Owen Sound Council Meeting - Regular Meeting Transcript — November 24, 2025

00:00:11 Speaker 01: Okay, we'll call the meeting to order.

00:00:13 Speaker 01: This is Owen Sound City Council's regular council meeting, November twenty-fourth, two thousand and twenty-five, starting at five thirty p.m.

00:00:23 Speaker 01: Is there any additional business, Councillor Farmer?

00:00:27 Speaker 02: Through the Mayor, I'll have questions about a motion that we made in December last year for follow-up?

00:00:34 Speaker 01: Okay, I don't think I've got anything.

00:00:36 Speaker 01: Declarations of interest.

00:00:37 Speaker 01: Anyone else?

00:00:39 Speaker 01: Yep, Councillor Hamley.

00:00:43 Speaker 01: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:00:44 Speaker 01: I'm declaring a direct pecuniary interest in Item 12C, the community services minutes.

00:00:54 Speaker 03: I think there's two motions coming out of item eight: A One, and then in the operations minutes, there is the very last motion in Eight-A-One as well.

00:01:11 Speaker 03: And the nature of my interest is that I work for the Government of Ontario.

00:01:16 Speaker 01: Good, thank you.

00:01:17 Speaker 01: And I have one ten-A in the open session as well as a matter in the closed session.

00:01:24 Speaker 01: Ten-A is the noise permit request.

00:01:27 Speaker 01: I declare a direct pecuniary interest in the agenda item noted above.

00:01:35 Speaker 01: In accordance with Section 5 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, I declare disqualifying interest in the agenda item noted above.

00:01:41 Speaker 01: In accordance with Part One of the Code of Conduct regarding avoidance of conflicts of interest: I have acted in the past for the party involved.

00:01:56 Speaker 01: So at number four, confirmation of council minutes.

00:02:02 Speaker 02: Moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that the minutes of the following meetings be adopted as printed: number one, closed session of the regular council meeting held on October sixth, two thousand and twenty-five;

00:02:13 Speaker 02: number two, closed session of the special council meeting held on October twenty-seventh, two thousand and twenty-five; and number three, regular council meeting held on November tenth, two thousand and twenty-five.

00:02:23 Speaker 02: Motion?

00:02:23 Speaker 04: All in favour.

00:02:25 Speaker 04: That's carried.

00:02:26 Speaker 04: And Councillor Hamley is in favour on screen.

00:02:32 Speaker 04: At number five, motion to move council into committee of the whole.

00:02:36 Speaker 05: Moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that City Council now moves into committee of the whole to consider public meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum matters arising from correspondence, reports of city staff,

00:02:49 Speaker 05: consent agenda, committee minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given, and additional business.

00:02:56 Speaker 05: And all in favour, that's carried.

00:02:59 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley is voting in favour.

00:03:03 Speaker 01: Number six: We're now in Committee of the Whole.

00:03:05 Speaker 01: Number six: Public meetings.

00:03:10 Speaker 01: We have a public meeting on The Official Plan Amendment OPA number fourteen; official plan update under Section 17 of the Planning Act; Zoning Bylaw Amendment ZBA number fifty-seven,

00:03:26 Speaker 01: zoning bylaw update and urban design directions development.

00:03:33 Speaker 01: So I'll declare the public meeting open.

00:03:35 Speaker 01: Thank you for attending tonight's public meeting.

00:03:38 Speaker 01: The purpose of this meeting is to receive input from the public respecting the proposed amendments to the Official Plan and the Zoning Bylaw, as per Sections 17 and 34 of the Planning Act.

00:03:50 Speaker 01: In a few moments, David Aston of MHBC Planning will present background information regarding the proposed amendments.

00:03:58 Speaker 01: Following the presentation, we will open the floor for comments, questions and feedback from the public.

00:04:03 Speaker 01: And announcement by the Mayor: Every person who attends a statutory public meeting required under the Planning Act will be given an opportunity to make representations respecting the proposed bylaw.

00:04:15 Speaker 01: All submission materials for this application are available on the city's website and at the planning division counter at City Hall during regular business hours.

00:04:26 Speaker 01: If a specific person,

00:04:27 Speaker 01: registered owner of land in the City of Owen Sound or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the City of Owen Sound to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person

00:04:38 Speaker 01: or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Owen Sound prior to the approval or refusal of this proposal,

00:04:48 Speaker 01: the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.

00:04:52 Speaker 01: If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the city before the bylaw is passed,

00:05:00 Speaker 01: the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless in the opinion of the tribunal there are reasonable grounds to do

00:05:11 Speaker 01: so.

00:05:13 Speaker 01: In accordance with the Planning Act: There is no appeal related to the additional residential unit policy.

00:05:19 Speaker 01: This meeting is an essential part of the decision-making process.

00:05:22 Speaker 01: Feedback received will be considered in the decision of the City Council.

00:05:28 Speaker 01: An explanation of the public and agency comments factored into the decision will be included in the notice of adoption and notice of passing of the bylaw.

00:05:38 Speaker 01: Where a change is made to a proposed bylaw after the holding of the public meeting, council will determine whether any further notice is to be given respecting the proposed bylaw;

00:05:54 Speaker 01: and the determination of council as to the giving of further notice is final, not subject to review in any court no matter the extent of the change made in the proposed bylaw.

00:06:04 Speaker 01: So pass it over to Ms Bloomfield.

00:06:09 Speaker 06: Through your Worship: Notices of this public meeting were published in The Sun Times newspaper, circulated to the prescribed persons and bodies and posted on the city's website on October 30th.

00:06:21 Speaker 06: All comments received in advance of the agenda publishing deadline were attached to the agenda.

00:06:26 Speaker 06: One comment from Grey-Sable Conservation Authority was received after the publication of the agenda and before the public meeting which has been circulated to council and will be attached to the republished agenda following the meeting.

00:06:37 Speaker 06: No one registered to attend the meeting electronically.

00:06:41 Speaker 06: For anyone here for the public meeting please sign the sign-in sheet located on the table just outside Council Chambers.

00:06:47 Speaker 06: Personal information collected at this public meeting is collected under the authority of the Planning Act,

00:06:52 Speaker 06: and the information collected will be used to complete the official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment processes and will form part of the public record.

00:07:00 Speaker 06: Questions about this collection should be addressed to myself, the City Clerk.

00:07:03 Speaker 06: If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Corporation of the City of Owen Sound on the proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment processes or on the proposed official plan amendment

00:07:09 Speaker 06: or zoning bylaw amendment you must make a written request to the City Clerk care of the City Clerk.

00:07:15 Speaker 01: Thank you.

00:07:16 Speaker 01: We'll now hear from Dave Aston of MHBC Planning.

00:07:28 Speaker 07: Good evening Mayor and Council.

00:07:29 Speaker 07: Thanks for the opportunity to present again this evening on the Official Plan, Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Urban Design elements at this public meeting.

00:07:41 Speaker 07: This evening I'll talk a bit about each of the official plan and zoning bylaw amendment and urban design directions.

00:07:48 Speaker 07: We are working with staff as part of an integrated and collabourative approach to look at all three of these elements in combination as part of a package for council consideration.

00:08:07 Speaker 07: Thank you.

00:08:09 Speaker 07: Where we are in the process is near the end regarding the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment and the Design Directions.

00:08:20 Speaker 07: Working drafts have been made available on the city's webpage and through our City Owen Sound for review and input.

00:08:32 Speaker 07: This has come following initial discussion and notice to the public with regard to the start of the process for the review of these documents through a report approved by council to scope the level of

00:08:52 Speaker 07: study for each of the amendments and updates to the drawings or documents.

00:08:59 Speaker 07: In late June, notice was given for an open house which included information associated with preliminary draft official plan policies zoning bylaw regulations changes to schedules and input was received regarding the urban design directions.

00:09:20 Speaker 07: All of that information informed the draft documents that are available at this point in time and we're looking to receive comments.

00:09:31 Speaker 07: and feedback from the public meeting.

00:09:36 Speaker 07: So the Official Plan is the City's planning framework for making land use planning and development decisions throughout the city.

00:09:43 Speaker 07: It works in connection with other plans and documents within the city, master plans and strategic plans, to achieve the City's vision of a vibrant and thriving community.

00:09:57 Speaker 07: It's a plan that plans out 20 years, and under the Planning Act, it's a plan that needs to be updated every five years,

00:10:07 Speaker 07: and municipalities are also required to ensure that plans are kept in conformity and consistent with provincial plans and planning legislation.

00:10:21 Speaker 07: The City's Official Plan—so the plan we're looking at amending—was approved in 2022 based on comprehensive analysis and study which led to a new Official Plan.

00:10:33 Speaker 07: At this point, the plan is being amended—not a full comprehensive review, but a scope amendment—to fulfil update requirements under the Planning Act, and to ensure conformity and consistency with provincial planning documents,

00:10:50 Speaker 07: Grey County Official Plan documents, and to implement other changes that have been brought up through public consultation or implementing best practices realized through past discussions, decisions, or applications within the city.

00:11:12 Speaker 07: So the Official Plan update includes the following: probably the largest change relates to new employment lands and designations associated with the definition of areas of employment;

00:11:27 Speaker 07: so a distinction between defined provincial Areas of Employment (AOEs) within the City and other employment areas to support employment uses;

00:11:38 Speaker 07: a review of retail market study requirements as it relates to the East City commercial designation; and other changes associated with implementation of policies from the Grey County Official Plan.

00:11:56 Speaker 07: Other updates include recognizing existing conditions such as servicing policies in the Sydney Heights planning area where services have been put in place, whereas previous policies referenced that they should be put in place;

00:12:12 Speaker 07: then other changes to administrative or implementation policies related to pre-consultation, site plan requirements, considerations on parkland dedication, and other references to provincial planning documents.

00:12:28 Speaker 07: For employment areas,

00:12:29 Speaker 07: the change really is not a loss of employment lands but more of a redistribution through a new Official Plan land use designation that identifies Areas of Employment as referenced in part by provincial policy direction

00:12:53 Speaker 07: for AOEs;

00:12:55 Speaker 07: these areas are across the City, primarily the large industrial areas on the east side,

00:13:02 Speaker 07: and then there's also some consideration and changes for other designated employment areas within the City that are part of other special planning areas.

00:13:22 Speaker 07: The Zoning Bylaw is being updated in coordination with the Official Plan as it's one of the tools required to conform to the Official Plan and utilised by the City to implement it through detailed regulations

00:13:39 Speaker 07: for development.

00:13:41 Speaker 07: The Bylaw was approved in 2010 and last updated in 2019, so this update is doing two things: implementing the new Official Plan and any changes we're making now;

00:13:57 Speaker 07: but it's also catching up on changes to the Grey County Official Plan, other provincial policy changes, information gathered from a background review associated with a review of minor variances, Committee of Adjustment decisions,

00:14:15 Speaker 07: other Zoning Bylaw applications, and other discussions and questions received from the public through City staff or comments via public consultation.

00:14:29 Speaker 07: The proposed updates include consolidation of residential zones to simplify and make more flexible residential zoning for greater flexibility regarding additional housing forms and types throughout the City while minimizing overall processes required for variances and

00:14:54 Speaker 07: zone changes;

00:15:00 Speaker 07: introduction of a new M-3 Zone, which is an employment zone directly implementing Areas of Employment as defined by the Province and proposed in the Official Plan;

00:15:14 Speaker 07: other updates to regulations associated with location of schools and daycares; looking at new definitions and modifying some existing ones to be more up-to-date as uses evolve; introducing electric vehicle parking provisions, adding minimum parking rates,

00:15:41 Speaker 07: drive-through provisions, introduction of general provisions for Derby camping cluster development (multiple residential-type developments), heights.

00:15:55 Speaker 07: Introduction of a new C-2 Zone to implement the Official Plan and permit additional residential units in rural agricultural zones, and ARUs already permitted in residential zones throughout the City.

00:16:20 Speaker 07: So regarding zoning updates: the map on the left shows existing zoning with five zones; the map on the right is proposed zoning where those have been essentially collapsed into two zones.

00:16:36 Speaker 07: Yellow represents R-1 Zone which generally reflects mature neighbourhoods at lower density; flexibility here allows single, semi-detached, duplexes, ARUs and so on—so maybe the lower end of residential density.

00:17:03 Speaker 07: Orange areas represent a greater range of residential uses including multiple-residential townhouse cluster development and apartment uses, allowing for greater intensification and density throughout the City.

00:17:27 Speaker 07: From a schedule perspective: zoning in employment areas—the map on the left identifies general employment zones currently within the City's Zoning Schedule; the map on the right identifies the new Employment Area Zone proposed.

00:17:48 Speaker 07: Based on comments recently received from Grey County and ongoing discussions with staff,

00:17:56 Speaker 07: this proposed Zoning Schedule for the Employment Area is still evolving and may be subject to a few more changes before the final draft is brought back for Council consideration.

00:18:14 Speaker 07: Urban design directions are intended to build upon policy for urban design currently within the Official Plan;

00:18:25 Speaker 07: take that broad vision of development and provide specific direction as guidelines or guidance to help shape future development or redevelopment where required.

00:18:40 Speaker 07: These are really intended as information to assist City staff when reviewing proposals, property owners, businesses, developers,

00:18:53 Speaker 07: and the public looking at a property—how to develop it or how it was developed in the past—providing some direction for a high-quality built environment that reflects long-term vision in the Official Plan but also other

00:19:11 Speaker 07: plans and documents the City has.

00:19:16 Speaker 07: So design directions will look at number of different elements: primarily how built form relates to public realm, then how built form is considered within private realm; we'll look at parking and landscaping as examples,

00:19:41 Speaker 07: traffic and safety/security, signage and exterior design, built form, shadows and privacy—and provide direction on how all these elements may work together in relation to review of any development application.

00:19:58 Speaker 07: At various stages, so it will give different directions.

00:20:05 Speaker 07: It will give examples and provide concepts of best practices for consideration, review, and future development proposals.

00:20:21 Speaker 07: As far as public engagement, this has been ongoing since spring 2024.

00:20:26 Speaker 07: Since spring 2025, with the launch of our City page, where information has been updated along the way to this evening.

00:20:35 Speaker 07: Regarding public notice: information on the open house and draft documents; at this point, we are receiving public comments on those draft documents,

00:20:49 Speaker 07: with the intent to bring forward a final report and final documents to Community Services Committee and Council in early January 2025.

00:21:07 Speaker 07: Just an overview of some survey results received as part of our City page: There was a general survey identified, with questions related to parking reductions in the River District,

00:21:22 Speaker 07: looking at prioritization of growth and development in the city, where design directions should focus regarding providing information, examples, and direction; then responses on environment and sustainable considerations for the bylaw review.

00:21:44 Speaker 07: So, what are important themes we should be looking at when reviewing regulations?

00:21:51 Speaker 07: The types of uses?

00:21:53 Speaker 07: How zones will interact with each other?

00:21:58 Speaker 07: As you can see from the survey, 66 per cent of people support our parking reduction in downtown, which is currently a parking reduction in downtown.

00:22:07 Speaker 07: Overall, there is general support for that in downtown.

00:22:12 Speaker 07: Regarding prioritization of growth and development through the survey: The highest level of priority was residential, where we are at this time.

00:22:26 Speaker 07: I am really not surprised that there was a concerted focus on housing and providing housing; employment followed as far as priorities.

00:22:38 Speaker 07: Responses on environment and sustainable considerations included preserving natural spaces, wetlands, and watercourses.

00:22:45 Speaker 07: There is no change being proposed in the draft bylaw to any of those areas.

00:22:55 Speaker 07: We have received comments from Grace Alba Conservation Authority.

00:22:59 Speaker 07: I think there may be some review of the floodplain in the future, but that may not be a change we make as part of this zoning bylaw review.

00:23:11 Speaker 07: In general, there have been no concerns raised by the conservation authority or the County regarding natural spaces.

00:23:23 Speaker 07: Then consideration for when looking at parking areas: How do we deal with parking areas?

00:23:31 Speaker 07: For example, the regulation in the bylaw now states that parking areas are to be hard-surfaced.

00:23:37 Speaker 07: So, do we look at that regulation in the bylaw, or is that a design direction when considering how parking areas are developed?

00:23:49 Speaker 07: Looking at increased development density, the Official Plan provides some direction here.

00:23:54 Speaker 07: But the bylaw also looks at areas where, as I mentioned, collapsing residential zones provide opportunity to increase development density in communities.

00:24:07 Speaker 07: Permission for renewable energy, solar panels.

00:24:12 Speaker 07: We're looking at electric vehicle parking, increased building heights.

00:24:17 Speaker 07: That's something that's being proposed, and then integration of green roofs and site requirements.

00:24:23 Speaker 07: This this is an example where there may be some conflict with public comments and the direction of the province and how we deal with zoning bylaws.

00:24:34 Speaker 07: But this could be, say for example, where we look at design directions, and then those design directions speak to options.

00:24:41 Speaker 07: Design directions speak to opportunities for looking at sustainable development, low impact development, and other types.

00:24:51 Speaker 07: Those other types of sustainable development initiatives that could be looked at across a site, versus specific green building standards.

00:25:04 Speaker 07: On the zoning bylaw, today comments that we received relate to removing barriers to housing; a lot of them relate to housing and opportunities for range of housing reduction in residential parking.

00:25:21 Speaker 07: Looking at seniors housing, again, reducing study requirements for affordable housing, increasing height permissions for accessory buildings, which is something that's being proposed.

00:25:33 Speaker 07: Looking at how many units to permit on residential properties, changes to the natural hazard and environmental protection zones, which I would suggest we're not going to be looking at individual properties and changing hazard zones,

00:25:51 Speaker 07: and then some site-specific comments, which we'll be addressing specifically as part of our response to the public comments.

00:26:00 Speaker 07: On the official plan, we received comments from the Niagara Escarpment Plan with regard to conforming to the NEP.

00:26:08 Speaker 07: Inform you to the NEP.

00:26:08 Speaker 07: We've been reviewing the city strategic plan with regard to the official plan, social finance and housing group, and support has been received for the inclusion of the affordable housing and employee housing policy,

00:26:26 Speaker 07: and some requests for additional refinement on affordable housing policy in the official plan, some of which we heard earlier today, and then urban design directions: utilization of high-quality and durable building materials.

00:26:43 Speaker 07: Request to look at stone and brick materials in buildings.

00:26:48 Speaker 07: Considerations for views and Niagara Escarpment.

00:26:50 Speaker 07: How are those considered as part of a site plan and development process?

00:26:58 Speaker 07: Increasing boulevard trees or street trees.

00:27:02 Speaker 07: Looking at drive-through design.

00:27:04 Speaker 07: So all of those have been items that we've received comment on.

00:27:10 Speaker 07: In fact, we were looking at reviewing and addressing the majority of those as part of the design directions, and that would be part of the draft that you have seen.

00:27:25 Speaker 07: Insofar as various elements of design, looking at commercial parking spaces and design for drive-throughs, and looking at landscaping and providing some direction on how areas are landscaped, and not just street trees,

00:27:43 Speaker 07: but how landscaping could be built into larger asphalt or larger open space areas.

00:27:53 Speaker 07: So the official plan zoning bylaw amendment, as mentioned, applies to every area of the city.

00:28:03 Speaker 07: Comments will continue to be received through email there, and all the comments will be compiled and summarised in a final report to council.

00:28:18 Speaker 07: And that's my presentation for this evening.

00:28:21 Speaker 07: Good.

00:28:21 Speaker 07: Thank you very much.

00:28:24 Speaker 01: Next, we're scheduled to hear comments from the public.

00:28:27 Speaker 01: This is a public meeting, and this is why we hold them, but I don't see anybody in the room.

00:28:35 Speaker 01: Any members of the public that are here to be able to make comments?

00:28:41 Speaker 01: We did have comments this afternoon.

00:28:43 Speaker 01: So, with that, I will declare the public meeting closed, and we move on.

00:28:51 Speaker 01: Thank you very much for coming up and presenting to us tonight, and this afternoon.

00:29:01 Speaker 01: So I think at number seven on our agenda is next: the presentation from the city manager with regard to his update.

00:29:11 Speaker 08: Thank you, Mayor, members of council.

00:29:12 Speaker 08: Again, always appreciative to bring a monthly update to council on what's been going on around the city, and also to highlight some of the reports coming forward to committee meetings in December.

00:29:23 Speaker 08: And I'll have the clerk if they could.

00:29:26 Speaker 08: Thank you.

00:29:27 Speaker 08: Some of the highlights.

00:29:28 Speaker 08: So we had a few key staff announcements.

00:29:30 Speaker 08: These are supervisors and superintendents, and a new manager.

00:29:35 Speaker 08: Ryan Wepler is our new supervisor of Parks and Open Space.

00:29:38 Speaker 08: We have a new manager of Public Works and Engineering starting in a week from now.

00:29:41 Speaker 08: Mason Bellamy and Greg Gibbons, who has been with the city for some time, is now assuming the role of Transportation Superintendent.

00:29:49 Speaker 08: So three key individuals joining the staff.

00:29:53 Speaker 08: Two thousand and twenty-five road resurfacing is substantially complete as we report today.

00:29:59 Speaker 08: The Ninth Avenue water main is due to be complete for the season in the week we're in now.

00:30:04 Speaker 08: Hopefully by the end of the week, our Thirty Second Street water main, which was part of our Housing Enabling Water Systems funded project, is due to be substantially complete.

00:30:13 Speaker 08: Also, our Sixteenth Avenue sewer replacement is progressing slower than expected.

00:30:18 Speaker 08: So again, with some projects, we do experience some slowdowns for various reasons.

00:30:24 Speaker 08: Holiday Magic and Kawana Santa Claus Parade closures and detours have gone very well from a staff perspective,

00:30:29 Speaker 08: and part of this credit goes to a new process that the director has been working on with the team in establishing to gain more engagement with the front-line city staff who are directly involved with

00:30:41 Speaker 08: setting those up.

00:30:42 Speaker 08: So there's been some good engagement, and it's gone really well with this past parade.

00:30:47 Speaker 08: Slide, please.

00:30:49 Speaker 08: Water distribution staff are busy undertaking pre-winter preparations, including hydrant pumpout inspection and installing the snow markers; you'll see those on fire hydrants around the city.

00:31:01 Speaker 08: Winter control shifts have already begun.

00:31:03 Speaker 08: We'd had a small taste of winter a week or so ago, and our seasonal winter positions start just next week.

00:31:09 Speaker 08: Also, now may sounds like a repeat here, but Public Works operations, which is different than water distribution staff; the Public Works operations are finalizing their seasonal tasks like signpost installation, walkway closures, plow training,

00:31:25 Speaker 08: street sweeping, and catch basin cleanout.

00:31:27 Speaker 08: So some people might see the street sweeper going around town and wondering why is the street sweeper out at this time of year?

00:31:33 Speaker 08: There's a lot of leaves and debris that are caught up in the gutters, et cetera, and blocking up the storm sewers.

00:31:39 Speaker 08: So that street sweeper is out cleaning those out in preparation for winter when we start to get freeze and thaw, et cetera, and making sure that our drainage works well.

00:31:48 Speaker 08: The tourism development fund received very strong interest here; I make note of that because investing with our municipal accommodation tax—that's MAT for short—revenue to grow Owen Sound's tourism economy is quite a big thing.

00:32:04 Speaker 08: Owen Sound also hosted Hockey Fest from November 13th to 15th.

00:32:07 Speaker 08: We partnered with local schools, girls hockey, and the University of Waterloo Warriors.

00:32:12 Speaker 08: The game did not disappoint; it went right down to the wire.

00:32:16 Speaker 08: And the Tom Thomson Art Gallery hosted their palate-to-palate fundraiser on November 1st and drew about 100 guests for Canadian art, food, and music, raising funds to support the gallery.

00:32:26 Speaker 08: Thank you to CFOS 89.3 and the table sponsors for making that happen.

00:32:32 Speaker 08: Our corporate services committee; the December 11th meeting is cancelled.

00:32:37 Speaker 08: Operations Committee: if I have a slide, please.

00:32:40 Speaker 08: I'm getting a chuckle out of clerks because I think it's going to be cancelled.

00:32:44 Speaker 08: So sorry for the pre-notice.

00:32:46 Speaker 08: It will be cancelled.

00:32:47 Speaker 08: Is what I'm told.

00:32:49 Speaker 08: December 18th; Operations Committee meets the third Thursday of each month.

00:32:54 Speaker 08: There'll be two reports: minor changes to Owensound Transit timing.

00:32:58 Speaker 08: This is timing of two routes during the daytime that will be extended to about 45 minutes in length, as opposed to a 30-minute length.

00:33:06 Speaker 08: Ghost continuation and ghost is Guelph-Owen Sound Transit; it's the continuation of those routes in that service.

00:33:14 Speaker 08: Slide: Community Services Committee.

00:33:17 Speaker 08: December 17th, which is the third Wednesday of each month, it will be a full agenda.

00:33:22 Speaker 08: We have the Two Thousand and Twenty-Five End-of-Year Events Wrap Up.

00:33:25 Speaker 08: We have the Julie MacArthur Regional Recreational Centre Tree Request coming; proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities, and that's provincial legislation.

00:33:36 Speaker 08: So that's not city-directed or a city initiative that's coming down from the province, and like other provincial legislation,

00:33:42 Speaker 08: we're trying to react and provide as much information to council to submit information back to the province in that period of time that they're asking for.

00:33:51 Speaker 08: The Ryerson Park renaming working group will have a recommendation report; sports equipment sanitizer vending opportunity; and tentatively right now recommendation report regarding the OP update, zoning bylaw update, and urban design guidelines.

00:34:06 Speaker 08: Slide, please.

00:34:07 Speaker 08: In case you missed it, again here's an aggregated list of all of the media announcements that have come forward.

00:34:15 Speaker 08: You can catch up here if you've missed something.

00:34:17 Speaker 08: At least it gives you a title; you can then link through and look at in the news section on the city's website to read more about any of these.

00:34:24 Speaker 08: And then finally, I always encourage everybody to stay as connected as possible to the city.

00:34:31 Speaker 08: And the main ways of doing that: we have owensound.ca, the city's main website.

00:34:36 Speaker 08: Our City.Owensound.ca is our engagement platform.

00:34:39 Speaker 08: And then if you see something that might be out of place around the city or a pothole, or something that might need attention; Owensound.ca/report-a-concern gets that information logged right away to the correct department.

00:34:51 Speaker 08: You can also upload a picture if you can take a picture of it, and it gets to the right people to take a look at it and hopefully address it just as quick as possible.

00:34:58 Speaker 08: And then finally, if you're looking for things to do around town; OwensoundRiverDistrict.ca—you'll find all things about the downtown—and OwensoundTourism.ca both are chock full of events and different things, especially with the holidays and holiday shopping.

00:35:13 Speaker 08: There's tons of information there and links to local retailers, etc. And that's my report this month.

00:35:20 Speaker 08: Good.

00:35:21 Speaker 08: Thank you very much, Councillor Farmer.

00:35:24 Speaker 09: Through the Mayor: quick question.

00:35:25 Speaker 09: You mentioned great interest in the MAT tax revenue and tourism funding from that.

00:35:32 Speaker 09: We talked a lot about that MAT programmememememememememememe when it came in.

00:35:36 Speaker 09: If folks want to find out more about where and when and to whom that funding is distributed; what should they know?

00:35:55 Speaker 08: Through you, Mayor, to Councillor Farmer: there is a municipal accommodation tax website set up through the Chamber of Commerce website.

00:36:02 Speaker 08: So I direct people to the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce website, where they can click through onto the MAT website to find out more information.

00:36:11 Speaker 08: Good, thank you.

00:36:13 Speaker 08: Oh, you've got a hand up.

00:36:16 Speaker 10: Yeah; the one slide referenced official plan zoning amendments going to committee in December, but we just had the presentation from the consultant showing that was January,

00:36:30 Speaker 10: and we just recessed at 4:30 looking to have more time.

00:36:32 Speaker 10: So I presume that's... assume that's actually not correct.

00:36:37 Speaker 10: It actually will be January; we don't have intentions of putting that into December.

00:36:43 Speaker 08: Through the Mayor to Deputy Mayor Greig: yeah, you're right, and that's on the slide itself.

00:36:47 Speaker 08: I had the word tentative listed there because I wasn't certain.

00:36:50 Speaker 08: We weren't certain at the time of publishing the update to the agenda and for the meeting tonight whether it would be going to December.

00:36:56 Speaker 08: So I added the word tentative, and as we've learned today, it will be moving to January.

00:37:02 Speaker 08: Good.

00:37:02 Speaker 01: Thank you very much.

00:37:04 Speaker 01: Number eight in our agenda: public forum; and we have no members of the public in the chamber tonight to ask us any questions.

00:37:11 Speaker 01: At number nine, we have no correspondence items being presented for consideration.

00:37:16 Speaker 01: At ten, we have reports from city staff.

00:37:20 Speaker 01: I've declared an interest in 10a, so I'll hand the gavel wherever it is over to Deputy Mayor Gray.

00:37:38 Speaker 10: No; opposed to banging the gavel, I think I will just pass it over to Brianna to introduce this report regarding a noise permit request for the B.C. site, 1144 First Avenue West.

00:37:55 Speaker 06: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig: noise permit request was submitted by Hansa Financial and Property Management Inc. for the Harbor West Development at 1144 First Ave.

00:38:04 Speaker 06: West.

00:38:05 Speaker 06: The request is for a six-month permit and is to expedite construction and reduce the overall duration of disruption to the surrounding community.

00:38:13 Speaker 06: Up on the screen is a chart of what is currently permitted and what the request is for.

00:38:18 Speaker 06: The applicant also explained that concrete pours are scheduled to start as early in the day as possible and must be continuous.

00:38:25 Speaker 06: It is anticipated that there will be 12 smaller pours in December and January, and twelve larger pours beginning in February.

00:38:32 Speaker 06: The request was circulated to applicable departments and neighbours within a sixty-metre buffer of the property.

00:38:39 Speaker 06: Several public comments were received requesting that council not approve an extension; a summary of those concerns are included in the report.

00:38:47 Speaker 06: Based on staff comments, community feedback, and the applicant request, staff recommend that council approves a six-month noise permit for concrete pours only,

00:38:55 Speaker 06: subject to the applicant providing a minimum of five days' notice of each pour to the city clerk, and no pours occurring on Sundays or holidays.

00:39:08 Speaker 11: Okay; thank you for that.

00:39:09 Speaker 11: And I see Councillor Merton's got bullet points jumping right off the screen there.

00:39:13 Speaker 11: So I'll go to Councillor Merton first.

00:39:16 Speaker 11: You've read my red dots.

00:39:19 Speaker 12: I have a question regarding the communication strategy.

00:39:24 Speaker 12: When City Hall is advised five days in advance...

00:39:27 Speaker 12: of intended pours; how will this be communicated to the public, bylaw, and also to the police?

00:39:40 Speaker 12: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig.

00:39:42 Speaker 06: Following Council's decision, the neighbours will be notified of the outcome, and the days will be posted on the website, and a direct notification will be sent to Bylaw Police as well.

00:39:58 Speaker 06: Okay.

00:39:59 Speaker 06: Any further questions?

00:40:01 Speaker 11: Okay, I'll go in order: Councillor Kukreja, then Koepke, and then Farmer next.

00:40:06 Speaker 13: I just have a question out of curiosity.

00:40:08 Speaker 13: So, in the report it mentions that pours may continue later than 9 p.m., and that makes sense.

00:40:15 Speaker 13: But like, is there a time limit to what they usually go on till midnight or till three, four in the morning?

00:40:22 Speaker 13: Like...

00:40:26 Speaker 06: Through Deputy Mayor Greig: then the time they mentioned to me was 10 p.m.

00:40:30 Speaker 06: Usually, that was the latest.

00:40:34 Speaker 14: Councillor Koepke.

00:40:36 Speaker 14: So I just want to clarify in the permitted and requested chart: what you're saying recommending for approval is the permitted.

00:40:48 Speaker 14: Is that correct?

00:40:49 Speaker 14: If you just nod your head...

00:40:51 Speaker 14: Okay.

00:40:51 Speaker 14: Can you tell me the rationale for 9 a.m. on Saturdays?

00:40:57 Speaker 14: I don't know that traditionally people sleep in till 9 a.m. on Saturdays anymore.

00:41:06 Speaker 14: Sundays I can see, but Saturdays—if you can comment.

00:41:13 Speaker 06: I may not completely understand the question, so forgive me.

00:41:16 Speaker 06: So basically, on the chart here it says what is permitted: and on Saturdays they can do work from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

00:41:26 Speaker 06: They were requesting that they start at 7, but that's not what the staff recommendation is.

00:41:32 Speaker 06: It would be to maintain the current times that are in that permitted column, other than on those concrete pour days.

00:41:40 Speaker 14: Okay, so I guess my question is: the rationale for waiting until 9 a.m. on Saturdays?

00:41:45 Speaker 14: They could probably use that extra hour or couple of hours on Saturday since you're not getting it at the end of the day because things on Saturdays bustle just as early as they do from

00:41:56 Speaker 14: Monday to Friday.

00:42:01 Speaker 06: Through Deputy Mayor Greig: certainly, it's within Council's discretion if they want to permit them to start earlier, but that's what our current noise bylaw permits.

00:42:10 Speaker 06: So staff was staying with the current bylaw, and there were some neighbour circulation comments concerning their starting earlier on Saturday.

00:42:21 Speaker 06: Okay, thank you, Councillor Farmer.

00:42:24 Speaker 09: Through the Acting Chair: public feedback suggests pre-existing discontent with the nature of the work so far.

00:42:32 Speaker 09: Has the City received formal complaints about the amount of noise and work being done outside those regular hours so far?

00:42:39 Speaker 06: Through Deputy Mayor Greig: I guess we have been receiving formal complaints.

00:42:48 Speaker 02: And through the Deputy Mayor, I understand in the report that there is the ability for the City to revoke the expansion of—of yeah—the expansion for concrete pours specifically if there are subsequent complaints.

00:43:07 Speaker 02: Does the City have a set quantity of complaints that would tip that scale, or does allowing this extension then give us a kind of zero-tolerance approach to subsequent noise complaints?

00:43:26 Speaker 06: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig: Just speaking to the concrete pours—they could...

00:43:35 Speaker 06: They—if you permit this, then they could go into the evening.

00:43:38 Speaker 06: So likely if there was a complaint nothing would transpire for that.

00:43:43 Speaker 06: But if it's outside those concrete pores—then action would definitely be able to be taken.

00:43:50 Speaker 09: I support the expansion as listed in the report.

00:43:56 Speaker 09: If that's not already on the floor, it's been a long day for me.

00:44:01 Speaker 09: Like—I'd be happy to move that for concrete pours specifically but I would also expect to hear whether or not we needed to withdraw that.

00:44:10 Speaker 09: Okay—you kind of lost me.

00:44:12 Speaker 09: So you do want to move the recommendation in the report, or you want to alter it?

00:44:26 Speaker 15: I'll go back to you: I want to move the recommendation in the report.

00:44:31 Speaker 15: I'm comfortable with concrete pours being exempt specifically—concrete core pours being exempt from the current noise... yeah—the current bylaws—and because I think that makes sense; you can't stop a concrete pour halfway through.

00:44:51 Speaker 15: That makes sense to me.

00:44:53 Speaker 15: I'm also really sympathetic to the quality of life for the folks in the neighbourhood, and not everyone's a toddler who loves to see diggers working regardless of the time of day.

00:45:06 Speaker 15: But... the loophole here is like I would love to see some kind of accountability specifically with knowing whether or not that policy needs to be retracted if there are violations of noise hours of work

00:45:18 Speaker 15: and noise bylaws in other contexts.

00:45:20 Speaker 15: But I don't know what that mechanism would be.

00:45:23 Speaker 15: I'm going to go to Briana for clarification there because I think it's already been stipulated—but go ahead, Briana.

00:45:34 Speaker 10: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig: It is in the bylaw that the Clerk does have the authority as does Council.

00:45:39 Speaker 06: So ultimately I could bring a report back to Council if I felt there was a significant amount of complaints coming in.

00:45:49 Speaker 06: Okay—and you're good?

00:45:50 Speaker 06: Okay so the recommendation in the report has been moved by Councillor Farmer.

00:45:56 Speaker 11: Before I call any more questions...

00:45:58 Speaker 11: Not seeing any.

00:46:00 Speaker 11: Just like to note: good report, Briana.

00:46:03 Speaker 11: I just want—I had highlighted the part that stated this recommendation balances the developer's construction needs and the neighbours' right to a livable community by prohibiting all construction noise outside permitted hours except for concrete pours.

00:46:18 Speaker 11: I think it's a good conclusion.

00:46:20 Speaker 11: We're excited to see the development taking progress progressing away, but we all are sympathetic to the concerns of the neighbourhood.

00:46:29 Speaker 11: So I think you've struck a good balance there.

00:46:32 Speaker 11: So—all those in favour?

00:46:35 Speaker 11: And that's carried unanimously.

00:46:37 Speaker 11: Thank you—and we will await Mayor Boddy to return.

00:46:57 Speaker 11: Good—thank you.

00:46:59 Speaker 01: At oh... handing it right back to you at 10:30 B. Verbal update from Grey County Council.

00:47:07 Speaker 01: Thank you, Mayor Boddy.

00:47:08 Speaker 11: I can report to Council that at the last County Council meeting Council heard comments from staff regarding Bill 60 and plan comments to be submitted to the province.

00:47:19 Speaker 11: Some key points were that the county welcomes upper-tier municipalities having community improvement plans which could permit the county to make strategic investments in affordable housing or infrastructure.

00:47:29 Speaker 11: County Council entered into a development charges deferral and conditional exemption agreement for Phase One consisting of two hundred and sixty-seven units of the SkyDev development occurring near the Kawana Soccer Fields.

00:47:40 Speaker 11: In accordance with current policy regarding an ask from the developer, the developer could approach the county in the future as further development occurs.

00:47:48 Speaker 11: Council supported the county's participation for Ghost Transit funding operations for extending service provision from April to August of 2026.

00:47:59 Speaker 11: It—'26—it is being funded as well as the Dundalk to Orangeville GTR route from the Ontario Transit Investment Fund,

00:48:07 Speaker 11: and the county submitted asks for delegations at Roma relating to municipal affairs and housing on strategies supporting affordability and advocating for base funding and support for the Owen Sound campus of Georgian College to the

00:48:21 Speaker 11: Ministry of Economic Development,

00:48:22 Speaker 11: advocating on the critical role Georgian College's Owen Sound campus plays in developing a strong workforce.

00:48:29 Speaker 11: To the Ministry of Long-Term Care regarding occupancy issues for Rockwood Terrace when it will be opening; to the Ministry of Transportation regarding Highway 26 congestion at the eastern edge of the county;

00:48:40 Speaker 11: to the Ministry of Health regarding nursing and physician recruitment support; to the Ministry of the Environment regarding exclusions under the Producer Responsibility Model for ICI purposes;

00:48:52 Speaker 11: and to the Ministry of the Solicitor General seeking clarity and funding for new armed security directives at provincial offences court; to the Ministry of Natural Resources regarding proposed changes to conservation authorities.

00:49:08 Speaker 11: Those will all likely strike a real chord to everyone around this table.

00:49:11 Speaker 11: It's pretty impactful to us here in Owen Sound.

00:49:15 Speaker 11: So I welcome any questions and ask for Council's approval of the verbal report.

00:49:23 Speaker 11: Does anyone have any questions?

00:49:25 Speaker 11: Seeing none.

00:49:26 Speaker 11: All in favour?

00:49:28 Speaker 11: That's carried.

00:49:28 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley's hand is up as well.

00:49:32 Speaker 01: Number eleven, the consent agenda.

00:49:37 Speaker 01: Through the Mayor, I do.

00:49:39 Speaker 01: Sorry, I looked at you, but Brenda is going to read it first.

00:49:42 Speaker 01: Sorry.

00:49:45 Speaker 01: Through your Worship, on the consent agenda this evening is a report respecting the two thousand and twenty-five community open house and a report respecting a lottery licence for the Cinnamon Sportsmen's Association;

00:49:57 Speaker 06: business licences were issued to Mind Revitalized, a home-based business at Seven Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Street East, Crowns and Fades at Ten Forty-Fifth Second Avenue East,

00:50:05 Speaker 06: and a hawker peddler licence was issued for the Artisans Holiday Show and Sale at the Bayshore Community Centre.

00:50:12 Speaker 06: The last item on the consent agenda is the information package.

00:50:14 Speaker 06: A full listing is available at Eleven D. Thank you.

00:50:19 Speaker 06: Thank you, through the Mayor.

00:50:20 Speaker 15: I would like to speak to Eleven D. Would like to speak to 11A, so I'll pull that.

00:50:24 Speaker 15: But move by myself that, in consideration of the items listed on the November 24, 2025, consent agenda, that City Council receives Items 11B to 11D and approves the recommendations contained in Item 11B.

00:50:38 Speaker 15: And all in favour?

00:50:41 Speaker 15: That's carried.

00:50:42 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley, some favour, and then back to 11A.

00:50:46 Speaker 01: I: 11A is the report back about the open house.

00:50:51 Speaker 15: And I was hoping for an opportunity to ask staff more about the recommendation not to host that in two thousand and twenty-six.

00:51:01 Speaker 15: One of the reasons listed in the report is that there will be an election in two thousand and twenty-six.

00:51:06 Speaker 15: The report also highlights the difficulty in spreading the word about the event this year and the resulting drop in attendance from community members.

00:51:15 Speaker 15: But it strikes me that an election year is a really important time to help people understand more about how the City works and why it works that way.

00:51:22 Speaker 15: It's also a time when more people are likely to be exposed to those questions and to be thinking about it.

00:51:28 Speaker 15: And I think there's an opportunity to leverage that and meet both a community need and build relationships, as we say we want to do in our Vision 2050 strategic plan.

00:51:40 Speaker 15: So I was hoping staff could speak to that recommendation.

00:51:46 Speaker 15: Yeah, why?

00:51:48 Speaker 15: Why are you pointing in that direction, Mr. Simmonds?

00:51:54 Speaker 15: Thank you, Mayor.

00:51:55 Speaker 08: Through you to Councillor Farmer.

00:51:56 Speaker 08: Yeah, it's a great point.

00:51:58 Speaker 08: Next year is an election year.

00:52:00 Speaker 08: We think, as noted in the recommendation, is to put a hiatus on it, beginning sometime in May through the election.

00:52:08 Speaker 08: There'll be a lot of people knocking on a lot of doors, getting a lot of feedback about City services, etc., that are happening.

00:52:14 Speaker 08: We feel as though events like this actually cause there's a lot of communication issue with people that have put their name forward to run,

00:52:24 Speaker 08: and it sort of clogs up the election process from communication and people maybe using this platform to do other things.

00:52:33 Speaker 08: In addition to that, we don't disagree that it's a great opportunity to talk to people.

00:52:38 Speaker 08: But the past two community open houses, between them, we've had fifty people.

00:52:43 Speaker 08: Well, not even fifty.

00:52:44 Speaker 08: I would say at the first community open house there were thirty or forty who attended, and then this past open house, the number of attendees were a lot of repeat people.

00:52:53 Speaker 08: So from a staff perspective, also regarding the hiatus, we'd like to take a step back and reevaluate the overall effectiveness of it.

00:53:00 Speaker 08: It's a great opportunity to talk about it, and I think Michelle and staff have done a really good job organising it and bringing in our other providers around the City.

00:53:11 Speaker 08: We had Bright Shores there this year talking about their strategic plan.

00:53:14 Speaker 08: We had United Way.

00:53:15 Speaker 08: We have the YMCA; so we bring all these community partners into one place.

00:53:20 Speaker 08: Also, the feedback we hear from them is that it's a super event.

00:53:25 Speaker 08: But I think only like sixty-some percent will return because there's just no public participation in it.

00:53:30 Speaker 08: So we, in addition to the election, need time to reevaluate the overall effectiveness of it and the amount of time and effort that goes into planning it.

00:53:40 Speaker 08: Cost is one thing, but it's flat out staff time.

00:53:43 Speaker 08: We have probably thirty to forty staff in the room engaged and ready to engage about their particular area of expertise and service, and we just don't have people showing up for it.

00:53:57 Speaker 08: Through the Mayor, I appreciate that explanation.

00:54:02 Speaker 15: I think there are assumptions in there about both what an open house has to be—that it has to take the form, shape, location, and time that the last two incarnations had.

00:54:11 Speaker 15: I'm also thinking about the last election year.

00:54:16 Speaker 15: People love to say that the City needs to operate like a business,

00:54:19 Speaker 15: and one of the ways in which I think we could do that is with what I presume will be the output of the external communications policy and practice review:

00:54:30 Speaker 15: "Where did we put on a great event?

00:54:32 Speaker 15: Why were there no customers there?"

00:54:34 Speaker 15: I think that's an advertising and marketing issue rather than a reflection of their lack of interest or need for an event like that.

00:54:42 Speaker 15: I think that an open house of some incarnation could take place at City Hall, it could take place at the Farmers Market; there are a lot of options there.

00:54:50 Speaker 15: And to say that we're not going to do one at all because the size and scale that we've done in the last couple of incarnations doesn't seem to be working is to miss an opportunity

00:55:04 Speaker 15: to leverage amplified interest if folks are...

00:55:10 Speaker 15: Yeah, so I don't think I can support the recommendation in the report, which is awkward because I'm on motions.

00:55:15 Speaker 15: If someone would like to move that, thank you.

00:55:18 Speaker 15: I'll get someone else to move it.

00:55:19 Speaker 15: Councillor Deputy Mayor Craig, I will move the recommendation in the report that City Council direct staff to take a hiatus from hosting a community open house in two thousand and twenty-six and further...

00:55:32 Speaker 11: I just like to commend staff for a thorough review of the event presented in the report; I couldn't agree more entirely with the recommendation on the page.

00:55:44 Speaker 11: I quickly did the math: we talk about putting a business lens on it, looking at ROI.

00:55:52 Speaker 11: It was noted that there's about $275 in cost per person who attended, and some of the individuals who attended were couples or family units,

00:56:02 Speaker 11: so over $600 because the actual cost is well north of ten thousand dollars.

00:56:07 Speaker 11: I have too much appreciation for the valuable time of staff—not just internally here at City Hall, but county staff, library resources;

00:56:20 Speaker 11: many different health units involved—and it stated in the report that these individuals are already familiar with a lot of these entities.

00:56:26 Speaker 11: So time is of tremendous concern, and I think I'm fully supportive of staff taking a fulsome look at it, which is being the recommendation coming out of it.

00:56:37 Speaker 11: So okay.

00:56:37 Speaker 11: Motion's on the floor, Councillor Merton.

00:56:40 Speaker 11: Through you, Mayor.

00:56:43 Speaker 11: As staff look at it, all of Council has an expectation; I think we were there, and I would appreciate the opportunity to also provide input and feedback from a Council perspective around what we observed,

00:57:00 Speaker 12: what we were asked, and maybe some ideas about how we're always seeking to improve engagement.

00:57:10 Speaker 12: I personally thought that the staff did an amazing job.

00:57:14 Speaker 12: It was great to see the external providers, but like any process, there's always improvements.

00:57:20 Speaker 12: So I would just make that request.

00:57:22 Speaker 12: Thank you.

00:57:24 Speaker 12: Call the question.

00:57:24 Speaker 12: All in favour?

00:57:26 Speaker 12: That is carried.

00:57:31 Speaker 12: Number twelve: Committee minutes with recommendations for approval.

00:57:35 Speaker 01: Twelve A: Minutes of Corporate Services Committee from November 6, two thousand and twenty-five.

00:57:41 Speaker 01: Thank you, through Mayor; the Corporate Services minutes from November 6, two thousand and twenty-five.

00:57:48 Speaker 16: We received a deputation from Robin Strangway Calder of MNP LLP regarding the two thousand and twenty-four draft audited financial statements.

00:57:57 Speaker 16: It was confirmed by the auditor that the City received a clean audit opinion with no noted concerns.

00:58:03 Speaker 16: It was noted that Owen Sound Police Services receives NG 911 funding from other municipalities, and that this revenue is deferred on the balance sheet until the programmememememememememememe is underway,

00:58:15 Speaker 16: which is why there is no significant revenue recognized in 2024.

00:58:19 Speaker 16: Currently, there is deferred revenue of $4.5 million for the NG 911.

00:58:24 Speaker 16: In future years, this revenue will be recognized as fee-for-service to cover expenses, and the auditor made note that as this is a material amount of revenue and a new form of revenue,

00:58:34 Speaker 16: she recommended that a policy for how the revenue will be recognized be created for future auditing purposes.

00:58:42 Speaker 16: And then we had a report respecting the 2024 audited financial statements presented by the Deputy Treasurer.

00:58:49 Speaker 16: Highlights of the audited financial statements are that the City's accumulated surplus increased by $15.8 million, from $244 million and 791 thousand to $260 million and 582 thousand in 2024.

00:59:06 Speaker 16: This figure reflects the change in the City's overall financial position under public sector accounting standards, which differs from the operating surplus reported through the City budget process.

00:59:17 Speaker 16: The final year-end operational surplus was $420,000, which was transferred to the tax stabilization reserve.

00:59:24 Speaker 16: The PAB surplus measures the City's total change in net assets and liabilities, and an increase in capital assets in roads, facilities, fleet, and equipment of approximately $12.6 million,

00:59:36 Speaker 16: and a decrease in long-term liabilities of $2.6 million and asset retirement obligations of $161,000 were the principal factors that contributed to the 2024 increase.

00:59:48 Speaker 16: The recommendation that, in consideration of staff report CR-24-1 respecting the 2024 audited financial statements, the Corporate Services Committee recommends City Council approve the 2024 audited financial statements as presented was carried, and with that,

01:00:04 Speaker 16: I move receipt of the November 6th, 2025 Corporate Services minutes and the recommendation contained within, and we'll take any questions.

01:00:12 Speaker 16: Thank you.

01:00:12 Speaker 16: Does anyone have any questions?

01:00:14 Speaker 16: Deputy Mayor Greig?

01:00:17 Speaker 16: Just...

01:00:17 Speaker 11: You were commenting about the funding of four-and-a-half million dollars for NG-911.

01:00:21 Speaker 11: Municipalities budget on an annual basis, and wouldn't budget for multi-year payments all at once.

01:00:32 Speaker 11: So I don't know if this question is maybe to our Police Board reps or the Director of Finance, but I would...

01:00:42 Speaker 11: I would not think that there are multi-year payments incoming from other municipalities.

01:00:47 Speaker 11: Is this an annual expectation of revenue?

01:00:58 Speaker 11: Through your Worship, I believe it was not this past year, but the year before, the Province provided funding, model or programmememememememememememe to help offset the NG-911 costs, and that was provided to many municipalities.

01:01:12 Speaker 17: Certainly, the City of Owen Sound received some funding through that programmememememememememememe, and it was used in order to do the enhancements at the police station to create an NG-911 compatible dispatch centre.

01:01:24 Speaker 17: Other municipalities that received those funds but were not investing in their own dispatch centres actually got approval from the Province that they could use those funds as sort of a prepayment towards their multi-year operating

01:01:36 Speaker 17: agreements for the City to provide those services to them.

01:01:39 Speaker 17: So we were provided, in the year they received the grants, so that they could show that they spent it in that year.

01:01:45 Speaker 17: The money came to the City of Owen Sound in 2024 mostly and was put onto the balance sheet as deferred revenue.

01:01:56 Speaker 17: Around four-and-a-half million dollars is what's sitting there as of today.

01:01:59 Speaker 17: My understanding is the majority of these are five-year contracts.

01:02:03 Speaker 17: As such, we would expect to see that funding be drawn down over the next five years and show up as revenue in the Police budget.

01:02:09 Speaker 17: Okay?

01:02:13 Speaker 17: So it's five...

01:02:13 Speaker 10: Okay so it's funds from the Province, not contractual funds from partnering municipalities that have accumulated that total.

01:02:22 Speaker 10: That helps because it was just stated by the Chair that it was municipalities.

01:02:26 Speaker 10: So there's more clarity knowing that it was provincial funding as well.

01:02:33 Speaker 10: It's provincial funding provided to those other municipalities, and then they in turn use that funding to pay for their contracts that is provided by the City of Owen Sound.

01:02:43 Speaker 17: so the contract is with those other municipalities, not with the Province.

01:02:49 Speaker 17: Okay?

01:02:49 Speaker 17: Anyone else?

01:02:52 Speaker 17: Councillor Hamley, anything?

01:02:55 Speaker 17: Yep.

01:02:56 Speaker 17: Well I just want like push on that a little bit more than...

01:02:59 Speaker 17: Like so by doing it this way, there's an impact to the Owen Sound taxpayers.

01:03:08 Speaker 17: That fair to say?

01:03:14 Speaker 17: Through your Worship, as long as that funding is coming in as it should into the Police Board's budget and ultimately into their financials,

01:03:24 Speaker 17: then the impact would be for every dollar of revenue that shows up as revenue, less tax money is required to offset the costs of providing those services.

01:03:34 Speaker 17: So certainly, the revenue recognition policy is important, which is what the auditors alluded to:

01:03:42 Speaker 17: they are looking for some sort of documented methodology for how that revenue is now going to leave the balance sheet and come onto the income statement,

01:03:52 Speaker 17: and that's really what the auditors are recommending so that they have something to audit against in future years as that revenue becomes earned.

01:04:02 Speaker 17: But like we would have had to—and maybe I'm wrong in this—but we would have had to front-load,

01:04:07 Speaker 03: and we would have had to pay for the nine hundred and eleven [911] to be built in the first place.

01:04:16 Speaker 03: Through your Worship, the costs—the capital costs—were funded through Police Board reserves as well as the City of Owen Sound's grant dollars.

01:04:27 Speaker 17: Any portion of those other municipalities that was capital-related for the setup would have been recognized against the capital project.

01:04:34 Speaker 17: So that whole project was completed without any tax levy impact, direct tax levy impact, and that project is finished now.

01:04:43 Speaker 17: We're now sort of moving out of the capital stage and into the provision of services stage, which as it commences sort of now is what I understand;

01:04:52 Speaker 17: over the course of this year and over the course of the next five years is how we should see that revenue.

01:04:58 Speaker 17: So really, I think this is an indication from the auditors that it's important there be a revenue recognition methodology, and certainly as we get now into budget, that will be a great question to ask:

01:05:12 Speaker 17: just how that policy is, and how are we seeing that revenue recognized in budgets for 2026 and ongoing?

01:05:23 Speaker 17: Good for you, Councillor Hamley.

01:05:25 Speaker 17: Okay, Councillor Dodd.

01:05:27 Speaker 17: Thank you, Worship, and back through you to the Director.

01:05:31 Speaker 18: You made a comment there about—is Police Services aware that there is a request for a policy to be put into place on how to utilise this funding?

01:05:44 Speaker 18: Through your Worship, now that this Auditor's Report has come through Council,

01:05:51 Speaker 17: I will make sure I send a copy of the report to them tomorrow as well as just indicate that they would want to note one comment when they're reviewing it.

01:05:59 Speaker 17: So as of yet, I have not communicated the Auditor's Report to Police Services but I will be doing that this week.

01:06:06 Speaker 17: And thank you, Your Worship.

01:06:08 Speaker 18: I think that is—it's worth having.

01:06:11 Speaker 18: You know, that's a conversation that I know we'd want to have with the Police Board and make sure they have accurate same information that we do before we get into that discussion.

01:06:17 Speaker 18: But I think it does hit a lot of different points of why there needs to be a plan and you know how that is presented to Council on how they're doing that to offset some

01:06:26 Speaker 18: of their operating expenses.

01:06:28 Speaker 18: So I'll be looking forward to see that in future, Councillor Koepke.

01:06:34 Speaker 18: Thank you, Your Worship.

01:06:34 Speaker 18: Through you to the Director.

01:06:36 Speaker 18: Given that there is a Police Board meeting on Thursday, I would request that get sent as soon as possible so that we can address it at Thursday's meeting as an additional item.

01:06:49 Speaker 14: Ms. Allen did make the Chief aware of that in her meeting last week.

01:06:53 Speaker 04: Okay.

01:06:54 Speaker 04: Any other questions in this?

01:06:55 Speaker 04: We will call the question.

01:06:57 Speaker 04: All in favour?

01:06:59 Speaker 04: And that is carried.

01:07:01 Speaker 04: Twelve B minutes from Service Review.

01:07:03 Speaker 04: I'll pass the gavel again to Deputy Mayor Greig,

01:07:13 Speaker 04: and I won't hold the microphone very long until I pass it back to Chair Boddy to present the Minutes of the Service Review Implementation Ad Hoc Committee meeting from November.

01:07:23 Speaker 10: Over to you, Mayor Boddy.

01:07:25 Speaker 10: Thank you.

01:07:26 Speaker 01: So I'm reporting on the minutes from Service Review: On the minutes of Service Review Ad Hoc held on November 12, 2025, we had discussions and consideration of three reports.

01:07:35 Speaker 01: We received a report for information purposes from the Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness with regard to organisational project management system.

01:07:47 Speaker 01: Project Management software solution will strengthen collabouration across project coordination, budgeting, and resource planning.

01:07:58 Speaker 01: Project Team—that's one word with capital P and a capital T—will increase reporting ability, leading to improved communication, transparency, and accountability internally and externally.

01:08:11 Speaker 01: Many responsibilities of implemented project management systems of this kind.

01:08:16 Speaker 01: This system will be more efficient: 100 hours of staff time will be saved from the work it takes for staff to manually compile data and documents, create plans and prepare presentations.

01:08:29 Speaker 01: There may be savings in the future if various systems are able to be integrated.

01:08:34 Speaker 01: Future steps will look at integration of other City systems and having consultants and contractors directly access the system to update information on their end, which will increase efficiency.

01:08:47 Speaker 01: Second report:

01:08:48 Speaker 01: We received a report for information purposes from Director of Community Services with regard to park service level alignment including for the River District throughout 2025 year work on collecting park infrastructure and updating tree-related data

01:09:09 Speaker 01: has continued to establish a more accurate inventory of park assets.

01:09:13 Speaker 01: This work along with condition assessments will help to inform the Service Level phase of the project.

01:09:20 Speaker 01: Parks have five key different—five key diverse service areas, including parks, winter control, arboretum culture so trees, cemetrey, and River District.

01:09:32 Speaker 01: This report presents a draft service level document and associated recommendation respecting the River District.

01:09:40 Speaker 01: These service level alignments between different departments will aid with clarity of responsibility which will help to increase efficiencies.

01:09:49 Speaker 01: Some service level changes in the report included additional street washing and other staff responsibilities in the River District.

01:09:57 Speaker 01: Third report received: A report for information purposes from City Manager with regard to optimizing resources, financial and operational impacts of the Service Review.

01:10:10 Speaker 01: It was noted that the Service Review process has been much more ingrained into all City staff than previous service review processes.

01:10:17 Speaker 01: Through modernization, smarter resource use, and strategic partnerships, the City has achieved more than one million dollars in savings, efficiencies, and new revenue,

01:10:30 Speaker 01: and is on track to exceed the two-million dollar target set out at the start of the Service Review.

01:10:36 Speaker 01: When compounded annually, staff have responded to evolving service needs by realigning roles and responsibilities rather than increasing headcount, maintaining fiscal discipline while improving service delivery.

01:10:51 Speaker 01: Despite strong results, the pace and scale of change have stretched staff capacity.

01:10:57 Speaker 01: Continued success will require attention to workload and support for those driving transformation.

01:11:04 Speaker 01: Beginning in January 2026, Staff Reports will include a new resource alignment section to provide a fuller picture of financial, human, technological, and time-related impacts reflecting the principles of Service Review and supporting information decision-making.

01:11:22 Speaker 01: So I move approval of the minutes of the Service Review Ad Hoc Committee and actions contained therein from the meeting held on November 12th, twenty-twenty-five.

01:11:31 Speaker 01: And Mark, are there any questions?

01:11:34 Speaker 01: Thank you, Mayor Boddy.

01:11:35 Speaker 11: Are there any questions, Councillor Farmer?

01:11:37 Speaker 11: Go ahead.

01:11:39 Speaker 11: For clarification, just on what Staff Reports will include in the future—is that anticipated cost or the impact of like the anticipated cost of proposed changes,

01:11:50 Speaker 02: or the impact as you get reports on how that project's going?

01:11:56 Speaker 02: Sorry, I might look to the Chair or to staff to answer that.

01:12:07 Speaker 02: I think it is somewhat of both: financial and internal resources—sources—that might be created from efficiencies but perhaps the City Manager would like to expand on that a little further.

01:12:23 Speaker 11: Through sorry through you to Deputy Farmer.

01:12:25 Speaker 08: It is a combination of new revenues, efficiencies, and other opportunities with the Service Review projects.

01:12:32 Speaker 08: The savings number.

01:12:37 Speaker 08: Go ahead.

01:12:38 Speaker 02: And sorry, just to clarify: so what has been realized from the project rather than what is anticipated from subsequent proposals?

01:12:49 Speaker 02: I think if I could help, it's on a go-forward basis; so it's just not going to be as black and white as the financial implications paragraph of the reports.

01:12:58 Speaker 11: It's going to be an expansion of the discussion within that paragraph or the commentary within that part of the report.

01:13:06 Speaker 11: And I'll go back to Tim there.

01:13:09 Speaker 11: Yeah, and sorry for the misspelling.

01:13:09 Speaker 11: Yeah, and so sorry for the misunderstanding.

01:13:11 Speaker 08: And the other part to that is:

01:13:12 Speaker 08: in the report we also highlight we're going to bring a more in-depth sort of project-by-project look in September before the end of this term of council on how service review projects have played out.

01:13:25 Speaker 08: Yes, thanks for the question.

01:13:26 Speaker 08: Any further?

01:13:27 Speaker 08: Just no further to the chair's comments.

01:13:30 Speaker 11: There was one notation in the report that spoke of 250 hours saved from the cloud permit software system.

01:13:37 Speaker 11: So it was great to see some of the various efficiencies that have been created by the initiatives within the service review so far.

01:13:45 Speaker 11: Not seeing any other questions, all those in favour?

01:13:47 Speaker 11: That is carried unanimously.

01:13:50 Speaker 11: Thank you.

01:13:52 Speaker 11: Good.

01:13:53 Speaker 11: Thank you.

01:13:54 Speaker 01: Twelve C to Councillor Koepke: Minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held November 19th.

01:14:01 Speaker 01: Thank you, Worship.

01:14:03 Speaker 01: On the November 19th Community Services Committee meeting,

01:14:06 Speaker 14: committee received a presentation from Owen Sound Lacrosse regarding a partnership opportunity with the city to install artificial turf at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on a seasonal basis.

01:14:18 Speaker 14: Owen Sound Lacrosse is proposing a fifty-fifty initial partnership with the city, each party contributing $25,000, and after one year,

01:14:29 Speaker 14: the city would receive ownership of the turf as an asset for the life expectancy only of the turf.

01:14:37 Speaker 14: Members moved that this matter be referred to the December 2025 capital budget update.

01:14:43 Speaker 14: Committee received a deputation from Tasha Schmidt regarding various suggestions for tree opportunities and boulevard tree planting in the city in an effort to enhance the city's tree canopy.

01:14:55 Speaker 14: A suggestion was made to conduct a Hug-a-Tree Month to encourage tree planting on city boulevard properties.

01:15:03 Speaker 14: Staff noted that 369 trees were planted by staff within this city this year, with 160 of those being on boulevards.

01:15:13 Speaker 14: Members received the information and directed staff to include a review of the boulevard tree planting programmememememememememememe in the 2026 staff work plans.

01:15:23 Speaker 14: A report on Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, was presented by staff.

01:15:31 Speaker 14: Bill 60 is an omnibus bill that seeks to amend 18 different acts and includes three core themes: building homes and communities; fighting delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board; and keeping people moving.

01:15:45 Speaker 14: The following amendments fall under the "building homes and communities" theme: Building Code, municipal application processes, official plans, green roofs, minor variances, Minister's zoning orders, Record of Site Condition, communal water and wastewater systems,

01:16:02 Speaker 14: on-farm septic systems, community improvement plans, and Construction Acts.

01:16:09 Speaker 14: The following amendments, under the "keeping people moving" theme, are road construction standards and bike lanes.

01:16:16 Speaker 14: The province is currently seeking feedback through the Environmental Registry of Ontario; it is noted that proposed changes will necessitate additional staff education and training to ensure successful implementation,

01:16:31 Speaker 14: as well as updating local policy documents in response to provincial changes, which will require significant financial investment.

01:16:40 Speaker 14: It is noted these constant changes create an environment of uncertainty and disruption, which does not serve the province's stated goal of getting housing built.

01:16:52 Speaker 14: Members moved to send the staff report to the province regarding the city's comments on Bill 60, and to forward a copy to our M.P., M.P.P. Amo, and the leaders of all parties with seats.

01:17:05 Speaker 14: However, it has been noted that Bill 60 was passed today; so hopefully they took our comments into consideration.

01:17:14 Speaker 14: Members received a staff report regarding the one-year implementation of Derby Camping.

01:17:20 Speaker 14: Several successes were highlighted, including partial recovery of the city's costs out of reduction of the NAV (negative amortization), and a reduction of the negative impact this use had on public spaces in the past.

01:17:33 Speaker 14: In 2025, there were 814 camping nights booked at Harrison Park and 45 at Kelso.

01:17:39 Speaker 14: Contributors to the success of the programmememememememememememe included various city departments, security, and partner organisations like Transport Canada.

01:17:48 Speaker 14: 2026 recommendations include earlier promotion and sale of licences; allowing larger trailers on the east side; and updating site layouts for better spatial management.

01:18:00 Speaker 14: Members moved to direct staff to bring forward a bylaw to implement the improvements outlined in the report.

01:18:07 Speaker 14: Members were provided with information from a report regarding the proposed design and location of the commemorative forest monument, following memorial tree programmememememememememememe restructuring in 2021 into a Commemorative Forest Programmememememememememememe to prevent overcrowding, optimize planting,

01:18:26 Speaker 14: promote native species, and reduce ongoing maintenance by centralizing commemoration through a monument instead of individual plaques.

01:18:35 Speaker 14: Included on the monument will be a QR code linked to the city's website to allow enhanced information sharing—such as photos, names, and events—without cluttering the physical site.

01:18:48 Speaker 14: The proposed location is on the west side of the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre near the waterfront, which will improve accessibility, carrying capacity, scenic value, and provide long-term expansion potential.

01:19:02 Speaker 14: The city has been working with Thomas Dean Landscape Architects on a design that fits the contemplative nature of the site.

01:19:11 Speaker 14: It integrates existing trails, parking, gardens, and gazebos with room to grow as more commemorative trees are added over time.

01:19:20 Speaker 14: Communication with tree donors has been maintained; consideration will be given to an annual recognition event once the monument is in place.

01:19:29 Speaker 14: This plan is also being reviewed by the Joint County Accessibility Advisory Committee to ensure inclusivity.

01:19:38 Speaker 14: Members approved the recommendation regarding the location and design of the monument.

01:19:44 Speaker 14: The city's development update for October 2025 was presented, identifying that 23 building permits were issued with a construction value of just over $1.5 million, and 75 building inspections taking place.

01:19:59 Speaker 14: For information purposes only, site plans were presented for:

01:20:03 Speaker 14: Construction of a self-storage facility and vehicle rental establishment (U-Haul) at 2010 16th Avenue East; and

01:20:12 Speaker 14: Redevelopment of an industrial site at 1650 20th Street East for Fiftieth Street East outdoor gravel storage.

01:20:20 Speaker 14: That concludes my summary of the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on November 19, 2025, and I move approval of the recommendations contained within the minutes.

01:20:34 Speaker 14: Questions?

01:20:34 Speaker 14: I do have a question for the chair related to the location of the commemorative forest monument being at the Bayshore Community Centre.

01:20:48 Speaker 11: Just wondering what discussion might have occurred—just in reading the minutes, I just wondered about a forest monument being located where there's no forest.

01:20:57 Speaker 11: So I wondered if I could just learn a bit more about what conversation might have occurred there.

01:21:02 Speaker 11: And you had expanded a little bit on what this means then with the smart tags.

01:21:08 Speaker 11: And I'm just wondering: what are the internal resources that ultimately will be required to support this programmememememememememememe?

01:21:16 Speaker 11: If we're talking website and photos, like are we having to support this with significant work in the background?

01:21:23 Speaker 11: Because the Conservation Authority had a memorial tree forest programmememememememememememe too, but it was run by volunteers from the foundation.

01:21:32 Speaker 11: It just wasn't as labour-intensive on staff.

01:21:43 Speaker 11: I'll just defer to the director to answer those questions through the Mayor.

01:21:50 Speaker 14: Thank you for those questions.

01:21:53 Speaker 19: The area, as the Deputy Mayor's pointed out, isn't in a forest; rather, it is a space on the west side of the trail, just west of the Harry Lemley Bayshore Community Centre.

01:22:06 Speaker 19: Initially, we thought about placing the commemorative forest monument at Harrison Park, and there were several reasons—including how busy that space already was—whereas at the Bayshore, it's an open area.

01:22:20 Speaker 19: The monument will sort of be a significant feature in that space.

01:22:26 Speaker 19: It will allow for use of that parking area, accessible parking spaces, the accessible trail—which were really seen as positives—as well as outdoor amenities; and that space is currently underutilised, whereas other spaces are quite busy.

01:22:47 Speaker 19: In terms of staff resources: right now, the process involves staff getting a stone and then having it mounted on a particular tree, followed by maintenance if damaged or vandalized—that's a lot of work.

01:23:05 Speaker 19: So the new process will allow staff to select the location where the tree will be planted.

01:23:12 Speaker 19: When it is planted, our arborists will, through the Work Order System, create a pin for Curtis to put on the GIS map.

01:23:24 Speaker 19: How robust the information is respecting any individual or event being commemorated is really up to the person doing the commemoration.

01:23:33 Speaker 19: It may be fairly simple; but it would be sent to our community staff and then that staff member will specify a format,

01:23:42 Speaker 19: and then it'll just be uploaded onto the website—so it might just be a name and date, or a photo with a brief description.

01:23:49 Speaker 19: But staff felt like they had the capacity to undertake the programmememememememememememe as it was designed and approved.

01:24:00 Speaker 19: Good, John.

01:24:03 Speaker 19: Through the Mayor, I would just also note at the meeting we saw that the City, in fact,

01:24:06 Speaker 15: already has a website page and GIS map that has the trees that are currently there with plaques around the city.

01:24:14 Speaker 15: So rather than a whole new thing, this is an augmentation of that or proposed augmentation of that project.

01:24:26 Speaker 15: Good, go ahead through you Mayor.

01:24:31 Speaker 12: I just wanted to speak a little bit about the artificial turf proposal.

01:24:35 Speaker 12: I think it's an excellent example of sharing opportunities and partnerships to be able to help our community.

01:24:45 Speaker 12: I have a couple of questions.

01:24:47 Speaker 12: I know there is more detail to be ironed out around replacement.

01:24:56 Speaker 12: In the Operations Committee, we really think about garbage and disposal of things,

01:25:02 Speaker 12: and I'm wondering if within that there has been any discussion about disposal and the costs for disposal and how it's disposed when required.

01:25:17 Speaker 12: Through your Worship, and thank you for the question.

01:25:20 Speaker 19: On my Council follow-up, I have a note to do a report for the capital budget update in December.

01:25:27 Speaker 19: So among other things we can think about that.

01:25:31 Speaker 19: The life of the turf is expected to be twenty to twenty-five years given that it's used only a short period.

01:25:36 Speaker 19: But that's certainly an important consideration for that time.

01:25:44 Speaker 19: Through you Mayor, does this become considered an asset that's listed on our Asset Management Plan and strategy?

01:25:57 Speaker 12: Through your Worship.

01:25:58 Speaker 19: Yes, it would be.

01:25:59 Speaker 19: I believe added to the City's capital assets.

01:26:05 Speaker 19: Councillor Capkic.

01:26:07 Speaker 19: However, I believe at the meeting it was noted that this is not a commitment that the City would replace the turf if or when the turf is disposed of.

01:26:19 Speaker 14: So so it's an asset while we have it.

01:26:22 Speaker 14: Thanks.

01:26:24 Speaker 14: Councillor Call.

01:26:27 Speaker 14: Thank you Worship.

01:26:28 Speaker 18: I think it's just we need to be very clear on this.

01:26:31 Speaker 18: This is just getting moved to the capital budget for approval at that point, so all those discussions and other considerations will take place at that time.

01:26:38 Speaker 18: So the City hasn't committed to that partnership at this point but there'll be discussion further next month.

01:26:45 Speaker 18: And those are great points.

01:26:49 Speaker 18: I do note that I had a conversation with somebody in Lacrosse World about a year ago, and when we looked at it in a different city with a new one,

01:26:55 Speaker 04: it was going to be two hundred thousand dollars.

01:26:55 Speaker 04: It's going to be two hundred thousand dollars so it's pretty creative that these people have found a way to bring it in for fifty and make it work.

01:27:04 Speaker 04: And most arena floors for lacrosse now are not on cement; they're on turf.

01:27:09 Speaker 04: So okay I'll call the question.

01:27:12 Speaker 04: All in favour?

01:27:13 Speaker 04: That is carried.

01:27:17 Speaker 04: I think Councillor Hamley approved.

01:27:20 Speaker 04: Oh we declared a pecuniary interest earlier.

01:27:24 Speaker 04: Sorry.

01:27:27 Speaker 04: Okay minutes of the Operations Committee held November 20th Deputy Mayor Greig through Mayor Boddy at the Operations Committee Thursday this week past there was one report which resulted in thorough consideration of the report on

01:27:42 Speaker 04: non-eligible sources of recycling materials.

01:27:46 Speaker 11: Committee first heard concerns from members of the community regarding the impact to the charitable sector financially on needing to arrange their own service provision,

01:27:55 Speaker 11: committee members share concerns about the financial cost of the changes being borne by the general tax base inconsistency of not assuming the cost with other City services where costs are assumed for a common good

01:28:07 Speaker 11: such as leaf and yard waste used by some but not all and frustrations with unintended consequences of the changes to the recycling regime.

01:28:17 Speaker 11: The staff report presented several options for consideration including funding through the general levy at a cost greater than one hundred twenty thousand dollars per year collect for up to six months use of a recycling

01:28:29 Speaker 11: depot at Miller Waste for a three to six month term special charge user fees or special levy for the River District include cost in the River District budget cardboard collection in downtown only special tags

01:28:42 Speaker 11: or bags for non-eligible sources or discontinuing non-eligible collection.

01:28:47 Speaker 11: Committee recommends to Council to continue collecting materials from all non-eligible properties for up to three months and that this estimate of ninety-six hundred dollars to eleven thousand five hundred dollars per month be included in

01:29:00 Speaker 11: the Mayor's budget.

01:29:01 Speaker 11: Committee also endorsed a motion from the Town of Blue Mountains encouraging Grey County municipalities to work together on ICI materials and locations and also passed a motion to be forwarded to the Premier Minister of

01:29:13 Speaker 11: Environment MPP Paul Vickers and AMO urging the province to reinstate eligibility for curbside pickup for charitable organisations.

01:29:24 Speaker 11: I welcome any questions and ask for Council's endorsement of the recommendations.

01:29:30 Speaker 11: Questions?

01:29:32 Speaker 11: Seeing none I can call the question on favour.

01:29:35 Speaker 04: That is carried.

01:29:38 Speaker 04: So that gets us through all of the staff report.

01:29:46 Speaker 04: The Committee minutes sorry.

01:29:48 Speaker 04: Councillor Farmer sent me a note saying that he wanted to talk about correspondence matter back in 11D.

01:29:54 Speaker 04: Go ahead thank you.

01:29:56 Speaker 04: I just wanted to draw folks' attention to item five in the correspondence package which is the letter and associated motion from the United Counties of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry talking about Bill 68 which is

01:30:15 Speaker 02: the bill that would change the structure of conservation authorities as folks have likely heard by now on November 6 the province introduced that bill which would drastically change the structure of conservation authorities and their

01:30:26 Speaker 02: governance.

01:30:29 Speaker 02: CAs were only made aware of it the morning that it was announced so there was no consultation with conservation authorities themselves their constituent municipalities or stakeholders and most notably the bill as laid out in

01:30:43 Speaker 02: that correspondence and motion proposes the amalgamation of Ontario's thirty-six conservation authorities into just seven regional conservation authorities and the creation of a new provincial agency the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency which would oversee the governance

01:31:00 Speaker 02: and operations of the newly amalgamated CAs.

01:31:04 Speaker 02: We in Owen Sound are current members of the Grey-Sable Conservation Authority but we would be lumped in with six other conservation authorities stretching from Lake Simcoe all the way across our watershed to Lake Huron

01:31:15 Speaker 02: and down Lake Huron to the Assabie Bayfield Conservation Authority with Thunder Bay's Conservation Authority thrown into the mix just for good measure.

01:31:24 Speaker 02: And on November 14th the GSCA board members were invited to a call with Tim Lanthier the CEO there to learn more about this.

01:31:34 Speaker 02: And we heard that there are many outstanding questions about this move and uncertainty about both operational governance and cost.

01:31:42 Speaker 02: So currently the Grey-Sable Conservation Authority has eleven board members and we're all elected officials from the eight member municipalities.

01:31:50 Speaker 02: The new amalgamated conservation authority would pull together eighty municipalities and it's unclear how local voices and priorities would be maintained across an area of twenty thousand square kilometres or so.

01:32:00 Speaker 02: Councillor Frymer I was just going to call you.

01:32:02 Speaker 02: It's moot.

01:32:02 Speaker 02: It passed today Bill 68.

01:32:07 Speaker 04: This is a different one oh I thought this was sixty okay.

01:32:11 Speaker 04: I do agree that if there's any trend then these things are just going to be shoved through regardless of our consultation or input on it.

01:32:23 Speaker 02: It's not moved in this case and yet anyway yeah I bring this up for attention because it's going to have a material impact to the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

01:32:37 Speaker 02: The City of Owen Sound and I'm curious originally I had hoped to make a motion out of that letter in the correspondence package but I understand that staff are bringing a report in December.

01:32:50 Speaker 02: The ERO process closes December 22.

01:32:53 Speaker 02: I'm hoping to hear more from staff around what that report will entail and whether there will be recommendations that can be approved to be submitted in time,

01:33:02 Speaker 02: or if it would be prudent for us to also make a statement now.

01:33:09 Speaker 02: Through your worship, the report is scheduled to come to Community Services Committee on December 17.

01:33:16 Speaker 19: Mr. Lanthier is also planning to attend that meeting.

01:33:20 Speaker 19: Normally, what staff would do is submit the city's comments to the posting, knowing that the minutes might not have been approved to council.

01:33:32 Speaker 19: Although there's a council meeting on the 20th.

01:33:42 Speaker 19: It sounds like maybe we'll talk with the clerk about which meeting it's best suited to go to, but it will either be on the council meeting or the Community Services Committee,

01:33:53 Speaker 19: which are only two days apart.

01:33:57 Speaker 19: I thank the Mayor; I appreciate that clarity.

01:33:59 Speaker 02: I was very surprised on the 14th in our learning session to hear that the new provincial agency is empowered to draw its funding from the conservation authorities,

01:34:10 Speaker 02: which in turn draw their funding from municipal tax levies, and I think that's going to have a material impact that concerns me greatly.

01:34:20 Speaker 02: Okay, thank you.

01:34:21 Speaker 01: At number 13, we have no matters that are postponed, and fourteen motions for which notice was previously given.

01:34:36 Speaker 01: I might use the gavel yet.

01:34:40 Speaker 01: Okay, I will pass it over to Mayor Boddy to introduce the notice of motion previously given at last council meeting and seconded.

01:34:49 Speaker 11: I think I'm going to give it back to you and close too.

01:34:52 Speaker 11: So we're... it's back and forth.

01:34:57 Speaker 11: Back November 10th, the regular council meeting, I gave notice that City Council named the On Sound Volunteer of the Year Award after distinguished city community builder Jan Chamberlain.

01:35:08 Speaker 01: We were all saddened when Jan passed in July, and I, as we all did, reflected on the impact that she had had on the City of Owen Sound.

01:35:21 Speaker 01: Jan was a name in the community that everyone knew.

01:35:23 Speaker 01: Her decades of service reflected her deep love of On Sound.

01:35:27 Speaker 01: She was a dedicated member of several key committees focused on aging communities, housing, healthcare, history and tourism, and community development; named Volunteer of the Year in 2008, Senior of the Year in 2021.

01:35:41 Speaker 01: Earlier this year, she received the King Charles Coronation Medal for her significant lifelong community service contributions.

01:35:51 Speaker 01: She was lifeguard at Harrison Park Pools as a teenager.

01:35:53 Speaker 01: Pulled together the city's homecoming in 1987; overcoming a lot of challenges to make it work, was on the Sesquicentennial Homecoming Committee in 2007.

01:36:06 Speaker 01: Was on City Council for Sound Housing, Community Waterfront Heritage Centre, The Senior Centre, and then Active Lifestyle Centre, just to name a few.

01:36:18 Speaker 01: Jan always wanted to approach everything with a positive attitude.

01:36:21 Speaker 01: Her devotion to our community should inspire all of us.

01:36:25 Speaker 01: In recognition of her leadership and... on the suggestion of Jan's friends, I move that City Council name the Owen Sound Volunteer of the Year Award after distinguished city community builder Jan Chamberlain.

01:36:39 Speaker 01: Are there any questions?

01:36:41 Speaker 01: Not seeing any.

01:36:43 Speaker 11: I'll check in the screen.

01:36:45 Speaker 11: Not seeing any from Councillor Hamley.

01:36:47 Speaker 11: All those in favour?

01:36:47 Speaker 11: And that is carried unanimously.

01:36:52 Speaker 11: Thank you very much, and I'll pass it immediately back to... passed immediately back to Mayor Boddy to continue forward.

01:36:58 Speaker 11: Good, thank you Council for supporting that discussion of additional business.

01:37:02 Speaker 01: Councillor Farmer.

01:37:05 Speaker 01: Thank you; through the Mayor, question for staff.

01:37:07 Speaker 02: At our meeting December 2, 2024, we passed a motion directing staff to plan and host an event for students at City Hall to mark Local Government Week in 2025.

01:37:19 Speaker 02: Can I hear from staff around whatever happened with that plan and that motion?

01:37:28 Speaker 02: Three, Mayor, to Councillor Farmer.

01:37:30 Speaker 02: No; thank you for asking that.

01:37:32 Speaker 08: In speaking with staff, the local event for schools was discussed, and I know that staff promoted actually students to come out to the open house, the community open house,

01:37:43 Speaker 08: and take advantage of all the different departments of the city set up there.

01:37:48 Speaker 08: With that extended invitation, they also extended an invitation to set up a tour of City Hall and meet at City Hall.

01:37:54 Speaker 08: They've met with educators also to initiate a more integrated and collabourative engagement approach with the school boards, both the Catholic and OSDEs in Bluewater.

01:38:05 Speaker 08: In addition, they also focused on alignment to reframe and build the relationship of creating a more impactful integration within input from the schools.

01:38:15 Speaker 08: So a specific event; I don't think that the school boards took staff up on the invitation to have a specific event, but they also again thus the promotion of the open house,

01:38:27 Speaker 08: and to initiate a more integrated and hopefully collabourative engagement moving forward.

01:38:32 Speaker 08: To have...

01:38:32 Speaker 08: I think what the overall effect is is to have more engagement with youth here at the city.

01:38:41 Speaker 08: Through the Mayor; I appreciate that background.

01:38:44 Speaker 09: The it sounds like the and I absolutely support the building of relationships with education.

01:38:48 Speaker 09: The building of relationships with educators.

01:38:50 Speaker 09: It doesn't sound like the motion that we moved last year was acted upon in per the wording of the motion, and I'm concerned by that.

01:39:03 Speaker 09: I also think that we missed an opportunity to leverage engagement during school hours with students to raise awareness about the municipality and what we do;

01:39:12 Speaker 09: that could have cross-promoted for the open house rather than inviting local students to an event after school hours when there are limited opportunities to get there,

01:39:23 Speaker 09: and I'm interested from a procedural standpoint what the flow of information could be.

01:39:32 Speaker 09: It's awkward for me to be asking about that after the timeline that is...

01:39:37 Speaker 09: What I was under the impression was sufficient timeline, almost a year in advance, to give staff room to work that into the work plans.

01:39:44 Speaker 09: I'm curious; what would the normal flow of information be if staff were deciding that a motion by council did not in fact fit with their bandwidth?

01:39:55 Speaker 09: When would we normally find out about staff's decision in that way other than watching to see if it happened and commenting after the fact?

01:40:06 Speaker 09: Through Council, I'll take that back to staff to report back.

01:40:12 Speaker 09: Okay.

01:40:13 Speaker 09: So; did you have another matter?

01:40:15 Speaker 09: That was it.

01:40:17 Speaker 09: I don't know what I was thinking when I said I didn't have any.

01:40:20 Speaker 01: Last Friday, I attended in Toronto at the Canadian Economic Club of Canada for Isotopes for Hope Canada 2030 Promise.

01:40:31 Speaker 01: So; it's the second presentation of the Isotopes for Hope.

01:40:39 Speaker 01: At that presentation, they talked about progressing towards our goal of doubling isotope production in Canada by 2030 and we're very much on the way.

01:40:48 Speaker 01: There's a lot of technology being developed and isotopes being processed, and can grow on that.

01:40:59 Speaker 01: Second topic was the Canadian economic impact of medical isotopes; seizing on that growing economic opportunity, and there's... a third one.

01:41:12 Speaker 01: Third one was the global isotope opportunity.

01:41:16 Speaker 01: So the discussion was about the Canadian way of helping others whether it be in peacekeeping or sending soldiers to Afghanistan to try and give people on the other side of the world the same opportunities

01:41:30 Speaker 01: and the same lifestyles we have in Canada.

01:41:32 Speaker 01: It was sharing our knowledge of isotope production and isotope treatment, and everything that goes with that around the world with nations that maybe aren't as advanced in isotope and cancer treatment,

01:41:49 Speaker 01: etc. So it was a pretty amazing and inspiring event to be at.

01:41:56 Speaker 01: The other thing that I also note coming up next Thursday, I think: where are we?

01:42:10 Speaker 01: Yes, next Thursday, the fourth.

01:42:13 Speaker 01: Public Energy is having an open house at the Sudbury campus from five until seven.

01:42:19 Speaker 01: This is a company looking at installing hydrogen-producing equipment for storing it and then using it for peak-hour electricity production.

01:42:33 Speaker 01: So they want to do it here.

01:42:35 Speaker 01: This is their first meeting to start explaining things to the public and get feedback, and I encourage members of the public that are interested in clean energy,

01:42:46 Speaker 01: specifically hydrogen and the possibility of such a thing being developed here.

01:42:52 Speaker 01: It's an open house at Sudbury on December fourth in the evening.

01:43:01 Speaker 01: So with that, we'll move to number sixteen: motion for the committee of the whole to rise and report.

01:43:05 Speaker 01: Moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that the committee of the whole rises and reports.

01:43:11 Speaker 01: All in favour?

01:43:13 Speaker 01: That is carried.

01:43:13 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley is in favour.

01:43:16 Speaker 01: In the formal session, moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that the action taken in committee of the whole regarding considering public meetings, deputations, and presentations; public forum matters arising from correspondence;

01:43:33 Speaker 01: reports of city staff; consent agenda; committee minutes; matters postponed; motions for which notice was previously given; and additional business be confirmed by this council.

01:43:44 Speaker 05: All in favour?

01:43:45 Speaker 05: That is carried.

01:43:46 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley is in favour.

01:43:48 Speaker 01: Notices of motion: anyone giving any notice tonight?

01:43:53 Speaker 01: Seeing none.

01:43:54 Speaker 01: At number nineteen, just before we move into that closed session, I would like to note that if you are watching this meeting on Rogers Cable TV or the Rogers TV website,

01:44:08 Speaker 01: their feed will not reconnect to the meeting when we return to the open session to report out of the closed session and review the bylaws.

01:44:15 Speaker 01: If you'd like to view the remainder of the open session, you can watch the live stream on the City Council, City's Council and Committees website at www.Owen Sound.ca/meetings.

01:44:27 Speaker 01: The video recording of the meeting will also be posted on this website following the meeting.

01:44:35 Speaker 01: So, Councillor Farmer: moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that City Council now move into closed session to consider minutes of the closed session of the regular council meeting held on November tenth, twenty-twenty-five;

01:44:49 Speaker 05: B) one matter regarding a position plan procedure criteria or instruction to be applied to negotiations respecting Rice House at 846 and 848 First Avenue West;

01:45:00 Speaker 05: C) one matter regarding a position plan procedure criteria or instruction to be applied to negotiations respecting the former CN station at 1155 First Avenue West;

01:45:11 Speaker 05: and D) one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals respecting board and committee public appointments.

01:45:19 Speaker 05: Thank you.

01:45:19 Speaker 05: All in favour?

01:45:20 Speaker 05: That is carried.

01:45:21 Speaker 01: Councillor Hamley is voting in favour.

01:45:24 Speaker 01: So take a minute to roll over to close.

02:38:51 Speaker 01: Okay, it is 8:09 p.m.

02:38:55 Speaker 01: City Council is returning to the open session.

02:38:57 Speaker 01: During the closed session, City Council reviewed minutes of the closed session of the regular council meeting held on November 10, 2025;

02:39:05 Speaker 01: discussed one matter regarding a position plan procedure criteria or instructions to be applied to negotiations respecting Rice House at 846 and 848 First Avenue West; direction was provided to staff;

02:39:20 Speaker 01: discussed one matter regarding a position plan procedure criteria or instruction to be applied in negotiations respecting the former CN station at 1155 First Avenue West; direction was provided to staff;

02:39:33 Speaker 01: and discussed one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals respecting boards and committee public appointments, with direction provided to staff.

02:39:44 Speaker 01: Bylaws through your Worship: the by-laws listed for approval on tonight's agenda include a confirmatory by-law, a by-law to execute a loan agreement with Grey Roots respecting components of the city's One Clock Tower,

02:39:57 Speaker 06: and a by-law to execute a transfer payment agreement with the Minister of Sport respecting upgrades to the J.D. MacArthur Arena at the Harry Lumley Beachard Community Centre.

02:40:05 Speaker 06: Just before I go to Councillor Farmer, I see Councillor Hamley has his hand up; go ahead.

02:40:13 Speaker 01: Yes, Your Worship: I just want to extend my earlier declaration of interest to By-law Number Two Thousand and Twenty-Five One Hundred and Twenty-Nine, which is a transfer payment agreement between the city and Ontario.

02:40:26 Speaker 01: And the nature of my interest is that I work for the Government of Ontario.

02:40:31 Speaker 01: Okay, thank you, Councillor Farmer.

02:40:35 Speaker 01: Just for clarity: should I pull 129 or will he jump for the whole thing?

02:40:39 Speaker 01: Moved by myself, seconded by Deputy Mayor Greig, that By-laws Numbers Two Thousand and Twenty-Five One Hundred and Twenty-Seven, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five One Hundred and Twenty-Eight,

02:40:47 Speaker 05: and Two Thousand and Twenty-Five One Hundred and Twenty-Nine be passed and enacted.

02:40:51 Speaker 05: All in favour?

02:40:51 Speaker 05: And that is carried with Councillor Hamley abstaining due to conflict.

02:40:57 Speaker 01: That completes our business for tonight.

02:40:59 Speaker 01: It is 8:12 p.m.

02:41:01 Speaker 01: We are adjourned.