Owen Sound Council Meeting - Regular Meeting Transcript — July 21, 2025

00:04:31 Speaker 01: Calling the meeting to order.

00:04:33 Speaker 01: Call for additional business.

00:04:37 Speaker 01: Just me.

00:04:37 Speaker 01: I've got two items: Declaration of Interest.

00:04:44 Speaker 01: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:04:45 Speaker 02: I'd like to declare a direct pecuniary interest in bylaw number 08-21-F in the agenda, which is the transfer payment agreement with Ontario regarding housing enabling core servicing stream.

00:05:02 Speaker 02: And the nature of my interest is that I work for the Government of Ontario.

00:05:07 Speaker 02: Good.

00:05:07 Speaker 02: Thank you.

00:05:09 Speaker 02: Glad I don't have to read the bylaws tonight.

00:05:13 Speaker 03: At number four, confirmation of council minutes.

00:05:17 Speaker 04: Moved by myself, Deputy Mayor Gray, seconded by Councillor Capkey, that the minutes of the following council meetings be adopted as printed: one, the closed session of the regular council meeting held on June 16, 2025;

00:05:29 Speaker 04: two, the regular council meeting held on July 7, 2025; and three, the closed session of the regular council meeting held on July 7, 2025.

00:05:38 Speaker 04: And all in favour.

00:05:39 Speaker 04: That is carried.

00:05:40 Speaker 05: Moved by myself, moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Kukreja, that the minutes of the closed session of the special council meeting held on June 30, 2025, be adopted as printed.

00:05:53 Speaker 01: And all in favour, and that is carried.

00:05:57 Speaker 01: So that gets us through four in the agenda.

00:05:59 Speaker 01: Number five, motion to move council into committee of the whole.

00:06:04 Speaker 06: Moved by myself, Deputy Mayor Greig, seconded by Councillor Koepke, that City Council now move into committee of the whole to consider public meetings, deputations, and presentations, public forum, matters arising from correspondence,

00:06:15 Speaker 06: reports of city staff, consent agenda, committee minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given, and additional business.

00:06:24 Speaker 01: And all in favour, and that is carried.

00:06:27 Speaker 01: So, in committee of the whole, at number six, we have no public meetings.

00:06:31 Speaker 01: At number seven, we have a deputation from our City Manager with his update.

00:06:37 Speaker 07: Thank you, Mayor.

00:06:38 Speaker 07: Members of council, I'm glad to bring a monthly update to you and also to those watching, either on Rogers or online right now.

00:06:47 Speaker 07: If I could have the clerk advance a slide, we'll start as usual with our highlights.

00:06:51 Speaker 07: Canada Day was an incredible success this year.

00:06:53 Speaker 07: We had more than 7,000 people turn out for attendance, so a huge gathering.

00:06:59 Speaker 07: It was great for the entire city.

00:07:01 Speaker 07: Thanks, staff, for all their hard work in putting that together.

00:07:04 Speaker 07: The Tom is accepting submissions for Convergence, a biennial juried exhibition dedicated to environmentally engaged contemporary art that's going to run from October 18 to January 17, 2026.

00:07:17 Speaker 07: The summer edition of Escarpment magazine includes a great feature article on the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and I encourage those to pick up a copy of that and take a read.

00:07:26 Speaker 07: It's a great article.

00:07:28 Speaker 07: Camp Tom summer art adventures are in full swing at the gallery.

00:07:33 Speaker 07: The creative week-long camps for children aged eight to twelve offered kids the chance to explore art indoors and out, and to be inspired by nature, Tom Thomson and contemporary artists.

00:07:43 Speaker 07: And I think for the entire all of the weeks, there were only three spots available for every session throughout the entire summer.

00:07:51 Speaker 07: So those went over really well and were really well attended.

00:07:54 Speaker 07: And then lastly, on this slide, the massive LEGO replica of the iconic Chi-Chi-Mon Ferris is now over at the Tom and Tourism Visitor Centre.

00:08:04 Speaker 07: I went and looked at it.

00:08:05 Speaker 07: It's absolutely stunning.

00:08:06 Speaker 07: The amount of detail that was put into that, and that was created by our local LEGO enthusiast Ken Reed.

00:08:12 Speaker 07: The model is more than nine feet long and built from 920 LEGO bricks.

00:08:18 Speaker 07: And on the upper deck of the Chi-Chimec, there are so many little LEGO individuals, all with their own expressions and outfits.

00:08:23 Speaker 07: It's just it's absolutely fascinating to see the detail put into this.

00:08:27 Speaker 07: And if you have a chance, make it over to the visitor centre at the Tom, and take a look for yourself.

00:08:32 Speaker 07: Slide, please.

00:08:32 Speaker 07: Summer tours.

00:08:33 Speaker 07: Summer tourism ambassadors continue to be busy.

00:08:36 Speaker 07: Lots of people coming to the visitor centre asking for information, and also there they are offered and can use free bike rentals.

00:08:45 Speaker 07: Staff have met with the minor sport groups, including the Owen Sound Attack, to review and streamline ice scheduling.

00:08:51 Speaker 07: And through that collabourative effort, they've created four additional hours of bookable ice time.

00:08:57 Speaker 07: And as we know, the Bayshore is going under significant renovation right now with the replacement of the floor.

00:09:03 Speaker 07: Parks hosted two open houses to obtain feedback from neighbours and on conceptual design layouts of playgrounds to be replaced in 2025: one at Comeret Park and one at Own Heights Park,

00:09:15 Speaker 07: and both of those were well attended.

00:09:16 Speaker 07: They got some great feedback and engagement from those local neighbourhoods.

00:09:21 Speaker 07: Upgrades at St. George's Park baseball diamond have been completed.

00:09:24 Speaker 07: The diamond is once again open for play.

00:09:26 Speaker 07: The upgrades involved the installation of an accessible path to the bleachers, new netting along Tenth Street East to keep foul balls from accidentally going on the road,

00:09:36 Speaker 07: and also light repairs and upgraded fencing at the park.

00:09:41 Speaker 07: And repairs on the Harrison Park Kwanas Playground are now complete, which is great.

00:09:46 Speaker 07: There's a new spinner there.

00:09:47 Speaker 07: It's been installed.

00:09:48 Speaker 07: It's just waiting its final third-party inspection before opening, and we hope that happens later this week or the beginning of next week.

00:09:56 Speaker 07: Slide.

00:09:57 Speaker 07: I'm going to move into our committee meetings, and you'll notice that our next committee meetings are scheduled for September.

00:10:04 Speaker 07: We take a small hiatus in the month of August from our committees, and so these are upcoming reports that are currently scheduled for the September cycle of meetings.

00:10:12 Speaker 07: Corporate Services Committee is September 11th.

00:10:15 Speaker 07: I'd remind everybody it's the second Thursday of each month at 5:30.

00:10:18 Speaker 07: Our lead director is Kate Allan, and the reports scheduled are the 2024 draft audited financial statements, a biannual summary of awarded purchases between $50,000 and $249,000.

00:10:30 Speaker 07: That was for the first half of 2025.

00:10:33 Speaker 07: A recruitment and retention update from our HR group.

00:10:35 Speaker 07: A pay and compensation update, also an update on fire marquee, and then a report on our reserve policy.

00:10:44 Speaker 07: The next committee, slide please, is our Operations Committee, scheduled for September 18th.

00:10:50 Speaker 07: And operations is the third Thursday of each month, led by Director Lara Widdifield.

00:10:55 Speaker 07: The report scheduled for September 18th is a boundary agreement with the municipality of Miford, two bus stop agreements: one with Callaway Real Estate Investment Trust, and the second one with Skyline Retail Real Estate Holdings,

00:11:09 Speaker 07: and then lastly an update to the waste management bylaw.

00:11:12 Speaker 07: Slide, please.

00:11:14 Speaker 07: Our Community Services Committee, the third Wednesday of each month, the lead director is Pam Coulter.

00:11:18 Speaker 07: It's scheduled for September 17th.

00:11:21 Speaker 07: Ongoing discussions and work with the Kwanas Soccer Complex and agreement there, a design and location of the commemorative forest monument report in response to provincial Bill 5, and also the monthly building services update.

00:11:37 Speaker 07: Slide.

00:11:37 Speaker 07: We have two other committee meetings.

00:11:39 Speaker 07: I don't have report titles, but I wanted to make people aware of the dates.

00:11:43 Speaker 07: The next Service Review Committee is scheduled September 10th at 9 a.m. here in council chamber, and then Strategic Planning is scheduled for September 24th at 9 a.m.

00:11:51 Speaker 07: And once again, at 9:00 a.m., and once again, I make note there's no committee or council meetings in August.

00:11:56 Speaker 07: We'll take a short hiatus.

00:11:59 Speaker 07: In case you missed it, and I apologize, I didn't update the dates.

00:12:03 Speaker 07: But really, this should be from June 14th to July 17th.

00:12:08 Speaker 07: The we had 20 press news releases go out.

00:12:12 Speaker 07: Everything about the again visiting the LEGO Chi-Chi-Mon to our doors open celebrations to cooling centres and emergency resources.

00:12:20 Speaker 07: But this is a nice amalgamated list.

00:12:21 Speaker 07: This is a nice amalgamated listing of all of those media advisories.

00:12:25 Speaker 07: If you're looking for information, you can go here and then on the website to owensound.ca/news.

00:12:29 Speaker 07: Slide.

00:12:34 Speaker 07: And with the upcoming month of August, there is so much to do in the city.

00:12:38 Speaker 07: We have some great partners in the city, and some great festivals to take advantage of.

00:12:43 Speaker 07: You'll see on the dates that pretty much every weekend in August there is something large and big going on that your entire family can participate in.

00:12:52 Speaker 07: We started off with the Emancipation Festival.

00:12:55 Speaker 07: It's the 163rd annual.

00:12:56 Speaker 07: It's August 1st through 3rd.

00:12:59 Speaker 07: Then the Summer Folk Festival is their 50th annual, celebrating that 50th anniversary: August 15th to 17th.

00:13:05 Speaker 07: The end of the month is the Salmon Spectacular, the 37th annual, and it's August 22nd to August 31st.

00:13:12 Speaker 07: And then lastly, Concord Elegance, September 12th through 14th.

00:13:18 Speaker 07: The main concours out at Cabot Beach on the Sunday, the 14th.

00:13:22 Speaker 07: However, there are three events on Saturday, September 13th, here in the River District that we love hosting.

00:13:28 Speaker 07: It brings thousands of people downtown, coffee and cars, where Second Avenue East is closed from Seventh to Tenth, and there's just hundreds of beautiful antique cars.

00:13:41 Speaker 07: Concours de Limousine, which is hosted over in front of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery and the Library on First Avenue West, and then also a special note:

00:13:48 Speaker 07: there are seminars hosted at the Roxy Theatre in the afternoon.

00:13:52 Speaker 07: This year's theme is titled "From Grit to Gigabytes: The Early and Digital Eras of F1."

00:13:57 Speaker 07: Take a ride through the golden age and cutting edge of Formula One racing, and that's from a Ferrari perspective.

00:14:02 Speaker 07: So, it's the son of one of the lead figures in the Ferrari auto industry.

00:14:08 Speaker 07: His son will be here delivering that seminar.

00:14:11 Speaker 07: So again, some great opportunities through the month of August and into September to get out and support local tourism, local business, the downtown, and the entire area.

00:14:22 Speaker 07: And finally, my last slide: again, staying connected here with the City.

00:14:25 Speaker 07: So there's lots of opportunities for our public, our residents, and those visiting to stay in touch and to see what's going on.

00:14:32 Speaker 07: The first website is the City's main website: owensound.ca.

00:14:35 Speaker 07: Our engagement and public engagement website is ourcity.owensound.ca.

00:14:39 Speaker 07: And then once in a while, we run into some issues around the City, maybe a pothole or something else that you might see need to be fixed.

00:14:47 Speaker 07: Go to owensound.ca/report-a-concern.

00:14:48 Speaker 07: There you can log that in.

00:14:53 Speaker 07: You can upload a picture if you can take a picture of whatever it might be,

00:14:56 Speaker 07: and that will get directed to the appropriate directorate department to be timestamped and taken care of in an appropriate way.

00:15:04 Speaker 07: And then, lastly, as we mentioned, there's lots to do in August on the weekends, but there are so many other things going on,

00:15:10 Speaker 07: and I invite those to stay involved with Owensound River District CA for all things downtown, and Owensound Tourism CA.

00:15:18 Speaker 07: So again, a number of ways to stay connected of what's happening here in the City.

00:15:22 Speaker 07: That concludes my update.

00:15:25 Speaker 07: Thanks, Tim.

00:15:25 Speaker 07: Any questions for Tim?

00:15:27 Speaker 07: Seeing none.

00:15:28 Speaker 03: Thank you.

00:15:30 Speaker 03: Public forum.

00:15:31 Speaker 03: If there's anyone that has any questions or any comments, this is the time.

00:15:34 Speaker 03: I'll get you to come up, microphone, and push the button, and state your name and municipality you live in, and then go ahead.

00:15:50 Speaker 03: Okay, my name is James.

00:15:52 Speaker 08: I have an independent media presence in town, and I just wanted to mention a couple things, a couple situations, suggestions anyway around the OSHaREe area.

00:16:13 Speaker 08: I would think it'd be a good idea, maybe to put garbage cans with lids so seagulls can't get into the garbage, and that probably might cover about 50% of that garbage.

00:16:27 Speaker 08: And I'm going to talk to them because I live in the same apartment building.

00:16:31 Speaker 08: I'm going to talk to the owners of that organisation to see if I can get the people to sit inside more often than outside; that might cover up some more garbage in that situation,

00:16:43 Speaker 08: and the cleanup on the streets I think can be done a little bit better because I know you guys do have pressure washers that could be used in the streets a little bit more often

00:16:56 Speaker 08: than they have been just for special events and stuff like that.

00:16:59 Speaker 08: I think they should be used throughout the summer to get gum off the sidewalks, and that would make the City look a little bit better, I would think.

00:17:11 Speaker 08: And another thing here, Harrison Park.

00:17:27 Speaker 08: It's a nice park.

00:17:28 Speaker 08: I've been there several times.

00:17:31 Speaker 08: Lack of signage.

00:17:33 Speaker 08: Walking into the park itself, it doesn't have main signage to the park going, "Hey, this is Harrison Park," like a big sign like that.

00:17:41 Speaker 08: It has little signs, and up until the other week, I didn't know there was no fishing there.

00:17:46 Speaker 08: Until I was walking out of the park, and I saw a little sign like that that said, "No fishing."

00:17:52 Speaker 08: I think that should be a little bit more advertised because there could be people in there not seeing that sign,

00:17:58 Speaker 08: going in there fishing and not knowing about it and getting fined for them not even knowing they can't fish there, because it's not even specified on their website that you can't fish there either.

00:18:09 Speaker 08: I think that should be a little bit more publicized, more signs.

00:18:13 Speaker 08: The water situation: there are no water signs saying you can't drink the water in the bathrooms and stuff like that.

00:18:20 Speaker 08: There are no signs like that.

00:18:22 Speaker 08: In the middle of the park, there is a sign saying "Biohazard of the water," and that's the one sign, and it's in the middle of the park.

00:18:30 Speaker 08: Before people even get into the park, they're swimming and stuff.

00:18:33 Speaker 08: at that in contaminated water.

00:18:35 Speaker 08: They could get sick before they even read that sign.

00:18:38 Speaker 08: It's not a good idea.

00:18:39 Speaker 08: It should be posted outside the park that the water is not good to drink or swim in or anything like that.

00:18:48 Speaker 08: That's all I have to say.

00:18:49 Speaker 03: Thanks.

00:18:50 Speaker 03: Just before you run away, when you go into Harrison Park, do you go in from Fourth Avenue East or do you go in at the bottom of St. Mary's Hill through the big gates?

00:19:01 Speaker 03: Cemetrey Hill.

00:19:03 Speaker 03: You're going to have to push the button again.

00:19:04 Speaker 03: The Cemetrey Hill, or the other way.

00:19:06 Speaker 03: I go through Second Half Street.

00:19:12 Speaker 03: Staff, any?

00:19:13 Speaker 03: You're making notes.

00:19:15 Speaker 03: Okay.

00:19:15 Speaker 03: Notes have been made.

00:19:16 Speaker 03: I don't know if there are any comments.

00:19:24 Speaker 07: Thank you, Mary.

00:19:24 Speaker 07: I just wanted to make one note.

00:19:26 Speaker 07: James, thanks.

00:19:26 Speaker 07: Thanks for the comments.

00:19:28 Speaker 07: I will note about three weeks ago we did replace trash cans by OSHaREe with lids.

00:19:34 Speaker 07: So hopefully there are no more open bins.

00:19:37 Speaker 07: So we'll take a look because we specifically put them out.

00:19:40 Speaker 07: So we'll take a look.

00:19:45 Speaker 09: Thank you, Worship, and thank you, James.

00:19:46 Speaker 09: We've had some informal discussions along Second Avenue.

00:19:51 Speaker 09: I would note that we are planning another public works project as we end spring and head into summer; they do a wash of the streets.

00:20:01 Speaker 09: We're planning another pressure wash through a contractor.

00:20:05 Speaker 09: I would note that the water in the washrooms at Harrison Park is potable water.

00:20:11 Speaker 09: You can drink that water.

00:20:14 Speaker 09: You know, in the community centre, in the restaurant, and in those washrooms.

00:20:22 Speaker 09: Noted on the signage, and there is fishing permitted in some parts of Harrison Park, so maybe we can talk more about where fishing is and isn't permitted,

00:20:32 Speaker 09: and get that clearly on the website and places where it isn't permitted signage.

00:20:38 Speaker 09: So thank you.

00:20:40 Speaker 03: I'll get you to come back to the microphone, even though you're beyond your three minutes.

00:20:43 Speaker 03: This has been helpful.

00:20:46 Speaker 08: I'm trying to get into the meeting at the end of the month,

00:20:48 Speaker 08: and I'm trying to get put in circles of who I'm trying to get a hold of to get an invitation to that just for media-wise,

00:21:01 Speaker 08: so that's what I'm trying to get figured out because I'm getting brought to too many people and they're just telling me to go back to the same person again.

00:21:09 Speaker 08: Are you hanging around to the end of the meeting?

00:21:12 Speaker 08: I can try to come back now, maybe even talk to some of you tomorrow.

00:21:23 Speaker 08: Have my business card?

00:21:26 Speaker 08: Tim's.

00:21:29 Speaker 03: Yeah, so just outside the door, there are some business cards.

00:21:31 Speaker 03: If you pick up the one for City Manager Tim Simmonds, then that will give you a phone number to call and inquire.

00:21:38 Speaker 03: He might be writing it down for you, and then you don't have to listen to us the whole time to the end.

00:21:45 Speaker 03: Thanks.

00:21:45 Speaker 03: Thank you very much for those constructive comments.

00:21:52 Speaker 03: Number 9, we have no correspondence.

00:21:55 Speaker 03: At number ten, reports from city staff.

00:22:02 Speaker 03: Oh, there he is, Greg Nickel.

00:22:04 Speaker 03: Welcome.

00:22:07 Speaker 10: If I have the opportunity, I just wonder if you could present the minutes from the Service Review Committee meeting first, because there's direction from there that should probably be presented procedurally before this report.

00:22:27 Speaker 03: Just thinking, my report is really long.

00:22:32 Speaker 03: Deputy Mayor Greig is right.

00:22:34 Speaker 03: There is a recommendation that comes out of there that City Council asked for this report to come forward.

00:22:39 Speaker 03: This report's coming forward.

00:22:41 Speaker 03: Technically, it's coming forward before we actually go through the minutes and approve them.

00:22:45 Speaker 03: But can we please just hear from Mr. Nickel first?

00:22:52 Speaker 03: Brianna, thoughts?

00:22:58 Speaker 11: Through your Worship, there were some time constraints in bringing this report forward, so that's why it is listed on the same night as the minutes.

00:23:07 Speaker 11: But technically speaking, the minutes should be approved before this report is brought forward to Council.

00:23:14 Speaker 11: Okay.

00:23:16 Speaker 01: With Council's indulgence, we will jump to committee minutes with recommendations for approval.

00:23:25 Speaker 01: Twelve A being minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting held on July ninth.

00:23:32 Speaker 01: Minutes of the closed session also held on July ninth.

00:23:35 Speaker 01: Within that meeting, and minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting held on July sixteenth, 2025.

00:23:43 Speaker 01: The meeting was scheduled for the ninth, but we had a pretty good discussion and ran the clock, and that's why we went back in the second.

00:23:55 Speaker 01: Sorry, on the 16th, a week later, and thanks to committee members and staff for being flexible to complete the important work.

00:24:04 Speaker 01: From July 9th, we received a report from the Fire Services Administrator, being Mr. Nichol, regarding the fleet strategy update.

00:24:53 Speaker 01: For information purposes, we approved a recommendation that City Council direct staff to bring forward a report to Council on a capital lease programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe, and that's on the agenda tonight.

00:25:05 Speaker 01: We received a report from Human Resources Specialist regarding the comprehensive onboarding programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:25:12 Speaker 01: For information purposes, we had a very big discussion with regard to the City Manager's report regarding the update in Engineering and Public Works structure review.

00:25:24 Speaker 01: The committee went into a closed session to consider one matter regarding labour relations, employee negotiations, and personal matters about identifiable individuals respecting an update, an Engineering and Public Works structure review.

00:25:37 Speaker 01: No direction was provided.

00:25:39 Speaker 01: The Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to include the realignment of five seasonal positions in the Mayor's 2026 budget for consideration.

00:25:52 Speaker 01: The Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to include the new staffing positions set out in the mid-st option in the report,

00:26:02 Speaker 01: save except for the backflow prevention coordinator position to be included in the Mayor's 2026 budget for consideration.

00:26:11 Speaker 01: I must will keep going.

00:26:17 Speaker 01: Before you do so, I'm just going to confer with the Clerk.

00:26:21 Speaker 12: There itemized as two separate items for approval here tonight.

00:26:25 Speaker 12: Should I ask for discussion at this point?

00:26:27 Speaker 12: Just Twelve A. I was just going to move all three and have discussion since it really was one meeting on two different dates.

00:26:39 Speaker 03: That's why I had went to the sorry I had went to the Clerk to check I hadn't seen this in ten years so I had just wanted to consult with the Clerk as to how

00:26:47 Speaker 12: we should move forward there.

00:26:48 Speaker 12: That's fine.

00:26:48 Speaker 12: So with that, I move to approve all the minutes of the Service Review Ad Hoc Committee and actions contained therein from the meeting held on July ninth.

00:26:58 Speaker 01: Thanks, everybody, and to council.

00:26:59 Speaker 04: Are there any questions resulting from that set of recommendations?

00:27:08 Speaker 04: Not seeing any, and all those in favour of those recommendations being approved, and that is carried unanimously.

00:27:18 Speaker 04: Thank you.

00:27:18 Speaker 04: And back to you for the second part.

00:27:22 Speaker 04: I'd like to just go to the main agenda at this point.

00:27:25 Speaker 03: Let's go back to the main agenda, Mr. Nicol.

00:27:34 Speaker 03: Mr. Nichol.

00:27:35 Speaker 03: So, so this is a report from Mr. Nichol, Fire Services Administrator, with regard to approval of non-standard procurement being fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:27:49 Speaker 03: Good evening, Council, and thank you for letting me come and speak to you in regards to the report that is in front of you now.

00:27:56 Speaker 03: And I'll give you a little background on why we're kind of getting that procedural change, some of the things we're looking for.

00:28:03 Speaker 13: If we wait until the September meeting, we'll make it very difficult to get them back into operations by mid-October and be prepared for our winter.

00:28:12 Speaker 13: So this extra month allows for us to get this moving, and with success tonight, we'll get the proper vehicles into the fleet and be ready for our winter that is coming.

00:28:22 Speaker 13: Although it is the middle of July, so I just wanted to give a bit of background on that.

00:28:27 Speaker 13: I really want to thank city staff for their guidance to get us to this point today.

00:28:32 Speaker 13: I've been working hard to get this report ready on non-standard procurement for a fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:28:38 Speaker 13: You'll see on the report we talk about a couple of recommendations that we're looking for tonight.

00:28:43 Speaker 13: One is for City Council to approve a non-standard procurement for a fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe from Enterprise Fleet Management Canada, and to bring forward a bylaw tonight as well,

00:28:53 Speaker 13: so we can continue to move forward on the procurement process.

00:28:58 Speaker 13: In the report, there are a number of highlights, including transitioning to a fleet leasing model will reduce, or it's projected to reduce, overall costs for the city fleet.

00:29:08 Speaker 13: When we talk about light duty, the city does participate in the Local Authority Services (LAS) programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe for procurement.

00:29:15 Speaker 13: So we have some wording in that in our purchasing bylaw, and that does achieve some cost savings and reduce project timelines.

00:29:25 Speaker 13: Transition to a professional fleet management model with our friends at Enterprise Fleet Management Canada will handle procurement.

00:29:33 Speaker 13: They'll handle maintenance and they'll handle disposition of our light duty fleet.

00:29:39 Speaker 13: The report highlights some of the links in the objectives of our fleet strategy.

00:29:43 Speaker 13: That having a dependable, safe, reliable fleet for our city is an important aspect.

00:29:50 Speaker 13: The fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe can allow for the use of pilot programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememes to support innovations such as electrification or other alternative fuels in the programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe,

00:30:00 Speaker 13: and Enterprise Fleet Management Canada utilises local businesses to support their maintenance programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememes for oil changes and tires and such.

00:30:09 Speaker 13: So, a little bit more background on this programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:30:13 Speaker 13: In October of 2024, as a part of the Service Review project, a draft fleet strategy was put in place.

00:30:19 Speaker 13: There are 32 recommendations within that report, and earlier this month, we just talked about it.

00:30:25 Speaker 13: The Service Review Ad Hoc Committee supported a recommendation to bring forward this report on a capital lease programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe,

00:30:32 Speaker 13: and this report has been prepared to provide council with the necessary information to approve a non-standard procurement for fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:30:42 Speaker 13: We do have an informal replacement schedule established on the best practices of the community and the corporation, and it has been used to plan out the replacement needs in a ten-year capital forecast.

00:30:55 Speaker 13: There was no established set of council expectations around the replacement of vehicles, and as a result, several light duty trucks have been kept in play for a number of years past the replacement date.

00:31:07 Speaker 13: And when you look at the maintenance on a vehicle past seven years, it goes up quite a bit.

00:31:13 Speaker 13: When you look at the analysis,

00:31:14 Speaker 13: a number of city staff have met with Enterprise Fleet Management Canada to gain a clear understanding of how their programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe works and how the city would benefit from their programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:31:24 Speaker 13: This new way of procurement will allow for the aging city fleet to be replaced with a newer fleet, a fleet that is fit for our purposes,

00:31:33 Speaker 13: and without the need to issue tenders and to sell obsolete vehicles.

00:31:36 Speaker 13: As this process would be led by their team, and we would get some coaching as to when the vehicles should come in and leave.

00:31:43 Speaker 13: There's no mileage restrictions in the programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:31:45 Speaker 13: There's no penalties for wear and tear, and the city can exit the agreement at any time.

00:31:51 Speaker 13: In the report, on page five, there's also a list of highlights of some of the efficiencies.

00:31:56 Speaker 13: We're going to be looking at consistent specifications for trucks to allow them to be shared between departments.

00:32:02 Speaker 13: We're going to see a decrease in staff time when we're procuring because they're going to lead that.

00:32:07 Speaker 13: We'll see a decrease in required maintenance, newer vehicles, and again, they are taking the lead on that for our light duty fleet,

00:32:13 Speaker 13: and they'll help us dispose or disperse or disposition of the vehicles at the right time to meet the market value of that particular asset,

00:32:22 Speaker 13: and this also gives us a lot of flexibility to adjust the fleet complement.

00:32:26 Speaker 13: Should we need to change the number, the specs, the type, we can do that, and it will increase staff efficiencies and allow for staffing or changing levels all the way through.

00:32:37 Speaker 13: There are a number of great and important financial implications to talk about in the report as well, and they are laid out in your report.

00:32:42 Speaker 13: I'm going to highlight a couple of them.

00:32:44 Speaker 13: Fleet management services would see a definite decrease in our maintenance for our light duty fleet; a newer fleet means better less maintenance will be costing, and they pick up some of those costs.

00:32:57 Speaker 13: One of the things that I've noticed in this role is we spend a lot of money on renting vehicles in the City of Owen Sound for our jobs to get things done.

00:33:06 Speaker 13: This will see a definite decrease in those costs moving forward.

00:33:11 Speaker 13: There definitely will be fuel savings as we are going to move to new, more efficient models and two electric vehicles are planned to be piloted.

00:33:19 Speaker 13: One for our patrol vehicle, which is our highest mileage, and one for the water treatment facility, which is a lower mileage vehicle.

00:33:26 Speaker 13: But what it does is lets us pilot and see how it works for the corporation.

00:33:30 Speaker 13: There will be some costs involved with the installation of electric or the electrification of our fleet to get those proper charging stations in place at the two locations.

00:33:42 Speaker 13: At the back of the report, I just want to chat a little bit about the tables that I put in there.

00:33:46 Speaker 13: Kind of helped you see of a five-year purchase, a seven-year purchase, a five-year lease, and if we rented for five years.

00:33:52 Speaker 13: So you can see the cost differences in that table.

00:33:55 Speaker 13: One thing I want to highlight, and maybe what might jump out to council, is that cheaper.

00:33:59 Speaker 13: Greg, it really shows that a seven-year vehicle is by far the most cost-effective.

00:34:03 Speaker 13: However, if we keep that vehicle from five to seven years, the resale drops off about six thousand to seven thousand dollars in black book value.

00:34:12 Speaker 13: So all that savings we did gets virtually eliminated when it goes to market for sale, and that's clearly shown on that report.

00:34:22 Speaker 13: And using our black book to figure those numbers out,

00:34:26 Speaker 13: the cost of insurance and fuel was not included in all the price because if we have if we purchase a truck or we lease a truck, those are virtually the same.

00:34:35 Speaker 13: Moving ahead, and I have time for questions.

00:34:39 Speaker 13: If any questions from council, I got off.

00:34:40 Speaker 13: I got an opportunity to answer those.

00:34:43 Speaker 13: Thank you.

00:34:44 Speaker 13: Questions, Marion.

00:34:46 Speaker 13: Just being comical, your next career could be as a car salesman.

00:34:51 Speaker 05: You got it all down pat.

00:34:52 Speaker 05: My question or my comment is regarding the electric vehicles and the charging stations.

00:35:01 Speaker 05: Congratulations on certainly looking at efficiencies that way and the piloting.

00:35:07 Speaker 05: This may be above your pay grade to answer this question.

00:35:08 Speaker 05: Great to answer this question, but electrical electric vehicle charging stations—do we have any owned by the city?

00:35:16 Speaker 05: And if so, are we thinking of some to maybe generate some revenue for the city?

00:35:23 Speaker 05: Do you know, Greg?

00:35:30 Speaker 05: I know that there are none on our sites.

00:35:33 Speaker 13: Any of our sites—the only electric charging station we use is across the parking lot, and we have through our other fleet conversations, looked into trying to get that more effective for the city fleet.

00:35:43 Speaker 13: The three Hyundai Kona's here at City Hall.

00:35:45 Speaker 13: The proposal, if I can just real quickly, is to keep those vehicles, those charging stations, for our city fleet at the time while we run this pilot,

00:35:53 Speaker 13: and they'll be secured in buildings for our city fleet for our staff to use.

00:35:59 Speaker 13: Mr. Simmonds, do you want to add to that?

00:36:01 Speaker 13: Thank you, Mayor, to Councillor Koepke.

00:36:02 Speaker 07: I do know we have been working with Grey County.

00:36:06 Speaker 07: They will be installing two electric vehicle chargers at the Bayshore, and I believe that Grey County had received a grant.

00:36:12 Speaker 07: So I don't have the full details, but I know that there's some charging stations coming in at the Bayshore for public use.

00:36:19 Speaker 07: Okay.

00:36:19 Speaker 07: Other questions?

00:36:20 Speaker 07: No other questions.

00:36:21 Speaker 07: Go ahead.

00:36:22 Speaker 07: Through your Worship, this is a great opportunity, and it is a result of the service review process.

00:36:30 Speaker 14: I have a couple of questions.

00:36:33 Speaker 14: You mentioned it's a pilot.

00:36:35 Speaker 14: How long are you planning on piloting this?

00:36:39 Speaker 14: That's question one.

00:36:41 Speaker 14: Question two is: You have identified in bullets some potential deliverables, staff time for procurement.

00:36:50 Speaker 14: How will that be measured and reported back?

00:36:58 Speaker 14: Through your Worship, Councillor Merton, the pilot is we're looking for five years and take a look at it for five years.

00:37:05 Speaker 13: If we read the paperwork that is given to us through Enterprise Fleet Management Canada, they really give you a ten-year strategy.

00:37:11 Speaker 13: A lot of the other municipalities that are signed on, they've got a ten-year strategy, and they show the cost savings over ten years.

00:37:18 Speaker 13: As for staff time, that's a real hard measure right now.

00:37:22 Speaker 13: I can, if we go this route for this amount of vehicles, it won't be an increase because since 2022, we haven't bought a truck,

00:37:30 Speaker 13: so we can see that it won't be an increase in staff time.

00:37:32 Speaker 13: So they'll be able to continue to do their existing roles, and that's what it would take if we went the other way.

00:37:38 Speaker 13: It would be an increase in staff time to do all the products or to get the tendering process, the disbursement, all that in.

00:37:47 Speaker 13: Go ahead.

00:37:49 Speaker 13: Two questions.

00:37:50 Speaker 12: You've kind of given a value on the electric vehicle full-size pickup cost in the report, but are you working within a range to fill the needs?

00:38:01 Speaker 12: Because they can be quite expensive.

00:38:04 Speaker 12: Second question is: several years ago, we were looking at exploring hydrogen opportunities within the city.

00:38:11 Speaker 12: Does that opportunity still remain as something that we continue to move forward with alongside this endeavor?

00:38:20 Speaker 12: Going to Mr. Simmonds first.

00:38:22 Speaker 12: Thank you, Mayor.

00:38:23 Speaker 07: Through you to the Deputy Mayor.

00:38:25 Speaker 07: From the hydrogen aspect, 100%.

00:38:27 Speaker 07: So we're still waiting—not waiting, but watching closely and researching the technology as it comes forward with whether it's hydrogen and diesel and diesel-injected hydrogen engines and things like that.

00:38:40 Speaker 07: The great thing about this programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe too, and Greg just briefly noted it within the report, doing the electric vehicles because of the buying power and the size of Enterprise Fleet Management Canada's aspect.

00:38:52 Speaker 07: When hydrogen engines come more available in the market, etc., they will bring those in and we'll have an opportunity at that time,

00:39:00 Speaker 07: whether we stick with electric or switch to another green alternative fuel source that we don't know about.

00:39:05 Speaker 07: They have access to those, so we'll be able to put that into this programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe without being stuck with a vehicle, like purchasing an electric vehicle.

00:39:12 Speaker 07: And let's say six months into it, it's just we shouldn't have done that.

00:39:15 Speaker 07: This programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe gives us that sort of exit door that we can move back to something else or move into a different type of combustible engine.

00:39:25 Speaker 07: And if I could, through your Worship.

00:39:25 Speaker 13: If I could, through your Mayor, the level of truck that we would buy is what's called a work truck.

00:39:30 Speaker 13: That's the lowest level of equipment or let's say frills on the truck.

00:39:36 Speaker 13: It will be a truck that will be very serviceable for our staff.

00:39:40 Speaker 13: From the outside looking in, you'll notice it'll either be whatever the major brand we decide to go with, but you won't notice.

00:39:48 Speaker 13: We won't be going with the Cadillac version for sure.

00:39:51 Speaker 13: We'll make sure the battery life is going to be good on it,

00:39:53 Speaker 13: but it will be a work truck base so that it can withstand the ins and outs and things that happen each and every day with that vehicle.

00:40:01 Speaker 13: Marion, thank you.

00:40:03 Speaker 05: Through your Worship, to I don't know what your title is now, Fire Services Administrator.

00:40:10 Speaker 05: With the leased vehicle, are there restrictions on maintenance that our own people can do or not do?

00:40:18 Speaker 05: When we go, if we decide to, if Council decides to work with Fleet Energy or Fleet Enterprise Fleet Management Canada.

00:40:25 Speaker 13: They look after the maintenance of the vehicle, so we don't have to do that.

00:40:30 Speaker 13: We certainly could do that if we wanted to.

00:40:32 Speaker 13: It would be a slight reduction in costs, but it's not.

00:40:36 Speaker 13: When you look at the price per vehicle, what they charge per month for what they are offering for the maintenance, I wouldn't recommend that.

00:40:43 Speaker 13: What this will do is will allow our mechanics to focus on preventative maintenance of our existing fleet.

00:40:49 Speaker 13: Maybe take some roles on from other departments and move those some of the costs that we're moving to other places.

00:40:56 Speaker 13: That'll be able to be done by our mechanics that are very good guys and competent at what they do.

00:41:01 Speaker 13: Can I have a motion, please?

00:41:04 Speaker 13: Go ahead.

00:41:05 Speaker 04: And I would move the recommendation in the report that in consideration staff report OP 25-34, respecting the approval non-standard procurement of fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

00:41:14 Speaker 04: City Council One approves the non-standard procurement for a fleet management programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe from Enterprise Fleet Management Canada Incorporated, and directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to authorise the Mayor and Clerk to execute the agreement.

00:41:26 Speaker 04: Good, thank you.

00:41:27 Speaker 04: Now the motion is on the floor.

00:41:28 Speaker 04: Any further questions, comments?

00:41:30 Speaker 03: Seeing none, call the question on favour.

00:41:32 Speaker 03: That is carried.

00:41:33 Speaker 03: Thanks very much, Greg.

00:41:35 Speaker 03: That's a good report.

00:41:40 Speaker 03: Next at 10B is a report from Ms. Coulter with regard to playing an heritage for 5628th Avenue East.

00:41:57 Speaker 03: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:41:58 Speaker 09: A complete application for a zoning bylaw amendment was submitted by the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board through Ron Davidson Land Use Planning.

00:42:07 Speaker 09: The 18.5-acre property, you can see it on the screen here, is located on the west side of 28th Avenue East, south of 16th Street or Provincial Highway 2,

00:42:18 Speaker 09: north of Eighth Street and east of that rail trail.

00:42:23 Speaker 09: Sorry, east of the rail trail.

00:42:25 Speaker 09: The City's official plan designates the lands residential, open space, and hazard.

00:42:29 Speaker 09: The lands are within the Sydenham Heights planning area, and we'll talk more about those policies as we go.

00:42:36 Speaker 09: The zoning bylaw amendment is required for the construction of a new secondary school.

00:42:42 Speaker 09: So the school itself will be nearly 130,000 square feet on two levels.

00:42:49 Speaker 09: It'll have 216 parking spaces, two athletic fields, a field house, a small auto shop that's detached from the school, and a ceremonial garden on the south side, abutting that existing residential use to the south.

00:43:05 Speaker 09: The development will also require the development of a new local road.

00:43:09 Speaker 09: So you see a local road coming in on the north side of the school.

00:43:13 Speaker 09: That will be the future 14th Street East, not as part of this development, but in the future,

00:43:19 Speaker 09: that road will extend north to service the East City commercial lands to the north between the subject property and 16th Street.

00:43:28 Speaker 09: The effect of the zoning application is to rezone the property from rural and hazard to institutional and hazard.

00:43:36 Speaker 09: A number of reports and studies were submitted as part of a complete application.

00:43:41 Speaker 09: These documents have been available on the City's website and are listed in the report.

00:43:46 Speaker 09: The timeline associated with the application, including the public meeting, is provided in the report, and we're well within the timeline established by the Planning Act for the processing and Council's consideration of this matter.

00:44:02 Speaker 09: The Planning Act and the City official plan establish the criteria for evaluating a zoning bylaw amendment.

00:44:09 Speaker 09: Council must consider the matters of provincial interest.

00:44:13 Speaker 09: The application is to be consistent with the provincial planning statement, and Council may amend the zoning bylaw where it conforms to the goals, objectives, and policies of your official plan.

00:44:25 Speaker 09: In terms of the provincial planning statement, the development is within the urban settlement area in an area plan to accommodate a residential and mixed-use community with access to full services, public service facilities, active transportation,

00:44:38 Speaker 09: and transit.

00:44:39 Speaker 09: In transit, the development will provide an educational facility that is critical to support future and ongoing residential growth in the community.

00:44:49 Speaker 09: The development proposes mitigation measures recommended through the EIS that will protect the natural heritage features.

00:44:58 Speaker 09: The proposed zoning bylaw amendment is consistent with the PPS.

00:45:02 Speaker 09: In terms of the City's official plan, the lands are designated as I've mentioned: residential, open space, and hazard scheduled.

00:45:07 Speaker 09: Space and hazard.

00:45:08 Speaker 09: Schedule A two of the Sydenham Heights Planning Area designates the property low as well as high density residential open space and hazard.

00:45:18 Speaker 09: The official plan residential designation permits secondary uses of a non-residential nature, including schools, subject to rezoning.

00:45:27 Speaker 09: The official plan includes criteria to be considered in the rezoning, and this site complies with the criteria established for a school in this designation.

00:45:38 Speaker 09: So the Sydenham Heights planning area, the policies of this secondary plan provide a more detailed group of policies for the development of this area in the official plan, particularly around servicing and transportation.

00:45:53 Speaker 09: Recall this property has frontage on 16th or an access to 16th, 28th Avenue, 8th Street to the south, as well as the rail trail.

00:46:04 Speaker 09: A TIS or a Transportation Impact Study was submitted to support the lot creation as well as the zoning bylaw amendment.

00:46:11 Speaker 09: The terms of reference for that study were prepared by a qualified consultant for the applicant,

00:46:18 Speaker 09: and the terms of reference were reviewed by the City and the County as well as MTO staff and agreed to prior to the study being completed.

00:46:26 Speaker 09: The TIS confirms that confirms the safety and appropriateness of a new local road that you can see on the screen: new 14th Street and a T intersection at 28th Avenue,

00:46:39 Speaker 09: 237 metres south of the signalized intersection at 16th Street.

00:46:45 Speaker 09: The roadways will include a number of improvements: a dedicated eastbound left turn taper on 14th Street, a southbound right turn taper on 28th, a northbound left turn taper on 28th, as well.

00:46:59 Speaker 09: There will be a sidewalk on the new 14th Street.

00:47:01 Speaker 09: New Fourteenth Street.

00:47:03 Speaker 09: In terms of pedestrian connectivity, the new Fourteenth Street will have a sidewalk.

00:47:09 Speaker 09: There will be a future sidewalk and on Twenty Eighth Avenue on the west side of Twenty Eighth Avenue.

00:47:16 Speaker 09: And while we do have the rail trail that provides for pedestrian connectivity to the west in the County is certainly supportive of the use of this infrastructure, there may be conflicts,

00:47:27 Speaker 09: particularly during the winter months.

00:47:30 Speaker 09: There is an opportunity to run a multi-use path to the north along the future-planned local road that will connect with that pedestrian infrastructure currently that terminates at Heritage Grove,

00:47:43 Speaker 09: but is planned to extend along the 16th Street frontage in front of the Sydenham Square property that's shown in red line on your screen.

00:47:52 Speaker 09: Stormwater management will be detailed through site plan approval, but it will be designed to address both quality and quantity, and the stormwater will outlet to the Telfer Creek to the west.

00:48:06 Speaker 09: Water and wastewater, the sanitary will be accessed from where it is along the rail trail, and the water, in accordance with the East City Master Servicing Strategy,

00:48:17 Speaker 09: will come up Eighth Street and along Twenty Eighth to service the property.

00:48:22 Speaker 09: As I've mentioned, site plan approval will be required prior to the development.

00:48:26 Speaker 09: The school board is proposing to do the site works in two phases.

00:48:30 Speaker 09: So the first phase will be a gravel access driveway at Fourteenth Street, bulk site grading, tree preservation, as well as some stormwater management and sediment control.

00:48:42 Speaker 09: The second phase will be linear infrastructure, and prior to that, a servicing agreement will be required, and there will be a report coming forward to Council.

00:48:54 Speaker 09: The works in phase one, the grading, the tree preservation, the stormwater are delegated to staff under Section 41, and will require an agreement, which will include approval of both MTO and the County of Grey.

00:49:10 Speaker 09: Public comments that we received at the public meeting respecting the need for an official plan amendment.

00:49:19 Speaker 09: I've spoken to the uses that are contemplated and permitted in that residential designation, as well as the property being relatively isolated, and as you can see on the screen,

00:49:31 Speaker 09: there is a significant amount of development planned, as well as underway, both northwest and south of the subject lands.

00:49:40 Speaker 09: The recommendation, then, Your Worship, in considering the report, recommendations, technical reports, oral and written submissions, Council would find that the application is consistent with the provincial planning statement,

00:49:52 Speaker 09: conforms to the goals and objectives of the official plan, and represents good planning.

00:49:56 Speaker 09: And you would direct staff to bring forward a bylaw to pass amendment number 56 to amend the City's zoning bylaw as amended, and give notice in accordance with section 34 of the Planning Act.

00:50:10 Speaker 09: Thank you, Marion.

00:50:12 Speaker 09: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:50:12 Speaker 05: Through you to the director, Twenty Eighth Avenue East is the edge of the City.

00:50:17 Speaker 05: Is that correct?

00:50:18 Speaker 05: Okay.

00:50:20 Speaker 05: So is it is Twenty Eight owned.

00:50:21 Speaker 05: Is 28th owned totally by the City, or is it half each municipality?

00:50:30 Speaker 05: Through your worship, in this area, 28th Avenue is actually a County road.

00:50:36 Speaker 09: So that section of 28th between Eighth Street and Highway 26 is a County road.

00:50:42 Speaker 09: So further south, it is a boundary road, but in this case, it's a County road.

00:50:49 Speaker 09: With that, Your Worship, I will move the recommendation.

00:50:51 Speaker 15: Good, thank you.

00:50:52 Speaker 15: Any other questions, comments?

00:50:54 Speaker 15: Yep.

00:50:56 Speaker 15: Just a couple comments.

00:50:58 Speaker 12: One now comes the pressure of the City of executing for the growth,

00:51:04 Speaker 12: so that we can maximize the development of the border or the boundary of the City and create more efficiencies with the services and so forth.

00:51:16 Speaker 12: But actually, just the presentation of the report, and I apologize to staff.

00:51:19 Speaker 12: It didn't occur to me earlier, but approximately two thousand and seventeen ish or so, we expended significant funds on servicing for Sydenham Heights expansion, both water and sanitary.

00:51:34 Speaker 12: Is this the first actual project that's been able to benefit?

00:51:38 Speaker 12: Because we never did excavate Sixteenth Street, enhancing capacity for servicing.

00:51:47 Speaker 12: Is this the first development now to actually leverage that investment about eight or nine years ago?

00:51:57 Speaker 12: Through your Worship to the Deputy Mayor, I believe this will be the first project that will access, particularly, that sanitary sewer in benefit from the work, you know,

00:52:07 Speaker 09: of Council at that time to extend those services.

00:52:11 Speaker 09: This is an area where that area-specific charge applies, and Council's working at recovering the costs that you paid for several years ago.

00:52:22 Speaker 09: Others, okay.

00:52:23 Speaker 03: Then I'll call the question.

00:52:24 Speaker 03: All in favour?

00:52:26 Speaker 03: That is carried.

00:52:30 Speaker 03: I'm confident, just from other meetings, that that's going to be a catalyst for the area for other developers that want to put in residential.

00:52:42 Speaker 03: Ten C, I think it's Ms. Allan, with regard.

00:52:43 Speaker 03: I think it's Miss Allen with regard to support for affordable housing.

00:52:52 Speaker 03: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:52:53 Speaker 16: Tonight's report is an update to Council on the process that started approximately a year ago.

00:52:58 Speaker 16: There are two recommendations: one that we enter into a funding agreement with Grey County in order to receive their transfer of forty-five thousand dollars to offset the purchase price of the lands,

00:53:07 Speaker 16: and two to give staff the authority to move ahead with managing the land transfer to the Owen Sound Housing Corporation.

00:53:13 Speaker 16: I should note that this process is in its early stages.

00:53:16 Speaker 16: The methodology for transferring the lands and any other considerations ahead of the transfer of ownership still need to be ironed out.

00:53:23 Speaker 16: And I anticipate some further legal support.

00:53:26 Speaker 16: There will also need to be formal direction from the Housing Corporation Board that they are prepared to receive the lands.

00:53:31 Speaker 16: What I aim to achieve with this report is the authorization from Council to begin that process.

00:53:37 Speaker 16: Overall, I'm exceptionally proud to bring this report forward tonight, and it is the culmination of effort.

00:53:42 Speaker 16: from all three levels of government.

00:53:44 Speaker 16: The situation of vesting Crown lands following the dissolution of a corporation is unique, and I understand that legislation was written specifically for our situation on the basis of supplying more affordable housing.

00:53:57 Speaker 16: While there are no formal plans currently, the Director of the Housing Corporation indicated that she believes eight to ten units can be built on the lands,

00:54:05 Speaker 16: and that there will be efficiency realized with the proximity to other nonprofit housing developments.

00:54:10 Speaker 16: This is a proud moment for Owen Sound Council.

00:54:12 Speaker 16: With tonight's report, we are taking one more meaningful step towards addressing the housing shortage in our community.

00:54:18 Speaker 16: And I'm happy to take any questions.

00:54:21 Speaker 16: Councillor Krajac.

00:54:25 Speaker 16: I don't have any questions through you, Mr. Mayor.

00:54:28 Speaker 17: Just a quick comment that I agree with the Director that it is a step forward.

00:54:33 Speaker 17: And with that, I would like to move the recommendation moved in the staff report.

00:54:37 Speaker 17: Thank you.

00:54:37 Speaker 17: Others, Councillor.

00:54:38 Speaker 17: Through your Worship, as the City representative on the nonprofit housing board, this whole proposal has been met with great enthusiasm.

00:54:53 Speaker 14: In fact, the Board is enthusiastic about the possibility of this partnership and looks forward to working with the City to ensure the lands can fit with the development needs, timelines,

00:55:05 Speaker 14: and visions that both organisations hope to achieve.

00:55:09 Speaker 14: The Board certainly looks forward to working with the City and learning more about opportunities and options that might be available.

00:55:15 Speaker 14: It is first steps, but it's great steps forward.

00:55:19 Speaker 14: Thank you, Councillor Deputy Mayor Greig.

00:55:24 Speaker 03: And my question might relate to the first steps that Councillor Merton just spoke to.

00:55:29 Speaker 12: It might be a little early, but in reading this report, former and long-lasting Councillor Peter Lemon was a great champion of Owen Sound municipal nonprofit housing, and I think always look for an opportunity.

00:55:47 Speaker 12: And as we heard from the Director, this was one of those rare opportunities that came forward.

00:55:51 Speaker 12: I was just wondering: is there an opportunity here that might present itself where there may be some naming or recognition from the Board on naming a building or something, but as you mentioned,

00:56:07 Speaker 12: it is early.

00:56:08 Speaker 12: But I'm just wondering, is this the night where some of that discussion could start?

00:56:13 Speaker 12: Councillor Merton, through your Worship, the Board has briefly, very briefly, discussed options for naming, and it's really early, early days.

00:56:25 Speaker 14: There are others as well in our community who've been active representatives on housing, and so certainly, I'm sure there are Board members who are watching and listening to this evening's conversation.

00:56:39 Speaker 14: But the Board is planning on meeting.

00:56:43 Speaker 14: In fact, I think Kate had even offered to come to the meeting this Thursday coming, and probably the whole issue of potentially what do we do, how do we move forward,

00:56:54 Speaker 14: and naming maybe an option.

00:56:56 Speaker 14: But I don't think the Board's probably ready at this point in time for any determination.

00:57:02 Speaker 14: I suppose that could be a condition, if that's what Council wants of our transfer, is that it is named after Peter Lemon, is the Peter Lemon Complex, and that's a condition.

00:57:11 Speaker 03: Councillor Koepke.

00:57:13 Speaker 03: Thank you, Worship.

00:57:13 Speaker 05: That was part of what I was going to say.

00:57:16 Speaker 05: Given that Councillor Lemon was even involved with the Frank Smith Apartments, which were way back, even when he was born, but ever since I've been involved with the City since the early '80s.

00:57:29 Speaker 05: In the early eighties, Councillor Lemon has certainly been always working with non-profits, and even before he was on Council, his name was out there with non-profits and connected.

00:57:41 Speaker 05: So, I certainly would support that, and would like to add that be a condition of the recommendation.

00:57:50 Speaker 05: So, is that an amendment to the motion to add that?

00:57:54 Speaker 05: Yes, Your Worship, and it could be a friendly amendment if the mover agreed.

00:57:59 Speaker 05: I agree to the amendment.

00:58:03 Speaker 05: Does everybody understand the motion?

00:58:06 Speaker 05: Go ahead.

00:58:07 Speaker 05: Just perhaps, if I could have the Clerk read back, just so that I'm familiar with how it's structured there in the wording.

00:58:29 Speaker 12: Through your Worship, I may need some assistance from the mover, but my suggestion is that it would be added to item number two, which is on your screen.

00:58:41 Speaker 11: Which would, at the end of it, add with the inclusion of naming rights.

00:58:48 Speaker 11: But I'm not sure if you want to give a specific name or just with the inclusion of naming rights in favour of the City or something to that effect.

00:59:01 Speaker 11: Yep.

00:59:03 Speaker 11: Okay.

00:59:03 Speaker 11: So my intent with the friendly amendment was to actually have the name Peter Lemon in there, through your Worship, so that Peter Lemon would be recognized in the naming of one of the buildings.

00:59:48 Speaker 05: I'll get you to read it again, and then we'll get Councillor Kukracja to confirm.

00:59:50 Speaker 05: See Your Worship, that Peter Lemon would be recognized with the naming of the building or complex.

01:00:04 Speaker 05: Yep, that's correct.

01:00:06 Speaker 05: House of Merton.

01:00:09 Speaker 05: Just for clarification, the City is offering to the Board the option of housing, particularly for affordable housing; the naming now becomes a condition of that transfer, which removes the Board's decision-making.

01:00:36 Speaker 14: The Board has exercised its independent decision around naming, for example, the most recent building, the Thompson, and I just want to be clear that by this does this set a precedent, and in future,

01:00:55 Speaker 14: if gifts to other organisations might be made, then does this establish the precedent that the City determines the name of the building that's erected on the land?

01:01:08 Speaker 14: I think it would only be so if we created a policy that stated that we had that, and this is a one-off example of this specific transaction.

01:01:20 Speaker 03: I have trouble believing the Owen Sound Housing Authority would be against naming something after Peter Lemon.

01:01:25 Speaker 03: After all that he did for housing and all the years that he put in, all the years in Council—thirty-three years in Council plus housing before that,

01:01:33 Speaker 03: following his father—and his father's named after a building up there.

01:01:36 Speaker 03: I think, as are a number of other people.

01:01:38 Speaker 03: And it's from working with Peter.

01:01:42 Speaker 03: This is something that we've been discussing since he left Council in 2018, recognizing him in some manner when we got the opportunity with regard to housing.

01:01:55 Speaker 03: And I think it's—I guarantee that this is important to all the Councillors that worked with Peter in the past.

01:02:06 Speaker 03: Any further discussion?

01:02:08 Speaker 03: Call the question.

01:02:09 Speaker 03: All in favour?

01:02:10 Speaker 03: That is carried.

01:02:20 Speaker 03: Go ahead.

01:02:21 Speaker 03: I just have a point of order, Your Worship.

01:02:23 Speaker 03: I recall at the June twenty-third meeting, there was a motion made to consult with community groups respecting their potential interest in using the Rice House to provide housing or other social support to the community,

01:02:37 Speaker 02: and to bring forward a report to Council respecting interim uses of the Rice House until its demolition becomes necessary.

01:02:43 Speaker 02: to facilitate other city projects, that motion was defeated, and I'm not exactly sure why this next report is coming to council.

01:02:55 Speaker 02: If the motion was defeated on the item, you're one off.

01:03:00 Speaker 02: I've got one before I get to that.

01:03:02 Speaker 02: If you can just hold on, ten D.

01:03:05 Speaker 02: We haven't got to yet, and that's Ms. Bloomfield with regard to legislative overview, local approach, and implementation considerations.

01:03:10 Speaker 01: Implementation considerations.

01:03:24 Speaker 01: Kate's going to start.

01:03:25 Speaker 01: Okay, I've just got your name written down.

01:03:28 Speaker 01: So go ahead, Ms. Allan.

01:03:31 Speaker 01: Thank you, Your Worship, Brian.

01:03:32 Speaker 16: I'll get you to forward the slides when it's time.

01:03:35 Speaker 16: As some background here, the Strong Mayor's Act was expanded, granting Owen Sound strong mayor powers, as well as many other municipalities in Grey County, on May 1, 2025.

01:03:45 Speaker 16: While it was council's intent rather than reject the powers immediately, council took an informed approach, hosting an education session with John Mascaren in April.

01:03:55 Speaker 16: I have attended several Strong Mayors training sessions hosted by MFOWA, and the Owen Sound meeting has been referenced several times as an excellent resource for other municipalities that are navigating the newly expanded eligibility.

01:04:09 Speaker 16: You can move forward a couple slides there.

01:04:12 Speaker 16: The following slides pertain to the budget, and Brianna will then present a short piece on other administrative implications.

01:04:19 Speaker 16: As we know, the rejection of strong mayor powers in April was symbolic.

01:04:23 Speaker 16: However, in reality, they are legislated and cannot be waived.

01:04:27 Speaker 16: With respect to the budget, the mayor is responsible for preparing and tabling the annual budget.

01:04:33 Speaker 16: While many strong mayor powers were delegated back to council and staff, this is one area that cannot be delegated.

01:04:39 Speaker 16: The mayor's budget hinges on one key date, February 1st.

01:04:43 Speaker 16: So long as the mayor tables a budget prior to this date, it is a mayor's budget.

01:04:47 Speaker 16: Any version of the budget referred to prior to the date it is tabled is called a staff prepared draft budget.

01:04:54 Speaker 16: Once the mayor tables the budget, there are legislated timelines for council to propose amendments and the mayor to consider amendments before the budget is deemed to be adopted.

01:05:04 Speaker 16: The next slide.

01:05:06 Speaker 16: In order to proceed with the budget prior to February 1st, the report proposes a timeline.

01:05:13 Speaker 16: The mayor will table the budget on December 22nd.

01:05:16 Speaker 16: This will follow several months of staff preparation, engagement, and individual meetings between the mayor and council members.

01:05:23 Speaker 16: The legislative timeline of 30 days will be shortened by only a day or two to allow the amendment deadline to occur on January 19th.

01:05:30 Speaker 16: This will be the new date that all of council reviews the completed budget, views the completed budget and votes on any amendments brought forward by individual councillors.

01:05:38 Speaker 16: The general format of the meeting will be an information session for council to communicate key themes and service priorities.

01:05:45 Speaker 16: This is slightly later than the original date of December 1st as our council review date,

01:05:49 Speaker 16: allowing us to ensure that the tabled budget is complete with all known budget impacts captured and time for the mayor to review ahead of time with staff.

01:05:59 Speaker 16: Following the meeting on January 19th, the mayor has 10 days to veto any amendments.

01:06:04 Speaker 16: These vetoes are communicated as a mayoral decision, and we will be posted on the website.

01:06:09 Speaker 16: At the next regularly scheduled council meeting on February 9th, council will have the opportunity to overturn any vetoes with a two-thirds council vote.

01:06:19 Speaker 16: The latest the budget will be deemed adopted is February 9th under this timeline.

01:06:23 Speaker 16: And if there are no amendments or if the mayor immediately accepts all amendments, the budget may be adopted as early as January 19th.

01:06:30 Speaker 16: January 19th.

01:06:32 Speaker 16: Next slide, Brianna.

01:06:33 Speaker 16: Thank you.

01:06:36 Speaker 16: One area where our proposal's unique interpretation of the strong mayor's budget is around capital.

01:06:43 Speaker 16: Under this interpretation, we are going to sort of classify the capital levy, which is the amount raised through taxation, as part of the mayor's budget and subject to the strong mayor process.

01:06:57 Speaker 16: This would include council's recommendation to include an additional one percent to be considered within the mayor's budget.

01:07:05 Speaker 16: However, that the capital plan that we review in the spring and update in the fall, which projects where projects are prioritized and funding is allocated, will remain under a council approval as a plan,

01:07:18 Speaker 16: as opposed to the budget, consistent with existing practices and timelines.

01:07:23 Speaker 16: This allows for transparent infrastructure planning while aligning with legislation, and it reinforces council's role in long-term capital decision making and asset management.

01:07:33 Speaker 16: It's key to know that this is an interpretation and it is subject to change, and a future mayor may choose to include the full capital plan with the strong mayor's budget.

01:07:41 Speaker 16: And in fact, that may align more closely with the intent of the legislation.

01:07:48 Speaker 16: Public engagement will continue to evolve under the mayor's budget.

01:07:52 Speaker 16: The traditional public meeting, generally held late in the budget process, will be removed under the new legislative structure.

01:08:01 Speaker 16: Instead, we will focus on earlier engagement, including a dedicated table at the public town hall in October, as well as an invitation to receive electronic submissions around the same time.

01:08:10 Speaker 16: The strategy continues to reinforce that engagement happens all year, and service levels drive the budget rather than budgets driving service levels.

01:08:19 Speaker 16: As well, the capital plan, where we allocate capital dollars to specific projects, will still, as I said before, follow the traditional process of preliminary presentations to committees, surveys, and other engagement strategies.

01:08:31 Speaker 16: Also, continuing to evolve as we move through asset management milestones.

01:08:38 Speaker 16: Next slide, Brianna.

01:08:40 Speaker 16: Following deemed adoption of the budget, we'll follow a timeline consistent with other years.

01:08:46 Speaker 16: Council retains full authority over tax ratios, rates, and special area rates.

01:08:51 Speaker 16: Those don't necessarily apply in Owen Sound.

01:08:52 Speaker 16: So once the budget is adopted, council must pass a tax levy bylaw to raise funds, as required in the Municipal Act.

01:09:01 Speaker 16: We will do our tax policy review in March, and that will be informed by the BMA study and regional comparators.

01:09:08 Speaker 16: And final tax rates will be approved in April, applying the budget to current assessment values and capturing the levies from the county and the education board as well.

01:09:16 Speaker 16: The mayor's budget process will be reviewed annually and confirmed with the mayor at that time.

01:09:25 Speaker 16: I did just add, as our budget represents the city's budget, but there's also that piece that represents the police board levy.

01:09:34 Speaker 16: The mayor will set the total funding amount for the police board as part of the mayor's budget.

01:09:39 Speaker 16: Total funding will be informed by draft budgets prepared by police services.

01:09:44 Speaker 16: Police service board retains authority to allocate the funds independently, and council may propose amendments to the police levy sub.

01:09:49 Speaker 16: Amendments to the police levy, subject to veto and override, just as any other part of the budget, and this preserves the police board independence while maintaining fiscal oversight by the city.

01:10:02 Speaker 16: And then Brianna will step in.

01:10:10 Speaker 16: Through your worship, this chart that was included in the staff report provides a description of the strong mayor power, the section it is in the Municipal Act, and the action taken.

01:10:18 Speaker 11: And the action being taken, many of these powers were thoroughly reviewed by John Mascaren at two education sessions held in April.

01:10:27 Speaker 11: It is important to note that although the mayor may have delegated some of these powers, they have the authority to revoke any delegated authority at any time.

01:10:36 Speaker 11: The first line of the chart notes that the mayor has authority to direct municipal employees.

01:10:41 Speaker 11: When this is done, the mayor will issue a mayoral direction, which will be given to staff in writing and by the next business day, given to the clerk and CAO, or the city manager,

01:10:53 Speaker 11: the MDI will be made available to the public and council by posting it to the city's website and including it on a council agenda for information purposes.

01:11:02 Speaker 11: The mayor has the ability to appoint the CAO, but through mayoral decision number one, the mayor has delegated this power to city council.

01:11:10 Speaker 11: The mayor has the ability to hire certain department heads and establish or reorganise departments, through mayoral decision.

01:11:16 Speaker 11: Number Two, the mayor delegated this power to the city manager.

01:11:20 Speaker 11: The mayor has the authority to create committees of council, assign their functions, and appoint chairs and vice chairs.

01:11:26 Speaker 11: Through Mayoral Decision Number Three, the mayor delegated this power to city council.

01:11:32 Speaker 11: The mayor has the ability to bring matters forward to council if they advance provincial priorities.

01:11:37 Speaker 11: To do this, the mayor will prepare a report for council's consideration, which will be included on a council agenda.

01:11:44 Speaker 11: The mayor has the power to veto certain bylaws if they interfere with provincial priorities.

01:11:49 Speaker 11: To do this, the mayor will issue a mayoral decision to veto a bylaw and provide reasons.

01:11:54 Speaker 11: This decision would be circulated to council and included in a council meeting agenda within 21 days of the decision.

01:12:01 Speaker 11: A two-thirds vote of council can override the mayor's veto.

01:12:06 Speaker 11: The mayor has the authority to propose certain municipal bylaws that could advance provincial priorities with more than one-third support of council.

01:12:13 Speaker 11: To do this, a proposed bylaw with reasons will be included in the Council agenda.

01:12:18 Speaker 11: Council is required to consider and vote on the proposed bylaw, which can be enacted if more than one third of Council vote in favour.

01:12:26 Speaker 11: The mayor has the ability to propose the budget, subject to Council amendments, mayoral veto, and the Council override process.

01:12:34 Speaker 11: This has been outlined throughout this staff report.

01:12:38 Speaker 11: To ensure consistency with the strong mayor powers under the Act.

01:12:42 Speaker 11: Housekeeping amendments are required to the city's procedural bylaw, acting mayor bylaw, board and committee bylaw, notice bylaw, and delegation of authority bylaw.

01:12:50 Speaker 11: These amendments do not alter the intent or substance of the bylaws, but are necessary to bring them into alignment with current legislative requirements.

01:12:58 Speaker 11: In accordance with the city's notice bylaw, public notice is required for proposed changes to the procedural bylaw.

01:13:03 Speaker 11: A summary of the housekeeping changes are outlined in the report and on this slide.

01:13:08 Speaker 11: For the procedural bylaw, staff will add definitions, add budget voting requirements, change staff reports to reports, and add mayoral decisions and directions as examples on the consent agenda.

01:13:19 Speaker 11: The acting mayor bylaw will note that strong mayor powers cannot be utilised by another member of council, including any member acting in place of head of council.

01:13:27 Speaker 11: The board and committee bylaw will note that the mayor has authority to establish prescribed committees if they wish to utilise strong mayor powers.

01:13:34 Speaker 11: The notice bylaw will remove notice requirements for the budget public meeting, and the delegation of authority bylaw will note that strong mayor powers cannot be delegated.

01:13:45 Speaker 11: The recommendation in the report is that, in consideration of staff report CR 2599 respecting strong mayor powers, legislative overview, local approach, and implementation considerations,

01:13:58 Speaker 11: City Council cancels the December 1st and 2nd special meetings listed on the 2025 council and committee meeting schedule.

01:14:07 Speaker 11: Direct staff to include a special meeting to review the mayor's budget on January 19, 2026, in the 2026 council and committee meeting schedule.

01:14:15 Speaker 11: Approves shortening the budget amendment period from 30 days to 29 days.

01:14:19 Speaker 11: Approves shortening the override of the mayor's veto period, if required, from 15 days to 11 days.

01:14:25 Speaker 11: Direct staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend the procedural bylaw, acting mayor bylaw, board and committee bylaw, notice bylaw, and delegation of powers and duties bylaw as outlined in the report.

01:14:34 Speaker 11: And direct staff to provide notice of the intention to amend the procedural bylaw as required in the notice bylaw.

01:14:40 Speaker 11: And with that, Kate or I are happy to take any questions you might have.

01:14:44 Speaker 11: Good.

01:14:45 Speaker 11: Thank you.

01:14:45 Speaker 11: Do we know where to start?

01:14:47 Speaker 11: Go ahead, Mary.

01:14:49 Speaker 11: Thank you, Your Worship.

01:14:50 Speaker 05: Just a comment: all of these amendments are taking place for the term of council.

01:14:57 Speaker 05: Is that correct, Your Worship?

01:15:04 Speaker 05: Through your worship, this would bring them into compliance with the legislation.

01:15:07 Speaker 11: So it would be for as long as the legislation is in place, or they want to make further amendments to certain bylaws.

01:15:16 Speaker 11: So the next term of council, if that particular mayor doesn't want to give those powers, then do you go through all these amendments again?

01:15:29 Speaker 05: Through your worship, those would be specific to the mayor.

01:15:32 Speaker 11: Specific to the mayoral decisions, not the amendments to the bylaws.

01:15:37 Speaker 11: just match what's in the legislation.

01:15:39 Speaker 11: But yes, the mayor each mayor could make their own decision.

01:15:43 Speaker 11: Whoever the mayor is, this mayor could change their mind tomorrow if he so wished.

01:15:48 Speaker 11: There are questions.

01:15:59 Speaker 11: Go ahead.

01:16:01 Speaker 11: I guess I've got a couple questions.

01:16:02 Speaker 12: Of all the problems facing Ontario, I didn't think this was the most preeminent of them, but it is what it is.

01:16:13 Speaker 12: Page twelve, at the top, it states council reviews the estimate provided by the Police Services Board.

01:16:20 Speaker 12: I guess I have a specific question: to when and how would council review that?

01:16:28 Speaker 12: I see it's projected that December twenty-second it's presented, but then there's the language about amendments.

01:16:34 Speaker 12: But in terms of like formally looking at it, what does staff think that looks like?

01:16:39 Speaker 12: It is a substantial component of our overall budget.

01:16:45 Speaker 12: In terms of reporting then to the public, what do staff foresee and the mayor perhaps the document to look like?

01:16:52 Speaker 12: I think back several years ago, I think it was a Globe article that stated how governments have got really good at public relations.

01:16:57 Speaker 12: Governments have got really good at publishing marketing brochures with more photos than words, as opposed to formal documents and budgets of years gone by.

01:17:09 Speaker 12: And it's the public's right to be transparent to show where their monies are spent.

01:17:19 Speaker 12: What are we expecting for how the presentation is going to look in terms of what literature that we're putting back out there,

01:17:29 Speaker 12: because we do have a responsibility to report in a transparent manner to the public.

01:17:35 Speaker 12: I'm going to get you to ask your first question, and then I'll come back to you for your second one.

01:17:41 Speaker 12: Yeah.

01:17:42 Speaker 12: So the first: how do staff envision council reviewing the estimate provided by the Police Services Board, as stated in the top of page twelve?

01:17:55 Speaker 12: Through your worship, I have some draft timelines to present to the Police Services Board in order to meet these timelines.

01:18:01 Speaker 16: But what I'm going to suggest is that they would provide their draft budget in order for it to be included for our review with the mayor, which is still taking place on December first.

01:18:14 Speaker 16: That's sort of like an internal staff and mayor review, and that ultimately that would be included in the mayor's budget that is tabled on December twenty-sixth.

01:18:23 Speaker 16: On December 22nd.

01:18:24 Speaker 16: So, as far as when Council will have an opportunity to see the Police Board budget, or as the amount that is included in the Mayor's budget, it would be on December 22nd,

01:18:34 Speaker 16: and you'd have the 30 days until January 19th.

01:18:42 Speaker 16: And question two is: what do staff envision the entire document to be?

01:18:50 Speaker 12: Is this something that we envision a twenty-page summary document without appendices?

01:19:02 Speaker 12: What's the future of reporting to the public look like at this point, right now, with this report in front of us tonight?

01:19:09 Speaker 12: Is this a shortening of a more fulsome document that shows more transparency into operations, or is this a very, very condensed brief package that just says here's the services, and here's your general cost,

01:19:28 Speaker 12: service levels drive expenditures, and so forth.

01:19:37 Speaker 12: Through you, Your Worship, I think that's a great thing to discuss when you have your one-on-one with the mayor, as far as what you're looking for in the budget this year,

01:19:46 Speaker 16: and each councillor will be given that opportunity.

01:19:50 Speaker 16: It is the mayor's budget, and so it's also sort of the mayor's budget presentation.

01:19:53 Speaker 16: And as staff will be there to support him, I would anticipate it would be similar to what you've seen in the past.

01:20:02 Speaker 16: We'll also have the budget book towards the end of the process.

01:20:05 Speaker 16: That will be that public-facing document.

01:20:07 Speaker 16: But everything that is tabled by the mayor for council to review is going to be available to the public as well.

01:20:16 Speaker 16: Deputy Mayor Greig, I just want to clarify.

01:20:17 Speaker 03: Are you asking about what gets presented to the public after?

01:20:21 Speaker 03: Are you talking about what gets presented to Council by the mayor for Council's consideration or review?

01:20:27 Speaker 03: Well, it isn't really the review, but presentation to Council.

01:20:32 Speaker 03: Well, when it's presented to Council and Council is having deliberations, it's a public document.

01:20:37 Speaker 12: So I guess I'm asking what it's a public document at that point and what does that document look like?

01:20:43 Speaker 12: So basically, the one that's coming to Council.

01:20:45 Speaker 03: Good.

01:20:45 Speaker 03: I just want that clarity.

01:20:48 Speaker 03: Anything you need to add to that, Kate?

01:20:50 Speaker 03: You just did.

01:20:52 Speaker 03: You're good.

01:20:52 Speaker 03: Okay.

01:20:56 Speaker 03: I think we've got a motion that we haven't passed.

01:21:01 Speaker 03: We haven't moved.

01:21:11 Speaker 03: Deputy Mayor Greig.

01:21:12 Speaker 12: And it was, I think, all read by the clerk, so I won't go back over every bullet.

01:21:17 Speaker 12: But I will move the recommendation as presented in the report.

01:21:22 Speaker 12: Okay.

01:21:22 Speaker 03: Further questions, comments, discussions.

01:21:26 Speaker 03: Call the question.

01:21:27 Speaker 03: All in favour?

01:21:28 Speaker 03: And that is carried.

01:21:31 Speaker 03: Unanimous.

01:21:31 Speaker 03: Thank you, Kate and Brianna.

01:21:35 Speaker 03: Now, Kate's report is about to come.

01:21:38 Speaker 03: I want to go back to Brock so we can clarify what his question was.

01:21:42 Speaker 03: Yeah, Paul.

01:21:43 Speaker 03: Yeah, apologies for jumping way ahead.

01:21:45 Speaker 03: So, at the June 23rd special meeting on the capital budget, there was a motion regarding Rice House and what to do with it, and that motion was defeated.

01:22:00 Speaker 02: And this report is what would have come forward if the motion had been approved.

01:22:12 Speaker 02: So I'm just confused as to why it's on the agenda at all.

01:22:20 Speaker 02: Yeah, Mr. Simmonds.

01:22:24 Speaker 02: Thank you, Mayor, and through you to Councillor Hamley.

01:22:26 Speaker 07: Thanks for highlighting this, and I'll take some ownership on this.

01:22:32 Speaker 07: We understood in the report actually notes that the motion was defeated, but in my recollection and without watching the video,

01:22:38 Speaker 07: I thought there was further conversation about this and some understanding of what council wanted us to still come back with something.

01:22:45 Speaker 07: Now, hindsight again, I can't recall specifically if somebody said should a motion come forward, and I believe the conversation was: "I don't think we need a motion."

01:22:54 Speaker 07: We understand sort of what Council is looking for here, thus this report coming back on this.

01:23:00 Speaker 07: So, but again, I would need to watch the video to understand that.

01:23:05 Speaker 07: But for some reason, I think that there was some conversation following which leads to again from a clerking and governance perspective, we probably should have had a full motion if something was changed,

01:23:17 Speaker 07: rather than working off just verbal conversation at that.

01:23:20 Speaker 07: But again, that would be my mistake with this from Council's perspective and or from the Clerk's perspective.

01:23:28 Speaker 07: I'd put out.

01:23:29 Speaker 07: I don't know if we'd need a motion to reconsider or if this is a motion to because I haven't watched the video.

01:23:37 Speaker 07: If that pertains to this, deferring this to a September meeting just to give staff time to go back and see the full context of the conversation that happened that day.

01:23:46 Speaker 07: I'm just trying to find the wording on that motion.

01:23:56 Speaker 03: I'm not finding it.

01:23:59 Speaker 03: Yeah, if you could.

01:24:18 Speaker 03: In consideration of the presentation provided June 23, 2025, from Manager of Corporate Services, respecting 2026 to 2030 multi-year capital plan update.

01:24:28 Speaker 03: City Council directs staff to consult with the community groups respecting their potential interest in using the Rice House to provide housing or other social supports to the community,

01:24:39 Speaker 03: and bring forward a report to Council respecting interim uses of the Rice House until its demolition becomes necessary to facilitate other projects.

01:24:50 Speaker 03: Councillor Burton, through your worship, absolutely procedurally this was defeated.

01:24:59 Speaker 14: However, in that meeting, in the video, the Mayor did go on to say that should there be an interest, his ears were open.

01:25:09 Speaker 14: He would, and people could approach.

01:25:12 Speaker 14: And so it was subsequent to this that the Mayor extended an invitation for anyone that his ears were open, and you know, for people to indicate an interest.

01:25:23 Speaker 14: So my query is based on that.

01:25:26 Speaker 14: That was a direction from the Mayor that implied there would be more, potentially more dialogueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueueue, and my understanding from this would be that this has come forward as a result of that.

01:25:41 Speaker 14: Those comments from our Mayor.

01:25:47 Speaker 14: Go ahead.

01:25:49 Speaker 14: Can we?

01:25:51 Speaker 14: Well, I'll move to defer this to September, and we can come back with some sort of firm answer on all of what has been said.

01:25:59 Speaker 02: Because I just there's there's the motion which is pretty pretty clear and then there's the report.

01:26:08 Speaker 02: I'm not sure I gave direction by saying my ears would be open to any offer.

01:26:12 Speaker 03: Kate, is there any timeline on this that needs to be considered?

01:26:21 Speaker 03: I don't believe so.

01:26:22 Speaker 16: I believe we did have some interest from Georgian College, and if they were going to use this as student housing,

01:26:27 Speaker 16: then certainly having something in place ahead of the school season would be of interest to them.

01:26:35 Speaker 16: But they're not the only group that has been in conversations with staff.

01:26:39 Speaker 16: I'll also note that there is a recommendation in the report to move forward with some capital, minor capital upgrades, to make the building available for use for any potential tenant.

01:26:57 Speaker 16: So was that a motion to defer?

01:26:58 Speaker 16: Did you actually move that?

01:26:59 Speaker 16: Okay, Marion.

01:27:01 Speaker 03: So it's a motion to defer.

01:27:04 Speaker 03: Can I speak to what's on this?

01:27:09 Speaker 05: Still?

01:27:09 Speaker 05: I think we just have to speak to the motion to defer.

01:27:12 Speaker 03: Yes.

01:27:20 Speaker 03: I don't agree that we defer because it's semantics.

01:27:23 Speaker 05: The Mayor said anyone who's interested please come to us.

01:27:27 Speaker 05: The report actually says we're seeking out people, so there's semantics there.

01:27:33 Speaker 05: The Director is telling us they have had people express interest, which is what the Mayor asked for.

01:27:39 Speaker 05: So I don't understand why we can't just proceed on those requests if there's been an interest.

01:27:48 Speaker 05: Okay.

01:27:48 Speaker 05: To the motion.

01:27:52 Speaker 05: And just to clarify, you are referring to September 8 as the date of the first meeting in September.

01:27:57 Speaker 12: I see.

01:27:57 Speaker 12: Not thanks.

01:28:00 Speaker 12: Okay.

01:28:00 Speaker 03: On the motion to defer, I'm going to call the question.

01:28:02 Speaker 03: All in favour?

01:28:04 Speaker 03: One, two.

01:28:06 Speaker 03: Opposed?

01:28:07 Speaker 03: One, two, three.

01:28:08 Speaker 03: So that's defeated.

01:28:14 Speaker 03: So before us is a report.

01:28:22 Speaker 03: Through your worship, my final report on tonight's agenda is another housing initiative.

01:28:25 Speaker 16: Following the capital plan update in June, Council expressed interest in seeking potential uses for the Rice House, prior to demolition sometime in the not immediate future.

01:28:39 Speaker 16: This report provides a proposed process for seeking those expressions of interest by way of a simple request for expression of interest form,

01:28:47 Speaker 16: followed by an RFP that will be evaluated on the basis of alignment of the proposed use with community need and benefit, organisational capacity and readiness for occupancy, immediacy of need, and proposed lease terms,

01:29:00 Speaker 16: including any financial offer.

01:29:02 Speaker 16: The eligibility for interest has been limited at this phase to nonprofit or government enterprises with a general focus of providing housing, and recommends some local partners that will be invited to consider submitting a proposal.

01:29:15 Speaker 16: The report is also seeking Council approval for some minimal unbudgeted capital improvements; that said, it should be noted that any operating costs associated with occupancy would be borne by the future tenant.

01:29:27 Speaker 16: Should also be clear that the City is providing the asset, but does not intend to be the landlord to end users.

01:29:32 Speaker 16: The intent is that the facility will be made available to a service provider who will then manage relationships with the end users.

01:29:39 Speaker 16: And I'm happy to take any questions.

01:29:41 Speaker 16: Mary.

01:29:44 Speaker 16: So, in keeping with the motion that was defeated, I think we should not go out and look for expressions of interest.

01:29:52 Speaker 05: If we already have some people that have expressed an interest, we should be just giving them the form that they fill out to express their interest, and consider those that have approached us.

01:30:06 Speaker 05: Not go out and look for more because that's probably going to be a cost to it.

01:30:12 Speaker 05: So I think the motion that's on the floor, if I put this motion on the floor, needs to be amended to reflect that.

01:30:21 Speaker 05: Through your worship, I think when we sat down with staff, and we were receiving interest in multiple formats—emails, calls,

01:30:30 Speaker 18: requests for meeting—we as staff identified that we needed a little bit of structure for that process.

01:30:36 Speaker 18: And when you talk about filling out the form, even the creating of that expression of interest form, so that is the sort of process that we want to move forward with.

01:30:44 Speaker 18: Is a is a form that each person would fill out and also provide some timelines to that, so that there's a deadline to when we would receive those expressions of interest.

01:30:54 Speaker 18: Also during that timeline, we would plan to set up a tour of the facility for anyone that's interested,

01:31:00 Speaker 18: and then give them a little bit more time in order to finalize any interest that they wanted to prepare.

01:31:06 Speaker 18: Okay, and that's all well and good, but I don't think we need to advertise or anything.

01:31:13 Speaker 05: Do anything more?

01:31:14 Speaker 05: We already have expressions of interest, so it's those people who have contacted us that you would provide the form to and do the tour with,

01:31:22 Speaker 05: etc. I'm not sure that we had already given a timeline, so there may be other people who are interested who have not yet given us their shared that with us.

01:31:38 Speaker 05: So this format would just give us a strict time.

01:31:40 Speaker 16: Would just give us a strict timeline as to when we're willing to entertain those.

01:31:46 Speaker 16: But I would go to the clerk and say, is that not a contradiction to the already defeated motion?

01:31:55 Speaker 05: If you're ready, go ahead.

01:31:58 Speaker 05: Through your, through you, Your Worship.

01:32:00 Speaker 11: Perhaps we should just do a motion to reconsider, which would require.

01:32:07 Speaker 11: That's the cleanest.

01:32:13 Speaker 11: If we go back up to ten thousand feet and look at big picture, if somebody's interested in renting it, we're not going to.

01:32:20 Speaker 01: We're not interested in saying no. We're not interested in having an empty place there.

01:32:24 Speaker 01: If there's somebody interested, it was just going out trying to find somebody was kind of beyond beyond the pale.

01:32:33 Speaker 01: So motion to reconsider, I think, is best, and then we just go from there.

01:32:40 Speaker 01: Nobody wants to move to reconsider.

01:32:46 Speaker 01: Three, Your Worship, I need to understand if we put forward a motion to reconsider.

01:32:54 Speaker 14: I need to procedurally understand that we're not closing a door to people who have expressed an interest.

01:33:05 Speaker 14: How do we procedurally move forward?

01:33:05 Speaker 14: Procedurally move forward around, so we're reconsidering the original motion or the one that's on there.

01:33:14 Speaker 14: I just need clarification.

01:33:16 Speaker 14: I don't want to close the door to Rice House, writing out their house.

01:33:19 Speaker 14: So we're reconsidering only because we're hitting the same topic again.

01:33:23 Speaker 03: And the cleanest way is to have a motion to reconsider, and then what's on the screen in front of us is going to be the recommendation that would be reconsidered.

01:33:31 Speaker 03: So we're not going back looking at the last one.

01:33:33 Speaker 03: We're just strictly allowing us to look at this and move forward without stepping on our own toes.

01:33:41 Speaker 03: Thank you for that.

01:33:42 Speaker 03: And yes, I would make a motion to reconsider.

01:33:46 Speaker 03: Thank you.

01:33:46 Speaker 03: Discussion on motion to reconsider only.

01:33:49 Speaker 03: Call the question on favour.

01:33:51 Speaker 03: And that is carried.

01:33:53 Speaker 03: Okay.

01:33:53 Speaker 03: Now we've got a recommendation in front of us and a report.

01:33:57 Speaker 03: Councillor Merton.

01:33:59 Speaker 03: I will move that we accept the recommendation as presented by staff in front of us tonight.

01:34:03 Speaker 14: Okay.

01:34:05 Speaker 14: Discussion on that?

01:34:07 Speaker 14: Go ahead.

01:34:08 Speaker 12: One question.

01:34:08 Speaker 12: There's some language about purchasing a water heater.

01:34:12 Speaker 12: I presume, if in two years we have other facilities, that is our practice to move such an item to, as opposed to renting.

01:34:25 Speaker 12: I would hope to assume that as well, but I can certainly confirm before we move forward with that purchase.

01:34:32 Speaker 16: Count.

01:34:33 Speaker 17: Councillor Kukreja.

01:34:34 Speaker 17: To you, Mr. Mayor, just a quick question to the director.

01:34:37 Speaker 17: So, with this, if this goes, if we agree to do this, and leaves it out to a community group, would this city be responsible for maintaining if the roof is leaking,

01:34:48 Speaker 17: or the windows need to be replaced because the building was set for demolition, right?

01:34:55 Speaker 17: So, I'm assuming it wasn't fit for community groups, or it wasn't safe.

01:35:02 Speaker 17: But if we are planning to lease it out for three or four years, can that structure be taken?

01:35:10 Speaker 17: And would the city be paying for it, or would it be?

01:35:15 Speaker 17: Through your Worship, so this building was not included, and I think some of this actually was discussed in the capital meeting that took place a couple weeks ago.

01:35:24 Speaker 16: It was not included in our large facility condition assessment project.

01:35:28 Speaker 16: However, our facility staff have gone into the building and sort of done their own professional assessment, and they feel that the structure is sound, other than a couple minor capital improvements,

01:35:39 Speaker 16: such that it could withstand use for the next three to five years as proposed under a short-term lease.

01:35:46 Speaker 16: We would also be basing the lease likely on a similar one that we had with the Ukrainian Village folks, that detailed which types of improvements are the responsibility of the city,

01:35:57 Speaker 16: which are the main capital structure, and which costs are the responsibility of the tenant?

01:36:02 Speaker 16: Leasehold improvements and any interior maintenance items.

01:36:09 Speaker 16: Call the question.

01:36:11 Speaker 16: Yeah.

01:36:11 Speaker 16: Okay.

01:36:11 Speaker 16: All in favour?

01:36:13 Speaker 16: One, two, three, four.

01:36:14 Speaker 16: That's carried.

01:36:19 Speaker 16: Thank you, Kate.

01:36:21 Speaker 19: I think we're down to Deputy Mayor Greig with regard to Grey County Council.

01:36:25 Speaker 19: Thank you, Mayor, and.

01:36:27 Speaker 12: I can report that County Council, at its last meeting,

01:36:29 Speaker 12: approved a funding agreement with the federal government for one million one hundred twenty-six thousand seven hundred dollars to expand supportive outreach services to seven days per week.

01:36:38 Speaker 12: This funding will include three hundred ten thousand dollars for the purchase and outfit of a dedicated vehicle and eight hundred sixteen thousand seven hundred dollars for operating costs, covering approximately fifteen point five months.

01:36:49 Speaker 12: The programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe currently operates four days per week, supporting around one hundred individuals.

01:36:54 Speaker 12: At any time, twenty to thirty individuals are being treated with SubLucid administered through the SOS programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe.

01:37:00 Speaker 12: This funding enhancement will run through March thirty-one, two thousand and twenty-seven.

01:37:05 Speaker 12: And any further items on the agenda were not of any immediate relevancy to the city.

01:37:11 Speaker 12: So I welcome any questions and ask Council's receipt of the verbal report.

01:37:16 Speaker 12: Any questions?

01:37:17 Speaker 12: Yep.

01:37:17 Speaker 20: To you, Mr. Mayor, to Deputy Mayor Greig.

01:37:21 Speaker 20: Just a quick question.

01:37:23 Speaker 20: So the SOS programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe that you just mentioned, would it be active only in the City of Owen Sound, or to all the municipalities that fall under the Grey County mandate?

01:37:38 Speaker 17: I'm going from memory right now, and I will stand to be corrected, but I think they're functioning out of four, if not five, centres now across Grey County.

01:37:48 Speaker 12: So it has expanded slightly beyond Hanover and Owen Sound originally, and to now include some of the other communities.

01:37:56 Speaker 12: Thank you.

01:37:59 Speaker 12: Okay, don't see other questions.

01:38:01 Speaker 12: Call to question.

01:38:01 Speaker 12: All in favour?

01:38:03 Speaker 12: That's carried.

01:38:03 Speaker 01: So that's verbal report was received.

01:38:07 Speaker 01: Now the consent agenda.

01:38:12 Speaker 01: Through your Worship, on the consent agenda this evening, there are several reports.

01:38:16 Speaker 11: The reports are respecting a request to purchase a portion of the unopened Twenty-First Street road allowance west of Ninth Avenue East,

01:38:23 Speaker 11: a request by In on the Bay to acquire lands from the Graceville Conservation Authority, a land sale for a portion of Seventh Avenue West road allowance at Twenty-Third Street West,

01:38:33 Speaker 11: an extension of the Grey County winter maintenance agreement, the Water Management Bylaw, an appointed officers bylaw update, the approval of the Two Thousand and Twenty-Six to Two Thousand and Thirty multi-year capital plan,

01:38:45 Speaker 11: a public appointment to the Corporate Services Committee, the award of the Thirty-Second Street East and East Bayshore Road water main replacement,

01:38:51 Speaker 11: and the award of the Sixteenth Avenue East and Twentieth Street East sanitary sewer replacement.

01:38:58 Speaker 11: There are minutes for receipt from the River District Board.

01:39:01 Speaker 11: Business licences were issued to Pizzaville at fifteen fifty-five Sixteenth Street East, Upper Canada Films at nine oh eight Second Avenue East, and Tyler's Touch Painting, a home occupation, at nineteen oh nine Fourth Avenue West.

01:39:14 Speaker 11: City Hall illumination requests were approved for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and World Drowning Prevention Month.

01:39:20 Speaker 11: A flag flying request was approved for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

01:39:24 Speaker 11: The last item on the consent agenda is the information package.

01:39:28 Speaker 11: A full listing is available at eleven o.

01:39:32 Speaker 11: Deputy Mayor, oh, first of all, are there any items in there we want to pull and deal with separately?

01:39:39 Speaker 03: I would like to see a separate vote on item eleven A as well as question on 11E and 11J, but particularly 11A, I would like to see Council vote separately on it.

01:39:56 Speaker 12: You'll have the motion if you can move everything except for those three.

01:40:04 Speaker 01: Move by myself, Deputy Mayor Greig, that in consideration of the items listed on the July 21, 2025, consent agenda, City Council one receives items 11A to 11O, save and accept 11A, 11E, and 11J,

01:40:25 Speaker 04: and two approves the recommendations contained in items 11A to 11J, save and accept 11A, 11E, and 11J.

01:40:36 Speaker 04: Perfect.

01:40:37 Speaker 04: Thank you.

01:40:38 Speaker 04: Any questions?

01:40:40 Speaker 04: All in favour?

01:40:42 Speaker 04: That's carried.

01:40:42 Speaker 01: Just be.

01:40:43 Speaker 01: That's carried.

01:40:43 Speaker 01: Just before I come back to those, who's in River District?

01:40:49 Speaker 01: That's neat, Travis.

01:40:51 Speaker 01: Okay, good.

01:40:52 Speaker 01: I'm not seeing any thanks.

01:41:03 Speaker 01: I'm not seeing any other committees that we need to come back to, so I will go back to eleven A and and Deputy Mayor Greig.

01:41:12 Speaker 01: Thank you, and I won't reiterate some of the comments I made at the last meeting.

01:41:16 Speaker 12: But part of my concern is this came forward again tonight from the last meeting, and it was commented by some councillors that at that time we were only really focused on stopping the road allowance,

01:41:34 Speaker 12: and still they're being stopped and closing up the road allowance, and that there's still being a future opportunity, I think, presented for members of the public to see council's next steps.

01:41:49 Speaker 12: So I feel that this report now tonight has somewhat jumped ahead a little bit from that discussion that was had by council around this table at the last meeting.

01:41:59 Speaker 12: So I'm not in favour of, not supportive of council directing staff at this time to bring forward a bylaw to authorise mayor and clerk to execute all documents necessary to finalize the sale,

01:42:12 Speaker 12: because I don't think the public had that fair chance that perhaps was communicated somewhat from the last meeting.

01:42:25 Speaker 12: Councillor Kepk.

01:42:27 Speaker 05: I think I indicated this at the last meeting as well.

01:42:30 Speaker 05: Stop up and close doesn't usually take place unless you have a request for it, but maybe the clerk can provide us the procedures on that.

01:42:37 Speaker 05: Through you, Your Worship.

01:42:37 Speaker 05: Due to us not having dedicated staff relating to land sales, typically that is what would facilitate declaring something surplus as a request from a member of the public.

01:43:01 Speaker 11: So I would like to move that Council defer this item to the September 8th committee meeting,

01:43:08 Speaker 12: and that allows anybody within the public that's got a specific interest to have the opportunity to see the next steps after council has stopped up and closed, which occurs tonight in the bylaws,

01:43:25 Speaker 12: so we can create a little bit of separation between the two actions.

01:43:31 Speaker 12: Okay, so it's a motion to defer 11A.

01:43:33 Speaker 03: Defer 11A, which is report CS-25-082, from the director of community services with request to purchase a portion of the unopened 21st Street road allowance, west of Ninth Avenue, east to September 8th.

01:43:51 Speaker 03: Okay, everyone, go ahead.

01:43:55 Speaker 03: Through you, Your Worship.

01:43:57 Speaker 11: Just wanting to double check with the director on this, but I believe the bylaw is also listed on tonight's agenda, so I wonder if that motion should include postponing the report and bylaw.

01:44:30 Speaker 11: And I would make that amendment in my deferral motion to include 21Q, which is the executing bylaw.

01:44:37 Speaker 12: Thank you.

01:44:40 Speaker 12: Okay, we're good.

01:44:42 Speaker 03: Call the question.

01:44:43 Speaker 03: All in favour?

01:44:44 Speaker 03: One, two, three, four.

01:44:47 Speaker 03: That's okay.

01:44:54 Speaker 03: Just three in favour.

01:44:58 Speaker 03: Okay, opposed.

01:45:00 Speaker 03: One, two, three.

01:45:03 Speaker 03: So it's defeated.

01:45:08 Speaker 03: So then we need another motion to deal with 11A.

01:45:11 Speaker 03: Marion, I'll move the recommendation in 11A.

01:45:16 Speaker 21: Okay.

01:45:16 Speaker 21: Call the question.

01:45:16 Speaker 21: All in favour?

01:45:19 Speaker 03: One, two, three, four.

01:45:20 Speaker 03: So it's carried.

01:45:22 Speaker 03: 11E.

01:45:26 Speaker 03: Just wonder if staff could speak to this draft bylaw.

01:45:31 Speaker 04: It's just changed a little bit from how it was presented at operations committee and how I presented it to council.

01:45:39 Speaker 04: So I thought it's prudent that it be spoken to, as opposed to just being received and passed by council.

01:45:49 Speaker 04: Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

01:45:50 Speaker 04: Through your worship, the main difference was because staff had a little bit of extra time to go through it, and our finance staff determined that they had capacity at this point,

01:46:06 Speaker 22: and it made sense at this point to pull the operational aspects out of the bylaw and create the policy that goes hand in hand with the bylaw.

01:46:15 Speaker 22: So that's that's the main difference between what you saw previously and what you're seeing now.

01:46:22 Speaker 22: We've also gone through it and written language for set fines on the recommendation of our bylaw enforcement division in order to be able to write small tickets for infractions that aren't really appropriate to shut

01:46:42 Speaker 22: off water,

01:46:44 Speaker 22: which would be like there it wouldn't be tied to having the privilege of drawing your water from the city's supply.

01:46:52 Speaker 22: So if it was something like refusing to provide access to the city for inspection or replacement of your water metre, for example,

01:47:02 Speaker 22: then that would be an infraction that would easily be dealt with by shutting off the water.

01:47:08 Speaker 22: That's probably the biggest motivator there.

01:47:11 Speaker 22: Whereas something like inappropriately using a fire hydrant would be something that would be more a ticketable offence because you're not going to shut off somebody's water somewhere else because they were operating a fire hydrant

01:47:27 Speaker 22: on municipal property in some random location.

01:47:29 Speaker 22: So those are the two main differences.

01:47:32 Speaker 22: The operational aspect of how we administer the utility billing part of the bylaw has been pulled out and placed into a policy for staff use,

01:47:42 Speaker 22: and the ability to place set fines through the attorney general's office.

01:47:54 Speaker 22: I think I got that right.

01:47:56 Speaker 22: That was the additional other component.

01:47:58 Speaker 22: So, if anybody has any questions, I would be happy to answer them.

01:48:05 Speaker 22: And I thank staff for that explanation.

01:48:08 Speaker 12: And I'll move the recommendation in the report.

01:48:09 Speaker 12: Thanks.

01:48:11 Speaker 12: Call the question.

01:48:11 Speaker 12: All in favour?

01:48:13 Speaker 12: That's carried.

01:48:14 Speaker 12: 11J.

01:48:18 Speaker 12: And my question on 11J, and I will move.

01:48:21 Speaker 12: Well, no, I'll ask the question first.

01:48:24 Speaker 12: And I just got kicked out of the script, so I'm quickly going from memory now.

01:48:29 Speaker 12: This project creates a slight draw on the reserve for wastewater or sanitary.

01:48:39 Speaker 12: I'm just wondering, this road surface is not one of the city's best road surfaces.

01:48:45 Speaker 12: Did staff consider the fact that maybe fifty percent of the roadway or the west side of the roadway is kind of already in not a great state.

01:48:57 Speaker 12: So then it could be drawn from tax levy or grant funding, such as gas tax, as opposed to just drawing it from the wastewater reserve.

01:49:11 Speaker 12: Through your worship to Deputy Mayor Greig, I can't recall off the top of my head if we were going to require the developer adjacent to that property to do any road restoration,

01:49:24 Speaker 22: they are going to be required to do sidewalk as part of their development.

01:49:28 Speaker 22: And then, as far as surface work, we're just doing trench reinstatement in order to keep the cost down because we had already allocated our funds for road reconstruction elsewhere.

01:49:46 Speaker 22: Yeah, my colleague and I are not.

01:49:49 Speaker 22: We can't remember if there was going to be a road restoration component associated with that development.

01:49:55 Speaker 22: We could look it up, but we don't have that off the top of our head.

01:50:00 Speaker 22: And then that would that would be significant enough to alter my perspective.

01:50:08 Speaker 12: I was just wondering about the whole length of the road for three blocks in its entirety.

01:50:12 Speaker 12: So if it's just one specific site location, then that doesn't warrant evaluating elsewhere.

01:50:18 Speaker 12: So, I'll move the recommendation in the report.

01:50:21 Speaker 12: Thanks.

01:50:22 Speaker 12: And all in favour, and that's carried.

01:50:27 Speaker 03: So that gets us through eleven, I think, unless there was anything correspondence.

01:50:32 Speaker 03: That's the only other thing I didn't cover.

01:50:35 Speaker 03: Seeing none, so we're back to committee minutes with recommendations for approval.

01:50:41 Speaker 03: So back to 12A.

01:50:42 Speaker 03: I've covered.

01:50:43 Speaker 03: Did I cover 12B?

01:50:45 Speaker 03: No. So given, yeah, given that it's closed, I'm just moving for approval of minutes.

01:50:54 Speaker 03: The closed session of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting, held on July 9th, 2024.

01:51:00 Speaker 03: Oh, I can't...

01:51:00 Speaker 03: I got to hand it to you.

01:51:04 Speaker 03: I know it's one of those nights.

01:51:07 Speaker 12: So this time, I will pass it back to you for part two of that meeting for the Service Review minutes.

01:51:12 Speaker 12: It was a long enough meeting that morning, let alone presenting here this evening.

01:51:17 Speaker 12: So back to you, Mayor Boddy.

01:51:19 Speaker 12: Another one of those nights.

01:51:21 Speaker 12: So I'm moving for approval of minutes of the closed session of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting held on July 9th, 2024.

01:51:37 Speaker 01: Oh yes, yeah, that's right.

01:51:38 Speaker 12: I am not...

01:51:40 Speaker 12: All those in favour?

01:51:42 Speaker 12: Any opposed?

01:51:44 Speaker 12: And that's carried.

01:51:45 Speaker 12: And right back to you for the next set.

01:51:55 Speaker 12: No. That was frightening.

01:52:09 Speaker 12: So as I kind of rushed through before we started the meeting on July 9th, had a good discussion, ran out of time,

01:52:19 Speaker 01: and thanks to committee and staff coming back in a week later on a rush and continuing the meeting or starting the next meeting to complete all the items that we had.

01:52:31 Speaker 01: So on July 16th, we received a report regarding Lean Continuous Improvement implementation for information purposes.

01:52:39 Speaker 01: We received a report for information purposes respecting the review of mobile technology options to inform the IT needs assessment when determining cloud-based software to ensure compatibility and integration.

01:52:53 Speaker 01: We received a report from the Deputy Treasurer respecting the process for annual fees and charges review for information purposes.

01:53:03 Speaker 01: After much discussion respecting a report on the provision of bylaw services, the committee recommends that Council direct staff to: one,

01:53:13 Speaker 01: bring forward a bylaw to amend the Fees and Charges Bylaw to include a $150 re-inspection fee; two, increase the work order fee from $80 to $120; three,

01:53:27 Speaker 01: increase the property clean-up administration fee from 15% to 25%; four, provide notice of the amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaws required by the Notice Bylaw; and five,

01:53:41 Speaker 01: bring forward a bylaw to amend the Bylaw Enforcement Policy to permit proactive enforcement within the River District, so limited to the River District,

01:53:51 Speaker 01: and for repeat offences under the Yard Maintenance Bylaw in the River District and for repeat offences.

01:53:59 Speaker 01: Subsequent motion that recommends that City Council direct staff to include a bylaw supervisor and a bylaw enforcement officer position in the Mayor's 2026 budget for consideration by the Mayor was postponed until a staff report

01:54:14 Speaker 01: is presented at the next Services Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting that includes more information on the additional staff positions.

01:54:25 Speaker 01: So, with that, I move approval of the minutes of the Services Review Ad Hoc Committee actions and actions contained therein from the meeting held on July 16th, 2025.

01:54:37 Speaker 01: Thank you, Mayor Boddy.

01:54:39 Speaker 12: And are there questions from Council?

01:54:44 Speaker 12: Not seeing any.

01:54:45 Speaker 12: All those in favour of the recommendations, carrying, and that is carried unanimously.

01:54:50 Speaker 12: Thank you, Mayor Boddy.

01:54:51 Speaker 12: And back to you again at this time.

01:54:54 Speaker 12: Thank you, Alderley.

01:54:56 Speaker 01: Back to you for the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee.

01:55:00 Speaker 01: Got your name down here.

01:55:03 Speaker 01: Ah, go ahead, Councillor Hamley.

01:55:10 Speaker 01: Yeah, switched.

01:55:11 Speaker 01: It was actually probably the quickest meeting on record, I think, Your Worship.

01:55:17 Speaker 02: We are recommending that City Council move forward with new surety bonds and letter of credit policy, and then we also went over very,

01:55:28 Speaker 02: very quickly the asset management plan that we've kind of been talking about the last month or so.

01:55:34 Speaker 02: So I don't think I'll go over that for the fourth or fifth time at this point.

01:55:39 Speaker 02: And I'll move the minutes.

01:55:42 Speaker 02: Okay.

01:55:42 Speaker 02: Any questions?

01:55:43 Speaker 02: Come on, somebody ask a question.

01:55:47 Speaker 02: Call the question.

01:55:47 Speaker 02: All in favour?

01:55:49 Speaker 02: That's carried.

01:55:50 Speaker 01: Thanks for that lengthy report.

01:55:54 Speaker 01: Maryland Community Services Committee.

01:55:56 Speaker 01: Thank you, Worship.

01:55:58 Speaker 05: We never seem to have short meetings.

01:56:00 Speaker 05: Community Services, they seem to go on and on.

01:56:03 Speaker 05: Anyways, these are the minutes of July 16th.

01:56:06 Speaker 05: Members received a deputation from staff at the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre, who provided an update on activities and projects undertaken by the centre.

01:56:16 Speaker 05: The relationship with the community and volunteers and the city was highlighted.

01:56:21 Speaker 05: Next presentation was from the Old Town District Chamber of Commerce, Owen Sound District Chamber of Commerce, respecting the Municipal Accommodation Tax Fund, which is now known as the Owen Sound Tourism Development Fund.

01:56:31 Speaker 05: It was highlighted that a fund has been established in the amount of $15,000 to encourage local organisations to apply for grant funding to support tourism initiatives and marketing of local events.

01:56:45 Speaker 05: The 4% collected for 2024 amounted to just over $150,000, and parametres are being developed for future granting.

01:56:55 Speaker 05: The final presentation was from a director of the Grey Bruce Highlanders AAA hockey group, and included the feasibility of allocating ice time to the hockey club,

01:57:04 Speaker 05: which is proposed to result in economic benefit for the city.

01:57:09 Speaker 05: Tricentury Centre Hockey is in a trial process and falls under the umbrella of Onsan Minor Hockey, which makes them eligible for ice time at the minor sports rate.

01:57:21 Speaker 05: However, it was noted that participants who live in other communities are required to pay a non-resident fee.

01:57:27 Speaker 05: A review of the ice allocation policy will be added to the 2026 work plan for staff with an attempt to accommodate hockey groups with available ice time in the city.

01:57:39 Speaker 05: Members were provided with a report and photos of the arena floor boards and glass project at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, which replaces critical infrastructure.

01:57:50 Speaker 05: It was noted the project remains on schedule and on budget.

01:57:54 Speaker 05: Items repurposed are the tempered drink glass, puck boards, concrete slab, and insulation, which has resulted in minimal waste.

01:58:04 Speaker 05: It was also noted that several of the key components and equipment of the project were sourced and manufactured in Canada.

01:58:12 Speaker 05: A facade improvement grant and accessibility improvement grant were approved for 1047 Second Avenue East, for a total amount of $15,000.

01:58:21 Speaker 05: Renovations will include a new steel beam, insulation, an interior accessible ramp, and power door operator at the rear door, and a universal washroom.

01:58:34 Speaker 05: Staff provided a report on the 2024 tax refund applications for heritage property tax relief, highlighting the total amount of rebate being just over $32,000.

01:58:44 Speaker 05: Just over thirty-two thousand dollars, with the city's portion being just over twenty thousand, which is within the city's budget of twenty-five thousand.

01:58:54 Speaker 05: It was highlighted that the programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe is working as intended.

01:58:59 Speaker 05: The June 2025 development update highlighted construction's value of over four million dollars, with 25 building permits being issued and 260 building inspections taking place.

01:59:12 Speaker 05: With that, Your Worship, I move receipt of the Community Services minutes of July 16, and approve the recommendations contained within.

01:59:21 Speaker 05: And I'm happy to answer questions.

01:59:23 Speaker 05: Great, thank you.

01:59:24 Speaker 05: Any questions?

01:59:26 Speaker 05: Seeing none, I can call the question.

01:59:27 Speaker 05: All in favour?

01:59:28 Speaker 05: So that is carried.

01:59:29 Speaker 05: Thank you.

01:59:32 Speaker 05: So that gets us through 12, 13A matters postponed.

01:59:38 Speaker 01: Ms. Bloomfield.

01:59:43 Speaker 01: Through your worship, Council postponed the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee minutes from the April 9th meeting respecting the short-term rental licensing programmemememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememe,

01:59:53 Speaker 11: in order to provide time for the River District Board to provide comment.

01:59:57 Speaker 11: I presented the STR report to the board in May, and they requested more time to consider the matter.

02:00:03 Speaker 11: At the July 9th River District Board meeting, the board passed a motion supporting the removal of the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the C1 and MC zones.

02:00:14 Speaker 11: Item 10A from the April 9th Service Review meeting are now being brought back to Council for consideration.

02:00:21 Speaker 11: To assist procedurally, I've prepared some motions which are up on the screen.

02:00:27 Speaker 11: The first motion on the screen would be to approve the recommendations as presented by the Service Review Committee.

02:00:34 Speaker 11: In other words, there would be no change to the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the River District.

02:00:38 Speaker 11: The other two motions on the screen would be to approve the removal of the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the River District, along with the other recommendations from the committee.

02:00:53 Speaker 11: So basically, my understanding from the last meeting of Council regarding this was that it was just the C1 and MC zones that were sort of up for consideration.

02:01:03 Speaker 11: So it would be either the first motion or the next two that would need to be moved, depending on the wish of Council.

02:01:10 Speaker 11: I think there are probably questions first, but Councillor Koepke... they're all on the screen now.

02:01:29 Speaker 03: Mayor Greg, I'll move that Item 10A contained within the minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting held on April 9th, 2025, be received and the recommendations be approved.

02:01:45 Speaker 12: I appreciate the feedback.

02:01:48 Speaker 12: I watched the meeting from the River Precinct.

02:01:50 Speaker 12: I think some of the block ambassadors were fifty-fifty on the feedback they got from merchants.

02:02:00 Speaker 12: And when you look at the map on the Mixed Commercial, particularly the Mixed Commercial zone, it's quite expansive, and there's a certain element of inequity.

02:02:13 Speaker 12: And moving forward with an alternative of changing the rules for the Mixed Commercial and Commercial is not something I think Council should support, because effectively,

02:02:26 Speaker 12: what you've just created is different rules for a property on one side of the street,

02:02:34 Speaker 12: and the properties on the other side of the street can be just as impacted from you know positive or negative behaviours.

02:02:42 Speaker 12: But there's an inequity that's been created there, and that's something I think Council should be aware of.

02:02:49 Speaker 12: And I don't think Council should be in support of such action in creating that.

02:02:54 Speaker 12: We had a very good first year.

02:02:56 Speaker 12: If you went back through the report, we passed Service Review minutes just moments ago, which were voluminous in terms of how many complaints the Bylaw Department is trying to cope with.

02:03:10 Speaker 12: They've been increased so much in the last five years since 2018 was unbelievable, and they're trying to look at additional staffing as means to try to cope.

02:03:20 Speaker 12: So we came to a very good spot, I think, at the end of 2024, and I think it would be prudent for Council to continue the status quo moving forward at this time.

02:03:33 Speaker 12: Does everybody understand what the motion is?

02:03:39 Speaker 23: So, Briana, can you kind of explain it in words that just so we're clear on it?

02:03:49 Speaker 23: Through your worship, there was some debate about the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the C1 and MC zones, which is around the River District area,

02:04:02 Speaker 11: and what the provisions—if we were to remove the provisions from the bylaw—it would allow people in the downtown who don't necessarily live here to operate a short-term rental.

02:04:17 Speaker 11: So right now, the requirement is that has to be there where they live most of the year, and if we were going to remove that principal residence requirement,

02:04:28 Speaker 11: then we would also want to remove the rental cap because if it's going to be an STR, they should, as a business, be able to operate it throughout the year.

02:04:39 Speaker 11: Does that?

02:04:40 Speaker 11: So this motion basically retains downtown the same as the rest of the city.

02:04:45 Speaker 03: That you must be a resident in the place that you're renting out a room as an Airbnb.

02:04:51 Speaker 03: Everyone understand that?

02:04:53 Speaker 03: Does that confuse anybody?

02:04:55 Speaker 03: I was confused, but we're good.

02:04:57 Speaker 03: Can I call the question?

02:04:58 Speaker 03: All in favour?

02:05:00 Speaker 03: One, two, three.

02:05:01 Speaker 03: Opposed?

02:05:03 Speaker 03: One, two.

02:05:06 Speaker 03: What really doesn't matter if I vote one way or the other.

02:05:08 Speaker 03: It does it?

02:05:09 Speaker 03: No. Yes.

02:05:09 Speaker 03: It does.

02:05:11 Speaker 03: So that just means that that motion is defeated, and that we need another subsequent motion.

02:05:30 Speaker 03: Through your worship, just so there isn't confusion, the next two motions—it's to do the same thing.

02:05:43 Speaker 11: Like you need this is step one.

02:05:45 Speaker 11: The next motion is step two.

02:05:46 Speaker 11: It's not two different options that are before you.

02:05:51 Speaker 11: So, do we need another motion or not?

02:05:56 Speaker 11: Because if we go back to the original minutes, that I think we had a tie, it meant it didn't move forward.

02:06:09 Speaker 03: Through your worship, because nothing has been approved from those minutes, then there would be nothing moving forward from that staff report at this time, unless subsequent motions are made.

02:06:27 Speaker 11: Can you just explain the third motion regarding the insurance?

02:06:36 Speaker 05: Through your worship, we just wanted to make sure that anyone who's not operating an STR within their principal residence that they have the required insurance when they apply for their application.

02:06:59 Speaker 11: I would move the recommendation that, in consideration of the staff report respecting review of the short-term rental, presented at the April 9th Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee,

02:07:12 Speaker 05: Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend the STR bylaw to remove the principal residence and rental cap requirement in the C1 and MCE zones, as outlined in the report,

02:07:22 Speaker 05: with the inclusion of any insurance requirements provided by the City's insurer for those zones.

02:07:30 Speaker 05: Okay, so it's on the table.

02:07:37 Speaker 05: Yes.

02:07:37 Speaker 05: Yeah.

02:07:40 Speaker 05: Okay, I'll move the second one and the third one.

02:07:51 Speaker 05: So, I'm going to move the second motion on the screen about Item 10A contained within the minutes of Service Review of April 9.

02:08:02 Speaker 05: We received and recommendation to be approved, save and accept the resolution respecting the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the C1 and MC zones.

02:08:19 Speaker 05: Good, Scott.

02:08:19 Speaker 12: I just wonder if staff could put a map in front of Council, illustrating the C1 and the MC zones, just so there's clarity,

02:08:30 Speaker 12: because this is going back to April for some of us just to be completely familiar with those zoning maps.

02:08:36 Speaker 12: But it's certainly relevant.

02:08:59 Speaker 12: And I will just say again, I will vote against the recommendation of the non-principal residents.

02:09:04 Speaker 12: As you can see, there, for example, Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street West, in the 100 block, now become areas where you can have short-term rentals that are not principal residences.

02:09:19 Speaker 12: So I think this just opens it up too much by removing that requirement for principal residence.

02:09:28 Speaker 12: Through your worship, just for clarity, the motion that's on the floor is not relating to the principal residence requirement.

02:09:34 Speaker 11: It's just all the other motions that the committee approved.

02:09:40 Speaker 11: That made a difference.

02:09:42 Speaker 11: Okay, call the question.

02:09:45 Speaker 11: Yeah, all in favour?

02:09:48 Speaker 11: That's carried.

02:09:49 Speaker 11: Any other motions?

02:09:50 Speaker 11: No. Yes.

02:09:52 Speaker 05: I'll move the third motion, which is consideration of the staff report respecting short-term rentals, presented April 9 at the Service Review Ad Hoc Committee meeting.

02:10:05 Speaker 05: Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend STR bylaw to remove the principal residence and rental cap requirements in the C1 and MC zones, as outlined in the report,

02:10:16 Speaker 05: with the inclusion of any insurance requirements provided by the City's insurer for those zones, and there had to be a reason why staff recommended this.

02:10:27 Speaker 05: So, I don't know if there's any elabouration there by staff or not.

02:10:43 Speaker 05: Sorry, I thought Briana put up her hand there, through your worship.

02:10:58 Speaker 05: I was going to try to bring up that section in the report as it was mentioned.

02:11:02 Speaker 11: This I did write several months ago, but the key items related to the fact that it meets the intent of our Official Plan and zoning bylaw.

02:11:15 Speaker 11: It was also recommended in our Tourism Action Plan.

02:11:19 Speaker 11: We've had a minimal number of STRs within the community, and this was something that had come through previously with consultation with the public.

02:11:38 Speaker 11: I'm afraid of what you're going to do.

02:11:39 Speaker 11: Go ahead.

02:11:45 Speaker 11: My question is because I'm not particularly familiar with where this came from, but it strikes me: why was MC included in this?

02:11:54 Speaker 02: Like C1 makes sense to me, but MC seems to be an added portion of the city that maybe doesn't need to be there.

02:12:13 Speaker 02: Through your Worship, that was brought forward in consultation with the planning team.

02:12:19 Speaker 11: I believe they have the same designation in the zoning bylaw, perhaps, but maybe the Director could help me with that.

02:12:30 Speaker 11: Pam.

02:12:34 Speaker 11: Through you, Your Worship, I think the reason for including the MC lands was to get at those waterfront locations.

02:12:41 Speaker 09: So that's probably why MC was included along with C1.

02:12:47 Speaker 09: Deputy Mayor Greig, were you about to make a motion to amend?

02:12:52 Speaker 03: I would gladly make a motion to amend the removal of the MC zones as outlined in the report.

02:12:59 Speaker 12: So the changes only relate to the requirements in the C1 zone.

02:13:05 Speaker 12: So, motion to amend is just remove the MC zones, leaving over only C1.

02:13:10 Speaker 03: Any discussion on that?

02:13:12 Speaker 03: All in favour?

02:13:13 Speaker 03: That is carried.

02:13:14 Speaker 03: Then we go back to the amended motion, which is moved by Marion, with that amendment, so it includes only C1 and not the MC zones.

02:13:28 Speaker 03: Discuss further.

02:13:30 Speaker 03: All in favour?

02:13:31 Speaker 03: That's carried.

02:13:37 Speaker 03: So next is 14, which is a motion for which notice was previously given, and I will hand off the gavel to Deputy Mayor Greig.

02:14:00 Speaker 24: And so, item fourteen A, correctly given at the last council meeting, July seventh, and I will pass it back to Mayor Boddy to present this to council.

02:14:14 Speaker 12: Okay, just making sure Suneet had seconded.

02:14:19 Speaker 03: Whereas, section 63A of the Board and Committee Bylaws sets aside for the Owen Sound Police Services Board include the mayor be a city-appointed member to serve the term of council.

02:14:30 Speaker 03: Whereas, section 31.4 of the Community Safety and Policing Act states that a municipal board that is composed of five members shall consist of the head of council,

02:14:40 Speaker 03: or if the head of council chooses not to be, or is ineligible to be a member of the board, another member of the municipal council appointed by resolution of the municipality.

02:14:50 Speaker 03: And whereas the head of council of the City of Owen Sound chooses not to continue being a member of the Owen Sound Police Services Board.

02:15:01 Speaker 03: I therefore make a motion that council approves an amendment to the Board and Committee Bylaw and appoint another member of council to the Owen Sound Police Services Board for the remainder of the council term

02:15:14 Speaker 03: ending November 14,

02:15:15 Speaker 03: 2026, in accordance with the Clerk's procedures.

02:15:22 Speaker 03: And my reasoning for that is I've now been there for eleven years.

02:15:26 Speaker 03: There are two other members of the five that have been there for seven or eight years in total, over that period of time,

02:15:33 Speaker 03: and I'm concerned about the potential conflict or the perceived conflict of voting for a budget and then having the mayor's budget and having to determine it and being trying to wear two different hats.

02:15:49 Speaker 03: And there'll be some questions.

02:15:50 Speaker 12: So I will first state that Councillor Kukreja has seconded.

02:15:53 Speaker 12: I'll go to Councillor Merton first, then Councillor Kukreja and Councillor Hamley.

02:16:00 Speaker 12: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig, we know that a mayor plays a crucial role in fostering community safety and well-being by advocating for public safety and having oversight of emergency response efforts.

02:16:16 Speaker 14: This includes working with police services and agencies to address issues like criminal activity.

02:16:22 Speaker 14: For community safety and well-being, participation on the Owen Sound Police Services Board affords the opportunity for the mayor, as head of council, to hear firsthand the changing trends in crime,

02:16:35 Speaker 14: changes in the judicial system that potentially impact community safety and well-being, and the changing policing environment.

02:16:43 Speaker 14: In some municipalities, mayors have chosen to step aside from police services boards.

02:16:50 Speaker 14: Strong mayor powers have created an environment for mayor and police board relationships, and decision making to be changed.

02:17:00 Speaker 14: One of the strong mayor powers, as we've learned this evening, is the mayor's budget process and allocation of funds.

02:17:07 Speaker 14: This is a very powerful financial instrument.

02:17:11 Speaker 14: We know, based on the legislation, strong mayor powers cannot be delegated or passed on to another council member.

02:17:20 Speaker 14: However, the deputy mayor, in the mayor's absence, may be called upon to provide leadership for the city in any urgent, critical, or emergency situation that may arise, as well as addressing public safety issues.

02:17:35 Speaker 14: As such, I propose an amendment to the motion, adding the words "or deputy mayor" to read:

02:17:40 Speaker 14: Whereas Section 63A of the Board and Committee Bylaw says the Board and Committee Bylaw sets out that the Owen Sound Police Services Board include the mayor or deputy mayor be a city-appointed member to serve

02:17:57 Speaker 14: the term of council.

02:17:58 Speaker 14: This appointment will be for the balance of the council term, ending 2026, and that council directs staff to bring forward a revised Board and Committee Bylaw to reflect the change.

02:18:14 Speaker 14: I wonder if I should go to staff to comment on that first.

02:18:18 Speaker 25: Is that language that comes right out of the Act and so forth?

02:18:24 Speaker 25: We cannot alter it.

02:18:25 Speaker 25: Is that you know that's internal language that we've created?

02:18:29 Speaker 25: I see Councillor Merton nodding.

02:18:32 Speaker 25: I'll just go back to you, Councillor.

02:18:33 Speaker 25: Just to you seem to be able to confirm that.

02:18:37 Speaker 25: Through Deputy Mayor, it was included in the motion and it is from our committee.

02:18:42 Speaker 14: Our bylaws.

02:18:44 Speaker 14: So I'm suggesting we just add the words "and" or deputy mayor as an amendment.

02:18:52 Speaker 14: Okay, so that's an official amendment.

02:18:55 Speaker 04: You don't want to approach that as a friendly.

02:18:56 Speaker 04: You want to leave that on the table.

02:18:58 Speaker 04: As I'll go back to you.

02:19:00 Speaker 04: I can be friendly if the mayor would consider that.

02:19:06 Speaker 04: I would mean.

02:19:08 Speaker 04: That's what I meant.

02:19:09 Speaker 14: I can also be friendly, but it's a friendly amendment for the mayor to consider in his motion.

02:19:23 Speaker 14: Through you, Your Worship, just to the mover of the friendly amendment, were you suggesting that it go in the first Whereas clause?

02:19:33 Speaker 11: Because the amendment should come in the Therefore clauses.

02:19:40 Speaker 11: Because the first, the Whereas clause is how it currently is written in the bylaw.