposals and to listen to committee members' feedback.

00:02:35 Speaker 02: So take it away, Tim.

00:02:38 Speaker 02: Thank you, Chair, and to committee.

00:02:45 Speaker 02: Thank you for the opportunity to present to you tonight on committee structure feedback.

00:02:55 Speaker 02: So in 2024, council directed that staff prepare a report on committee structures and structure options.

00:03:03 Speaker 02: The report was presented to council. on December fifteenth, twenty twenty-five, and at that meeting,

00:03:20 Speaker 02: council requested that staff consult with the city's standing committees and the art gallery advisory committee prior to council making a decision on committee structure.

00:16:16 Speaker 02: The report and presentation that went to council was linked through this meeting agenda, and so thus why I'm here tonight seeking feedback from the public members.

00:16:40 Speaker 03: Today, I'm going to present a few background slides and then facilitate the discussion of. four questions that were provided to you, also with this agenda.

00:17:01 Speaker 03: The purpose of this discussion is to receive feedback and insight again from from you as public members.

00:17:14 Speaker 03: This feedback will be presented to council in February.

00:17:28 Speaker 03: And if council decides to make changes to the committee structure, I'd remind everybody that those changes will not take effect till two thousand and twenty-seven.

00:17:45 Speaker 03: So again, we Brianna, our city clerk, met with committees last week.

00:17:55 Speaker 03: She's away this week, thus you have me as your. second option in the presentation tonight, Brianna does an excellent job,

00:18:06 Speaker 03: and I would like to just publicly acknowledge her work on all of the committee work to this committee.

00:18:26 Speaker 03: She has poured a lot of effort into this over the past year, and that leads us to the next slide, please.

00:18:33 Speaker 02: So, what is a committee?

00:18:43 Speaker 02: The Municipal Act notes that a committee includes advisory committees, subcommittees, or similar entities established by council.

00:18:55 Speaker 02: The purpose of a committee is. to assist council in decision making, policy development, and oversight of specific areas.

00:19:12 Speaker 02: Deeper to the same procedural bylaw requirements as council meetings, committees are flexible.

00:19:16 Speaker 02: All right.

00:19:18 Speaker 02: Thank. you, Christina.

00:19:28 Speaker 04: We've been given the go-ahead that our technical difficulties are repaired or fixed, and so Donald, they'll come back to to you again with question number two.

00:19:42 Speaker 04: What are your proposed solutions to those challenges?

00:19:52 Speaker 04: Now I have to remember the challenges.

00:20:02 Speaker 04: Oh boy!

00:20:09 Speaker 04: I'll start from the bottom to the top, I guess.

00:20:28 Speaker 04: With the idea of cultural sensitivity, I think that would be. helpful, certainly at the first orientation that new committee members have,

00:20:56 Speaker 04: and as people come on board throughout the term of the two or three year period that they're serving, perhaps a refresher or certainly more enhancement of the cultural sensitivity training would be useful.

00:21:13 Speaker 04: I think.

00:21:15 Speaker 04: As for the virtual question, I think we actually have a solution.

00:21:28 Speaker 05: As I understand, Council. sorry, the chair can decide if more virtual attendance can be done by committee members.

00:21:39 Speaker 05: I think that's correct.

00:21:45 Speaker 05: So that's good to know.

00:21:50 Speaker 05: That's available.

00:21:57 Speaker 05: That might be enhancing the recruitment process for persons with disabilities.

00:22:09 Speaker 05: Certainly, they could be more aware of that and maybe be informed that hey, if you have a disability, there are these options that you can take.

00:22:23 Speaker 05: And my first one was.

00:22:26 Speaker 05: I can't remember.

00:22:33 Speaker 02: Oh yes, knowing more about the departments.

00:22:48 Speaker 02: Yeah, I know that my first orientation for this committee, I kind of knew everybody and everything already because I've been around a few years.

00:23:08 Speaker 06: But for new members, yeah, having a more formal sort of approach in that this is who's in charge of what and this is how they do and this is how they work,

00:23:45 Speaker 06: and like the snow removal is an example or parks, or whatever comes up or roads, so that we have a more full understanding of what the operations covers, and then who's responsible for what areas.

00:24:07 Speaker 06: Thank you.

00:24:08 Speaker 05: Thank you, Donald.

00:24:18 Speaker 05: And maybe before I move on to to Robert, just a point that Donald did mention about the virtual meetings.

00:24:37 Speaker 04: Our committee clerk took a look at the procedural bylaw.

00:24:52 Speaker 04: As I mentioned, the procedural bylaw does cover all work of council and committees.

00:25:08 Speaker 02: The procedural bylaw actually. lays out that members can attend up to three meetings virtually.

00:25:20 Speaker 03: However, at the discretion or in working with the chair, the chair can amend that.

00:25:43 Speaker 03: So, if a member needed to attend most of the meetings virtually due to accessibility issues or whatever issue, then the chair can make that decision and grant that request for virtual attendance.

00:26:01 Speaker 03: Just so everybody can hear that response.

00:26:08 Speaker 03: So, with that, Robert, we'll move to you.

00:26:12 Speaker 03: Okay, well, I can speak to the training aspect or introductory aspect.

00:26:29 Speaker 03: I was a replacement for someone, so I didn't start with at the beginning of a year for for the committee in two thousand and twenty-three, and so I missed the the introduction part.

00:26:51 Speaker 03: But but I did manage to see it at the start of the next year when it occurred again, and I thought, well, that would have been a little bit handier to. have had,

00:27:22 Speaker 02: especially since the material was basically presented in a presentation that didn't require explanation, and even providing that to a new replacement member would would fill that bill.

00:27:36 Speaker 02: And that's the only recommendation I have on that.

00:27:39 Speaker 03: Thank you, Robert.

00:27:41 Speaker 03: Michelle.

00:27:45 Speaker 03: I'll just get you to go back to your microphone.

00:27:51 Speaker 03: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

00:27:59 Speaker 03: It's been a long day, so just back to the proposed solutions.

00:28:13 Speaker 03: I'm just going to use an example of how we had a presentation from the seniors group from Harrison Park.

00:28:23 Speaker 03: We didn't. make an order or anything.

00:28:38 Speaker 03: Like nothing came about from that request for funding or for sorry for extending the transit to the opening of the Harrison Park.

00:28:54 Speaker 03: What happened was the next day I heard it on the radio that committee had shut down that request.

00:29:13 Speaker 03: So I think there's that perception of if you're in. the public and you come to committee and you make a presentation, it's not going to be forwarded or solution.

00:29:39 Speaker 03: Even though we offered a solution to the members that were here, that wasn't what got transposed to the general public.

00:29:55 Speaker 03: So maybe as part of the solution would be, you know, after meetings where there's a public consultation or something. is presented;

00:30:15 Speaker 04: that there be feedback to the local radio stations to let them know the reasons why the it wasn't taken any further,

00:30:27 Speaker 04: as opposed to letting the perception be that committee or council were not listening to the public.

00:30:46 Speaker 04: Great, thanks, Michelle and Arlene.

00:30:53 Speaker 04: To you, through you, Chair Donald, sort of probably answered. mine too.

00:31:03 Speaker 04: I was just thinking maybe more in your training, which was very good.

00:31:15 Speaker 04: More of an orientation to each department.

00:31:24 Speaker 04: I'm not just sure the best way to do that.

00:31:36 Speaker 04: You, I guess, you wouldn't want too time consuming for staff.

00:31:45 Speaker 05: But if you had something in writing, even maybe.

00:31:49 Speaker 05: Thank you.

00:31:50 Speaker 05: Great.

00:31:51 Speaker 05: Thanks so much.

00:31:55 Speaker 05: We'll move on to question number three.

00:32:00 Speaker 05: Question three: What else should count?

00:32:12 Speaker 05: What else should council know to help them with their decision about the city's committee structure?

00:32:27 Speaker 05: And I'll start with you, Arlene, and come back this direction.

00:32:40 Speaker 05: Mine is sort of intertwined with question four.

00:32:50 Speaker 05: The public aren't really aware of what the committees do.

00:32:58 Speaker 05: I don't think they aren't interested.

00:33:04 Speaker 05: Maybe I don't know, but or don't have time.

00:33:12 Speaker 05: So I don't know where to begin.

00:33:22 Speaker 06: Have time, so I don't know if there'd be some way to.

00:33:37 Speaker 02: I guess you can't really tell them what the agenda is before, but they seem to find out after what's done and don't know ahead of time.

00:33:59 Speaker 02: But I'm not just clear on what the procedure is, and how like they can watch it online if everyone knows that or not.

00:34:11 Speaker 06: That was just something that I thought maybe for the public.

00:34:15 Speaker 06: Thank you, Michelle.

00:34:25 Speaker 06: Through you, Mr. Chair, I had a look at the layout and the suggestions for the committee structure, and I think it sounds very reasonable.

00:34:40 Speaker 06: The only concern I would have is if you have seventeen council members sitting on a specific committee.

00:35:05 Speaker 02: Is there how effective is that going to be if there's. if they can all agree on how to proceed with the because it seems to be heavy on the counselor presentation and less on the

00:35:20 Speaker 02: public presentation.

00:35:21 Speaker 02: Thank you.

00:35:23 Speaker 02: All right, Michelle.

00:35:26 Speaker 02: Thank you, and Robert.

00:35:30 Speaker 07: I'm not sure I can make any recommendations on on that.

00:35:45 Speaker 07: Having been on several committees, you sort of got the feel of. what's their responsibility and what's what's the other other ones are, but nothing else I can recommend.

00:35:59 Speaker 07: Thank you, and Donald.

00:36:01 Speaker 07: If you repeat the question again, Tim.

00:36:04 Speaker 07: Sure, question three.

00:36:11 Speaker 07: What else should council know to help them with their decision about the city's committee structure?

00:36:18 Speaker 07: I'm just trying to think.

00:36:25 Speaker 07: As my previous committee, a council committee member said, it kind of blends in with number four.

00:36:31 Speaker 07: My answer.

00:36:34 Speaker 07: Trying to separate the two in my head.

00:36:46 Speaker 02: Oh boy, I think that the council could probably benefit from looking at the number of. community contributors to each of the committees.

00:36:55 Speaker 02: Whether we do, as you said, there were six options.

00:37:06 Speaker 02: My preference, certainly as a community member, would be option three, and I think the ratio was five community members and four council members.

00:37:27 Speaker 02: If that's correct, off the top of my head, I believe so, but I can't I can't verify that for certain without that report.

00:37:39 Speaker 02: Well, in general, I would suggest that if we can increase the number of community members on whatever standing committees get created out of this process,

00:37:55 Speaker 02: it might contribute more to how people perceive our involvements on committees and to council, and to give council a better perspective of what community opinions are.

00:38:13 Speaker 02: Because each of us, as individuals, certainly have opinions to share about how. or what is going on,

00:38:31 Speaker 02: but also some of us might also represent a group within the community that would also be of interest to share that information or opinion.

00:38:51 Speaker 01: So I think the general idea is the more community involvement, it would help benefit the council and the committees.

00:38:58 Speaker 01: Donald, thank you.

00:39:12 Speaker 03: And then we're going to go to our last question, and Donald, you're going to be up first on this.

00:39:30 Speaker 02: So question number four, and as you've mentioned, I think a couple times, some of your responses have been. intertwined with question four, and for all public members, don't worry about that.

00:39:43 Speaker 02: Just repeat.

00:39:52 Speaker 02: Also, if if you feel like you've said it before, say it again, and no no issues with that.

00:40:07 Speaker 07: So, question number four is: Are there ways the committee structure or processes could better support participation from public members?

00:40:23 Speaker 07: Yes, I think there are some ways to make it better.

00:40:33 Speaker 08: Certainly, I think. of this process as sort of the recruitment process.

00:40:49 Speaker 08: One of the suggestions I have is targeting our recruitment process to obtain community volunteers instead of doing a general sort of broadcast through our media.

00:41:04 Speaker 08: That yeah, we're accepting new community committee members.

00:41:27 Speaker 08: Perhaps targeting certain areas where we find that we would like to have more involvement from our community, like the LGBTQ community, like the community of disabled persons, like persons who are blind or visually impaired,

00:41:41 Speaker 08: like people who have neurodiversity.

00:41:50 Speaker 08: These are ones that, of course, pop up because I'm more familiar with them.

00:42:07 Speaker 08: Maybe targeting people who are in arts and culture to contribute as committee members to our committee members to our committees.

00:42:25 Speaker 08: Another thought in that same sort of general area is around disabilities and how to. be more specific about how to attract them.

00:42:46 Speaker 08: I know that it says we're an inclusive, equitable, and accommodating environment, but having said it and then having doing it is sometimes quite different.

00:43:12 Speaker 03: I know, in my personal experience, being on this committee, there were some challenges that needed to be resolved to accommodate my disability and my access to information.

00:43:36 Speaker 03: But I'm not sure that within. other areas of the disabled community, they are aware that that is a possibility.

00:44:03 Speaker 03: For example, people who are neurodivergent might find a two or three-hour meeting taxing, difficult to attend, even if it's only once a month.

00:44:29 Speaker 03: There might be some accommodations that they might need, but not realizing that that could be done, they don't apply to be on a committee.

00:44:46 Speaker 08: So maybe educating the public about yeah, we can accommodate, and these are strategies that. you can let us know about, or needs you to let us know about,

00:44:58 Speaker 08: and are strategies that we can work with.

00:45:08 Speaker 08: I think that's it.

00:45:14 Speaker 08: Donald, thanks so much.

00:45:24 Speaker 04: Robert, I think one of the things about committees is having a three-year commitment to be on a committee might be difficult for some people, or not challenging,

00:45:40 Speaker 08: but they don't want to take on. that long a commitment.

00:45:57 Speaker 08: The other part is people making presentations to committees are would sometimes be afraid to just speak in public, and unless there was a large group attending that they could be part of,

00:46:21 Speaker 07: people don't feel comfortable doing it on their own, and so we miss out on on input from that direction.

00:46:41 Speaker 07: One of the things that the city has is a The city has this remarkable linkage to you know past topics that have been covered when city council talked about it, when another committee discussed it,

00:47:02 Speaker 07: and and that gives that can give a flavor for what goes on.

00:47:20 Speaker 07: But people have to know about that to feel comfortable with it.

00:47:38 Speaker 07: To know that if they came to a meeting and they were the only one making a presentation, that they would still be welcome and they wouldn't be shot down.

00:47:54 Speaker 07: Thank you, Robert.

00:47:56 Speaker 07: Michelle.

00:47:57 Speaker 07: Through you, Mr. Chair.

00:48:19 Speaker 07: I, sorry, I was looking at the structure, the better ways, and I think there's a lot of information in the package that was sent out that ties back to the vision.

00:48:47 Speaker 07: Two Thousand and Fifty, the strategic plan, which outlines a lot of diversity and inclusion, the growth as expected, the business development.

00:49:07 Speaker 07: I think there's an opportunity to really market specifically to groups that we don't see.

00:49:26 Speaker 07: The demographics for the public members on the committee don't represent sometimes like the younger families that. or individuals that could be represented, and also too, as Donald said, with the LGBTQ community,

00:49:42 Speaker 07: we see it at work too.

00:49:53 Speaker 07: That you know, we look at the lens a little differently from diversity and inclusion.

00:50:08 Speaker 07: So, you know, we notice that there's opportunity to have representation on the committees to be much more, and if Owen Sound is going to move. to meet that strategic plan.

00:50:29 Speaker 07: That's kind of where you're going to have to look for marketing towards getting those type of groups or members to participate.

00:50:43 Speaker 09: Yeah, I really liked the plan.

00:50:49 Speaker 09: I thought there's a lot of good things about it in terms of the recommendations.

00:51:03 Speaker 09: I do like the two-year idea because as our other member said, sometimes three years can be daunting for people.

00:51:12 Speaker 09: So yeah, restructuring that way.

00:51:15 Speaker 09: Yeah.

00:51:18 Speaker 09: So that's all.

00:51:24 Speaker 09: Thanks, Michelle.

00:51:25 Speaker 09: Thanks so much, Arlene.

00:51:30 Speaker 09: I thought the term change might help attract more public members.

00:51:37 Speaker 09: This question: Are you?

00:51:41 Speaker 09: Are you?

00:51:44 Speaker 09: Is it aimed to public?

00:51:51 Speaker 07: making presentations or public members on the committees.

00:51:58 Speaker 07: That's a great question, and I had that question last night.

00:52:18 Speaker 07: Also, it's it's aimed at the members of the committee rather than having public, getting more public to come to a meeting.

00:52:41 Speaker 07: Okay, so I see in the highlights here of that you're recommending we go from six committees to three.

00:52:56 Speaker 09: Part of the reason I'm seeing is because you can't get public members, or you're challenged to recruit them.

00:53:12 Speaker 09: Well, if you have three committees instead of six, will that not give you less public members overall?

00:53:22 Speaker 09: Are you going to have?

00:53:31 Speaker 09: I'm just saying you'd have fewer public members if you had fewer committees, or maybe I'm seeing that wrong.

00:53:45 Speaker 09: I'm not certain I'm following. completely.

00:53:54 Speaker 09: I think yes.

00:54:07 Speaker 09: One of one of the notions that the clerk made in her report was public member recruitment in general for any committee has has proved difficult or taxing.

00:54:19 Speaker 09: It's not impossible.

00:54:22 Speaker 09: Don't so.

00:54:26 Speaker 09: I don't want to put too much emphasis on that.

00:54:40 Speaker 09: But when when recruitment notices go out, separate from some of the comments we heard today about maybe targeting and stuff.

00:54:51 Speaker 09: But when we do a general call out for committee members and what people might be interested in.

00:55:01 Speaker 09: We might have three or four committee openings, and receive seven or eight applications only.

00:55:15 Speaker 09: It's not a wide breadth where you might think, "Oh, there's committee openings, and there's going to be 25 or 30 or 40 applications come in to look at it."

00:55:33 Speaker 09: So, that's that aspect of it.

00:55:48 Speaker 10: Going whether the committees remain at the current level, like the current number of committees, or not, I think it's just the notion that. public member recruitment is difficult, whether there's two committees or ten committees.

00:56:08 Speaker 10: It's still a difficult process to get people to, at least more recently, to raise a hand to say, "Hey, I'd love to be on a committee."

00:56:18 Speaker 10: Thank you.

00:56:21 Speaker 10: And is there anything else?

00:56:24 Speaker 10: I guess you want to add.

00:56:29 Speaker 10: I'm just going to comment that last when we're talking about processes and structure.

00:56:48 Speaker 10: In structure, I've been fortunate to be here long enough that I do recall when we met as committees in the basement boardroom, and it's a much more informal.

00:57:15 Speaker 10: Member Anderson would certainly recollect meetings, probably in different parts of the building, as opposed to the more formalized structure here.

00:57:32 Speaker 07: So, just even when we're talking processes, how we and we're always going to conduct it in a transparent manner, but it's different now than than what we did.

00:57:46 Speaker 10: So.

00:57:50 Speaker 10: I think of one fellow, one gentleman, about ten, eleven years ago.

00:58:02 Speaker 10: He's an engineer, great committee member, but I think in the more formalized setting, he was there was more hesitance, perhaps,

00:58:24 Speaker 10: to to contribute in the same manner that that occurred in the in the more boardroom environment that we had in the basement at the time.

00:58:35 Speaker 10: So there's just an example of processes too that have changed over time.

00:58:42 Speaker 10: So I'll go back to you, Tim, for in concluding.

00:58:45 Speaker 10: Tim, for any concluding comments.

00:58:51 Speaker 10: Thank you, Chair.

00:59:08 Speaker 11: Yeah, just again, thank you all for your feedback, and I should say also thank you all for your your service and your commitment to public service by serving on a committee.

00:59:25 Speaker 11: It's a really important aspect of overall governance for the city.

00:59:36 Speaker 11: So I appreciate all of the time you put into it on your own accord.

00:59:52 Speaker 10: And then lastly, I'll just remind the committee and those that may watch this meeting, as we've told others, all of the responses today. will be aggregated into, with all of the other committee comments,

01:00:13 Speaker 10: and brought back in a report to council.

01:00:22 Speaker 10: I think we're targeting the second council committee of the whole meeting in February, so not too long from now.

01:00:36 Speaker 06: But we'll have that all back to council, and they'll see all of the comments verbatim.

01:00:58 Speaker 06: Thanks to Christina, as our our coordinator for all of these committees, she has to go back and take a look at all the notes to make sure she captured all those all those comments exactly.

01:00:59 Speaker 06: We won't, in the aggregated, say, "Oh, Arlene said this."

01:00:59 Speaker 06: We'll have operations committee comments and and question four, etc. So we won't identify individual comments to individual people, but we'll group the operations committee information together and then aggregate it all together.

01:00:59 Speaker 06: So you know the process.

01:00:59 Speaker 09: Thank you.

01:01:00 Speaker 09: Okay.

01:01:00 Speaker 09: Thank you.

01:01:01 Speaker 09: And I'll go back to Member Anderson.

01:01:01 Speaker 09: I was about to say too, if something should occur to you after the fact, I know other committees have seen.

01:01:01 Speaker 09: I know other committees have seized an opportunity still to, you know, call call staff or send an email.

01:01:01 Speaker 09: Make sure you're comfortable.

01:01:01 Speaker 09: Send an email to staff, or you can even forward it through the committee chair should you so choose.

01:01:02 Speaker 09: But don't think that if something populates after the fact that you're not able to still contribute it.

01:01:03 Speaker 09: You certainly are, Member Anderson.

01:01:03 Speaker 09: Go ahead.

01:01:03 Speaker 09: For you, Mr. Chair.

01:01:04 Speaker 09: Thank you for just making that suggestion that if we have afterthoughts that we can contribute.

01:01:04 Speaker 09: Should we direct our comments to you, Tim, and General?

01:01:04 Speaker 09: To you, Tim, in general, or to Christine.

01:01:05 Speaker 09: Great point, Chair, and great point, Donald.

01:01:05 Speaker 09: I would ask that you direct comments again, because the stuff will roll through your mind as it does everybody's.

01:01:05 Speaker 09: If you have another comment, send it to Brianna Bloomfield, our city clerk.

01:01:05 Speaker 09: It's b.bloomfield@owensound.ca, and or Christina also as the coordinator.

01:01:06 Speaker 09: Everybody has her email.

01:01:06 Speaker 09: She sends out things.

01:01:07 Speaker 09: If you send it to Christina or Brianna, they'll make sure to get that incorporated.

01:01:07 Speaker 09: Okay, thank you very much, everyone.

01:01:07 Speaker 09: So we will proceed through public forum.

01:01:07 Speaker 09: There is nothing but empty chairs facing us this evening.

01:01:07 Speaker 09: It'd be an oddity to get a question raised from one of them.

01:01:08 Speaker 09: So, item seven is correspondence received.

01:01:08 Speaker 09: There is no correspondence this evening, and we've got one report from staff, which is under transit.

01:01:09 Speaker 09: And at this time, welcome.

01:01:09 Speaker 09: Heidi to the meeting.

01:01:10 Speaker 09: Thank you, through you, Mr. Chair.

01:01:10 Speaker 09: So this report is regarding the continuation of Ghost Gulf to Owen Sound Transit beyond the end date of March thirty one, two thousand and twenty six.

01:01:10 Speaker 09: So in two thousand and twenty five, the city did receive a one year extension to Ghost through the MTO due to unspent provincial grant funding.

01:01:10 Speaker 09: So. which brings the current term up to the March thirty one, st two thousand and twenty six.

01:01:11 Speaker 09: In March of two thousand and twenty four, Council approved transferring the oversight of the ghost service to the County of Gray, recognizing that the intercounty nature of the route.

01:01:11 Speaker 09: So Gray County is now working on a regional transit study with a target implementation, hopefully September first of two thousand and twenty six.

01:01:11 Speaker 09: I think that's what they're hoping for.

01:01:11 Speaker 09: So, to avoid any interruption in the service, Gray County has requested that the city continue operating Ghost from April one until August thirty one, and so during this five year transition,

01:01:12 Speaker 09: all operating costs will be fully funded by the county.

01:01:12 Speaker 09: So, staff believe this is the most efficient approach.

01:01:12 Speaker 09: Is the the city already has all the operational systems, staffing arrangements, and agreements in.

01:01:12 Speaker 09: An agreements in place, so and this avoids the need for any short term procurement or state excuse me sorry staff transfers for just a limited time period.

01:01:13 Speaker 09: So the estimate estimated cost to operate the service will be approximately one hundred and seventy six thousand dollars.

01:01:14 Speaker 09: That that includes VoyaGo's contract, fuel, staffing costs, and all of that will be covered by the county, and that does not. include any fare revenue.

01:01:14 Speaker 09: So the the recommendation is to allow STRAP to bring forward a bylaw to execute the necessary agreements, so the the city can continue operating the service on an interim basis,

01:01:14 Speaker 09: while the county prepares to as to assume long term oversight.

01:01:14 Speaker 09: Thanks, and I'd be happy to answer any questions.

01:01:15 Speaker 09: Thank you very much.

01:01:15 Speaker 09: I'll go to member.

01:01:15 Speaker 09: Anderson first, then Councillor Merton.

01:01:16 Speaker 09: So, Chair, thank you.

01:01:16 Speaker 09: How do you thought presentation?

01:01:18 Speaker 09: I'm just a little curious about you mentioned revenue.

01:01:19 Speaker 09: Is there sort of a record of the revenues from the ghost program in the past year?

01:01:19 Speaker 09: And if so, I'd be curious to know what it is.

01:01:20 Speaker 09: The other comment I'll make is that I am participating in the four county realignment,

01:01:21 Speaker 09: or hopefully. realignment and successful integration of the transit systems so that we can travel from Owen Sound to Guelph to Orangeville in a fairly smooth system.

01:01:21 Speaker 09: But it's interesting to see how that is developing and the consultants that are creating that.

01:01:21 Speaker 09: So, just thought I'd let you know that some of us are still interested in traveling throughout the four counties through. you, Mr. Chair, as count.

01:01:21 Speaker 09: Sorry, Member Anderson.

01:01:22 Speaker 09: Yes, I've I've also spoken with the the consultant for that the project.

01:01:22 Speaker 09: It it is a pretty exciting adventure, I would say.

01:01:22 Speaker 09: But as for the revenue for Ghost, um, it it kind of it it ranges in the summer.

01:01:23 Speaker 09: Sometimes we max out, so we revenue can be anywhere between like ten to sixteen thousand.

01:01:23 Speaker 09: But all that information.

01:01:23 Speaker 09: But all that info a month, so all that information will come forward in my annual transit report.

01:01:23 Speaker 09: That's coming forward probably in February.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Thanks.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Thanks, Heidi.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Councilor Merton.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Through you, Chair, I will move the recommendation as presented before us.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: And Heidi did answer my anticipated question about can we get some more specific data.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: So you indicate it's coming forward, hopefully in February.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Thank you very much.

01:01:24 Speaker 09: Member Doyne, go ahead.

01:01:25 Speaker 09: Through the chair, my my questions about operational change when you're having oversight from the county, and yet the employees are are Owen Sound employees.

01:01:25 Speaker 09: Is that correct?

01:01:25 Speaker 09: And I just wondered about that, how that works, or any difficulties that that that might create having two two levels of.

01:01:25 Speaker 09: Through you, Mr. Chair.

01:01:25 Speaker 09: No, so the the staff will continue to work at the transit terminal, and they are city staff, anyways.

01:01:26 Speaker 09: It's just the city will be paying for their they they will be offsetting those costs for them.

01:01:26 Speaker 09: But everything will continue to run under the city, like for WSIB and. they'll be working out of the transit terminal. the The staff to that drive the buses, they are, they're Voyago staff.

01:01:26 Speaker 09: They're not city staff.

01:01:26 Speaker 09: Any further questions?

01:01:27 Speaker 09: Oh come on!

01:01:27 Speaker 09: I thought someone's going to say, "Hey, there's a thanks, Heidi.

01:01:27 Speaker 09: There's a pile of work embedded within the report.

01:01:28 Speaker 09: Everything from solicitor comments and and updates that have to be done."

01:01:28 Speaker 09: This is a really good news story for the community to see this extending again.

01:01:28 Speaker 09: I know there's the one line here.

01:01:29 Speaker 09: It states as of March thirty-one, it is projected that more than one hundred thousand dollars of the approved provincial funding will remain unutilized,

01:01:29 Speaker 09: and could be transferred to the county to support continued ghost transit operations.

01:01:29 Speaker 09: Many of us here will recall when this, when the province announced the funding for this, for this service, and.

01:01:29 Speaker 09: I think it's it's done quite well.

01:01:29 Speaker 09: It's really blossomed.

01:01:30 Speaker 09: There's instances where the bus is full in Guelph, and you're not able to get a seat coming up.

01:01:30 Speaker 09: I know this past week, after attending the Roma conference, I had intended on taking the ghost or the GO train from Union into Guelph at 5:07, and and then the GO bus,

01:01:30 Speaker 09: the ghost bus at 5:35.

01:01:30 Speaker 09: So there is certain certainly some great opportunities that the ghost transit has allowed for people in our community and even just beyond our municipal boundaries,

01:01:30 Speaker 09: when you can move them back and forth like the service has for several years.

01:01:31 Speaker 09: So, we've certainly seen it extended, and extended, and we're certainly thankful for those extensions and some of those cost recoveries that have been realized through it.

01:01:31 Speaker 09: So, I'm not sure if you've got anything further you want to add to that, Heidi, but it's a it's a good report.

01:01:31 Speaker 09: Thank you.

01:01:31 Speaker 09: Not seeing any further questions.

01:01:31 Speaker 09: All those in favor?

01:01:36 Speaker 09: And that's carried unanimously.

01:01:36 Speaker 09: Thank you.

01:01:36 Speaker 09: And we have no further reports this evening.

01:01:36 Speaker 09: No matters postponed under item eight.

01:01:37 Speaker 09: No motions for which notice was previously given.

01:01:37 Speaker 09: No correspondence items being presented.

01:01:38 Speaker 09: And under additional business, I have four capital items.

01:01:38 Speaker 09: Just for up.

01:01:38 Speaker 09: Capital items, just for updates.

01:01:39 Speaker 09: I'll perhaps just read two of them to the director, Lara, and you can just kind of respond, and I'll go back to the next two.

01:01:39 Speaker 09: The first two, I just wondered if you could update committee on, is phase one completion of Sixth Street and Ninth Avenue East in November, and what phase two consists of moving forward this year,

01:01:39 Speaker 09: as well as the planning of Fourth Avenue West and public engagement.

01:01:40 Speaker 09: Where are we at with those two projects?

01:01:40 Speaker 09: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

01:01:40 Speaker 09: So, the I'll start with the Ninth Avenue project.

01:01:40 Speaker 09: They finished just shy of the original limits of Phase One.

01:01:40 Speaker 09: They did run out of time at the end of the season, but what out of the main quantities that were supposed to be installed was one hundred and eighty-seven meters of water main,

01:01:41 Speaker 09: two hundred and thirty-two meters of storm sewer, ninety-seven meters of sanitary services and structures, full-depth road reconstruction, paving, markings, and signage, traffic signals, and intersection lighting.

01:01:42 Speaker 09: What they did not complete, they still have a portion to of the water main to continue up to Superior Street.

01:01:42 Speaker 09: They have some surface restoration, including driveways, sidewalks, curbs, topsoil, sod, and other surface features that they need to still repair or complete rehabilit, like complete reinstatement.

01:01:42 Speaker 09: And the traffic signal detection wasn't completed, and then some minor surface appurtenances that stick out of the ground, so like of underground. so like sewer cleanouts, catch basin lid, that kind of thing.

01:01:42 Speaker 09: So, and then they will be proceeding with phase two immediately thereafter.

01:01:42 Speaker 09: As far as Fourth Avenue, actually, it's a it's a fortuitous time to to be talking about that one because we have a public information session scheduled to happen on February third. in the evening,

01:01:43 Speaker 09: we'll be notifying the affected stakeholders.

01:01:43 Speaker 09: Hopefully, this week, yeah, tomorrow or Monday, and we'll be obviously publicizing that information as well.

01:01:43 Speaker 09: It's going to be held at the First United Church, so we're doing something a little bit different than what we normally do with our public engagement sessions.

01:01:44 Speaker 09: We're having it right in the within the area of the project. we're hoping that that way we can maximize the number of affected people that are, you know,

01:01:44 Speaker 09: in the area to come and talk to us.

01:01:44 Speaker 09: The first piece of that will be to get some feedback on.

01:01:44 Speaker 09: There are three cross sections that our consultant has developed,

01:01:45 Speaker 09: just sort of conceptual sketches to talk to the the residents about what they would like to see. as far as the final cross section of their road,

01:01:45 Speaker 09: the one the first option is obviously replace it exactly the way it is now with on street parking,

01:01:45 Speaker 09: but then that makes it much more difficult to have an active transportation corridor within the road allowance.

01:01:45 Speaker 09: Option two is to have well, there's I don't know if I'm getting the numbers right, but you'll get the idea.

01:01:46 Speaker 09: There there is an option that includes bike lanes on the road. that option probably results in the least tree removal,

01:01:46 Speaker 09: but bike lanes on the road may not feel as safe to somebody as like a separated bicycle path.

01:01:46 Speaker 09: And then the last option is a narrower pavement, no on-street parking, and to have the path along the the boulevard.

01:01:47 Speaker 09: So those are the three kind of concepts that we're going to be floating past the the neighborhood. to get some input from them on what they would like to see.

01:01:47 Speaker 09: Okay, thank you.

01:01:47 Speaker 09: And any questions before I move on?

01:01:50 Speaker 09: Not seeing any.

01:01:50 Speaker 09: Next two capital items are the 16th Avenue sanitary replacement of the last year.

01:01:51 Speaker 09: It started from 16th Street and went northerly to 20th Street.

01:01:51 Speaker 09: And a year just beyond a year ago, we had the consulting engineer was here presenting regarding our stormwater. management plan, just wondering where we're at on that.

01:01:51 Speaker 09: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

01:01:52 Speaker 09: I will talk about the stormwater management master plan first, and then I will let Mason talk about the Sixteenth Avenue sewer.

01:01:52 Speaker 09: So the stormwater management master plan is about sixty percent complete.

01:01:53 Speaker 09: They have a report with a target date of February six, which will provide full details on the preliminary recommendations. and fully developed cost estimates.

01:01:53 Speaker 09: For now, I can give I can give the committee a little bit of an update as far as some general recommendations that they've they've developed for us.

01:01:54 Speaker 09: So system wide, they're they're looking at water quality improvements through linear low impact LIDs, but it's spelled out as low impact development,

01:01:54 Speaker 09: but really what it means is enhanced drainage ditches and bioswales and things like that, like what we have at the Julie MacArthur sort of pieces of infrastructure that also provide some quality benefit.

01:01:54 Speaker 09: There's also oh, and then they're they're going to be talking about oil grit separators to provide quality treatment for. the stormwater before it gets discharged to to the bay.

01:01:55 Speaker 09: Currently, we have some quality control that we provide through our storm system, but the vast majority of it is not.

01:01:56 Speaker 09: So, long term, like looking, you know, in the next hundred years, we're going to we're most likely going to have to start implementing that along with our infrastructure replacement projects.

01:01:56 Speaker 09: The and then they've also come up with a list. of individual drainage projects, about seventy-seven individual drainage projects that amount to a total of approximately seventy million dollars.

01:01:56 Speaker 09: So there's a huge amount of work to do in the.

01:01:57 Speaker 09: Although they've planned it out for the very long range, because obviously that is not a manageable number, even within a ten-year plan.

01:01:57 Speaker 09: So, it's a very comprehensive. strategy for us to follow into the future.

01:01:58 Speaker 09: Through your chair, I'll speak to Sixteenth Avenue.

01:01:58 Speaker 09: So we were unable to finish the Sixteenth Avenue project.

01:01:58 Speaker 09: The contractor we retained ran into a multitude of issues that caused delays, some of which were unforeseen conditions, such as we had found some contamination within the roadway, which with.

01:01:58 Speaker 09: Way, which with the contractor and our consultant GSS, we're working through, identifying, and removing as we come into that.

01:01:59 Speaker 09: So as we move through December, the target of completing and having the road open for winter time was looking concerning.

01:01:59 Speaker 09: So we have made a temporary connection about 75 meters from completion in the roadway.

01:01:59 Speaker 09: Walkers, our contractor, has provided a temporary road service, which I'm sure. the committee has seen, it's not perfect.

01:02:00 Speaker 09: We understand it's not perfect, and they will be back in the spring to finish the project.

01:02:00 Speaker 09: So we're continuing to work with GSS, our consultant, ongoing dialogue with the contractor on how we can fix these issues as they come up,

01:02:00 Speaker 09: and then we'll look back in the spring to finish the project.

01:02:01 Speaker 09: So we have about 75 meters of sanitary sewer remaining, one structure at 17th Street, and if you have any specific questions on that, I could happy to answer those as well.

01:02:02 Speaker 09: Okay, thanks for that. update.

01:02:02 Speaker 09: Any questions from committee?

01:02:02 Speaker 09: Not seeing any.

01:02:02 Speaker 09: And the last item, I think, in the last couple years we had some discussion about a forthcoming report at some point evaluating our snow removal patterns and priority routes.

01:02:03 Speaker 09: Just wondering where staff are at with that ask I guess of a couple years ago.

01:02:03 Speaker 09: So my understanding, this has been part of service review.

01:02:03 Speaker 09: Lori brought report previously.

01:02:03 Speaker 09: We are working away at it.

01:02:03 Speaker 09: Since I've joined the city here, we are working with my team to bring data together so we can have more data-driven decision on some of this stuff.

01:02:04 Speaker 04: We have a lot of data.

01:02:04 Speaker 04: I think historically has been gathered, but maybe not tracked in a manner that is palatable for everyone to understand.

01:02:04 Speaker 04: So that's some changes we're making up at PW to better understand some data and how we can facilitate. how we get these priorities done, what the needs we have as a municipality.

01:02:04 Speaker 04: I got some examples here, like things that we weren't always tracking with down equipment.

01:02:04 Speaker 04: So like this year, we've got three lost days for snow plows, six lost days for sidewalk machines.

01:02:05 Speaker 04: We'd be up to ten.

01:02:05 Speaker 04: We've currently got down sidewalk machine, but we're able to find a rental.

01:02:06 Speaker 04: So there's some constraints in here.

01:02:06 Speaker 04: So things that weren't necessarily tracked in the past.

01:02:06 Speaker 04: We're bringing those together.

01:02:07 Speaker 04: So hopefully, we can have a more fulsome discussion. on that priority list in the future.

01:02:07 Speaker 04: Okay, thank you for that.

01:02:07 Speaker 04: And Councilor Martin, go ahead.

01:02:08 Speaker 04: Through you, Chair.

01:02:08 Speaker 04: I'm pleased to hear that you're you'll be looking at those additional data elements.

01:02:08 Speaker 04: My question is around communication and outreach to the public.

01:02:08 Speaker 04: What you've just shared about downtime for snow equipment is so. important.

01:02:08 Speaker 04: So having the information helps us make informed decisions.

01:02:09 Speaker 04: But I'm wondering if if part of that could be a just-in-time communication rollout strategy, because we do hear from the public, and I think we're we're all in this together.

01:02:09 Speaker 04: We're all in the snowbank together.

01:02:10 Speaker 04: And how do we share that information so that the public is also aware?

01:02:11 Speaker 04: And the strategies you're doing, like renting. you know, a piece of equipment that you're you're doing things to try and meet the need.

01:02:11 Speaker 04: Through you, chair.

01:02:12 Speaker 04: So those discussions have been ongoing, and we are looking to find a mechanism that we can communicate those in an efficient manner.

01:02:12 Speaker 04: And there's a couple options on the table, and one option may be bringing a memo back to this committee on a you know monthly basis or by.

01:02:12 Speaker 04: Monthly basis or bi-monthly basis, and we're looking into that.

01:02:13 Speaker 04: We're just hoping to have a good way we can share that, so it's easy to understand, and it's not too cumbersome on staff.

01:02:14 Speaker 04: Okay, thank you very much for those updates.

01:02:14 Speaker 04: Certainly appreciated.

01:02:14 Speaker 04: That's oh, before I move forward, go ahead, member Indo.

01:02:14 Speaker 04: Just I have a question, but I also have a comment.

01:02:16 Speaker 04: I live in on a street with a cul. de sac, so over the years, sometimes it's three or four days before it's plowed.

01:02:16 Speaker 04: But this year, you've been plowing it every year, so that's just wonderful.

01:02:17 Speaker 04: I'm glad.

01:02:17 Speaker 04: But I do have a question on sidewalks.

01:02:17 Speaker 04: I know you don't plow some of them, and some of them are up where I live on the East Hill by Summit Place.

01:02:19 Speaker 04: And I'm just wondering, what the reason is?

01:02:20 Speaker 04: Is it a cost, equipment, etc.?

01:02:20 Speaker 04: Thank you.

01:02:20 Speaker 04: Through the chair to member.

01:02:21 Speaker 04: Indo.

01:02:21 Speaker 04: Yes, there are a number of reasons why we may not.

01:02:22 Speaker 04: First, I'll say that sidewalks are always slower to get plowed than the roads because the sidewalk plows travel a lot slower than the road plows.

01:02:22 Speaker 04: Then, on top of that, there yes, the ones that we don't plow,

01:02:22 Speaker 04: there it could be because there's a shallowly buried water main that we. need to keep the snow over top of to prevent it from breaking as easily.

01:02:23 Speaker 04: It could be because we do one side of the road and not the other, just for a continuous alignment.

01:02:23 Speaker 04: In some in some places, it's sort of haphazard, where the sidewalk is.

01:02:23 Speaker 04: It might be on these two blocks, and then it'll be on this side on on like the up opposite side of the road for a couple blocks.

01:02:23 Speaker 04: We try to plow it in the straight.

01:02:24 Speaker 04: In the straightest alignment possible, and the oh yes, and the width.

01:02:24 Speaker 04: The width is also a big problem.

01:02:24 Speaker 04: If the if the sidewalk is too narrow, or there are like protruberances sticking into the the path where the sidewalk plow would go,

01:02:25 Speaker 04: like a you know let's say like a retaining wall or something that's kind of heaved over into the path of the sidewalk,

01:02:25 Speaker 04: they they can't plow. it because it they need 1.45 meters I think of of clearance, and some of our sidewalks are only 1.2 meters.

01:02:26 Speaker 04: So you know even if we do plow it, and there are some that we probably do, there may be some sod damage.

01:02:26 Speaker 04: That's always our sort of public messaging in the spring that don't worry we'll get to it.

01:02:27 Speaker 04: But even when the sidewalk is wide enough, sometimes it's really hard. for them to tell where the edge is.

01:02:27 Speaker 04: Good question, and thanks for that response.

01:02:28 Speaker 04: It's always relevant information for us to be aware of because we do get asked intermittently.

01:02:28 Speaker 04: So it's good to know those, to know that response from the director, so that we can respond to people in the community adequately.

01:02:28 Speaker 04: Thank you very much.

01:02:29 Speaker 04: And last item, I should just note is thank you to Member Join for your years of service as a committee member.

01:02:30 Speaker 04: It's perhaps very relevant.

01:02:30 Speaker 04: You get the sidewalk plowed on your side of the street as it is now, and on the other side, he has one of those signs that says "not maintained in winter."

01:02:30 Speaker 04: So we'll see what side of the street gets plowed next year when you're not on the committee.

01:02:30 Speaker 04: Thank you very much for your service and contributions to the committee over the last three years.

01:02:30 Speaker 04: Not sure if there's anything you want to add, but on behalf of the committee and staff. certainly.

01:02:31 Speaker 04: Thank you very much.

01:02:31 Speaker 04: Thank you for those comments.

01:02:31 Speaker 04: Appreciate that, and I really have enjoyed.

01:02:31 Speaker 04: It's been an educational experience and finding out a lot about the how the departments work, and some of the problems they face and some of the solutions they come up with.

01:02:32 Speaker 04: It's it's really encouraging, and it's nice to know we have such you know professionalism within the the entire city structure.

01:02:32 Speaker 04: So so thank you.

01:02:32 Speaker 04: Okay, thank you very much.

01:02:33 Speaker 04: And we are at item 13.

01:02:33 Speaker 04: Notices of motion.

01:02:33 Speaker 04: Are there any notices this evening? Not seeing any. At item 14, at 6:32 p.m., we are adjourned. Thank you very much, everyone, for your attendance here on a snowy, getting colder evening.