Owen Sound Council Meeting - Regular Meeting Transcript — February 9, 2026

00:00:11 Speaker 01: Good evening.

00:00:11 Speaker 01: This is on Sound City Council, February ninth, twenty twenty-six.

00:00:16 Speaker 01: Councillor Merton is on the motions tonight.

00:00:21 Speaker 01: Councillor Kukreja is attending by Teams, as is Councillor Hamley.

00:00:25 Speaker 01: Everyone else is in the room, and they're new positions.

00:00:37 Speaker 01: So, calling the meeting to order, and at number two, calling for additional business.

00:00:48 Speaker 01: Councillor Kepke.

00:00:49 Speaker 02: Thank you, Worship.

00:00:54 Speaker 02: I have an issue regarding water billing.

00:00:59 Speaker 02: Thank you.

00:01:00 Speaker 02: Others.

00:01:01 Speaker 02: Councillor Farmer.

00:01:17 Speaker 02: Through the mayor, I'd like to speak about opportunities for the public to support the city's acquisition of the lacrosse turf at the Bayshore.

00:01:32 Speaker 02: Okay, Councillor Merton.

00:01:48 Speaker 02: Through your worship, I'd like to speak about an upcoming webinar to introduce community wealth financing for affordable housing and community needs.

00:01:59 Speaker 02: Councillor Ah, demoted, demoted, Miss Bloomfield.

00:02:04 Speaker 03: Through your worship, I will have an update on the Just Say Yes wedding event.

00:02:09 Speaker 03: Good.

00:02:10 Speaker 03: Thanks.

00:02:14 Speaker 04: Okay, and I'll have one matter being February.

00:02:19 Speaker 04: Being Black History Month in Canada.

00:02:21 Speaker 04: So declarations of interest and the general nature thereof, Councillor Hamley.

00:02:30 Speaker 04: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:02:39 Speaker 05: Yeah, I'd like to declare a direct pecuniary interest on item 11A, which is the fire protection grant.

00:02:58 Speaker 01: The nature of my interest is that I work for the Government of Ontario.

00:03:06 Speaker 01: Good.

00:03:07 Speaker 01: Thank you.

00:03:08 Speaker 01: Anyone else?

00:03:13 Speaker 01: Seeing no one else.

00:03:36 Speaker 06: Councilor Merton, confirmation of council minutes at four A. Through your worship, moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Middlebro', that the minutes of the regular council meeting held on January twenty-six, two thousand and twenty-six,

00:03:48 Speaker 06: be adopted as printed.

00:03:49 Speaker 06: Call the question.

00:03:52 Speaker 06: All in favor?

00:03:54 Speaker 06: It's carried in the room.

00:03:58 Speaker 06: And both hands on screen are going up.

00:04:01 Speaker 06: So that's carried.

00:04:05 Speaker 06: Number five, motion to move council into committee of the whole.

00:04:26 Speaker 06: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Middlebro', that City Council now move into committee of the whole to consider public meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum matters arising from correspondence, reports of city staff, consent agenda,

00:04:50 Speaker 06: committee minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given and additional business.

00:05:01 Speaker 07: I'll call the question on favor, and on screen, both hands went up, so that is carried.

00:05:12 Speaker 07: At six, we have no public meetings.

00:05:20 Speaker 07: At seven, we have no deputations or presentations.

00:05:25 Speaker 07: At eight, public forum.

00:05:30 Speaker 07: I'm seeing nobody in the room and nobody online.

00:05:35 Speaker 07: At nine, we have no correspondence being presented for consideration.

00:05:44 Speaker 07: At ten, we have no reports from city staff, so we're down to number eleven.

00:06:01 Speaker 07: The consent agenda, through your worship, on the consent agenda this evening is a report on a fire protection grant, minutes for receipt from the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority,

00:06:16 Speaker 01: business licenses were issued to the Vintage Magpie at seven hundred and seventy-seven Second Ave East.

00:06:31 Speaker 02: There is a new owner of Jude's African Caribbean Groceries and Beauty at One Hundred and Fifty Four Ten Street East.

00:06:52 Speaker 02: Prize Property is a home-based business at Three Hundred and Sixty Seven Twenty Ninth Street West, and Hawker Pedler license was issued for Opportunity Bridle at the Best Western on March Two.

00:07:12 Speaker 08: The last item on the consent agenda is the information package.

00:07:19 Speaker 08: A full listing is available at Eleven D. Thank you, Councillor Merton.

00:07:36 Speaker 08: Moved by myself that, in consideration of the items listed on the February ninth, twenty twenty-six, consent agenda, City Council One receives items eleven A to eleven D and two,

00:07:50 Speaker 08: approves the recommendation contained in item eleven A. I'll call the question.

00:07:56 Speaker 08: All in favor?

00:07:56 Speaker 08: Okay.

00:07:59 Speaker 08: And Councillor Hamley stepped out.

00:08:02 Speaker 08: Councillor Kukradas is in favor.

00:08:10 Speaker 08: Everyone in the room is in favor, so that is carried.

00:08:13 Speaker 08: If I can go to 11B.

00:08:19 Speaker 08: To 11B, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority meeting held December 17th.

00:08:26 Speaker 01: Councillor Farmer, through the mayor, I'll present those minutes.

00:08:32 Speaker 01: I'm also wondering if we're jumping right to 11B.

00:08:41 Speaker 01: I did have a question about 11A, not one that would have changed my vote.

00:08:50 Speaker 01: Is it best to do that now or after minutes?

00:08:54 Speaker 09: Okay.

00:09:08 Speaker 09: So notable items from the Grey Sauble meeting in December were a review of GSCA's submission to the ERO posting about the changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, as we've discussed here previously at length.

00:09:26 Speaker 09: We confirmed the board meeting dates for 2026.

00:09:32 Speaker 09: Approved an update to the ash management strategy.

00:09:43 Speaker 09: No surprise to folks here that there are a lot of dead and dying ash trees.

00:09:59 Speaker 09: That they're dangerous when they're dead and dying and falling, and that it's really expensive to make sure that that's safe.

00:10:16 Speaker 09: So the board confirmed a strategy to identify priority trees and also find strategies to fund the removal of those.

00:10:26 Speaker 09: We updated the public communication policy.

00:10:42 Speaker 09: There was a presentation of the new addition to the Explore Guide, which is the great little booklet that profiles the GSCA properties.

00:10:58 Speaker 09: Highly recommend folks pick up the latest copy of that and then go to those places because they're great.

00:11:12 Speaker 09: And we also renewed or approved the renewal of the Planning Services Agreement with the watershed municipalities and Bruce County.

00:11:29 Speaker 09: Happy to answer questions in any more detail, if folks are curious.

00:11:35 Speaker 09: Any questions from councilors?

00:11:38 Speaker 09: None on screen.

00:11:42 Speaker 09: None in the room.

00:11:52 Speaker 09: Now rounding out, was there other things on the consent agenda that council wanted to speak to, Councillor Farmer?

00:12:05 Speaker 09: Through the mayor, I was hoping to hear from the chief of the fire service with the report.

00:12:17 Speaker 09: I note that every dollar is important.

00:12:31 Speaker 09: That we can get in grant funding, and the grant that we are receiving information about is for sixteen thousand dollars.

00:12:51 Speaker 09: I'm curious whether that was the maximum amount that we could have applied for that was available from the province,

00:13:10 Speaker 09: and how that connects to the general capital expenses that we normally flow through the fire service.

00:13:30 Speaker 01: Thank you through you Mr Mayor The report before you outlines a relatively new grant program from the province the Ontario Fire Protection Grant and each year they outline criteria that they want to meet This

00:14:00 Speaker 10: year we applied for some cancer avoidance protection equipment a fan for positive pressure ventilation hoses and a nozzle regular type firefighting equipment that wears out and ages and we needed it The funding came at

00:14:36 Speaker 11: the right time as we are putting equipment onto a new truck Equipment under a new truck and it'll be applied to that major project that we are in the middle of And we couldn't be

00:15:10 Speaker 11: more thankful for the funding from the province We haven't seen funding directly for firefighting equipment since the JEP grants of the late 1990s and we're very pleased that we got this We did get the

00:15:44 Speaker 11: maximum amount of the $16,900 allocated to our community based on population Last year's funding was eight thousand ish and we got the maximum funding then as well And next year we hope it's thirty-two thousand

00:16:23 Speaker 02: ish If anybody's listening from the province yeah happy to answer any other questions about the grant We're pleased and we'll be applying it to the fire equipment So council any other questions Seeing none in

00:16:54 Speaker 12: the room Nobody in the screens putting their hand up That's good Thanks Phil Anything else then on the consent agenda Can we move Looks like we're good If I can go to Councillor Koepke Twelve

00:17:27 Speaker 11: A Minutes A Community Services Committee meeting held on January 21 two thousand and twenty six Thank you Your Worship Members received a deputation from the Georgian Bay Folk Society respecting request for partnership funding for

00:18:01 Speaker 05: their Summer Folk Music and Craft Festival held annually in recognition of Summer Folk's fiftieth anniversary in two thousand and twenty five The city provided some sponsorship funding Members motioned for council's approval of directing staff

00:18:37 Speaker 13: to bring forward a report to the February committee meeting respecting possible partnership and financing options for multi-year support including as requested by GBFS a $10,000 donation and waiving of rental fees A member of council

00:19:01 Speaker 13: has asked that this matter be dealt with separately when the motion for the minutes is considered The city manager conducted a question and answer session regarding committee community or sorry committee structure review Members provided

00:19:32 Speaker 01: feedback which will be compiled and included in a future report to council Members received a report from staff regarding assessment and options of the Weavers Creek Boardwalk and Trail It was noted this project ensures

00:20:04 Speaker 05: safety and accessibility while fostering environmental stewardship through education Jeff Graham an engineer with GSS Eng Engineer with GSS Engineering Consultants Limited and also a member of the Scenic City Order Good Cheer who worked on

00:20:48 Speaker 09: the original refurbishing of the boardwalk was present to provide options for location design and suggested material for the replacement boardwalk The preferred option one is to rebuild the lower and upper sections of the boardwalk

00:21:21 Speaker 09: where both wooden boardwalk sections would be removed and rebuilt including new clear stone base with the gravel trail sections remaining largely as they are The overall cost is approximately $179,300 with the capital budget being

00:21:52 Speaker 14: modified by $39,000 Members provided various material options for the engineers to consider giving the project a longer lifespan by using better quality material and professional techniques And the type of wood to be used will

00:22:28 Speaker 09: be researched further prior to procurement It was noted that early concepts were sent to the Great Salba Conservation Authority prior to developing the options for presentation at the meeting and GSEA is generally agreeable with

00:23:04 Speaker 10: the plan as presented As well the proposed design will be taken to the Great County Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee before finalization Next steps for the project are to undertake consultation and permit permitting with SON

00:23:34 Speaker 10: and GSEA prior to design review Prior to design refinement tender and construction committee members were provided with details of a community impact lab opportunity in collaboration with Georgian College in Grey County by the Senior

00:24:07 Speaker 10: Advisor External Relations and Investment Attraction Members approved to allocate up to five thousand dollars from the Strategic Plan Implementation Reserve Fund toward the initialisation of the project Direct staff to develop a memorandum of understanding

00:24:54 Speaker 11: with the core partners that would be brought back to Council for review and direct staff to support an application by Georgian College for a research grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council as

00:25:30 Speaker 05: a partner organization The Community Impact Lab is a resource hub designed to foster rural social innovation including both physical and digital tools And Owen Sound would become the hub for a regional community innovation network

00:26:13 Speaker 02: following a research-tested model developed for the Simcoe Muskoka region with the potential for a federal grant of up to three hundred and sixty thousand dollars over three years This initiative will accelerate progress towards the

00:26:44 Speaker 02: Vision 2050 goals and has received support from core partners and other community stakeholders This initiative will help position Owensound as a regional hub for innovation The annual development update was provided by the chief building

00:27:09 Speaker 02: official highlighting construction value just under $234 million with 351 building permits being issued which collected over $950 thousand dollars Members who were no longer serving on the committee were thanked for their time and dedication

00:27:43 Speaker 02: to the work of the committee With that your Without further ado by move approval of the Community Service Committee minutes of January 21 two thousand twenty six and the recommendations contained therein save and except

00:28:10 Speaker 02: item 5B being dealt with separately 5B being the Summerfolk request Okay Motion is on the floor Any questions for Councilor Kapke Deputy Mayor Greig Thanks My question is related to the boardwalk I think the

00:28:39 Speaker 09: report indicates I think the report indicated previously that the boardwalk was constructed in two thousand three so we had about twenty-year life cycle out of it At one hundred and seventy-nine thousand dollars that's about

00:29:12 Speaker 12: nineteen thousand dollars a year in today's dollars I'm just wondering how much is too much and if there was further cost escalations what staffs plan and how they would look to control any further heightening

00:29:43 Speaker 12: of costs or Heightening of costs or or what is the ultimate upset limit or is it one hundred seventy nine thousand That is our hard line in the sand Questions for directors Mr Colter Thank

00:30:10 Speaker 15: you Your Worship Through you to the deputy mayor The construction technique as Councillor Kepke mentioned there will be the addition of clear stone underneath the boardwalk so we'll get it up and out of the

00:30:30 Speaker 15: water The last time they used milled lumber from Mennonite sawmills and the proposal now is to use subject to further review but pressure-treated lumber So it'll be up and a bit away Unfortunately there's less

00:30:51 Speaker 15: tree canopy today with less ash trees The sort of the final nail so to speak in Weaver's Creek was an ash tree falling on the boardwalk Two sections won't be boardwalk but they will be

00:31:14 Speaker 15: just hard packed granular pass Again raised up a little bit so that should extend the life Efforts around preventative maintenance when a boards broken fixing it If there's sections of rot replacing those I think

00:31:33 Speaker 15: we have now a more proactive approach to asset management than than we did previously Okay good Others Councilor Farmer Through the mayor I just highlight that at the committee we spoke about concerns around lifecycle

00:31:55 Speaker 01: and cost pretty extensively and the presenter highlighted repeatedly that when it was originally constructed it was used with cost-effective local materials that just don't have a very long lifespan and that they're planning to The

00:32:22 Speaker 01: current plan avoids that similar mistake by specifically exploring materials with a longer more appropriate lifespan so that it's not quite so a thousand more than a thousand dollars a month or per year Okay Oh

00:32:40 Speaker 01: Councilor Minterborough Thank you through Mayor I'm just wondering if staff have any thoughts on applying to the Owen Sound Tourism Development Fund capital stream of funding I know that we're putting away I want to

00:33:10 Speaker 01: say about 20% of the money that we receive for that fund for capital projects So I'm just wondering if anyone has any intentions The next stream is open now and closes in the Yeah because

00:33:35 Speaker 01: it's tourism related so it could be part of the capital fund Through the mayor just looking at my colleague here the city does have some MAT funds in our capital reserve so we can we

00:33:47 Speaker 01: can look at that

00:33:49 Speaker 01: We have applied.

00:34:00 Speaker 01: I know we don't want to count on it, but we did apply for an accessibility grant.

00:34:15 Speaker 01: But we could also apply to the MAT group.

00:34:29 Speaker 01: Councillor Merton, through your worship, this may be an opportunity to make an appeal to the public as well for donations.

00:34:47 Speaker 01: I mean, this Weavers Creek Bridge boardwalk is a very popular place.

00:35:03 Speaker 09: People have missed it, and I'm wondering how we can move forward with initiatives like this to say: go fund our bridge.

00:35:12 Speaker 09: Do you want to respond?

00:35:25 Speaker 02: We did put in another capital project on the Canada Helps page.

00:35:36 Speaker 02: But we could certainly also add Weaver's Creek if it's council's wish.

00:35:49 Speaker 02: If it's a councillor's wish, do you need a motion for that, or is that just a... yeah?

00:36:02 Speaker 02: Okay, then we'll come back to that in a minute.

00:36:05 Speaker 02: Then, yep.

00:36:13 Speaker 09: Through the mayor, I would just note that there is a fund on the city's Canada Helps website already.

00:36:25 Speaker 09: That is the Harrison Park Fund, which is close but not quite as specific as that particular trail, but certainly points in the right direction.

00:36:41 Speaker 11: I'm going to go back to Ms. Coulter.

00:36:49 Speaker 11: Then, does that cover it, or do we have to put a second one up specifically for Weaver's Creek?

00:37:04 Speaker 15: We could do a second one, or we could put some information in the Harrison Park one that says at this time it would be used for that particular project.

00:37:17 Speaker 15: And which would you prefer?

00:37:21 Speaker 01: I think a second one might be a better option.

00:37:25 Speaker 01: Okay.

00:37:32 Speaker 01: So right now the motion is to approve the minutes, save and accept the summer folk request.

00:37:37 Speaker 01: You know what?

00:37:40 Speaker 01: I'm not looking at the screen.

00:37:47 Speaker 09: I'm not sure if anyone in on Teams out there had any questions.

00:37:52 Speaker 09: No, seeing none.

00:37:55 Speaker 09: Okay, so I'll call the question.

00:38:04 Speaker 09: All in favor?

00:38:10 Speaker 01: That's carried.

00:38:11 Speaker 01: Carried on screen.

00:38:14 Speaker 01: Next motion was a separate motion to file with...

00:38:24 Speaker 01: I'll go back to you, Carol.

00:38:30 Speaker 10: You can word it.

00:38:39 Speaker 10: I move that council request the public assistance through donations to support the initiative of rebuilding the Weavers Creek boardwalk.

00:38:48 Speaker 10: Thanks.

00:38:50 Speaker 10: It's good with you, Brianna.

00:38:52 Speaker 10: Yep.

00:38:52 Speaker 10: Okay.

00:38:54 Speaker 10: Call the question on favor.

00:38:56 Speaker 10: That is carried.

00:38:58 Speaker 10: Carried on screen.

00:39:01 Speaker 10: Back to you.

00:39:05 Speaker 10: I think that was just the motion.

00:39:11 Speaker 10: I'll get you hit your microphone and explain it to me then.

00:39:20 Speaker 10: Okay, I believe Councillor Merton's motion was requesting public support towards the project.

00:39:35 Speaker 10: However, there was discussion about a go-to on the city's fund page to have Weaver's Creek as a project, and I'm not prepared to add that motion.

00:39:52 Speaker 01: Sorry, I thought that was your intention.

00:39:59 Speaker 01: Can you maybe help us out?

00:40:04 Speaker 01: So procedurally, we pass the motion to ask for assistance.

00:40:17 Speaker 09: Am I understanding that you were concerned about the specific place for the donation to come?

00:40:33 Speaker 09: So you're supporting the concept, but it's where it would actually the donations would come from, is your concern?

00:40:57 Speaker 16: I just need to understand if your motion was just an appeal for public funds, or is it to add this project on the city's page for assistance towards Weaver's Creek,

00:41:11 Speaker 16: or is it all in one?

00:41:23 Speaker 16: So I would look to the City Manager for his input on perhaps more experience than I would have about whether Canada Helps is the best place for this.

00:41:33 Speaker 16: Through you, Mayor.

00:41:41 Speaker 16: Yeah, I think if the Councillor's motion specifically said Canada Helps, that's where the funding would go through.

00:41:50 Speaker 16: That was the intent of the original motion, was it not?

00:41:56 Speaker 16: Okay.

00:42:00 Speaker 16: Maybe wasn't clarified, so we don't need another motion to clarify it.

00:42:08 Speaker 16: It's everyone agreeing that that was the intent of the original motion.

00:42:15 Speaker 16: We're good.

00:42:15 Speaker 16: We're good.

00:42:16 Speaker 16: We're good.

00:42:17 Speaker 16: Yep.

00:42:21 Speaker 16: So you want me now to go to Item 5B?

00:42:24 Speaker 16: Okay.

00:42:33 Speaker 16: I'll move the approval of Item 5B contained within the minutes of the January twenty-one, two thousand and sixteen Community Services Committee minutes.

00:42:47 Speaker 16: Any discussion, Deputy Mayor Greig?

00:42:52 Speaker 16: I know when the ask came for it a year ago, and celebrating the...

00:43:04 Speaker 16: Year ago in celebrating the significance of achieving so many years, I was enthusiastically supporting the funding for the fiftieth.

00:43:17 Speaker 16: But we just completed budget in January, and I don't see that the City has any additional fiscal capacity to be adding grants such as this on an annual basis.

00:43:36 Speaker 02: So I would vote against even asking for the report from staff.

00:43:46 Speaker 02: When personally, I'm going to align myself with trying to keep our tax increase as low as possible.

00:43:56 Speaker 02: I just don't think we have the financial resources to be considering it.

00:44:03 Speaker 02: So that's the rationale this time for me to even vote prematurely against the report.

00:44:11 Speaker 02: I wouldn't have intentions of adding it to the budget.

00:44:20 Speaker 02: So I wouldn't subsequently have intentions of having staff expend resources putting the report together.

00:44:26 Speaker 02: Councillor Hamley, online.

00:44:30 Speaker 02: I did have a question.

00:44:44 Speaker 02: If we did vote for the report, that's going to take quite a bit of time, and before you know it, Summerfolk will probably be here by the time we get the report.

00:45:02 Speaker 02: So, I also was just curious from staff about that part of the motion.

00:45:10 Speaker 02: Do you want to answer?

00:45:15 Speaker 02: The motion specifically says bring it to the February committee meeting, which wouldn't be possible.

00:45:19 Speaker 02: Yeah, I don't...

00:45:25 Speaker 02: Like, is staff able to do that in that amount of time?

00:45:41 Speaker 02: The reports for Committee next week were due in workflow last Friday, so it would be a bit of a scramble to get a report ready.

00:45:52 Speaker 02: But we could certainly bring the request back through committee if that's Council's direction.

00:46:01 Speaker 02: It would be difficult, Councillor Merton.

00:46:13 Speaker 05: Through your Worship, having a report come back may assist us if staff also looks at other funding opportunities.

00:46:30 Speaker 05: Earlier, Councillor Middlebro' mentioned about MAT and tourism, and to me, this seems to fit nicely within that.

00:46:47 Speaker 05: Sometimes it's a matter of reallocating out of specific sections what might fit this particular request.

00:47:04 Speaker 05: So, so it would be interesting to see a report come back with possible funding options within our existing budget that might be aligned with this.

00:47:22 Speaker 06: You know, you know what I'm going to keep...

00:47:26 Speaker 06: I'm going to go around.

00:47:29 Speaker 06: So, Councillor Farmer.

00:47:32 Speaker 06: I'm in favor of the motion.

00:47:37 Speaker 06: I think it's worth finding out if we have that information.

00:47:59 Speaker 01: Doing a quick Google search, I see that the City of Owen Sound is listed as a sponsor of the Salmon Spectacular on the Sydenham Sportsmen's website on the most recent poster up there,

00:48:13 Speaker 01: which admittedly is from two thousand and twenty-four.

00:48:29 Speaker 01: So without for me knowing what it would look like to consider or what is within our actual expenses and potential surpluses, because we have had surpluses in the past.

00:48:59 Speaker 01: Without knowing the specifics of what responding to the full request could be, what a partial response to that request could be, just in the form even of waiving rental fees or reducing rental fees,

00:49:20 Speaker 09: there are different ways that the City could provide support to the organization, even if it's not 100% of the ask that was made.

00:49:50 Speaker 09: And I'm interested to know what that might look like, where that might come from, and how that connects to other flagship events that are run by third-party organizations and that bring people into Owen Sound,

00:50:03 Speaker 09: like clearly with one example, the Salmon Spectacular.

00:50:15 Speaker 09: I'm also mindful that when we had the committee meeting, the members of the committee were supportive of this.

00:50:26 Speaker 09: Responded to the concerns about timing, also by request, by specifying the February meeting coming back.

00:50:43 Speaker 01: And I'm wondering if we've done a disservice to the public members of the committee by not pointing out that we've constructed a motion that is not possible to fulfill by letting the public member make

00:51:16 Speaker 03: that specific... and also now knowing that the meeting at which that would have been approved is too late for that to actually come back.

00:51:28 Speaker 03: And bring that.

00:51:34 Speaker 03: That's a separate concern than the motion here.

00:51:48 Speaker 01: But knowing that we've also collected feedback from public members about their time and engagement on City committees,

00:52:06 Speaker 01: and that they don't always necessarily feel like they've got all the information that they need to be successful in this forum,

00:52:16 Speaker 01: I just want to flag this as an opportunity where we could have been clearer.

00:52:29 Speaker 01: So...

00:52:38 Speaker 01: I'll support the motion, but evidently not for the February meeting.

00:52:42 Speaker 01: Councillor Koepke, thank you, Your Worship.

00:52:43 Speaker 01: Through you to whomever might be able to answer this.

00:52:43 Speaker 01: Georgian Bay Folk Society, I believe themselves, and I think it was acknowledged at the meeting that they would be applying for a MAT tax grant.

00:52:43 Speaker 01: And I wondered if two grants can be given to the same purpose.

00:52:43 Speaker 01: Go ahead.

00:52:43 Speaker 01: Thank you, through your Worship.

00:52:44 Speaker 01: Just so we're clear, they did apply through the stream, the initial stream of funding to the MAT Development Fund, and they were successful in receiving a grant.

00:52:45 Speaker 01: I want to say that we gave them ten thousand dollars, which will go towards funding Summerfolk this upcoming season.

00:52:45 Speaker 01: And they're welcome to apply to streams going forward as well.

00:52:45 Speaker 01: I feel like this is the reason that we kind of did the MAT tax is to have a tourism development fund just to fund these sorts of ventures,

00:52:46 Speaker 01: and that's where the money should probably come from.

00:52:46 Speaker 01: So I'm...

00:52:46 Speaker 01: I think I'm with Deputy Mayor Greig on this.

00:52:47 Speaker 01: Do you want to?

00:52:47 Speaker 01: Yeah, go ahead, Councillor Dodd.

00:52:48 Speaker 01: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:52:48 Speaker 01: I'm going to agree.

00:52:49 Speaker 01: In the last meeting last year, when we had Summerfolk present, we did it because it was the 50th anniversary.

00:52:49 Speaker 01: It was a very big discussion about the reason why for the municipal accommodation tax.

00:52:50 Speaker 01: That's the purpose...

00:52:50 Speaker 01: Why I put this in play to highlight on that.

00:52:50 Speaker 01: I would say if you're seeing that the citizen sportsmen are getting a grant from the City, I would also be more leaning back to that.

00:52:50 Speaker 01: That should probably come from Municipal Accommodation Tax.

00:52:51 Speaker 01: So instead of continuing to expand our footprint, I think we should be looking for alternate sources for the ones that we're currently sponsoring in that way.

00:52:51 Speaker 01: And I'm not sure exactly what even that sponsorship consists of, so I'm not going to hold my hat on that.

00:52:51 Speaker 01: But I'm going to support the Deputy Mayor.

00:52:52 Speaker 01: That...

00:52:52 Speaker 01: I wouldn't, not that he has a motion forward, but I won't be supporting this.

00:52:53 Speaker 01: I would also agree that we literally just did pass the budget, so to account for it, whether it's ten dollars, ten thousand dollars, or whatever it is, I just find that if that...

00:52:53 Speaker 01: what we're...

00:52:54 Speaker 01: Why do you spend hours doing what you do in a budget meeting?

00:52:54 Speaker 01: If on a random whim we add money here and there back into it, we're not even six months into the budget; we're six weeks.

00:52:54 Speaker 01: So I just can't support that.

00:52:54 Speaker 01: And also, Councillor Farmer, from the detail that I just heard your expectation of what that report was going to contain...

00:52:55 Speaker 01: That is all I think a lot different than what I even read that motion to be.

00:52:56 Speaker 01: And if what you are expecting out of that report and what you're noting there...

00:52:56 Speaker 01: I don't think it could be humanly possible for someone to have a report with kind of what you're expecting it to be.

00:52:56 Speaker 01: Comparing it to other options, finding alternate sources: who?

00:52:57 Speaker 01: What other options could they be?

00:52:58 Speaker 01: You went pretty in depth there, and nothing against what you're saying.

00:52:58 Speaker 01: I just mean like I think that's a lot of information to expect staff to put together, and you know, reports come out a week prior to the meeting, so that's a pretty quick three-week turnaround.

00:52:59 Speaker 01: So I just can't support that motion as it's read currently.

00:52:59 Speaker 01: Just before I speak online, Councillor Kucera, Councillor Hamley, anything you guys want to add?

00:53:00 Speaker 01: Okay, indicating not a little before my time, and I think Marion would have been clerk or in the Clerk's Office at the time.

00:53:02 Speaker 01: There used to be a grant program.

00:53:02 Speaker 01: There was funding in it.

00:53:02 Speaker 01: It was quite a night when everyone came in and made their requests, and there got to be no science to it; I think is fair.

00:53:03 Speaker 01: The whole idea of setting up the Community Foundation was to put the money there so that grants would not be there.

00:53:03 Speaker 01: We've never put grants into our budget for the length of time that I've been around, and every year we get one of these.

00:53:03 Speaker 01: And I know it's really hard to say no to people,

00:53:03 Speaker 01: and I know it's really hard to say people in an election year to say no. But we don't have a grant budget for this type of thing into for this type of thing,

00:53:04 Speaker 01: and to get a report back to say that unfortunately is going to put us back in the same position.

00:53:05 Speaker 01: There are other things that we can do with Summer Folk, and that we probably do do with Sydenham Sportsmen's and Others Festival of Northern Lights in kind things, things that we can help with.

00:53:05 Speaker 01: That is really a discussion with staff that they can come back with.

00:53:06 Speaker 01: But I'm choking on the $10,000 donation again dollar donation again last year was one off being the fiftieth, and because Summer Folk had taken quite a hitting hit umpteen years ago,

00:53:06 Speaker 17: so about twenty-five years ago, I guess I was the president of the folk society, and we came and asked for money from the city to do some upgrades.

00:53:07 Speaker 17: We got grants, and we were able to pay the money back to the city.

00:53:07 Speaker 17: It was a loan; it wasn't a grant, and and it was done that way.

00:53:07 Speaker 17: But that's twenty-five years ago.

00:53:08 Speaker 17: But I'm with Councillor Deputy Mayor Greig.

00:53:08 Speaker 17: I can't support it, so I'm going to call the question.

00:53:09 Speaker 17: No, no, it wasn't your motion.

00:53:10 Speaker 17: I'm going to call the question.

00:53:11 Speaker 17: All in favor?

00:53:11 Speaker 17: One opposed.

00:53:12 Speaker 17: One, two, three, four, five on screen.

00:53:14 Speaker 17: Six, Carol, you were seven.

00:53:15 Speaker 17: So that is defeated.

00:53:15 Speaker 17: So is there anything else we need to do with that report, Marion?

00:53:16 Speaker 17: That concluded all the business in it.

00:53:16 Speaker 17: I believe so, but I'm looking to the Clerk.

00:53:16 Speaker 17: Do we need a motion to receive that item?

00:53:17 Speaker 17: It was a deputation through you Chair to Councillor Kepkii.

00:53:19 Speaker 17: I think we don't need any further motions unless you were wanting staff to send a letter to them notifying them directing them directing them to the municipal accommodation tax.

00:53:19 Speaker 17: Okay,

00:53:20 Speaker 17: then I will make a motion then that staff notify George May Folk Society that Council will not be bringing the report forward to the next committee meeting or council has not approved that and to

00:53:21 Speaker 17: direct them to any other sources of available funding in the city or outside of the city.

00:53:21 Speaker 17: Councillor Farmer through the Mayor's question for staff, we noted at the meeting that the timing was unfortunate given that the budget had passed I think the week before not even a week before.

00:53:21 Speaker 17: Maybe I'm curious how we communicate schedule communicate scheduling to community groups or members of the public who book deputations knowing that deputations are scheduled in advance.

00:53:21 Speaker 17: Is there would be an opportunity there to move the scheduled dates to avoid yeah already being behind the eight ball of the budget?

00:53:21 Speaker 17: Or in a situation like that if the deputation request comes in late then we accept it late and the whole thing is late.

00:53:21 Speaker 17: How does that work?

00:53:21 Speaker 17: Councillor Kepkay you're the chair.

00:53:22 Speaker 17: Just a comment before staff if they do want to speak to this Mr. Coop did identify when he came to the podium that it was exactly a year ago that he had come to us

01:20:10 Speaker 17: before.

01:20:10 Speaker 17: So he I guess this is his time of year to come and he's the one that scheduled the deputation for February.

01:20:10 Speaker 17: Anything you want to add to that Pam or Kate or anybody?

01:20:10 Speaker 17: Through your Worship the council committee coordinator schedules those.

01:20:11 Speaker 17: So I'm sure she got him to the first meeting that was possible given the schedule.

01:20:11 Speaker 17: We met in December and we also met in January.

01:20:12 Speaker 17: So I don't know exactly when that request came in but I would assume it was scheduled promptly.

01:20:12 Speaker 17: Councillor Dodd thank you Your Worship.

01:20:13 Speaker 17: And maybe just a quick if there was something that you wanted to add to that letter maybe it could just be that this is our budget cycle.

01:20:14 Speaker 17: If you would like to make a deputation for it but to committee you know you you could do it in November.

01:20:14 Speaker 17: Not saying that that would change the outcome but that's the only time that I think a discussion if you're going to be adding someone to the budget would be in.

01:20:14 Speaker 17: In response to that Councillor Dodd if you don't have a grant set up then encouraging people to apply for something that you don't have set up you'd have to change your policy and I don't

01:20:14 Speaker 17: see why you'd encourage somebody to come at any time if you're never going to approve it.

01:20:15 Speaker 17: But I guess that's for a future council and we're good.

01:20:15 Speaker 17: Good.

01:20:15 Speaker 17: Okay, you go ahead.

01:20:16 Speaker 17: As the mover of the motion I think if somebody's looking for money from the city they should be in tune when the city's dealing with their budget and and if appropriate come at an appropriate

01:20:16 Speaker 17: time.

01:20:16 Speaker 17: I'm confident that if they contact the community services department there's going to be ways that we can work with them as well.

01:20:17 Speaker 17: That we don't need a motion on so I'm going to call Marion's motion all in favor and on screen so that is carried.

01:20:17 Speaker 17: Minutes Operations Committee.

01:20:17 Speaker 17: I think that's you through Mayor Boddy.

01:20:17 Speaker 17: Through your Mayor Boddy the January Operations Committee facilitated an opportunity for members to provide comments relative to the committee restructuring proposal.

01:20:18 Speaker 17: Only one report was presented which asked Council to execute the amending agreement for the operation of the intercommunity transportation services as outlined in the report.

01:20:18 Speaker 17: Execute amending agreements with the respective property owners of the bus stop locations as outlined in the report and three execute a funding agreement with the county Grey as outlined in the report.

01:20:18 Speaker 17: Council will recall transferring responsibility for the service to Grey County early in 2024 complementing the larger regional transit study being done.

01:20:19 Speaker 17: From April 1st to August 31st of this year it is proposed to have the city operate the service as that is the most practical and efficient method of administering the GO Transit for that time

01:20:19 Speaker 17: period.

01:20:19 Speaker 17: County Council approved funding for the extended period and that funding will cover city costs for administering the service.

01:20:19 Speaker 17: Positively the GO Transit has fare revenue exceeding projections and gross operating costs lower than anticipated.

01:20:20 Speaker 17: I welcome any questions and ask for council's endorsement of the recommendation within this good news story.

01:20:20 Speaker 17: Oh you rambled on after I thought you had stopped.

01:20:20 Speaker 17: Any questions?

01:20:20 Speaker 17: Any questions on screen seeing none so I'll call the question all in favor and that is carried.

01:20:21 Speaker 01: So that gets us through twelve at thirteen we have no matters postponed.

01:20:22 Speaker 01: We have no motions for which notice was previously given additional business.

01:20:23 Speaker 01: I think we're starting with Councillor Kepke thank you Worship.

01:20:23 Speaker 01: Question to staff regarding water billing many people have noticed that their water bills are increased and that's I think a significant amount of money across the city that is being taken in and a couple

01:20:24 Speaker 01: questions one is if an explanation can be given on why the bills are increased and also what's happening with the surplus plus that's being collected.

01:20:24 Speaker 01: I'm looking away over there so between the two of you go ahead.

01:20:24 Speaker 01: I can certainly take a stab and if Laura wants to fill in any gaps please do.

01:20:24 Speaker 01: So there's it's implied that the new water meters are responsible for the increases in billing and certainly in some cases where the old meter wasn't capturing all of the water being used the new water

01:20:24 Speaker 01: meters are more accurate.

01:20:24 Speaker 01: They're not overcharging or overreporting usage they're reporting more accurate usage in some cases.

01:20:24 Speaker 01: And so anyone who has a difference from the old meter to the new meter on a usage basis certainly that could result in a higher water bill.

01:20:25 Speaker 01: The other thing to keep in mind is that there were also rate increases that went into effect last year sort of in the summer and so as those bills came in September and onward there

01:20:25 Speaker 01: may have been a double impact not only a usage that's being captured but also the fact that the rates went up and that was council's approved rate increase that came through through the water rate

01:20:25 Speaker 01: study that we did last year.

01:20:26 Speaker 01: As far as citywide revenues go it's very early to be able to assess what the overall impact is of the new meters across the board.

01:20:26 Speaker 01: We haven't even had full billing cycles for all of the billing cycles yet since the meters have been put into place.

01:20:26 Speaker 01: I can say anecdotally we're not sitting on so much surplus revenue that it's standing out to me at this point in time but once we have had an opportunity to go through some billing cycles

01:20:27 Speaker 01: with the new meters we will certainly be analyzing how many cubic meters of water we're reporting now versus before and if we need to adjust rates in the future to accommodate for that we certainly

01:20:29 Speaker 01: will.

01:20:29 Speaker 01: I'd point out that much like our operating budget is translated to tax rates where we take the budget and we divide it by all the assessment to come up with the tax rate our water

01:20:30 Speaker 01: billing rates are done a very similar way.

01:20:30 Speaker 01: We take what our actual financial needs are divide it by the estimated usage and that comes out with a per cubic meter rate.

01:20:30 Speaker 01: And so, ultimately, if the usage goes up, then theoretically the rate in the future can come down.

01:20:31 Speaker 01: So it's too early for me to quantify that for you right now, but it's certainly analysis that we will be doing,

01:20:31 Speaker 01: and I would hope to be able to bring you a fulsome idea of what the impact of that is in time for the rate update that we would normally bring forward in the spring.

01:20:31 Speaker 01: Not answered.

01:20:33 Speaker 01: Good.

01:20:33 Speaker 01: Thanks, Kate.

01:20:35 Speaker 01: That's a question that is coming up a lot in the community.

01:20:35 Speaker 01: Councillor Farmer.

01:20:36 Speaker 01: Thank you through the mayor.

01:20:36 Speaker 01: As we have mentioned, it is possible for members of the public to support important capital projects in the City of Owen Sound, and to do so while receiving not confirmation that they've paid their taxes,

01:20:37 Speaker 01: but in fact a charitable tax receipt.

01:20:37 Speaker 01: They can do that by going to CanadaHelps.org and looking for the City of Owen Sound.

01:20:37 Speaker 01: Make sure if you're looking that up right now watching at home because you're so excited by this news,

01:20:38 Speaker 01: please make sure that you're finding the one that is actually the City of Owen Sound featuring the logo.

01:20:38 Speaker 01: When you first land on the page like the real CanadaHelps.org, because every time you make a donation make sure it's the right place.

01:20:38 Speaker 01: Canada Helps is set up if if you're looking at the screen here there's the About tab and I might just ask staff to click on the About tab for a moment.

01:20:38 Speaker 01: When you first land on an account it's the general About piece that pops up.

01:20:39 Speaker 01: And here if you click on Where to Apply Your Donation, it will only give you currently General or Physician Recruitment which I think the Fire Chief is very excited about.

01:20:39 Speaker 01: But further up and on the page as was there when we first saw this on our screens it's the campaigns button that gives you shorter term or the ability to support shorter term projects,

01:20:40 Speaker 01: which currently include the Harrison Park Fund and also the lacrosse turf for the Bayshore.

01:20:40 Speaker 01: So we responded to a time sensitive community organization request to support a major capital purchase and staff have added that here so that if folks in the community were really excited about that wondered how

01:20:40 Speaker 01: they could get involved maybe don't have a business that can take out a sponsorship on the turf itself,

01:20:40 Speaker 01: and they didn't want to buy a spot for their own name or face,

01:20:41 Speaker 01: they can make a donation through Canada Helps through the city's account under the campaign tab so that we can both support the addition of that turf to the facility and also make sure that if

01:20:41 Speaker 01: people are interested in supporting getting a tax receipt and every dollar that we get in to my understanding I'll look to staff to correct me.

01:20:42 Speaker 01: But when we get donations that way it frees up some of that capital for other important projects.

01:20:42 Speaker 01: And we know we've got a lot of unfunded projects so wanted to take a moment to really highlight that it is possible for folks to support these projects.

01:20:42 Speaker 01: And if they're inspired, it would be great if they did.

01:20:44 Speaker 01: Good.

01:20:46 Speaker 01: Thank you Councillor Merton through your mayor thank you Brianna.

01:20:46 Speaker 01: So on the screen you will see an invitation and this is an invitation for an upcoming event.

01:20:46 Speaker 01: It's one of three part online series.

01:20:47 Speaker 01: It is entitled "Leveraging Community Wealth to Deliver Affordable Housing" and it's presented by the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay.

01:20:47 Speaker 01: In this webinar which is on Wednesday February 11th,

01:20:47 Speaker 01: you'll learn what community wealth really means how non-market housing creates lasting affordability what other communities are doing right now and how we might apply these ideas here at home.

01:20:48 Speaker 01: It is free and encourage anyone who has an interest in learning more about community wealth—not just for housing but for other community initiatives—to consider registering.

01:20:48 Speaker 01: And for the first of three series, three-part series.

01:21:03 Speaker 01: Thank you good thank you and Ms Bloomfield.

01:21:04 Speaker 01: Through your worship, this Saturday, February fourteen, the city, in partnership with the River District, is hosting its fourth Just Say Yes wedding event.

01:21:04 Speaker 01: Since its inception, it has remained a popular event.

01:21:04 Speaker 01: While staff reached their goal of booking twelve marriages, there are still a couple of spaces left.

01:21:05 Speaker 01: If anyone is considering getting married, the cost is $500 and includes the use of the city facility, which allows for up to 20 guests.

01:21:05 Speaker 01: The room will be decorated.

01:21:05 Speaker 01: There will be a selection of bouquets and boutonnieres to borrow for the ceremony, and 10 digital photos will be emailed after the event.

01:21:06 Speaker 01: For more information, visit Wedding Services at Owen Sound.ca.

01:21:06 Speaker 01: This is good to motivate.

01:21:06 Speaker 01: I think it's just me that's left.

01:21:06 Speaker 01: I know February is Black History Month, and this year marks thirty years of Black History Month in Canada, a time to honor Black brilliance across generations.

01:21:06 Speaker 01: One sound in Grey County holds a special place in that history.

01:21:10 Speaker 01: It's a northern terminus of the Underground Railroad, and is home to one of North America's longest-running emancipation celebrations.

01:21:10 Speaker 01: I believe it's the longest.

01:21:10 Speaker 01: From many of our buildings and heritage buildings in our city, going back to 1939, a Black hockey coach, Pinky Lewis, being brought to town.

01:21:11 Speaker 01: Player named Herb Carnegie, who was a very early Black hockey player in 1953, and through, of course, to our mayor and MP Ovid Jackson, and Grey County Warden Sowen Hicks.

01:21:11 Speaker 01: So this month, we want to reflect, learn, and honor the contributions of Black communities, past and present.

01:21:11 Speaker 03: So please look for events online, on Facebook, social media from the BME Church of On Sound, for open houses and other events.

01:21:12 Speaker 03: I know a couple that they're going to be holding at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery.

01:21:12 Speaker 03: So there's some things going on.

01:21:13 Speaker 03: We encourage people to get out, learn, and participate.

01:21:13 Speaker 03: Marion, yep, go ahead.

01:21:13 Speaker 03: Thank you, Worship, for indulging me.

01:21:14 Speaker 03: Another item that I thought about on Saturday, I attended the opening of the local histories event at Grey Roots Museum and Archives.

01:21:16 Speaker 03: Incredible event!

01:21:16 Speaker 03: Photographs from Owen Sound, some past and present photos showing the same thing, Markdale, Durham, and various places in Grey County.

01:21:16 Speaker 03: And one of the most interesting things that I saw, and I didn't know, even though I was on the name renaming or not renaming of Bryerson Park, but whether it should be renamed or not,

01:21:17 Speaker 03: was a photograph of Bryerson Park in the 1930s, where they had a lawn bowling or not a lawn bowling mini golf course on Bryerson Park,

01:21:17 Speaker 03: and people would come from all over Ontario as the big prize was fifty dollars back in the 1930s.

01:21:17 Speaker 03: That's a lot of money, and it was amazing to see this on the park and of course the houses that used to be along the street there,

01:21:18 Speaker 03: so but there's a lot of really good photography and comparative photography by John Furnell, showing it then and now in a lot of areas around Old Town.

01:21:18 Speaker 03: It's a really interesting display if anyone's looking to have a view at some of those photos.

01:21:18 Speaker 03: Good, thank you.

01:21:19 Speaker 03: With that, I think we're down to motion that the committee, the whole rise and report.

01:21:19 Speaker 03: Moved by myself, that the committee of the whole rise and report.

01:21:20 Speaker 03: And all in favor.

01:21:20 Speaker 03: Everyone's voting yes, so that's carried.

01:21:20 Speaker 03: Now, motion to adopt proceedings in committee of the whole.

01:21:23 Speaker 03: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Middlebro', that the action taken in the committee of the whole in considering public meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum, matters arising from correspondence, reports of city staff, consent agenda,

01:21:23 Speaker 03: committee minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given, and additional business be confirmed by this council.

01:21:23 Speaker 03: And all in favor.

01:21:23 Speaker 03: That is carried, including voting on screen.

01:21:23 Speaker 03: Are there any notices of motion being given tonight?

01:21:23 Speaker 03: Seeing none.

01:21:25 Speaker 03: Just before we move into the closed session, I would like to note that if you are watching this meeting on Rogers Cable TV or the Rogers TV website,

01:21:25 Speaker 03: their feed will not reconnect to this meeting when we return to the open session to report out of the closed session and review the bylaws.

01:21:25 Speaker 03: If you'd like to view the remainder of the open session, you can watch the live stream on City Council and Committees' website at www.Owen Sound.ca/meetings.

01:21:26 Speaker 03: The video recording of the meeting will also be posted on this website following the meeting.

01:21:26 Speaker 03: So, to the motion, Councillor Merton.

01:21:26 Speaker 03: Move by myself, seconded by Councillor Middlebro'.

01:21:27 Speaker 03: That City Council now move into closed session to consider number one minutes of the closed session of the regular council meeting held on January twelfth, two thousand and twenty-six.

01:21:27 Speaker 03: Number two, minutes of the closed session of the special council meeting held on January sixteenth, two thousand and twenty-six.

01:21:27 Speaker 03: Number three, one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals, respecting an appointment to a city committee, and number four, one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals respecting city property.

01:21:28 Speaker 03: And all in favor?

01:21:28 Speaker 03: And that is carried, including on screen.

01:21:28 Speaker 03: This will take us a minute to roll over.

01:21:29 Speaker 03: Okay, so we're back.

01:21:29 Speaker 03: It is now six fifty, and City Council is returning to the open session.

01:21:29 Speaker 03: During the closed session, City Council reviewed minutes of closed session of the regular council meeting held on January 12, 2026.

01:21:29 Speaker 03: Reviewed minutes of the closed session of the special council meeting held on January 16, 2026.

01:21:30 Speaker 03: Discussed one matter regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual or individuals, respecting an appointment to a city committee, and direction was provided to staff.

01:21:30 Speaker 03: And discussed one matter regarding personal matters about identifiable individuals, respecting city property, no direction was provided. So we're down to the bylaw, Councillor Merton. You have the bylaw. Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Middlebro'. That bylaw number twenty twenty six Number 2026-012, being the bylaw to confirm the proceedings of tonight's meeting, be passed and enacted. Call the question. All in favor, including two hands on screen. That is carried. That completes our business for tonight at 6:51. We're adjourned.