Owen Sound Council Meeting Regular Meeting Transcript — May 25, 2026

00:00:11 Speaker 01: All right, welcome everyone. It's May twenty-five, two thousand and twenty-six, and at five thirty p.m., I will call this meeting of City Council to order.

00:00:21 Speaker 01: We've got Councilor Hamley joining us shortly, just running a few minutes late, and I am stepping in for Mayor Boddy, who is away attending an event. this week,

00:00:30 Speaker 01: and the city manager is also away this evening.

00:00:35 Speaker 01: Otherwise, we are all together in person in the chambers.

00:00:39 Speaker 01: I will note that it is election season.

00:00:42 Speaker 01: The council chambers are no place for running or conducting an election.

00:00:47 Speaker 01: So, if you're here for such a purpose, I encourage you to do that business outside of the council chambers.

00:00:54 Speaker 01: Item two is called for additional business.

00:00:56 Speaker 01: Are there any items of additional business? Councillor Millerbro? Thank you.

00:01:02 Speaker 01: I will have one item regarding Canada Day. Thank you.

00:01:11 Speaker 01: Item three: declarations of interest.

00:01:13 Speaker 01: Are there any declarations to be made at this time? Not seeing any.

00:01:18 Speaker 01: Item four is confirmation of the council minutes of May eleventh.

00:01:22 Speaker 01: Were there any questions, comments from council to those minutes?

00:01:29 Speaker 01: looking for a mover, Councillor Kukrada.

00:01:38 Speaker 02: Moved by myself and seconded by Councillor Merton, that the minutes of the regular council meeting held on May 11, 2026, be adopted as printed.

00:01:48 Speaker 01: And all those in favor? Carried unanimously. Thank you.

00:01:53 Speaker 01: And back to Councillor Kukrada.

00:01:56 Speaker 02: Moved by myself and seconded by Councillor Merton, that City Council now moves into Committee of the Whole to consider public meetings, deputations, presentations, public forum matters arising from correspondence, reports of City staff, consent agenda,

00:02:15 Speaker 02: committee minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given, and additional business. And all in favor? Carried unanimously. Thank you.

00:02:30 Speaker 01: Item six is public meetings, which there are no public meetings this evening.

00:02:35 Speaker 01: This evening, we do have two deputations before us.

00:02:39 Speaker 01: The first one, we welcome Colleen Purden, who's the co-chair of the Gray Bruce One World Festival, and she's going to present the fifteenth annual upcoming One World Festival.

00:02:52 Speaker 03: So welcome this evening, Colleen. Thank you very much.

00:02:56 Speaker 03: It's really very, very good to be here.

00:02:58 Speaker 04: And before you do the math for the One World Festival, it's our fifteenth in-person festival, but I think our sixteenth or maybe even our seventeenth year.

00:03:10 Speaker 04: But we're very pleased to be here.

00:03:12 Speaker 04: I'm saying we because until a few minutes ago, I thought Donald Anderson, who's a chair of the One World Festival, would be with us.

00:03:19 Speaker 04: Unfortunately, had a. minor car accident this afternoon and some cracked ribs, and so he called and he was saying he didn't really think he'd make it.

00:03:30 Speaker 04: So I bring greetings from Donald.

00:03:33 Speaker 04: He tried hard, but I'm really glad he's at home resting.

00:03:37 Speaker 04: So it is our fifteenth anniversary of in-person festivals, and I just want to do a very short presentation.

00:03:45 Speaker 04: Some of members of council will know some of these things.

00:03:49 Speaker 04: In fact, all of the members of council have seen a presentation something like this.

00:03:54 Speaker 04: But it's such a great thing.

00:03:56 Speaker 04: I'm happy to go through a lot of pictures.

00:04:00 Speaker 04: That's our our poster this year, and you can see there's a little map.

00:04:06 Speaker 04: And on the floor we have the art project, the community art project that Heather Travis did with the children at the Tom, and then at the market you'll see a. lot of kids.

00:04:18 Speaker 04: We usually have between eight hundred and a thousand children come, and the map takes us over to the library for a film festival, the Tom, and it's just a big celebration.

00:04:33 Speaker 04: So that's on June seventeenth.

00:04:35 Speaker 04: I'm going to send an invitation out to you and all of the listeners to the council meeting tonight to join us.

00:04:41 Speaker 04: It's a free event, and now I'm going to try to use the clicker. It worked.

00:04:47 Speaker 04: We have learned a lot, and that's our flyer advertising our fifteenth celebration in French.

00:04:56 Speaker 04: That'd be one thing that we learned.

00:04:58 Speaker 04: There's many languages in our community.

00:05:04 Speaker 04: So the goals of the One World Festival are to raise awareness of our rich heritage here in Grey Bruce, build skills in understanding and acceptance for. one another, and to actually celebrate diversity with intention,

00:05:20 Speaker 04: and share our stories and share our learning together.

00:05:26 Speaker 04: So we are celebrating our fifteenth birthday.

00:05:29 Speaker 04: If you come to the One World Festival, you get one of those nifty bags.

00:05:35 Speaker 04: So that might be an incentive.

00:05:37 Speaker 04: But I'm going to take you back to where we started with the idea in 2010.

00:05:42 Speaker 04: Two thousand and ten, that we have to think more like a community, a region that's like a big tent with room for all, and so we decided to do a One World Festival,

00:05:56 Speaker 04: and the first festival was in the parking lot of the city hall, and the market before it was renovated.

00:06:05 Speaker 04: I think it was about, I think maybe for lucky twelve degrees that first day, and we would not have. done the festival at all because we had a total crisis.

00:06:15 Speaker 04: And I'm always going to be indebted to Pam Colter, who pulled a tent out of her hat. Who knew?

00:06:23 Speaker 04: And helped us get set up for our very first One World Festival.

00:06:27 Speaker 04: And as you can see, there wasn't a very big crowd, small but mighty.

00:06:33 Speaker 04: But some things have not changed.

00:06:35 Speaker 04: At the center of the celebration of diversity are indigenous people and cultures. and celebrating Indigenous culture and people.

00:06:44 Speaker 04: And there's a drum circle who sang in the tent, in the parking lot.

00:06:49 Speaker 04: Another constant is lots of music performed by students and well, whoever wants to perform, and a lot of dancing.

00:07:01 Speaker 04: That's the band I used to be in, the Klesmer band, up there with the dancers.

00:07:07 Speaker 04: That was all our first year. and a lot of fun.

00:07:12 Speaker 04: That's one of our volunteers, who very obviously is having lots of fun and learning together about diversity and inclusion.

00:07:24 Speaker 04: So, starting with very young children, with the notion that difference is great, and it's enriching and it's fun, and there's a lot to learn, and most children have no. difficulty understanding that.

00:07:39 Speaker 04: So we had done a lot of work in the past with adults on addressing racism and discrimination,

00:07:45 Speaker 04: and everybody was pretty burned out with that work because working with adults actually is quite a bit more difficult around inclusion and diversity, difference, accepting difference.

00:07:57 Speaker 04: We've had a long tradition of kind of parking people who are different in different places, big institutions. and just often disappearing differences instead of celebrating them, but children know how to do that,

00:08:14 Speaker 04: and there they are dancing, and there's a whole lot of people up there dancing.

00:08:19 Speaker 04: Roseanne Roy, one of our early committee members, and the other women I don't know, and me, I was a bit shocked when I saw that picture, and a whole lot of of lovely dancers.

00:08:32 Speaker 04: So we have been doing this. now for a long time, and really want to say that we've appreciated all along the way all the help from the Owen Sound staff, city staff, and also council.

00:08:46 Speaker 04: So in two thousand and fifteen, we had to leave the market because there were the big renovations going, and we were on First Avenue West.

00:08:55 Speaker 04: Owen Sound city police were very helpful with closing off the street.

00:08:59 Speaker 04: We had we had our things happening in Saint.

00:09:02 Speaker 04: Andrew's Church, which was great, and the library, and the Tom, and that's Greg Nagywan, who was the chief at Niajingaming, and Arlene Wright, who was a councillor here from the city, bringing greetings and me.

00:09:18 Speaker 04: And the theme every year we have a theme was we are all neighbors, which is also a very exciting theme, and we were celebrating the music. of our area. That band.

00:09:28 Speaker 04: They collected songs of Gray Bruce.

00:09:29 Speaker 04: Give me, give me one note.

00:09:31 Speaker 04: So and and then some indigenous people.

00:09:44 Speaker 04: Oh no, that's a string quartet up in the in the bandshell.

00:09:48 Speaker 04: And then in the library was just jam packed.

00:09:51 Speaker 04: The festival has already grown quite a bit.

00:09:54 Speaker 04: And then we were all jammed into Saint.

00:09:58 Speaker 04: All jammed into St. Andrew's community space there, and it was learning and growing together.

00:10:04 Speaker 04: It it really was an opportunity, and remains an opportunity for children to just kind of freely run around and check out all kinds of presenters and activities and games and fun.

00:10:14 Speaker 04: Oh, I should go back. There's Blaine Courtney.

00:10:22 Speaker 04: He's also a founding member of the One World Festival.

00:10:28 Speaker 04: In 2019, our theme was sharing our stories, and we have so many stories to tell about the heritage and history and people of Grey Bruce.

00:10:42 Speaker 04: And I know Joan Beecroft has been very busy, also a founding member of the One World Festival, collecting stories of Grey Bruce.

00:10:50 Speaker 04: So we have these stories of people and their experiences.

00:10:57 Speaker 04: And we came back to the newly renovated and beautiful market space.

00:11:03 Speaker 04: So that that's actually a display there and activities that were being put on by the Gitche Gumee Wicodong Reconciliation Garden Group.

00:11:12 Speaker 04: You could see Susan Chang there.

00:11:14 Speaker 04: She's sadly left our community, and Senator Ralph Wolf Thistle from the Métis Nation welcoming. communities, Gray Bruce also joined the One World Festival and partnered with us to help put the festival on,

00:11:32 Speaker 04: and we got to use their tent that also lives in my basement.

00:11:37 Speaker 04: So there's the people going in.

00:11:38 Speaker 04: That's the festival belonging, and usually Donald is there, and he'll be there this year too, greeting all the students as they come in into the festival.

00:11:52 Speaker 04: So the questions of the last few years are about the future.

00:11:56 Speaker 04: What kind of a future are we building in Grey Bruce?

00:11:59 Speaker 04: So we had a theme coloring our future, and this year our theme is weaving our future.

00:12:06 Speaker 04: How do we bring together today what we want to have in our future?

00:12:13 Speaker 04: So our future is a future of many languages and ways of being.

00:12:18 Speaker 04: You can see here all the children singing at the at. the market with a very big audience of other students and the public, we have many generations together and many nations together.

00:12:33 Speaker 04: There's a picture there of the market hall, chockablock with presenters and children, and the other picture is actually my daughter, my granddaughter, and me trying to playing a violin.

00:12:47 Speaker 04: And a future that's as diverse and as inclusive. as we can realize it, and a place where everyone belongs.

00:12:55 Speaker 04: And there is Moklas showing children how to put on the Arab headdress, and Jackie Ralph, who's also one of our founding members, who came regularly with puppet plays.

00:13:05 Speaker 04: And that puppet play was about diversity and inclusion.

00:13:25 Speaker 04: So, how do we increase belonging and inclusion?

00:13:28 Speaker 04: Well, this is just a bit of a list of what we've found out.

00:13:31 Speaker 04: We focus on what works: outreach to people and groups, inclusion of people on the edges, making things free and accessible, and having lots of activities that connect and engage people. and that are fun.

00:13:51 Speaker 04: We engage diversity in our planning for the festival every year, and we try to showcase some of the hidden diversity in our community that people may not be aware of, and the wisdom of children.

00:14:05 Speaker 04: We focus on values and kind of looking at long-term change, and we like to partner and build diverse relationships, and we engage in on.

00:14:15 Speaker 04: And we engage and honor children as participants, volunteers, performers, and presenters.

00:14:22 Speaker 04: They're not an audience; they're everywhere in the festival.

00:14:26 Speaker 04: And we support the educators who bring the children and prepare them to do their presentations.

00:14:32 Speaker 04: So, what changes have we seen?

00:14:33 Speaker 04: I just did a little list here.

00:14:35 Speaker 04: We've had between nine and ten thousand children experience and celebrate diversity and inclusion at the One World. Festival.

00:14:46 Speaker 04: Over these fifteen years, we've had three hundred diverse presentations and one hundred and fifty diverse performers.

00:14:53 Speaker 04: It's been quite a quite a journey.

00:14:56 Speaker 04: We've had so much learning and sharing and fun for everyone, and we're seeing an increase ethnic diversity and newcomer participation in in the festival.

00:15:06 Speaker 04: So here's the invitation, and you'll see. there is May Eep, who's one of our founding members, and her international folk dancers.

00:15:13 Speaker 04: This year, May will be doing a film festival in the library, and there's Donald, and he was doing that festival.

00:15:27 Speaker 04: That was one of the earlier ones.

00:15:29 Speaker 04: We had to hang those blue tarps because it was so windy.

00:15:34 Speaker 04: I had to go home once and get a coat for a little kid who was hypothermic.

00:15:39 Speaker 04: So it's just really nice at the market now.

00:15:42 Speaker 04: It's beautiful, and and Donald is there doing a workshop with children about the experience of losing your sight. So that's the program.

00:15:55 Speaker 04: I'm not going to rhyme it all off, but it starts at 9:30.

00:15:59 Speaker 04: We'll finish up usually around 1:30 or 2, but the highlight is at 11:30.

00:16:04 Speaker 04: So if you can come over at 11:30, we have a masked choir, four different school classes. singing a song by Suresh.

00:16:12 Speaker 04: He's a composer musician from Toronto who's coming up, and he gave us our song, and we're going to highlight it with the choir and some some soloists from around the area and instruments.

00:16:25 Speaker 04: So that'll be we hope just great.

00:16:28 Speaker 04: Regan McNe is conducting, and we've commissioned a dance from from Oh dear, this print's too small for my. eyes.

00:16:39 Speaker 04: The name of the dance that the the dance company is doing is called Wildflower, and it's by the Owen Sound Dance Academy.

00:16:49 Speaker 04: So they've created a dance just for our fifteenth birthday.

00:16:54 Speaker 04: We're going to give out some some certificates, and there'll be the community art project.

00:17:02 Speaker 04: There'll be the film festival, and then all the presenters and performers. so that's what you'll see if you come to the One World Festival.

00:17:13 Speaker 04: And we're very thankful to the City of Owen Sound staff and council over all the years, and community living Owen Sound and District, which is our sponsoring agency.

00:17:24 Speaker 04: We're just a community group, and we need a sponsoring agency to flow funds.

00:17:29 Speaker 04: And these are our funders: the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and our local, the Blue Water Local, have.

00:17:35 Speaker 04: The Bluewater Local have funded it, funded the One World Festival every year of its existence.

00:17:40 Speaker 04: Heritage Canada, the federal funder, has been a very important partner.

00:17:45 Speaker 04: Bruce Power has funded us every year, and we've had several grants, including this year from the Community Foundation Grey Bruce for the festival.

00:17:55 Speaker 04: And this year, the and last year, our last festival, the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership also provided funding.

00:18:03 Speaker 04: And all the thanks to the. volunteers and all the presenters and performers who come every year, and the schools—the Catholic, the public, French Catholic,

00:18:11 Speaker 04: and private schools—and all those bus drivers who drive the kids from all over the two counties.

00:18:17 Speaker 04: And of course, a big thank you to the children and youth who've made the festival possible and who come.

00:18:25 Speaker 04: So I'd like to leave you with a question: What changes have you seen in the last fifteen years in your community when it?

00:18:32 Speaker 04: comes to celebrating diversity and inclusion, and I saw on the website, the city website, that's a picture from the One World Festival,

00:18:41 Speaker 04: and it's the banner above the future Owen Sound vision and long-term strategic plan.

00:18:49 Speaker 04: So, what plans do you have for the next years to increase diversity, to celebrate diversity, and to make sure that Owen Sound is a place where everyone belongs?

00:19:01 Speaker 04: So, if anyone has any questions, thank you very much for the presentation, Colleen, Councillor Farmer.

00:19:09 Speaker 05: Through the chair, do sounds like a number of schools will be arriving and participating again.

00:19:15 Speaker 05: Do do people need to sign up, or do they just show up?

00:19:19 Speaker 05: Are there logistical things that, if we're just showing up, we should know about, or is it as easy as coming to the market and wandering around, following the happy people? Everyone is welcome.

00:19:29 Speaker 05: You can just show up and be a happy person.

00:19:33 Speaker 04: We'd really be very happy for that.

00:19:36 Speaker 04: Schools, we do have schools contact us.

00:19:39 Speaker 04: We can assist with busing.

00:19:40 Speaker 04: We have funding to help with busing, and it's always better for us when we know how many kids are coming.

00:19:49 Speaker 04: So we already have quite a few schools signed up.

00:19:52 Speaker 04: We still have lots of room.

00:19:53 Speaker 04: So if there's a teacher listening to this presentation and thinks, "Oh, what am I going to do on June?" seventeenth?

00:19:59 Speaker 04: Think about the One World Festival and contact us. Okay, thank you.

00:20:07 Speaker 06: Any other questions from council? Not seeing any.

00:20:08 Speaker 06: Thank you very much for the presentation tonight, Colleen.

00:20:13 Speaker 01: I know you touched on it, commenting about a growing community,

00:20:17 Speaker 01: but we certainly do see ourselves right now with a lot of growth in the community and a lot of diversity as part of that growth,

00:20:23 Speaker 01: and we're glad to have great. people like yourself and those that are on the committee that put the the event on that supports their exposure into our community and and makes them feel more welcome and part of it.

00:20:33 Speaker 01: So, thank you very much for fifteen years and a couple of virtual ones as well.

00:20:42 Speaker 01: And good luck at this year's event.

00:20:47 Speaker 01: Item seven B is a presentation from the acting city manager this evening regarding. a city manager's update. So, hello, Kate.

00:20:59 Speaker 07: Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I will thank staff for helping me put this together for you this evening.

00:21:08 Speaker 07: I think Brianna is going to change the slides for me, though.

00:21:12 Speaker 07: Some of the highlights since our last meeting is nominations are now open for those interested in running in the 2026 municipal election,

00:21:19 Speaker 07: and there is more information available on the city's website. or you can email elections@owensound.ca if you have any questions at all.

00:21:28 Speaker 07: If you want to check and make sure you're on the voters list for the election, by visiting registertovoteontario.ca by August fourteen th.

00:21:37 Speaker 07: May eighteen th to the twenty-four th was Public Works Week,

00:21:40 Speaker 07: and a special thank you goes out to the hard work and dedication of our operations staff who quietly support the community every day to keep Owen Sound running smoothly.

00:21:48 Speaker 07: The two thousand and twenty-six road resurfacing project has been underway throughout the month of.

00:21:52 Speaker 07: May and is expected to be completed in June.

00:21:55 Speaker 07: Temporary traffic disruptions may occur throughout the duration of the project, and work on the 27th Street West storm sewer replacement has begun.

00:22:05 Speaker 07: Camping at Harrison Park began May 14th, and both the campground and cabin are ready to receive guests.

00:22:11 Speaker 07: And all the cleanup that has been required after our wet weather and some of the flooding has been cleaned up in the park.

00:22:18 Speaker 07: An online survey is open to gather feedback. on the Kelso Beach Playground and Splash Pad revitalization, and that survey is open at ourcity.owen sound.ca until the end of this month.

00:22:29 Speaker 07: Fish derby camping passes for camping along the harbor during the Salmon Spectacular and the Owen Sound Charity Shootout fishing derbies are for sale beginning June nine th.

00:22:39 Speaker 07: And for more information, you can visit our website slash fdc.

00:22:40 Speaker 07: And then finally, the River District spring work cleanup work search has been underway, and street sweeping will begin.

00:22:48 Speaker 07: Way and street sweeping will begin in the coming weeks.

00:22:51 Speaker 07: Some of the reports coming forward through our various standing and ad hoc committees, service review ad hoc committee will review our 2026 organizational work plan.

00:23:01 Speaker 07: That's a mid-year update, as well as the ongoing review of park service levels.

00:23:06 Speaker 07: This meeting will focus on horticulture.

00:23:10 Speaker 07: Corporate services committee in June will look at our 2025 licensing, managing, and commissioning overview. That's an information report.

00:23:18 Speaker 07: We're bringing forward a report on the upcoming changes to amphibole legislation.

00:23:22 Speaker 07: This governs the FOI process as well as our updated procurement policy.

00:23:28 Speaker 07: Community Services Committee will have a report on the Heritage Tax Property Relief Program, and that's based on the two thousand and twenty-five tax year.

00:23:37 Speaker 07: Kelso Beach at Naywash Park Playground and Splash Pad revitalization final designs, taking into account some of the feedback that would be coming through that survey. park naming for 823 Fifth Avenue East update,

00:23:51 Speaker 07: and the Community Impact Lab memo of understanding, and then finally, Operations Committee will have the Ghost Transit extension that's going through to the summer of next year,

00:24:03 Speaker 07: and an update on water supply for those outside our municipal boundaries.

00:24:09 Speaker 07: And in case you missed it, this update has all of the media releases that we've issued. between April 16th and April 30th, and so these are available on our website,

00:24:19 Speaker 07: and you can access any of these leaks through the agenda for tonight's meeting.

00:24:22 Speaker 07: If you can find this report, thank you, Kate.

00:24:28 Speaker 07: Are there any questions from Council, Council Farmer?

00:24:30 Speaker 07: Through the chair, I have a question about the upcoming park update renaming report for community services.

00:24:31 Speaker 05: There were a few steps in the process, and.

00:24:43 Speaker 05: I don't know that everyone has understood from various headlines what those steps are.

00:24:50 Speaker 05: Could we get some more detail with where we are in that process and what that, if whether that update is recommending a name or if we're just bridging into the next part of the engagement?

00:25:01 Speaker 08: Thank you, and through the chair, there was an update at Community Services Committee, and based on that, we've gone out for feedback on suggestions.

00:25:18 Speaker 08: Back on suggested names, from the time of the renaming process, there had been some names that were suggested, so they were offered on the R City page.

00:25:28 Speaker 08: There is good information on www.rcityowen sound with the the park naming.

00:25:30 Speaker 08: So the report on June 24th, as I imagine it, I haven't written it yet,

00:25:31 Speaker 08: but it will include sort of a summary of all the names that have been suggested. we will highlight for committee those with a locational sort of association,

00:26:05 Speaker 08: and but committee will recommend to council the ones that will go forward for then ranked voting, as was the change the last time the the report came forward,

00:26:14 Speaker 08: and and will report on other engagement and sort of rationale and and suggestions and comments that have been added.

00:26:16 Speaker 08: So. all that on June twenty-fourth.

00:26:17 Speaker 08: Okay, not seeing any further questions.

00:26:18 Speaker 01: That concludes item seven, which is deputations and presentations.

00:26:20 Speaker 01: So we're down to item eight, and I will pass it to Brianna to introduce public forum.

00:26:22 Speaker 01: Thank you, Deputy Mayor Greig.

00:26:23 Speaker 01: No comments for public forum have been submitted electronically.

00:26:24 Speaker 01: If anyone present wishes to speak, please begin by stating your name and the municipality in which you reside.

00:26:31 Speaker 09: In the municipality in which you reside, each speaker is limited to a maximum of three minutes.

00:26:40 Speaker 09: The total time allotted for public forum is fifteen minutes.

00:26:44 Speaker 09: The deputy mayor may curtail comments that are repetitive or end any presentation for disorderly conduct.

00:26:50 Speaker 09: The deputy mayor will respond to comments where appropriate.

00:26:52 Speaker 09: Council members will not enter into discussion or debate. And good evening.

00:27:00 Speaker 09: We've got an individual at the podium, so welcome, Tim.

00:27:08 Speaker 09: Someday I'll get this right.

00:27:11 Speaker 10: Twelve years, but good evening, Your Worship, Tim Nichols Harrison, CEO, Chief Librarian of the Library.

00:27:18 Speaker 10: I'm here tonight to address very quickly the parking that is going to come up later on in the meeting.

00:27:26 Speaker 10: I applaud Councillor Farmer for wanting to address some of the challenges around short-term parking in front of the library.

00:27:33 Speaker 10: Understanding. the use the Tom, and the need for people visiting tourism to be able to come in and out. We share that concern.

00:27:44 Speaker 10: Currently, the street out front of the library is two-hour parking, although it's not enforced.

00:27:51 Speaker 10: So we have people who park all day downtown in front of the Art Gallery Library.

00:27:58 Speaker 10: The suggestion coming tonight to make two spaces available for short-term parking. is the start of the right idea, but they're always going to be filled.

00:28:07 Speaker 10: So anyone driving down the street isn't going to feel that they can pull in, because those two spots will be filled.

00:28:14 Speaker 10: So what I would recommend, and what I tried to talk about ahead of this meeting, was that from the corner to the bandstand, that be designated short-term parking.

00:28:25 Speaker 10: That it actually be four parking spots for handicapped, with the proper modern handicap parking, which requires a larger spacing, and then the other seats being left, the other parking spots being left for short-term parking,

00:28:44 Speaker 10: half an hour at least, it won't change anything that's happening on the street right now, except make it that it's possible that people understand they can pull in quickly,

00:28:55 Speaker 10: drop off the things they need at the library, grab a book, do what they need at the Tom.

00:28:59 Speaker 10: Do what they need at the time and go.

00:29:01 Speaker 10: Any of the longer term activities, people will need to park further away, and they'll learn that because that section is set aside for short term parking,

00:29:09 Speaker 10: and that will make it so that the the tourist visiting and needing to pull in and find a spot will find a spot because the spots always won't be taken because there will be enough

00:29:19 Speaker 10: spots available to actually have short term parking.

00:29:23 Speaker 10: Okay, so that's why I'm here tonight to say you're working on an idea.

00:29:29 Speaker 10: We were involved in the consultation in the report.

00:29:32 Speaker 10: It doesn't suggest the other ideas because they've come up with.

00:29:35 Speaker 10: Let's get this done quickly. That's fine.

00:29:38 Speaker 10: Go ahead and do it.

00:29:39 Speaker 10: But please, we know the number one issue for people using the library forever has been parking.

00:29:47 Speaker 10: So you've come up with a solution that doesn't help us in the big picture when there's actually an opportunity that we can do a lot more together. so I thank you today for your time.

00:29:57 Speaker 10: I do appreciate the hard work that's gone into the consultation so far.

00:30:03 Speaker 10: I just would like to encourage you to take it a little further. Much appreciated. Okay, thanks, Tim.

00:30:09 Speaker 01: And Tim was referring to report within the consent agenda item 11A later this evening.

00:30:17 Speaker 01: Any further individuals to speak to public forum? Hi, Andres Vorgan.

00:30:29 Speaker 11: I live in Owen Sound, and I have a plant and tree nursery.

00:30:35 Speaker 11: And in because of the pollinator in Sound, I just wanted to donate these flowers.

00:30:41 Speaker 11: And they, I got them.

00:30:44 Speaker 11: I made them especially because I care about the pollinators in our area.

00:30:48 Speaker 11: And so they actually have Snowbreaker Tommies, which start at the. very early, just just when the snow breaks, and they provide essential pollen for our orchard bees, and then it's followed by chrysanthemum crocuses,

00:30:57 Speaker 11: which are kind of like a yellow flower, also providing wonderful pollen for amazing bees, and then there's glory of the snow, and then it's followed by these grape hyacinth,

00:31:09 Speaker 11: and so you get a full bloom from snow.

00:31:14 Speaker 11: From snowbreak until now, when the other flowers are coming out, and so it's really wonderful for many other things.

00:31:23 Speaker 11: And unfortunately, I just won't be able to attend the Pollinate On Sound, which is on Saturday, because I'll be at the On Sound Farmers Market.

00:31:35 Speaker 11: All right, thank you so much for your time.

00:31:38 Speaker 12: I just wanted to know who I could maybe I could probably go to Director Coulter.

00:31:43 Speaker 12: Thank you for that donation.

00:31:46 Speaker 08: The Pollinate Group is doing some work at the library and art gallery, so I wonder if.

00:31:50 Speaker 08: In art galleries, so I wonder if Tim from the library would be willing to to take the donation. Thank you. Good evening.

00:31:53 Speaker 08: Deputy Counsel, and everyone watching today.

00:31:55 Speaker 08: First of all, my name is Ray Batten.

00:32:25 Speaker 13: I'm a resident of Owen Sound, and I want to say the librarian, the CEO here, has done something for me that he has no idea.

00:32:38 Speaker 13: Parking has been a very challenging thing for me when we don't have enough space, when the door's going out to another car, and. him addressing that,

00:32:49 Speaker 13: as well as that the art gallery was given a a ramp for those who have walkers or wheelchairs.

00:32:59 Speaker 13: In the last few years, has been awesome. Harrison Park. I wanna.

00:33:08 Speaker 13: I once said once they put the pavement down, so people could stroll. or push carriages, or myself in a wheelchair.

00:33:20 Speaker 13: I want to thank everyone who was a part of that, because it makes a huge, huge difference.

00:33:26 Speaker 13: I can't go in the mud.

00:33:28 Speaker 13: I can't go in the grass.

00:33:30 Speaker 13: Not just me, others, and it makes our lives so much better.

00:33:37 Speaker 13: If I had the money, I would finance it, absolutely.

00:33:41 Speaker 13: And those who steer that. towards helping others.

00:33:47 Speaker 13: I'm really indebted as a city for that, and I sincerely thank everyone for that.

00:33:55 Speaker 13: Lastly, I just want to say that I did mention in council last time, it was in session about a wheelchair accessibility after six six o'clock.

00:34:04 Speaker 13: I've I've talked to a number. of people who are in.

00:34:14 Speaker 13: We seem to get together because we're in wheelchairs, and they all say the same thing.

00:34:23 Speaker 13: My life is going downhill because I I can't go somewhere.

00:34:51 Speaker 13: And then I hear a couple of friends of mine who finish work around nine or eleven, and they have to walk home and take a taxi.

00:35:01 Speaker 13: I can't take a taxi because.

00:35:02 Speaker 13: The wheelchair is a, I forget the word.

00:35:03 Speaker 13: But I want to say that there's an answer here, and I'm hoping council will again consider this because I think transportation with the AODA, even though come six o'clock they don't have to do anything.

00:35:27 Speaker 01: I think the law is in favor of those who are handicapped in Ontario, and again I want to thank. everyone for listening and being a part of our great city. Thank you.

00:35:36 Speaker 01: Okay, thanks for those comments.

00:35:37 Speaker 01: Is there any other individuals willing to speak at the podium this evening?

00:35:39 Speaker 01: Not seeing any, so I will declare the public forum part of the meeting concluded.

00:35:41 Speaker 01: We are down to item nine, which is correspondence received for which direction of council is required.

00:35:43 Speaker 01: There is a memorandum. from the deputy clerk regarding the revised River Precinct Constitution.

00:35:44 Speaker 01: Stacy, through Deputy Mayor Greig, at its May 13th meeting,

00:35:55 Speaker 14: the River District Board of Management reviewed and approved amendments to the River District Constitution and directed staff to forward the amended Constitution to Council for approval.

00:36:05 Speaker 14: The amendments are largely administrative and operational in nature, with the goal of improving clarity, strengthening election administration, and ensuring the Constitution reflects current. board practices and governance needs.

00:36:07 Speaker 14: Due to the number of changes, staff are recommending that the constitution be repealed and replaced to improve clarity and simplify formatting and numbering for the board and the public.

00:36:13 Speaker 14: Should council wish to adopt the revised constitution, the bylaw will be brought forward at the next meeting on June 15th.

00:36:19 Speaker 14: The motion for council's consideration is that, in consideration of correspondence received May 25, 2026, from the River District Board of Management respecting revisions to the River District Constitution,

00:36:34 Speaker 14: City Council directs staff to bring forward a bylaw to adopt the revised River District Constitution as attached to this memorandum,

00:36:41 Speaker 14: and repeal the current River District Constitution approved by Bylaw Number Two Thousand and Twenty-Two Zero Six One.

00:36:46 Speaker 14: With that, Deputy Mayor Greig, I would be happy to take any questions.

00:36:51 Speaker 15: Okay, I think first I'll go to perhaps Councilor Dodd.

00:36:54 Speaker 15: You're the representative on the River Precinct.

00:36:56 Speaker 15: Would you like to speak or move direction on that item of correspondence before any questions? Thank you, Worship.

00:37:06 Speaker 16: There was no conversation really about this at the River District.

00:37:10 Speaker 16: It's pretty self-explanatory and actually make the the process a little more efficient.

00:37:15 Speaker 16: It does include a small reserve funding for elections, as right now city staff are running those elections internally.

00:37:25 Speaker 16: So that was going to add, I think, was approximately fifteen hundred dollars annually into the city budgets, or sorry, the the River District budgets. to be able to have a third party run those,

00:37:35 Speaker 16: just because they do run in the same period of time as the municipal election.

00:37:39 Speaker 16: It has put extra strain on our current staff.

00:37:42 Speaker 16: So, nothing from our perspective.

00:37:45 Speaker 16: But I would be more than happy to move that recommendation here. Okay. Thanks, Councillor Dodd.

00:37:52 Speaker 16: Any further questions from Council, Councillor Koepke?

00:37:57 Speaker 17: Just a question regarding the river district. possibly making a consideration of the long time ago position that they had in the summer, where they had a student clean up the streets.

00:38:11 Speaker 17: Is that discussion come up again?

00:38:17 Speaker 08: Through the chair in 2018, when the city and River District kind of created a new agreement, Parks did the River District maintenance. the clean up, the watering, the beautification.

00:38:33 Speaker 08: Last fall, we updated the service levels for River District.

00:38:38 Speaker 08: This year, we're doing we have Public Works doing the maintenance in the River District, and then Parks doing the beautification.

00:38:45 Speaker 08: So you'll see the banners are up.

00:38:47 Speaker 08: I think as Ms. Allen mentioned tonight, the River District work surge is happening.

00:38:53 Speaker 08: The streets will be swept and washed, the sidewalks, and you'll see that in the. in the coming weeks.

00:38:59 Speaker 08: So, there is dedicated time happening to that, and happy to provide more information if you wish.

00:39:07 Speaker 17: One of the things that's a big complaint is the emptying of the garbage cans before kind of the downtown day begins, and I know that I think that that student used to do that.

00:39:17 Speaker 17: I don't know if there's any other comments from the representative. Councillor Dunn. Thank you, Worship.

00:39:19 Speaker 17: That garbage picker-upper was me.

00:39:20 Speaker 17: I did that during university.

00:39:33 Speaker 16: I was the one who swept those streets and collected that garbage and took it away.

00:39:39 Speaker 16: So yeah, that was fun.

00:39:40 Speaker 16: That conversation did just recently happen at the River District meeting last week or the week prior of what that would look like.

00:39:49 Speaker 16: Obviously, as the director noted, that position no longer exists.

00:39:53 Speaker 16: No longer exist when there was the constitution was written and and the service levels.

00:39:59 Speaker 16: It's not in the budget currently. I'm not sure.

00:40:05 Speaker 16: You know, we had the discussion at the board if that is something that the board would be looking to do.

00:40:11 Speaker 16: I'm not sure what kind of procedure procedural motion would be required, or if that what they would do on that side.

00:40:20 Speaker 16: It's definitely been a point of discussion.

00:40:22 Speaker 16: I will say that was one thing when we were up at six o'clock, we got to clean up before the eyes were downtown.

00:40:31 Speaker 16: So if there was garbage bags stray or if there was pizza containers from people who were having a great time at the Harbor Inn,

00:40:40 Speaker 16: we were able to collect those and clean that up before people got downtown.

00:40:45 Speaker 16: So maybe that's just something that we could probably maybe highlight back to some of our public works are doing some of that area as well. of some priorities of how they can do that.

00:40:54 Speaker 16: If not, you know, I think it's definitely an option that the River District Board look at maybe potentially going back that route.

00:41:00 Speaker 16: But at this point, it's nothing in the budget.

00:41:05 Speaker 01: And Councilor Merton, and I would just note this is the Constitution, so this is largely or specific to administrative function, not operation. Operation.

00:41:16 Speaker 18: So, Councilor Merton, through you, Deputy Mayor, that. this may be operational, but it's just a question for clarification because it came forward.

00:41:24 Speaker 18: When when the streets are being cleaned and the clean sweep, are the grates removed and the the what's down inside the grates also removed during that cleanup?

00:41:38 Speaker 18: Because there seems to be it's a collection area for a variety of things, and I didn't know if that was part of the clean like the sweep that's going to be happening.

00:41:53 Speaker 08: The street washing may clean out some of the residue from the tree grates, but not intended.

00:42:00 Speaker 08: And the what I'll call window well grates—they are not removed, and the litter is is picked up in there.

00:42:09 Speaker 08: So that is not done.

00:42:10 Speaker 08: Okay, not seeing any further questions.

00:42:11 Speaker 08: All those in favor, and that's carried unanimously. Thank. you very much.

00:42:13 Speaker 01: So that takes us to items reports of city staff.

00:42:15 Speaker 01: There are three this evening, and there's some real substance to some of these.

00:42:27 Speaker 01: So the first one is regarding the Bruce Bruce Gray Catholic District School Board overall servicing strategy and conditional building permit. So welcome, Pam.

00:42:38 Speaker 08: Thank you, Mr. Chair, and through you, in the spring of two thousand and twenty-two, the Ministry of Education announced capital funding to support the. construction of a new secondary school in Owen Sound.

00:42:49 Speaker 08: The current Catholic high school is over capacity, and a process toward selecting a new new school site commenced.

00:42:56 Speaker 08: The city's development team has been working with school board staff and their consultants and external agencies like MTO and Grey County on the approvals for this project.

00:43:07 Speaker 08: The report has a significant amount of background that summarizes this, and it included a consent. that created the lot and agreements that are registered on this property,

00:43:19 Speaker 08: as well as the commercial property to the north.

00:43:21 Speaker 08: Council approved zoning in July of two thousand and twenty-five, and then in the fall of last year, you approved a site alteration agreement that has allowed the school board to commence preliminary grading.

00:43:34 Speaker 08: Just recently, in April, the site plan approval was granted, and it was subject to conditions which require, among other things, a. site plan agreement and a master servicing agreement with the school board.

00:43:47 Speaker 08: The school board is working hard on fulfilling the conditions of site plan approval.

00:43:53 Speaker 08: Because this plan didn't come to council for approval, I'm just happy to share it with you.

00:43:59 Speaker 08: But it includes 108,000 square foot school on three levels.

00:44:05 Speaker 08: It includes a separate shop building on site.

00:44:06 Speaker 08: There's a number of sidewalk and pedestrian connections.

00:44:09 Speaker 08: There's two parking areas, a bus layby, and two athletic fields.

00:44:17 Speaker 08: The school board is anxious to tender the building construction and the offsite works toward occupancy in the fall of 2028.

00:44:27 Speaker 08: So this report presents an overall strategy for those offsite works.

00:44:32 Speaker 08: It presents an approach to recover certain costs by the city on behalf of the school board from future developers of adjacent. properties relating to the water that will be installed and request approval for that conditional building permit.

00:44:41 Speaker 08: So, in keeping, so first the master servicing strategy.

00:44:52 Speaker 08: This is sort of a helpful illustration, but in keeping with the Owen Sound official plan and the East Owen Sound master servicing strategy, water will be extended.

00:45:02 Speaker 08: That's the blue up 8th Street and along 28th Avenue, and it will connect the east.

00:45:08 Speaker 08: Hill pressure zone through the intersection there at 16th Street with the industrial pressure zone.

00:45:14 Speaker 08: The purple are works along 28th Avenue.

00:45:19 Speaker 08: There are turning lanes, and there will be a new municipal stop-controlled intersection at the new 15th Street.

00:45:26 Speaker 08: The orange is the new 15th Street.

00:45:31 Speaker 08: There is a sidewalk, a municipal sidewalk, along the south side of 15th for the light green is a pedestrian connection in that 15th Street road allowance through to the County Rail Trail.

00:45:44 Speaker 08: Pink is the sanitary sewer that will come where the city ran the sanitary south along the rail trail, so it will come along the 15th Street road allowance.

00:45:56 Speaker 08: The dark green is a temporary pedestrian connection through that commercial property to the north to the yellow sidewalk that we'll talk about later this evening. but from the the rail pedestrian bridge,

00:46:10 Speaker 08: providing a temporary pedestrian connection with the commercial developer ultimately in the future responsible for that.

00:46:20 Speaker 08: In all of the off site works, the city's financial contribution is limited primarily to a pressure reducing valve where those two water systems will connect,

00:46:30 Speaker 08: and five service laterals off of that water system. the city's costs will be based on actual costs with an upset limit, and the city has a planned capital budget of $250,000 for these items.

00:46:44 Speaker 08: The sidewalk connection that's covered in more detail in the next report this evening is required.

00:46:51 Speaker 08: The yellow piece on the screen is required by the consent agreement, so that commercial property developer will be required to pay for that sidewalk.

00:47:03 Speaker 08: It's proposed the city would front end this piece of sidewalk, and we would recover 100% of those costs, estimated in 2026 dollars, at just over 363 thousand dollars from the commercial developer.

00:47:17 Speaker 08: So, a master servicing strategy will outline the overall strategy for servicing, with subsequent staff-delegated servicing agreements as the mechanism for the city to outline in more detail the responsibility.

00:47:41 Speaker 08: In more detail, the responsibilities of the applicant and make financial arrangements for the design, installation, and construction of each phase and component of those offsite works.

00:47:50 Speaker 08: In terms of the capital cost recovery, it's a policy of the city's official plan that new development is responsible for the cost of upgrading infrastructure.

00:47:52 Speaker 08: As I mentioned, the consent agreement registered on title with the school board lands and the lands to the north provides that the costs of extending.

00:47:54 Speaker 08: Provides that the cost of extension of the municipal services, including design and construction, would be completed at the sole effect and expense of the landowner, with the city agreeing to make best efforts.

00:48:11 Speaker 08: So, based on the alignment of the water main, we estimate eleven properties have been identified, and they're shown on the screen for you for future capital cost recovery based on the area of developable land.

00:48:20 Speaker 08: Nobody, if you. own one of those properties, don't panic.

00:48:22 Speaker 08: This would become owing at a time when those were being redeveloped.

00:48:36 Speaker 08: So the overall apportioned cost to be recovered at a future development time is estimated at eighty-nine to ninety percent of that water main.

00:48:47 Speaker 08: But noting that the school board will pay for that cost up front.

00:48:51 Speaker 08: Conditional building permit, as I mentioned, the school board is anxious to keep going and to allow. the finalization of those conditions of the site plan approval,

00:49:00 Speaker 08: and of the master servicing and capital cost recovery agreements, council is requested to authorize the execution of a conditional building permit agreement under the authority of the Building Code Act.

00:49:10 Speaker 08: Lastly, the area-specific development charge.

00:49:14 Speaker 08: Council will recall a number of years ago the city worked to front-end the extension of water and sanitary into the Sydenham Heights planning area under the. provincial legislation,

00:49:23 Speaker 08: school boards are exempt from paying development charges.

00:49:29 Speaker 08: In this case, based on the floor area of the school, the development charge owing would be just over one hundred and one hundred and eleven thousand dollars.

00:49:39 Speaker 08: Staff are recommending that we use wastewater rate revenues to make a corresponding credit against the outstanding debt associated with the Sydney Heights servicing works.

00:49:48 Speaker 08: So, with all of that,

00:49:51 Speaker 08: the recommendation is that council would. direct staff to bring forward a bylaw to authorize the execution of a capital cost recovery agreement that will come forward when we have some of those details worked out.

00:50:05 Speaker 08: Bring forward a bylaw to authorize the mayor and clerk to execute the conditional building permit agreement,

00:50:10 Speaker 08: and that you would authorize the use of wastewater rate revenues to make that corresponding credit against the area-specific development charge for the Sydenham Heights planning area.

00:50:19 Speaker 08: Thanks, Pam, for that presentation, Councillor Farmer. Then Councillor Kepu next.

00:50:21 Speaker 08: Through the chair, I'm happy to move the recommendation.

00:50:31 Speaker 05: I would also just ask a question, maybe on behalf of folks who aren't quite so familiar with timelines and how the financing of large projects that are then repaid, how that all works.

00:50:40 Speaker 05: Am I right in understanding that the charges for the cost?

00:50:50 Speaker 05: of that those services extensions will be paid upfront by the school board to the city, and then as those lands are developed,

00:50:58 Speaker 05: the city will collect revenue that goes back to the school board for folks who might not be as familiar with financing big big projects through the chair.

00:51:07 Speaker 05: Yes, you've described that accurately, Councilor Kepi. Thank you.

00:51:09 Speaker 05: If I could have the illustration back up, please.

00:51:10 Speaker 05: My question is about the rail trail.

00:51:20 Speaker 17: Is it anticipated that students may use the rail trail to access the property?

00:51:29 Speaker 17: And if so, because the other sidewalk is paved, is there anything anticipated to make the rail trail more accessible to the property?

00:51:39 Speaker 17: Through the chair, so Fifteenth Street will come in.

00:51:46 Speaker 08: It's the orange. line, or we could go to the site plan.

00:51:49 Speaker 08: But so Fifteenth Street will come in, and there'll be a sidewalk on the south side.

00:51:54 Speaker 08: The light green will be a pedestrian connection in the road right of way to the rail trail.

00:51:59 Speaker 08: However, the rail trail is really a three-season pedestrian connection, as it's an important snowmobile corridor during the winter months.

00:52:08 Speaker 08: So the dark green will be a temporary pedestrian connection, a one-five meter wide asphalt path that will. connect then to the sidewalk network that's located on the south side of Sixteenth Street.

00:52:22 Speaker 08: When those commercial lands, the larger piece at the on the north side of the school between the school and Sixteenth Street, are developed,

00:52:33 Speaker 08: that developer has through the consent agreement will be required to contribute for that yellow piece of sidewalk,

00:52:40 Speaker 08: but then construct the remainder of the sidewalk at the time of. the execution of one of the agreements, the school board will also pay a capital contribution for the sidewalk in front of their property,

00:52:50 Speaker 08: but it won't be constructed until that commercial development to the north proceeds.

00:53:00 Speaker 17: So I'm talking about students wanting to access the school via Eight Street East, and obviously the shortcut is the rail trail.

00:53:09 Speaker 17: And when you say it's three seasons.

00:53:10 Speaker 17: I can't imagine that they're going to make changes to their walking path.

00:53:20 Speaker 01: I'll go to the director of operations for a response there, Lara. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

00:53:26 Speaker 19: To Councilor Kepkii, we did consider that through the approval and planning process of this project, we had to look at it realistically.

00:53:36 Speaker 19: That, like you said, if there is a shorter route, like water, students will take. the shortest the shortest available route.

00:53:44 Speaker 19: That being said, because it's a snowmobile trail, we cannot encourage them to use that path in the winter, and it's also groomed, so it's not an ideal walking surface.

00:53:53 Speaker 19: It won't be able to be maintained by our snowplow our sidewalk snowplows,

00:54:02 Speaker 19: so that's why we're creating this the connection to the north from the south. we're not anticipating a large pedestrian cohort coming northward yet.

00:54:17 Speaker 19: Until those developments to the south are built out, in which case, then we'll have to consider how the pedestrian network will be built to connect the two.

00:54:26 Speaker 17: So, in the interim, will the rail trail be signed in the winter time that no people are allowed?

00:54:36 Speaker 08: Through the chair, the the rail trail. is governed by the county, so I would have to check how they do sign that in the winter months.

00:54:44 Speaker 08: I would note that we do have a number of residential developments that have been planned and approved in the area immediately east of the hospital, as well as south, Flatow, Red Hawk, Telfer Creek.

00:54:59 Speaker 08: Pedestrians would go along Sixteenth Avenue up to Sixteenth Street and be able to walk across, with the Telfer Creek development immediately east of the hospital, 20th will be punched through,

00:55:13 Speaker 08: and then students would be able, or you know, people walking would be able to walk through that subdivision up along 20th that has a sidewalk, and again, connect over 16th to the school.

00:55:22 Speaker 08: In those non-winter months, obviously, the rail trail is is an option.

00:55:32 Speaker 08: There are agreements required with the. county for the pedestrian connection, the light green to the rail trail, and perhaps we can inquire as to sort of signage in the winter months at that time.

00:55:42 Speaker 08: Okay, thank you for the questions, Councillor Millar.

00:55:43 Speaker 08: Thank you, through you, Chair.

00:55:54 Speaker 20: I'm just confused about the sidewalk because there's talk of the sidewalk in this report and the next report, so I'm worried I'm confusing the two.

00:56:02 Speaker 20: So that yellow piece of sidewalk. is going to be built.

00:56:07 Speaker 20: Is that existing, or is that what is being built from the school currently?

00:56:09 Speaker 20: That yellow piece of sidewalk is in the next report.

00:56:10 Speaker 20: The one that deals with the pedestrian tunnel.

00:56:12 Speaker 20: We are recommending that the city front end the cost of that.

00:56:17 Speaker 08: In the grand scheme, the city has an agreement that's registered on title for those commercial properties.

00:56:31 Speaker 08: You will. city will recover 100 of the cost of that yellow sidewalk that is being proposed to be front ended.

00:56:40 Speaker 08: This the school developer will build the sidewalk on the south side of 15th Street, the new municipal street that comes into the school.

00:56:48 Speaker 08: They will make a capital contribution for the future sidewalk along 28th Avenue, as well.

00:56:51 Speaker 08: The developer, the commercial developer to the north, will complete that sidewalk along. 28th Avenue and then along 16th Street, so those sidewalks will be constructed by others.

00:57:01 Speaker 08: But you're right; this report talks about the yellow piece of sidewalk.

00:57:11 Speaker 08: The city would front-end it and recover it from future developer. Okay, thank you. Further questions from council?

00:57:20 Speaker 08: I do have a couple.

00:57:21 Speaker 08: It did speak to some of the traffic movement.

00:57:23 Speaker 08: Speak to some of the traffic movements, some of the road changes or lane changes.

00:57:25 Speaker 01: Could you just touch upon the lane changes?

00:57:26 Speaker 01: I know there's some specific to Twenty Eighth Avenue, but what will Sixteenth Street East look like after this, if different at all,

00:57:33 Speaker 01: or is it status quo right until the intersection of Sixteenth Street and Twenty Eighth Avenue?

00:57:49 Speaker 01: And at this time, we're only seeing changes at the entrance ways to the school. Further question is.

00:57:58 Speaker 01: Within the attachment, it does note a design speed of 28th Avenue East may be revised based on county decision for design speed.

00:58:06 Speaker 01: The county did pass a motion last year with a design speed of 80.

00:58:11 Speaker 01: So, could you just speak to why there's still language in there of 80, 90, 100, and not specific to the 80 kilometer an hour design speed, which I believe exists right now for county direction.

00:58:20 Speaker 01: Okay, through you, you're testing me a little bit on my recall for the traffic impact study.

00:58:31 Speaker 08: So, I think northbound on Twenty Eighth Avenue, there is a left turn taper that will allow for turns into the new Fifteenth Street and the school.

00:58:40 Speaker 08: The school will have not an access right on Twenty Eighth, but all the access will be off the new local street Fifteenth.

00:58:47 Speaker 08: There will also be, I believe, an extension of the left turn.

00:58:49 Speaker 08: So northbound on Twenty Eighth at Sixteen.

00:58:53 Speaker 08: On 28th at 16th Street, headed south on 28th Avenue, there is a right turn taper into the property.

00:59:02 Speaker 08: I'm looking to my colleague to see if I've missed anything, but I think those are really the highlights of those turning changes.

00:59:11 Speaker 08: The approval that was received from MTO for the location of that intersection at 15th Street was based on the design or the 80 kilometer posted speed design speed. slightly higher.

00:59:20 Speaker 08: By resolution, the county is looking at lowering that speed, because this work is happening.

00:59:22 Speaker 08: The design is being advanced prior to that decision being finalized.

00:59:24 Speaker 08: We're sort of planning for a higher design speed once the school's built, or between now and then.

00:59:45 Speaker 08: If it's lowered, it could change some of those tapers, but. it's important that the design is safe at that speed, and that's how it's being designed and presented.

00:59:55 Speaker 08: Okay, and then second question was just pertaining to 16th Street.

00:59:57 Speaker 08: Any cross section changes at all this time yet?

00:59:58 Speaker 08: And 16th Street, or no?

01:00:11 Speaker 01: It's just going to be status quo, two lanes for the time being. Yes, sorry, yes.

01:00:17 Speaker 01: Okay, thank you for those answers.

01:00:18 Speaker 01: Not seeing any further questions. Councillor Farmers,

01:00:23 Speaker 01: move the recommendation within the report that Council bring forward a bylaw to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute a capital cost recovery agreement and bring forward a bylaw to execute the conditional building permit

01:00:36 Speaker 01: agreement and use wastewater rate revenues to make corresponding credit against the outstanding debt associated with Sydenham Heights Servicing Works in the amount of one hundred eleven thousand. No further questions. All those in favour? And that's. carried unanimously. Thank you.

01:00:50 Speaker 01: And I should note, Councillor Hamley, that is with us at this time in the meeting now, as well.

01:00:56 Speaker 01: So back to Sixteenth Street, and the report from the Director of Public Works and Engineering regarding the issuance of the Sixteenth Street East Pedestrian Tunnel Rehabilitation Tender. Welcome, Lara. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this report,

01:01:14 Speaker 19: now that my colleague has ever so nicely introduced it to you. is partly getting council up to speed because there was already a bit of a presentation on it previously at operations committee,

01:01:27 Speaker 19: and then part of it is requesting the award of the contract and how we're going to fund it.

01:01:34 Speaker 19: So, in the section titled "Design Changes," it goes through how this this project was originally a grant application under the Connecting.

01:01:44 Speaker 19: Link program, and once we had applied for it, it appeared that there was this proposition of a new secondary school being built in that general vicinity.

01:01:46 Speaker 19: So we built the engineering request for proposal around potentially investigating a pedestrian corridor as part of the bridge rehabilitation work, and then over the course of that time period, from the design until the tender,

01:01:56 Speaker 19: we've now obviously firmed up the location of the school.

01:02:20 Speaker 19: We now know where we need these pedestrian connections, and confirmed that it would be most cost effective to build in the two segments of sidewalk along Sixteenth Avenue Sixteenth Street as part of this project.

01:02:30 Speaker 19: So that was included in the design and tender.

01:02:42 Speaker 19: As you saw in the previous presentation, the yellow line on the east side of the rail trail is proposed to be recovered from the developer north of the school property,

01:02:54 Speaker 19: and the there was another there's another piece on the west side of the rail trail that unfortunately wasn't shown on that drawing,

01:03:03 Speaker 19: but it's slightly longer and it's proposed to be recovered from the developer on the of the parcel in between Heritage Grove. and the Rail Trail.

01:03:13 Speaker 19: So, in order to do that, the city needs to front end some of that cost as part of our construction tender.

01:03:21 Speaker 19: But the vast majority of those additional costs are going to be able to be recovered from the developers, leaving a small amount.

01:03:31 Speaker 19: I think that will ultimately be an additional cost over the existing approved budget.

01:03:39 Speaker 19: But ultimately, it looks like we're going to be able to execute the project and build in this pedestrian connectivity that will be quite important once there are students at that school.

01:03:51 Speaker 19: As we all know, they like to go to you know the fast food outlets for their lunch or their spare, and it it really isn't that far for them to go.

01:04:00 Speaker 19: So we should provide that for them.

01:04:02 Speaker 19: If there are any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Okay.

01:04:03 Speaker 19: Thank you, and to Council. Questions, Councillor Farmer.

01:04:05 Speaker 19: Through the chair, thank you.

01:04:06 Speaker 19: The budget and the and the funding required are obviously very different numbers.

01:04:08 Speaker 19: To what extent are the is the increase in that cost connected to the increase in scope just described?

01:04:09 Speaker 19: And to what extent is that the cost of things are more than we thought?

01:04:40 Speaker 19: Through the chair, the amount that we're going to be reimbursed from future developers is eight hundred and seventy-five thousand five hundred.

01:04:48 Speaker 19: So, that's that's the additional cost for adding in the slightly wider road platform over top of the culvert and adding in the sidewalk links.

01:04:50 Speaker 19: There is also, I think, a small amount.

01:04:51 Speaker 19: Thought it was a hundred and fifty thousand or so.

01:04:53 Speaker 19: I'm not not finding it easily in the report.

01:04:55 Speaker 19: That is a delta above the existing approved budget.

01:04:56 Speaker 19: That would be our cost, but the the rest of it is recoverable.

01:05:01 Speaker 19: Okay, thank you, Councilor Millar.

01:05:02 Speaker 19: Thank you, through your chair.

01:05:06 Speaker 19: I just wanted to be clear on the amount that we're taking out of the twenty twenty seven asphalt budget. to help pay for this,

01:05:35 Speaker 20: it said the remaining amount will be taken from the asphalt budget, and then it says the remaining amount is estimated to be five seventy five five hundred.

01:05:45 Speaker 20: Is is that what we're left with after you take the amount, or is is that the amount that you're taking?

01:05:57 Speaker 19: I'm going to ask my colleague to help me with the financial. magic that she helped me with on this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

01:06:07 Speaker 19: So, although 875,500 is ultimately recoverable from a future developer, that won't be immediate.

01:06:09 Speaker 07: So, we need to take the money from somewhere to pay for it now.

01:06:17 Speaker 07: We have about 300,000 in a capital contribution reserve that we'll use for a portion of that,

01:06:26 Speaker 07: and the remaining 575 will be funded by gas tax in the interim until. we're able to recover that money from a future developer, the timing of which we're unsure of,

01:06:35 Speaker 07: so that longer-term funding piece would be funded through the federal gas tax for the time being.

01:06:37 Speaker 07: Historically, through gas tax, we get approximately seven hundred thousand a year.

01:06:38 Speaker 07: So that's my concern: is we only have seven hundred thousand that we use every year for the road resurfacing.

01:06:40 Speaker 07: So if we're taking five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars.

01:06:42 Speaker 07: What does that mean for the two thousand and twenty-seven season of road resurfacing?

01:06:45 Speaker 07: It does essentially eliminate the two thousand and twenty-seven road resurfacing.

01:06:51 Speaker 07: What needs to be done?

01:06:52 Speaker 20: We would be doing small portions, or we could look at if there's something that's really bad.

01:06:58 Speaker 20: We could look at moving the next year up, but that it's the best place that we could find to fund this from with.

01:07:11 Speaker 19: To fund this from without, taking from other reserves or debenturing. Okay, good question. Any further questions? I've got two.

01:07:41 Speaker 01: There was a comment in the report regarding one provisional item, which was the painting within the tunnel at about one hundred eighty-five thousand dollars, which was removed due to the cost.

01:07:51 Speaker 01: At committee level, there was also discussion about a provisional item potentially. in the lighting in the tunnel, the lighting has it was existent in the current tunnel,

01:08:01 Speaker 01: but it hasn't functioned in years and years and years.

01:08:02 Speaker 01: I'm just wondering, is there an inclusion of lighting in the tunnel at this time?

01:08:04 Speaker 01: Is that something that could be considered as a cost reduction?

01:08:06 Speaker 01: Thank you for your question, Mr. Chair. Actually, yes.

01:08:08 Speaker 01: There's there's a total of about three hundred thousand that we're cutting from the contract.

01:08:16 Speaker 21: One hundred and eighty four. of that, or whatever whatever the numbers were that you said. I apologize.

01:08:18 Speaker 21: Was through a change order that we have to cut from the contract.

01:08:26 Speaker 21: The other piece is a provisional item that we can just choose not to do.

01:08:36 Speaker 21: So, does that include lighting?

01:08:36 Speaker 21: Lighting is considered in that.

01:08:37 Speaker 21: Yes, there will be no lighting. Okay.

01:08:39 Speaker 21: And second question, and I kind of touched upon it in the last report.

01:08:40 Speaker 21: On it in the last report.

01:08:41 Speaker 21: Looking forward to future development or future needs on Sixteenth Street.

01:08:43 Speaker 21: It's currently four lanes to the west of the tunnel, or or not thereafter.

01:08:47 Speaker 21: We hope that the tunnel rehabilitation lasts for I don't know thirty, forty, fifty years.

01:08:52 Speaker 01: Will this reconstruction what will it facilitate?

01:08:56 Speaker 01: Will it lead to kind of a a new A narrowing in the future, if there's still four-lane expansion to the east, or will it allow for future four-lane four-laning?

01:09:12 Speaker 01: I guess all the way to the intersection at the eastern limits of of the city.

01:09:20 Speaker 01: The culvert design was intended to accommodate a future widening of the road.

01:09:25 Speaker 01: Okay, thank you for that.

01:09:27 Speaker 01: So back to council, we do have a recommendation. on the within the report.

01:09:32 Speaker 01: Would someone like to move that, Councillor Dodd? Go ahead. Thank you, Your Worship.

01:09:59 Speaker 01: I'd move the recommendation as written within the report. It's on the floor.

01:10:03 Speaker 01: Any further questions, comments, Councillor Kepke?

01:10:04 Speaker 01: I'm just concerned with the asphalt resurfacing for next year.

01:10:06 Speaker 01: Like, I just don't think we can. do without having that.

01:10:08 Speaker 01: So, is there not somewhere else that funding could be found to cover this?

01:10:10 Speaker 01: Go back to Councillor Dodd.

01:10:29 Speaker 16: Thank you, Worship, and it's a it's a very valid question.

01:10:32 Speaker 16: It's great that everyone's talking about what's there.

01:10:34 Speaker 16: I think that's a probably decision that could be made during our capital discussion. What we're there.

01:10:41 Speaker 16: Obviously, we know if we need to align more money to a project, you. can assign more money to a capital levy.

01:10:50 Speaker 16: That'll be a decision that council will need to make in 2027.

01:10:55 Speaker 16: If they feel $125,000 is adequate to meet the needs of that job, we have in the past, when there's been large-scale developments that have required a lot of asphalt resurfacing in that calendar year,

01:11:08 Speaker 16: we have slowed down and said, maybe we don't do all the other stuff because we're utilizing Alpha Street or we're doing some of these other projects.

01:11:14 Speaker 16: We've kind of So we kind of toned down on that. Very good question.

01:11:18 Speaker 16: I think it's a question that just will probably be brought up at capital budget on how that's going to that's going to look.

01:11:24 Speaker 16: And I would, if I could, just add some comfort.

01:11:28 Speaker 01: I would note that next year, certainly Fourth Avenue West for four to five blocks will be resurfaced, along with two blocks of Sixteenth Street, I believe, or one block. of Sixteenth Street,

01:11:37 Speaker 01: a block of Fifteenth Street, two blocks of Seventeenth Street.

01:11:47 Speaker 01: There will be a lot of resurfacing gets done within larger other capital projects as well.

01:11:53 Speaker 01: So, some years we don't have those large, significant other projects ongoing.

01:11:58 Speaker 01: But like the year that we did Alpha Street, we did achieve a lot of resurfacing within the city, just within large reconstruction projects. So, Councillor Kepi.

01:12:08 Speaker 01: So I'm thinking of the portion.

01:12:12 Speaker 17: From the Alpha Street project, the Eleventh Street that was delayed until next year, is that going to be delayed again?

01:12:20 Speaker 17: Laura, I would have to look and see where it is.

01:12:22 Speaker 17: Like I would have to look up our map.

01:12:35 Speaker 01: Okay, so I'm not seeing any further questions. The motion's been moved. It's on the floor. It's been moved. It's on the floor.

01:12:44 Speaker 01: All those in favor, and that's carried unanimously. Thank you very much.

01:12:46 Speaker 01: And this time we're at 10C, and we'll go back to Lara regarding the Fourth Avenue West reconstruction next steps. Lara. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

01:12:48 Speaker 01: So this is coming back to council for further direction.

01:12:49 Speaker 01: We took it under advisement. council's direction.

01:12:51 Speaker 01: I guess the resolution wasn't specific, but we understood from the discussion that option three was out.

01:12:59 Speaker 19: So we went back and we looked at potential other options.

01:13:05 Speaker 19: We've prepared the report, formulated around the recommendation of option one.

01:13:35 Speaker 19: It's now called one a because. to us it sounded like that was the general consensus of the sentiment around the table.

01:13:43 Speaker 19: However, for your for your consideration, we've also proposed an option two a, which is essentially option three, without the multi use path.

01:13:53 Speaker 19: Instead, it's a regular width sidewalk.

01:13:54 Speaker 19: So there are a number of pros and cons for both of these both of these options.

01:14:05 Speaker 19: I think it probably be best. if you have questions, just ask them, and I'll answer them.

01:14:10 Speaker 19: Okay, thank you, Councillor Merton. Through you, Deputy Mayor.

01:14:19 Speaker 18: When I read this report, you have put in the recommendation about option one A. If we approve one A, then we're actually approving something that will cost us more, and.

01:14:29 Speaker 18: Just more, and does not incorporate the safety features that have been brought forward, including traffic speed and some of the concerns that parents had brought forward.

01:14:46 Speaker 18: So, it, option two A, which you brought forward, you didn't put as the first recommendation, even though it has the potential of saving money, making things safer.

01:15:02 Speaker 18: So to move to a different option. two A, we'd have to turn down the recommendation of one A, and doing that, we would say we don't want to spend more money,

01:15:11 Speaker 18: and we want to be able to keep the roads safe.

01:15:14 Speaker 18: As as the recommendation, I'm curious why the recommendation just didn't automatically come forward as two A as the preferred, rather than what I'm interpreting as the status quo.

01:15:34 Speaker 19: So we proposed 1A because we it it seemed like that was the general sentiment voiced around the table, and therefore most likely to to pass.

01:15:43 Speaker 19: That being said, since since since that time, we did we did put together option 2A as as an option for council to. consider and deliberate, Councilor Farmer.

01:16:08 Speaker 05: Through the chair, I'd like to move recommendation with option two A. It's listed in the report.

01:16:15 Speaker 05: I think that if the concerns that we expressed previously were around cost, then buying less material costs less.

01:16:22 Speaker 05: If we've heard clearly from the residents in multiple public engagement sessions, as well as in. the public forum of this committee and of operations committee,

01:16:33 Speaker 05: that folks are interested in doing something to address what I think was quoted as it being a racetrack was what one of the folks said.

01:16:41 Speaker 05: That if we move forward with option one a, then we're just choosing not to respond to any of that feedback and choosing something that's more expensive.

01:16:50 Speaker 05: I think more and more the adage "if nothing changes, nothing changes" rings true, and if we're redesigning it exactly as it is.

01:16:57 Speaker 05: Designing it exactly as it is, we're missing an opportunity to save money now and make it safer and address the concerns that we've heard.

01:17:06 Speaker 05: We still have the Vision Twenty Fifty plan if we choose to honor it, and I think Option Two A, with traffic calming design elements, is the best of those two options,

01:17:14 Speaker 05: which is why I've moved that one. Okay, Councillor Middelbroun.

01:17:16 Speaker 05: I think I'm still struggling with the cost and knowing. why things are lower cost, more of a cost,

01:17:22 Speaker 20: I don't see anything on either option one a or two a mentioning anything about the the poles and the trees.

01:17:32 Speaker 20: Are we still moving and cutting cutting down trees?

01:17:34 Speaker 20: I think if I actually could see numbers of one versus two, it might make a little more sense to me.

01:17:36 Speaker 20: But I'm just, to me, it's just someone's telling me that it's cheaper, and I just have to to assume that that's correct. Hello. Thank you, Councillor Bowbrow.

01:17:46 Speaker 20: Through through Deputy Mayor Greig, the cost is a simple function of asphalt costing more than topsoil and sod.

01:18:12 Speaker 19: In this case, between these two options, you have a much wider surface of asphalt in Option One, much smaller in Option Two.

01:18:22 Speaker 19: In addition, you're gaining more flexibility in the East Boulevard by making not only the road narrower, but also the path.

01:18:29 Speaker 19: The path is now turned into a sidewalk, so you're gaining about three meters or so of additional boulevard width on the east,

01:18:38 Speaker 19: which does allow a bit more flexibility to try to miss trees and and hydro poles. You're good.

01:18:47 Speaker 19: I think I would like a recorded vote.

01:18:48 Speaker 19: Councillor Dodd, thank you, Worship.

01:18:51 Speaker 19: I guess my my question is, the previous motion noted that it was going to proceed in the two thousand and twenty-seven calendar year, capital year.

01:19:12 Speaker 16: We have a meeting in a month to go through our our capital projects.

01:19:18 Speaker 16: I'm just more wondering why. this report wasn't being brought forward at that capital meeting in three weeks, where we would have had, you know, due time to go through those options,

01:19:32 Speaker 16: answer the questions that might still be lingering, to have a more of a solid response as a council.

01:19:39 Speaker 16: Considering we have a full day dedicated to that capital project or the capital plans, so for me,

01:19:45 Speaker 16: I was just kind of confused to see this actually on this agenda when. we're so close to our actual semiannual capital review, personally, again, what's the difference?

01:19:54 Speaker 16: Like, difference between topsoil and ashfield? Are we talking?

01:19:56 Speaker 16: Is it twenty thousand dollars difference?

01:19:57 Speaker 16: Is it one hundred and fifty thousand dollars difference?

01:20:03 Speaker 16: Is it like those are the parts where I think those do have different meaning to them?

01:20:13 Speaker 16: But this is a large. discussion.

01:20:14 Speaker 16: It's been a discussion that Councils already made couldn't come to an agreement on, delayed to 2027.

01:20:24 Speaker 16: I'm wondering, is there urgency to make this decision today, or should it be reviewed again?

01:20:31 Speaker 16: This report just be reviewed in our capital meeting in in June.

01:20:40 Speaker 01: Would staff like to speak to the timelines before I take any further questions?

01:20:45 Speaker 01: Quite honestly, I won't be at the capital budget meeting, so I wanted it to be done while I was able to talk about it.

01:20:52 Speaker 19: So, is there any further thing that you would like to add today, since you're in the meeting?

01:21:05 Speaker 19: Is there anything else you'd like to add from your perspective? Through the chair. I don't. I don't think so.

01:21:15 Speaker 19: It's been outlined in the report. It's been asked. I've answered.

01:21:22 Speaker 19: It's been a very quick turnaround, as you pointed out.

01:21:31 Speaker 19: It's even if we wait until the capital budget meeting.

01:21:42 Speaker 19: I don't. think that there would be a significant possibility of having a comprehensive cost comparison between the two options.

01:21:52 Speaker 19: We weren't even sure what timing we were intending to bring this back, based on the resolution that Council had provided to us.

01:22:06 Speaker 19: So, if Council wants to direct staff to. to go in a particular direction, we're happy to comply.

01:22:15 Speaker 19: We just need to know what what you want us to do. You go.

01:22:17 Speaker 19: Okay, Councilor Middelbrodt and Councilor Koo Krais, I saw your hand up.

01:22:19 Speaker 01: Sorry, I did have one more question.

01:22:20 Speaker 01: With the timing of the procurement and and construction, are we now looking at doing it all in one, or is this going to be phased over two years,

01:22:36 Speaker 20: or can we do it all in the twenty twenty seven season?

01:22:38 Speaker 20: Through the chair, to Councilor Middlebro.

01:22:43 Speaker 19: I think the intention was to try to do it all in one shot, but that again could be flexible.

01:22:50 Speaker 19: It would be more cost effective to try to do it all at once because any time you parcel a project, you're mobilizing and demobilizing multiple times.

01:22:59 Speaker 19: There's usually throwaway costs with temporary connections and whatnot.

01:23:01 Speaker 19: So that would be what I would push for anyway.

01:23:03 Speaker 19: And councillor Cucaja, then councillor Hamley. So, you chair.

01:23:13 Speaker 19: I think a part of my question was answered.

01:23:16 Speaker 02: My question was that: Do we have a comparative analysis of the cost between the two, so that, like, it's easier to look and see where is more like that?

01:23:25 Speaker 02: And yeah, that was my question. Councillor Hamley.

01:23:29 Speaker 02: My point was. actually Councillor Dodd's point, but I did want to have some clarification on 2A.

01:23:39 Speaker 02: There would be no parking whatsoever on 2A. Is that correct?

01:23:40 Speaker 02: Through the chair, that is correct.

01:23:41 Speaker 02: I was trying to think: is there any other potential alternative?

01:23:55 Speaker 19: And the only other thing that I could come up with is to have like bump-outs with parking lanes, and that would be really,

01:24:04 Speaker 19: really difficult. to maintain in the winter on like not a main street type of road.

01:24:12 Speaker 01: I know just, and it was stated to me from someone within an engineering department external to the city of Olmstead, the concern it's a collector road, it's higher traffic.

01:24:24 Speaker 01: You go to three and a half meter lane width.

01:24:27 Speaker 01: As soon as there's an incident, your road's closed, and that would be. cause for consideration, cause for considering not to do it, to to do that narrowing on a collector road.

01:24:36 Speaker 01: Some of the costs I understand it, but it's a collector road.

01:24:37 Speaker 01: The plows drive the collector roads, probably two to one over the local roads.

01:24:39 Speaker 01: The the plows are driving it anyway in the winter in terms of operational snow removal.

01:24:43 Speaker 01: They're going back and forth.

01:24:45 Speaker 01: That's just what they do across the city.

01:24:48 Speaker 01: They're on Fourth Avenue West a lot more than they're on Sixth Avenue West. Just ask.

01:25:00 Speaker 01: Northern on Sixth Avenue West. Just ask the residents.

01:25:10 Speaker 01: So I think the plows are already they're already on top of that pavement through winter.

01:25:12 Speaker 01: So I think any comments about the operational cost being higher in winter, it's it's pretty negligible when you consider the plows are are on anyway.

01:25:17 Speaker 01: So those are are my comments at this time.

01:25:20 Speaker 01: I'm certainly someone that would be opposed in a recorded vote, Councilor Farmer.

01:25:27 Speaker 05: Thanks to the chair to speak to that one more time before the recorded vote.

01:25:31 Speaker 05: I would seek two pieces of clarification from staff.

01:25:37 Speaker 05: My understanding was that it was minor collector, that there was some caveat around, rather than it being the highest scale of collector.

01:25:45 Speaker 05: I am also under the impression that with the current offset width of the road, that if we're rebuilding the road, to the center line being the center of the road allowance,

01:25:56 Speaker 05: that that increases the amount of space. afforded to preserve things like trees, telephone poles, but also to allow snow storage along the boulevard, as in other parts of the city,

01:26:06 Speaker 05: where more highly traveled roads have a grass boulevard that collects snow for us.

01:26:07 Speaker 05: I, if if we are thinking about this as this is a street that's designed to move people, it's also a street that people in the neighborhood. use.

01:26:21 Speaker 05: People in the neighborhood also, including the school and the daycare, that are right in the chunk that we're talking about.

01:26:27 Speaker 05: If the goal is to move people through there as a collector road, I don't think we need that parking.

01:26:33 Speaker 05: And for the couple of times a year that someone has folks over for Thanksgiving and Easter and all those other fun things, the blocks are shorter. People's driveways are long.

01:26:44 Speaker 05: And if we're splitting the difference with any kind of Vision to what do we want this to look like over the life cycle of the asset?

01:27:01 Speaker 05: I I just don't see how the way that it was designed, however many decades ago, meets the needs that we've expressed as a council now.

01:27:08 Speaker 05: But I would turn to staff for confirmation of the alignment of the alignment of the street.

01:27:17 Speaker 05: Yeah, that way and whatever my second question was.

01:27:19 Speaker 05: To Councillor Farmer through the chair, yes.

01:27:29 Speaker 19: When we make the road narrower, it gives us more space on the boulevards for snow storage, grass to avoid utility conflicts, that type of thing.

01:27:39 Speaker 19: And yes, I think we're checking right now. Yeah, yeah.

01:27:41 Speaker 19: The official plan just shows it as a collector.

01:27:56 Speaker 19: It doesn't specify, but I guess to that point, to Deputy Mayor Greig's point, if there was a blockage in some part of of the roadway on the up side,

01:28:06 Speaker 19: there are several side streets that could be detour routes.

01:28:17 Speaker 19: So it's it's not like it's one long road. with only one end, and like only two ends.

01:28:27 Speaker 01: Councilor Merton, and then I'll go to the clerk for about.

01:28:31 Speaker 01: I'll go Merton, and then Hamley, and then we'll call the vote. Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

01:28:37 Speaker 18: Just want to ask a question about funding. My and timing.

01:28:41 Speaker 18: My understanding is that this project, there's certain expectations for us to be able to get some grant funding, or. not on this one.

01:28:52 Speaker 18: Or is there any reason why we need to expedite a decision for any other funding option?

01:29:00 Speaker 18: Or are we good to go?

01:29:02 Speaker 18: This sorry, through the chair.

01:29:05 Speaker 19: This project uses OCIF funding, but that's not the type of grant that we have to like apply for.

01:29:13 Speaker 19: And it has a maximum number of years that we can build up, but we're not there yet. Councillor Hammy.

01:29:21 Speaker 19: Can I just ask the clerk?

01:29:22 Speaker 22: I just can't remember off the top of my head when is the capital budget meeting?

01:29:30 Speaker 09: Through Deputy Mayor Greig, it's Tuesday, June twenty third.

01:29:33 Speaker 09: Okay, back to where Councillor Dodd started.

01:29:38 Speaker 22: So I did look at the motion that was moved on April twenty seventh, and it doesn't specify that this item would be. moved to the capital budget meeting,

01:29:50 Speaker 22: so I'm going to move that we defer this vote and this report to the capital budget meeting. Okay.

01:30:00 Speaker 22: Any questions as to the date of postponement?

01:30:01 Speaker 22: That's the question that is on the floor.

01:30:02 Speaker 22: So I'll call the vote on the postponing and.

01:30:04 Speaker 22: Opponent, and all those in favor, and that's carried unanimously.

01:30:23 Speaker 23: Okay, and we are down to item ten D, and at this time, I will vacate the chair and place Councillor Milleboro in the chair for the Great County Council report.

01:30:33 Speaker 23: Thank you, Deputy Mayor Greig.

01:30:34 Speaker 23: At ten D, we have the verbal report from the Deputy Mayor regarding Grey County Council.

01:30:36 Speaker 23: So I will turn it over to you.

01:30:44 Speaker 20: Thank you, and I can present for Council.

01:30:53 Speaker 20: We had a fairly light agenda at the last County Council meeting.

01:30:59 Speaker 01: There was a deputation from Ontario Nature regarding the thirty by thirty initiative, which is endeavoring to protect thirty percent of Canada's lands and waters by two thousand and thirty.

01:31:25 Speaker 01: By 2030, and there's certain criteria which one has to meet to be able to have lands that would fall into that protected consideration.

01:31:35 Speaker 01: And one is clearly defined boundaries.

01:31:36 Speaker 01: Two is achieve in situ conservation of biodiversity.

01:31:37 Speaker 01: Three is prevent actions incompatible with conservation.

01:31:39 Speaker 01: And four is long-term protection.

01:31:40 Speaker 01: It's a free and simple. program to take part in its national recognition and community pride.

01:31:41 Speaker 01: It validates conservation approaches and complements existing climate and environmental goals.

01:31:43 Speaker 01: And I would just note, last October we had a similar presentation at Gray Sable Conservation Authority.

01:31:45 Speaker 01: I see Councillor Farmer nodding.

01:31:47 Speaker 01: He recollects that initiative, and the conservation authority was happy to place some of our lands into the consideration of being protected. Obviously.

01:32:10 Speaker 01: Graysville, with 29,000 acres, would have a lot of lands that could be considered as part of that 30 by 30 initiative.

01:32:20 Speaker 01: So, we'll see a future small report back to council regarding that.

01:32:25 Speaker 01: And I can note for council that AMO delegation requests from Gray County are the following: to the Ministry of Health regarding increased capital funding streams.

01:32:34 Speaker 01: Increase capital funding streams to allow and support growth of infrastructure for primary healthcare teams.

01:32:44 Speaker 01: Two, Ministry of Transportation for OTIF Transit Project update and sustainable funding.

01:32:50 Speaker 01: Three, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to advocate for a pause on provincial legislation changes.

01:32:57 Speaker 01: Four, to the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security for sustainable funding for rural-serving campus apprenticeships. to support workforce development, including clean energy goals,

01:33:11 Speaker 01: to the Ministry of Education for additional childcare spaces in Grey County and recruitment and retention of ECES and ECAs,

01:33:21 Speaker 01: to the Ministry of Long Term Care for the renaming of behavioral support units using person-centered language, and lastly to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for increased support for the homelessness prevention. program funding,

01:33:37 Speaker 01: and I welcome any questions and ask for council's endorsement of the verbal report. Okay, thank you.

01:33:44 Speaker 01: Does anyone have any questions? Go ahead, Councillor Farmer.

01:33:48 Speaker 05: Thank you, through the chair, to the 30 by 30 project.

01:33:50 Speaker 05: Was there any indication that lower-tier municipalities would find it fruitful to look at our own land stocks, parklands, and see about contributing them to the project as well?

01:34:02 Speaker 01: I would say because they were making a presentation to the upper tier municipality, there was no discussion about lower tier municipalities because it wasn't relevant to that presentation they were presenting to Gray County.

01:34:11 Speaker 01: Through the chair, with relief,

01:34:22 Speaker 05: I wonder if I could look to staff what to ask whether there is would be any benefit to exploring whether some of the significant parkland. that we have that is ravine and cliff and is

01:34:35 Speaker 05: never going to be developed.

01:34:36 Speaker 05: Whether that would qualify for participation in that particular plan, or am I asking a question that would require a motion for a report?

01:34:50 Speaker 08: Through you, acting chair, I'm not familiar with the presentation, and I'd have to familiarize myself to understand if there's any city lands that would be appropriate.

01:34:59 Speaker 08: Would be appropriately kind of gifted as part of that program. Okay.

01:35:01 Speaker 08: Does anyone have any other questions?

01:35:02 Speaker 08: Seeing none, I will call the question. All those in favor? And that carries.

01:35:04 Speaker 08: So I will turn it back over to the deputy mayor.

01:35:16 Speaker 24: And at this time, we're down to item eleven, which is the consent agenda.

01:35:21 Speaker 24: And I guess before we go to the no, I guess you'll introduce, and then I'll ask if there's any items that anyone would like voted on separately. So, to you, Breanna. To your deputy.

01:35:57 Speaker 09: Through Deputy Mayor Greig, on the consent agenda this evening are reports on short-term cultural facility parking, a policy consolidation for the council seating and appointments policy, the appointment of a bilingual enforcement officer,

01:36:09 Speaker 09: an encroachment application for seven ninety second Ave East, a proposed sale of adjacent land, and public comments respecting eleven eighty two and eleven eighty six Third Ave West, twenty twenty six fees and charges,

01:36:21 Speaker 09: dedication of land as a highway at Part Five Plan sixteen R one two two five. and report on the approval of non-standard procurement for the wastewater treatment plant digester cleanout.

01:36:32 Speaker 09: There are minutes for receipt from the Owen Sound Housing Company and the River District Board of Management.

01:36:36 Speaker 09: Hawker and Peddler business licenses were issued to Bright Shores Health System for their coffee house event at the Farmers Market on May twenty-six,

01:36:43 Speaker 09: and to Billy G Amusements for the sale of fireworks at twelve sixty-six Sixteenth Street East.

01:36:48 Speaker 09: The last item on the consent agenda is the information package.

01:36:52 Speaker 09: A full listing is available at eleven L. At 11L.

01:36:56 Speaker 23: And first, I'll ask: Is there any items within the consent agenda, councillors, would like voted on separate?

01:37:02 Speaker 23: Councillor Cap P. Then Councillor Merton.

01:37:04 Speaker 17: I would like to have a discussion on item 11A.

01:37:06 Speaker 17: No, I see Councillor Merton nodding in agreement. Councillor Farmer.

01:37:16 Speaker 05: Through the chair, I'd like to discuss 11B as well, and to speak to something in the correspondence package in 11J.

01:37:22 Speaker 05: In eleven J, but I'll leave it to the chair to let me know whether we can speak to correspondence after the consent agenda has been passed, or as in most recent meetings,

01:37:30 Speaker 05: that should be pulled separately.

01:37:34 Speaker 23: I'll come back to you after we vote on the consent agenda, just to speak to something separately.

01:37:40 Speaker 25: So, I will go to Councillor Kukrasić.

01:37:43 Speaker 25: Moved by myself, that in consideration of the items listed on the May eleventh, twenty.

01:37:45 Speaker 25: On the May 11, 2026, consent agenda, City Council receives items 11A to 11L, save and accept 11A, 11B, and approve.

01:37:50 Speaker 02: Do this right now or later?

01:37:58 Speaker 02: And approve the recommendations contained in item 11A to 11H, except 11A and 11B. Thank you.

01:38:16 Speaker 23: I see the clerks nodding. Okay, everyone's clear. All those in favor? Then that's carried unanimously.

01:38:24 Speaker 23: So I will go back to item 11A and Councilor Kukracja.

01:38:31 Speaker 02: Moved by myself, that in consideration of the items listed on May 11, 2026, consent agenda, City Council receives items 11A for discussion. Councilor Kepky. Thank you. Your Worship.

01:38:48 Speaker 17: Through you, perhaps to staff, I really like the idea that the art gallery, or sorry, library CEO has presented, with four spaces being accessible and the remainder to the bandshell being half-hour parking.

01:38:59 Speaker 17: And I wondered, is this something we consider?

01:39:13 Speaker 17: Do we need to just postpone this report, or what do we do?

01:39:17 Speaker 17: to get that looked at?

01:39:17 Speaker 17: Go to the director for a response.

01:39:19 Speaker 17: Through the chair, and certainly thanks for raising it.

01:39:22 Speaker 08: The purpose of this report was really to affect the the request that had been made by council when the service review recommendation and decision was made around relocating tourism at the Tom.

01:39:44 Speaker 08: One of the issues that. was noted in the report was the need for short-term parking.

01:39:51 Speaker 08: So, this report specifically was to address that.

01:39:55 Speaker 08: In getting in getting this report ready, and I didn't attend the meeting, but Miss Ware had meeting with the city clerk, bylaw enforcement,

01:40:06 Speaker 08: as well as staff in engineering services who look after on-street parking rules.

01:40:13 Speaker 08: At the time, we talked.

01:40:15 Speaker 08: I think you know there was discussion about a bigger project, more accessible spaces, more short-term parking spaces.

01:40:23 Speaker 08: It's been my experience in the city that any time we talk about parking spaces, changing them, removing them, making them longer-term, shorter-term,

01:40:31 Speaker 08: there's always a lot of consultation and thought that needs to go into that.

01:40:35 Speaker 08: So the focus of this is kind of short-term, as the report points out.

01:40:40 Speaker 08: That staff recognize there may be a. longer term need to review parking configurations, accessibility, and traffic flow around the facilities more broadly.

01:40:50 Speaker 08: However, the addition of two short term spaces is viewed as an immediate and achievable measure.

01:40:55 Speaker 08: If we were to make these four spaces accessible, adding Type A and Type B spaces, they require the hatched area in between, so it would take up quite a bit of space. It requires signage.

01:41:10 Speaker 08: It may. need dropped curbs, bollards, and you need to have somewhere to go on the other side of the street.

01:41:19 Speaker 08: So that was certainly bigger than this project.

01:41:22 Speaker 08: This was done as quickly as we could in time for the tourism and the summer season.

01:41:28 Speaker 08: I think evaluating the success of this pilot may be really helpful in informing where we may go next. Additionally.

01:41:39 Speaker 08: I think we would want to talk to the other users in the block, certainly including the church, before we did anything broader than that.

01:41:48 Speaker 08: But certainly, as the report notes, we're we're open to doing a broader look at this.

01:41:54 Speaker 08: It just isn't on our our work plan for this year.

01:41:59 Speaker 17: So further to that, we do have additional bylaw staff now that should be able to enforce parking here.

01:42:07 Speaker 17: I don't. understand why you can't still do with the spaces that are there.

01:42:13 Speaker 17: Make that whole section 30 minutes, and then, as a second phase, work on your upgrading your handicap parking.

01:42:21 Speaker 17: Sorry, through the chair, you mean make all the spaces on the street 30 minutes.

01:42:23 Speaker 17: Sorry, I mean make the space.

01:42:35 Speaker 17: I mean, make the spaces from Eight Street to the Bandshell thirty minutes, as was discussed, and that will accommodate.

01:42:43 Speaker 17: Rather than looking at a future need for that specific art gallery, library, parking, I don't see the church people parking way up there unless they're empty and available, and the others are filled.

01:42:57 Speaker 17: But I don't understand why you can't just do that right now as your short term, and then as your second phase, look at. upgrading your handicap parking through the chair. We certainly could.

01:43:07 Speaker 17: What council asked staff to do was create one space.

01:43:17 Speaker 08: We thought we were living on the edge, bringing you two spaces.

01:43:21 Speaker 08: If council's wish is to create short-term parking up until the band stand, save and accept the cost for that signage.

01:43:30 Speaker 08: Certainly, you can modify the most.

01:43:31 Speaker 08: You can modify the motions to do that this evening if you wish.

01:43:37 Speaker 26: Councilor Kucera, then Councilor Milbram.

01:43:39 Speaker 26: Just a quick question to the director.

01:43:44 Speaker 02: So, where would the library staff at the art gallery staff would normally park?

01:43:48 Speaker 02: Like, where do they park?

01:43:49 Speaker 02: I I wonder if the library wants to respond to that.

01:43:51 Speaker 02: I think staff park in in different spaces, but I I just I. Spaces, but I just I'd be guessing.

01:43:56 Speaker 08: I don't think we need to speak to where a singular department of the city may be parking.

01:44:05 Speaker 01: They'd be treated no different than a city hall employee, and and they have access to the municipal lots that are in the area.

01:44:17 Speaker 01: I think is the fair way to speak to that, Councilor Middledore.

01:44:22 Speaker 01: Thank you, through your chair.

01:44:23 Speaker 01: There's a lot of talk in the the report about the busy summer season in July and August, and the signs.

01:44:30 Speaker 20: It says they would be implemented for the July-August summer tourist season.

01:44:35 Speaker 20: I just want to clarify: these are permanent, year-round spaces, are they not?

01:44:40 Speaker 08: Yes, the report was intended to say we would get this done before July, but yes, they would stay there all year.

01:44:48 Speaker 08: Okay, thank you for clarifying.

01:44:50 Speaker 20: I was happy to see two spaces, and I would be in favor of increasing the number of short-term spaces.

01:44:57 Speaker 20: Being someone who has had children and wanted to go to the library and never could find parking, I think it's it's a good option to to increase.

01:45:08 Speaker 20: But my other question is, what's the difference going to be if we're not upping the enforcement?

01:45:14 Speaker 20: So maybe if I go to the clerk about the bylaw and whether there will be increased enforcement, or else is this just mood?

01:45:27 Speaker 09: Through you, Deputy Mayor Greig, thank you for the question.

01:45:32 Speaker 09: This would be a section that would be enforced by our parking contract, so that is through Fairmount, and they currently have one employee who does a route.

01:45:41 Speaker 09: So, to say that they will be on that road every thirty minutes would be unreasonable.

01:45:49 Speaker 09: So that's not within the framework of the parking contract at this time.

01:45:53 Speaker 09: While we have a student here, we could certainly. have some our bylaw student going there as well, but it would be a lower priority call.

01:46:06 Speaker 18: Councillor Merton, through Deputy Mayor, I agree with the recommendation to, you know, we start with a plan and sometimes we enhance the plan.

01:46:16 Speaker 18: So the idea is there.

01:46:18 Speaker 18: I do agree with with expanding the parking spaces right up to the. bandshell.

01:46:25 Speaker 18: I also agree that it's important to incorporate the handicapped modifications as a future work plan, recognizing that that is a critical feature for accessibility for all of our residents.

01:46:40 Speaker 18: And I also feel we're trying to resolve an issue because people are staying in the parking spots too long.

01:46:49 Speaker 18: So enhancing without enforcing is not really moving. forward, and I would encourage whatever is required for enhancing, to from the enforcement be part of a work plan as well.

01:47:03 Speaker 18: You can't measure your success when you know there's an issue if you don't modify.

01:47:08 Speaker 18: And I think having us understand that this is a multi-pronged solution that is possible to solve, we can solve this if we can bring everyone together.

01:47:18 Speaker 18: So I do support expanding the number of spaces there. Councilor Farmer.

01:47:24 Speaker 18: Thank you, through the chair. I'm curious.

01:47:27 Speaker 05: Staff obviously talked about a greater number than the original motion.

01:47:31 Speaker 05: Was there a blue sky limit, and it was trimmed down to two, thinking you were living on the edge, or were there were there additional possibilities brainstormed that we didn't hear in the report?

01:47:48 Speaker 08: Through the chair, and I may. go to the clerk because she had had attended the meeting.

01:47:52 Speaker 08: But a meeting was convened with the director and curator of the Tom, the director of the library, parking, bylaw enforcement, engineering.

01:48:05 Speaker 08: I know they talked about more spaces, but I don't know if it went beyond beyond the bandstand. Go ahead, Breanne.

01:48:18 Speaker 27: Through Deputy Mayor Greig, at the meeting there were some other ideas brought forward.

01:48:24 Speaker 27: One of them was to add a number of accessible spaces, and then also having the short-term parking up to the bandshell.

01:48:31 Speaker 27: At the time, the engineering staff suggested that typically there would be notice provided within that block, and they have a process that they would typically follow for larger parking changes.

01:48:44 Speaker 27: But certainly, it's within. council's purview.

01:48:47 Speaker 27: Should they want to make other, do it differently.

01:48:53 Speaker 01: Just as long as council is aware of when you're flying on the seat of your pants, like we are,

01:48:59 Speaker 01: we've heard from one person this evening and haven't had broader engagement in terms of decision making. Go ahead, Council Farmer.

01:49:08 Speaker 05: My understanding is through the chair to staff generally.

01:49:11 Speaker 05: My understanding is that parking changes in this block were part of. the Downtown River Precinct project, in whatever form of planning it reached before being changed. What were those changes?

01:49:29 Speaker 05: Do we know what those changes were at the time?

01:49:31 Speaker 05: And is there any current plan to put this kind of conversation onto the work plan for two thousand and twenty-seven or two thousand and twenty-eight?

01:49:39 Speaker 05: Or is requesting something like that would that require a subsequent? motion?

01:49:47 Speaker 08: Through the chair, and I'll look to the clerk to confirm this.

01:49:50 Speaker 08: But the strategy for parking in on this street, other lots on Second Avenue, Third Avenue, in terms of the two hours or five hours, was part of that comprehensive strategy.

01:50:02 Speaker 08: It wasn't changed with the Downtown River Precinct Four Block Plan.

01:50:06 Speaker 08: But I'd ask the clerk to confirm.

01:50:13 Speaker 27: Through your through you, Deputy Mcgregg, I may have misunderstood what the discussion was about.

01:50:18 Speaker 27: But I was going to just suggest that when the changes to the downtown parking parking happened, the two hour and five hour years ago,

01:50:28 Speaker 27: the River District Board was also included in some of that consultation.

01:50:33 Speaker 27: Councilor Farmer, I I think I. think that we're talking about the immediate term, which is what the motion was,

01:50:45 Speaker 05: and that we're recognizing that there is a more deeply rooted challenge here that would benefit from being dug into more deeply.

01:50:53 Speaker 05: And I, I think, to that to that end, I would move the recommendation as it's written and have us. Oh, sorry, already moved. Oh, sorry. Don't mind me.

01:51:02 Speaker 05: I was only here for thirty minutes. and missed that part.

01:51:05 Speaker 05: I'll have a subsequent motion about adding the the medium term discussion to the work plan for twenty twenty seven.

01:51:11 Speaker 05: Okay, thank you for that.

01:51:13 Speaker 05: Because I was about to look for a wrap up to the discussion and call the vote.

01:51:18 Speaker 28: As Councillor Kukreja's mentioned, receiving it within the consent agenda,

01:51:27 Speaker 28: which is directing staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend Traffic Bylaw Number Two Thousand Nine Zero Seven Five to include the designation of two parking spaces adjacent to the library gallery tourism. for short-term thirty-minute parking,

01:51:39 Speaker 28: as outlined in the report. No further discussion. All those in favor. I'm calling the vote. Okay, Councilor Kepu. Thank you.

01:51:53 Speaker 17: I would move an amendment to the motion, to designate parking spaces from Eight Street to the Banshell, as short-term thirty-minute parking, and further that. the handicap parking be reviewed to meet the AODA. Any discussion, Councillor Farmer.

01:52:03 Speaker 17: I am totally sympathetic to the intention behind that.

01:52:27 Speaker 05: My concern with the addition of reviewing the handicap parking requirements to conform with the AODAs is that we're moving beyond just putting a sign up to see. how that works,

01:52:35 Speaker 05: and we're now getting into engineering and design costs and curb cuts and and new spacing.

01:52:42 Speaker 05: I was also I'm also curious if we have a if we know how many spaces that is specifically.

01:52:50 Speaker 05: Having pulled Google Earth up on my on my council provided iPad, I'm seeing that's like I think a dozen, but perhaps the the chief librarian would have a a.

01:52:59 Speaker 05: Aaron would have a more specific count in mind, having considered this more deeply.

01:53:08 Speaker 20: I'll go to Councillor Minterborough. Thank you.

01:53:11 Speaker 20: I'm not going to support the amendment at this time.

01:53:14 Speaker 20: I think we move ahead with the two spaces.

01:53:17 Speaker 20: I like the idea of Councillor Farmer's motion to have another report come back that looks at this in further detail, with that we can move forward at that time.

01:53:27 Speaker 20: So I'm going to vote against the amendment. Okay.

01:53:30 Speaker 23: Thank you, and I will call the question. on the amendment. All those in favor?

01:53:35 Speaker 23: And that is two in favor. Those opposed?

01:53:38 Speaker 23: And that amendment motion fails.

01:53:40 Speaker 23: So we're back to the main motion. Any further? One question, Councillor Cappie.

01:53:46 Speaker 17: Question on the main motion: Does it include direction to staff to come back with a further report on the remaining spaces and suggested and requirement? It does not.

01:53:58 Speaker 23: But I'll go to Councillor Farmer afterwards. seeing any further questions?

01:54:04 Speaker 23: All those in favour, and that is carried.

01:54:08 Speaker 05: Councillor Farmer, I move that Council direct staff to incorporate into the 2027 work plan a comprehensive report involving all relevant stakeholders for a redesign of and realignment of the parking along First. Avenue West. Any discussion? Not seeing any. All those in favor? And that is carried. Thank you.

01:54:40 Speaker 23: We are now down to item.

01:54:42 Speaker 23: We've got one more in the consent agenda. Councilor Kukracja.

01:54:45 Speaker 23: That in moved by myself.

01:54:47 Speaker 02: That in consideration of the items listed on the May eleven, two thousand and twenty six consent agenda, City Council receives item eleven B. Discussion, Councillor Farmer.

01:54:56 Speaker 02: Thank you, through the chair.

01:55:02 Speaker 05: There was one really small thing that jumped out at me in the amalgamated policy around how we assess the the voting and nomination for the county alternative,

01:55:12 Speaker 05: and that was point I in the list for that.

01:55:18 Speaker 05: Which this is admittedly very fine toothed, but in that if a bunch of people are nominated and all have the. and we're all voted.

01:55:28 Speaker 05: We go to whoever's got the highest number.

01:55:31 Speaker 05: I think that any time that we can create more consensus, that's better, and that this is one small opportunity to incorporate a ranked ballot there,

01:55:38 Speaker 05: so that if Carol and Travis and I are all running, and or all put our names forward, and everyone wants Carol to either be number one or number two in their ranked ballot,

01:55:52 Speaker 05: and everyone else thinks that Travis and I are either their first. or third choice.

01:55:55 Speaker 05: That that that preference would be reflected to get us to a point where we're the greatest number of people are the most in favor of the nomination proceeding.

01:56:05 Speaker 05: To me, that's that seems like a small change.

01:56:12 Speaker 05: I'm conscious that what seems small to me does not always seem small to staff, and I'm wondering what would be involved from the clerk's perspective if we were to just add for section.

01:56:23 Speaker 05: I, there around that voting in the case of multiple people running with no clear majority, whether we can experiment.

01:56:30 Speaker 05: Debraina through Deputy Mayor Greig to the councillor.

01:56:31 Speaker 05: Thank you for the question.

01:56:39 Speaker 09: My preference would be to come back with a report on how that would actually look in the policy,

01:56:46 Speaker 09: so that council has a full understanding of practically speaking for both staff and council how that would. work using ranked ballots.

01:56:53 Speaker 09: As we don't typically do that during a meeting of council, but happy to do that.

01:56:58 Speaker 09: And so it would just be a matter of postponing this report until information can come back on ranked ballot.

01:57:05 Speaker 09: I'll go to Councilor Kempy.

01:57:05 Speaker 09: My question is on a ranked ballot: what?

01:57:14 Speaker 17: Nothing stops anyone from voting for only one, so that throws the ranking right out. the window.

01:57:22 Speaker 17: It doesn't like people can plunk their ballot.

01:57:25 Speaker 17: They can vote for one person.

01:57:26 Speaker 17: They don't have to vote for three.

01:57:28 Speaker 17: So ranking doesn't really exist in that case.

01:57:32 Speaker 17: I'll go to Councilor Farmer.

01:57:36 Speaker 05: Through the the chair, I would move that we postpone receipt of the report until additional information can come back about how ranked ballot ranked ballot vote.

01:57:46 Speaker 05: Ranked ballot voting would work.

01:57:46 Speaker 05: I think that we we get to make up these policies however we want, which means we can prevent someone from, from what was the term, plumping, plunking, plumping,

01:57:50 Speaker 05: from doing wrong with not allotting all of their allotted votes.

01:58:11 Speaker 05: I think we can make up those rules, and if we don't want that to happen, and there's a possibility to make a small improvement, I figure why not? Before I accept that. Councillor Koepke.

01:58:21 Speaker 05: Have you attended County Council three times?

01:58:22 Speaker 05: And we're asking staff to come back with a further report on choosing a ranked ballot for a measure of having an individual attend County Council two, three, four times over four years.

01:58:27 Speaker 23: You're certain you want to make that postponing motion. I am certain.

01:58:33 Speaker 23: I want to make those that postponing motion.

01:58:38 Speaker 23: If we don't try new things when they come up, we're never going to try new things.

01:58:46 Speaker 05: If that works here and staff come up with an opportunity for that process that is brilliant, that works, that the next council is really comfortable with, then it won't only be applied in one circumstance.

01:58:59 Speaker 05: It could be applied other places, and I am also, yeah, not certain that attendance that the next mayor and deputy mayor. would have such impeccable attendance at county meetings.

01:59:17 Speaker 05: So, let's plan for the all cases.

01:59:19 Speaker 05: All those in favor of the postponing motion. Those against. That is defeated.

01:59:21 Speaker 05: So we're back to the main motion that's on the floor.

01:59:32 Speaker 23: Which is, as noted by Councilor Kukracja in receiving it, respecting policy consolidation into the council appointments and seating policy.

01:59:41 Speaker 23: City Council directs staff to. bring forward a bylaw to one approve council seating and appointments.

01:59:45 Speaker 23: Policy number Gov zero zero one and two repeal alternate member of County Council.

01:59:49 Speaker 23: Policy number CRS C forty one. All those in favor. That is carried unanimously. Thank you.

01:59:56 Speaker 23: And there was one item within the consent agenda.

01:59:59 Speaker 23: Council Farmer, you want to speak or ask a question of? Go ahead. Thank you.

02:00:04 Speaker 05: Through the chair to the correspondence item seven from Prince Edward County seven eight.

02:00:10 Speaker 05: 7A specifically regarding vacant commercial storefront tax is a motion from the county to request information from their staff and to advocate for expansions in municipal ability to levy a vacant commercial storefront tax to create

02:00:27 Speaker 05: more incentive for potentially absentee landlords in who are holding open spaces in storefronts to have an incentive. to fill that.

02:00:40 Speaker 05: I would move that we send this letter for discussion to the River District Board. Discussion.

02:00:49 Speaker 05: All those in favor, and that's carried. Thank you.

02:00:57 Speaker 23: So we are at this time down to committee minutes, and we have three sets before us this evening.

02:01:03 Speaker 23: First are the minutes of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on May seventh. Councilor Krajac.

02:01:08 Speaker 23: Thank you, and through you, Chair, the Corporate Services Committee met on May seventh, twenty twenty-six.

02:01:10 Speaker 23: It was a fairly short meeting, with two reports.

02:01:13 Speaker 02: The first report was under Accounting, Report CR twenty-six zero four three from the Director of Corporate Services regarding twenty twenty-six Team One financial update.

02:01:32 Speaker 02: Usually, as the city operates on a calendar year budget, the report. summarized the city's financial position for the first four months, that is, from January to April of the year 2026.

02:01:45 Speaker 02: Based on the report, the city is currently in line with the approved budget, with no significant or unexpected variances identified at this stage.

02:01:55 Speaker 02: There was a mention of seasonal pressures that remain a key driver, with accounting in factors like the winter operation cost, exceptional. wet spring, staffing vacancies continue to generate short-term savings,

02:02:04 Speaker 02: but capacity pressures tend to affect service delivery.

02:02:06 Speaker 02: And that summarized report number one.

02:02:16 Speaker 02: The second report was on the tax and revenue, and it highlighted a change in one of the policy.

02:02:22 Speaker 02: The report was CR twenty-six zero four four, respecting the revised tax billing and collection policy.

02:02:24 Speaker 02: The tax billing and collection policy. is usually revised every five years to align with the current legislation, best practices, efficient tax administration.

02:02:41 Speaker 02: The report highlighted the benefits of adopting tax billing and collection policy number AF-020, repeal tax collection policy number FS-19, repeal property tax pre-authorization debit plans bylaw number 2013-094.

02:03:13 Speaker 02: To zero nine four, and amend bylaw two zero two six zero four one, which is the tax policy bylaw, respecting the method of preauthorized tax payments for final billing,

02:03:22 Speaker 02: to the reference policy AF zero two zero.

02:03:24 Speaker 02: With this, I request the approval of the meeting minutes, and happy to answer any questions.

02:03:25 Speaker 23: Are there any questions for Councilor Kukracja? Not seeing any. All those in favor? And that's carried. Now. And that's carried unanimously. Thank you.

02:03:27 Speaker 23: And second is minutes of the Tom Thompson Art Gallery Advisory Committee. Councilor Kepke. Thank you.

02:03:29 Speaker 23: The Tom Thompson Art Gallery Advisory Committee of May 6, 2026.

02:03:49 Speaker 17: The Director and Chief Curator provided an update report indicating the following: 2026 year-to-date attendance summary identified that around 200 visitors attended the gallery. 117 visitors participated in draw.

02:03:58 Speaker 17: Visitors participated in drop-in activities during March break, and seventy persons attended the opening reception of the winter exhibitions.

02:04:00 Speaker 17: With nineteen visitors attending two artist talks in conjunction with these exhibits, one thousand one hundred and sixteen patrons attended January to March screenings of gallery night at the movies presented at the Galaxy Cinema.

02:04:10 Speaker 17: Percentages of other activities, such as use of the open card and where visitors were coming from, were identified. director explained the current exhibitions: "More Than Human," "A Year in My Garden" by Liz Zetlin,

02:04:34 Speaker 17: "Emergence Two Thousand and Twenty Six," local local high school art exhibition, and "Forecast January to June."

02:04:43 Speaker 17: The success of the March break programming was noted, along with the well attended exhibition opening and a talk of the history of the gallery.

02:04:52 Speaker 17: The student exhibition entitled "Magic of Children in the Arts." which is showcasing from May 15 to 29, highlights a student-driven art show featuring hundreds of artworks by local students,

02:05:04 Speaker 17: showcasing artwork from six local schools and over 700 students across Gray Bruce from grades three to six.

02:05:12 Speaker 17: Over 100 campers are registered for Camp Tom, designed for children ages eight to 12, with the program's running for seven weeks in July and August, and includes two PD day camps in.

02:05:22 Speaker 17: It's two PD day camps in June.

02:05:25 Speaker 17: The Tom welcomes its summer education engagement team with two students beginning May 19 and one additional support student joining the team on June 16.

02:05:34 Speaker 17: A upcycle Tom Hillcrest Hillcrest collaboration is a program supported by Community Foundation Gray Bruce Grant in the amount of four thousand dollars and partners with Oceanside Waste Watchers Volunteer Organization.

02:05:49 Speaker 17: Tom Thompson's Wildflowers will be reinterpreted. using recycled and upcycled material.

02:05:56 Speaker 17: Details regarding upcoming school tours, workshops, community events, partnerships, programming, special summer artist workshops, and gallery at the movies were provided.

02:06:08 Speaker 17: The significance of two thousand and twenty-seven to the gallery was identifying.

02:06:12 Speaker 17: Noting that Tom, the Tom, will be celebrating the one hundred and fifty-fiftieth year since the birth of Tom Thompson.

02:06:21 Speaker 17: This. also coincides with the gallery's 60th anniversary.

02:06:25 Speaker 17: Celebratory plans are being worked on for these events.

02:06:29 Speaker 17: An update of the collection relocation and reorganization, along with an update of the three Tom Thompson requests, was identified.

02:06:37 Speaker 17: The director discussed fundraising and revenue development, noting the success of achieving the four-year operation grant from the Canada Council of the Arts, totaling funding in the amount of two hundred eighty thousand. dollars,

02:06:50 Speaker 17: or seventy thousand annually for 2026 to 2029, as well as the four thousand dollar grant from Community Foundation, for the Upcycle Tom program.

02:07:00 Speaker 17: The gallery was also successful in receiving funding for three summer students from Young Canada Works, totaling eighteen thousand nine hundred dollars.

02:07:10 Speaker 17: Director indicated the update report reflects a period of operational stability and growing public engagement.

02:07:18 Speaker 17: Supplemented by constant attendance across both facilities and the exhibition space.

02:07:23 Speaker 17: It was also noted the gallery is advancing a strategic balance between local relevance and broader cultural impact through its exhibitions, education programming, and collection works.

02:07:36 Speaker 17: The fundraising chair provided a wrap-up report on this successful calendar campaign, with total gross calendar proceeds for the campaign being just. over twenty-four thousand dollars.

02:07:49 Speaker 17: Since the calendar campaign began, nearly one hundred and fifty thousand dollars has been raised.

02:07:55 Speaker 17: Sincere gratitude was extended to Marianne Alton for her ongoing dedication, and passion was extended as Marianne steps down from her role.

02:08:05 Speaker 17: The two thousand and twenty-seven calendar will focus on the celebration of the hundred and fifty years since Tom's birth, as well as Gallery's sixtieth anniversary. fundraising plans are underway for palate to palate,

02:08:18 Speaker 17: which will be themed "Let's Go Wild" and will be held November 7th.

02:08:23 Speaker 17: That concludes my summary of the gallery minutes, and I'll move approval of the minutes. Thank you, Councillor Kepke. Any discussion? Not seeing any. All those in favor?

02:08:32 Speaker 17: And those are carried unanimously. Thank you.

02:08:34 Speaker 23: And last set of minutes, the operations committee vice chair Farmer. Thank you. Through the chair.

02:08:43 Speaker 23: I get to present because he's chairing here again.

02:08:47 Speaker 05: So last week we received a lot of reports just for information.

02:08:51 Speaker 05: That included information about a sanitary sewer flow monitoring initiative,

02:08:56 Speaker 05: which will see staff install additional monitoring equipment to better track where inflow and infiltration is occurring and adding burden to the wastewater plant during significant rainfalls.

02:09:06 Speaker 05: We also received a report from the manager of water and wastewater about the walking beam flocculator update.

02:09:12 Speaker 05: Always happy to talk about a flocculator.

02:09:15 Speaker 05: With information about the requirement for the emergency replacement of the equipment outside of the usual tender process.

02:09:21 Speaker 05: Folks may remember that the aged unit failed in 2023 and could not be replaced by the original manufacturer.

02:09:26 Speaker 05: Staff worked to find a local repair solution, but that failed as well because the cost of doing things to the standards of 2026 makes stuff heavier than in the mid 60s,

02:09:38 Speaker 05: and it's at the point now where just needs to be.

02:09:40 Speaker 05: It's at the point now where it just needs to be replaced, and to go through the regular procurement timeline would extend the project well beyond what we have time for.

02:09:49 Speaker 05: For that, we received an update to the two thousand and twenty-six road resurfacing program with new areas identified.

02:09:55 Speaker 05: Find that map on the website.

02:09:57 Speaker 05: There's a report on the need for emergency replacement of the twenty-seventh Street stormwater sewer following failures and sinkholes, and the acting city manager, I believe,

02:10:05 Speaker 05: reported that that work is already underway. there was a report on the cleanout and expansion of the Kennedy Drain Pond.

02:10:12 Speaker 05: We received a report outlining the business case for the Sand Dome replacement up at Public Works, with short and long-term possibilities to address the failing infrastructure.

02:10:22 Speaker 05: The committee approved the 2026 weight rod.

02:10:26 Speaker 05: Can't say that fast. 2026 water rate and sewer surcharge update, and recommended that Council direct staff to include the 2026 fees and charges bylaw to take effect. for July two thousand and twenty-six billing cycles,

02:10:40 Speaker 05: to include in that a five percent increase to water rates, a reduction of the sewer surcharge from one hundred and twenty-four percent to one hundred and twenty percent,

02:10:48 Speaker 05: and to provide notice of the water rate updates in accordance with the bylaws.

02:10:52 Speaker 05: That proposed change would result in an estimated total invoice increase of approximately three point one percent, and for a typical residential customer using two hundred cubic meters annually, that would be an extra fifty.

02:11:01 Speaker 05: That would be an extra fifty-two dollars a year.

02:11:07 Speaker 05: I had a request to pull another motion that was approved for a notice of motion,

02:11:15 Speaker 05: so I'll stop there and move the minutes save and accept item ten A. Happy to answer any questions and looking to the clerks to make sure I didn't phrase that awkwardly.

02:11:31 Speaker 23: Thank you, Vice Chair Farmer. Any questions? Not seeing any. I do have one.

02:11:39 Speaker 23: If I could ask the director of corporate services, this seems like a very quick turnaround for the water rate increase in terms of public notice,

02:11:53 Speaker 23: providing ample opportunity for the public to be aware of a five percent increase in the water rates, mitigated by a reduction in the in the wastewater charge,

02:12:05 Speaker 23: but to have the meeting on Thursday night to move the minutes tonight—how abnormal might this be from historical timelines?

02:12:15 Speaker 23: Or what are the pressures that council is facing that we have to move this so quickly?

02:12:22 Speaker 23: Effectively, not providing as much public opportunity as maybe in the past for comments.

02:12:32 Speaker 29: Through you, Mr. Chair, I'd get the clerks to confirm timelines.

02:12:35 Speaker 07: But we brought this forward tonight, along with the report on the consent agenda for the fees and charges, which was approved as part of the consent agenda to make sure that these fees,

02:12:46 Speaker 07: along with those fees that are changing, will all be that proper notice provision will be made, and that those fees can go into effect on July one.

02:12:54 Speaker 07: It is true that the report came to committee about one month later than. it normally does, it normally comes in April,

02:13:04 Speaker 07: and that was just to capture the additional information that we had with the new meters and trying to get as much as we possibly could ahead of bringing it to committee.

02:13:15 Speaker 23: So, if I could, what opportunities may the public have in the future if there was individuals wanted to provide correspondence to that subject, if any at all? Sorry for clarification too.

02:13:30 Speaker 07: I would just say that the water rate report relies heavily on our approved water budget, as well as more significantly on our water capital plan. the the usage is the usage.

02:13:43 Speaker 07: We don't have a lot of ability to affect that, but we will be looking at water and wastewater capital on June twenty third, and we'll be doing that every June.

02:13:53 Speaker 07: So while it's about a year in advance. this meeting that we're having in June will ultimately affect the water rates that are in effect the next time we look at the rates,

02:14:03 Speaker 07: a year or approximately ten months from now.

02:14:06 Speaker 07: So that's a great opportunity to provide input.

02:14:09 Speaker 07: Okay, thank you, Councilor Kukrada. Through you, Chair.

02:14:13 Speaker 07: Just a quick question on the timelines and the billing cycle for the water rates.

02:14:18 Speaker 07: So usually, right now, everybody pays.

02:14:21 Speaker 02: It's a three-month billing cycle, and with the water replacement.

02:14:25 Speaker 02: And with the water replacements, we were hoping that it would go to a monthly cycle. What are the timelines?

02:14:30 Speaker 02: Because then, increase for folks who are with a limited income, like they might struggle to pay that three month.

02:14:37 Speaker 02: So, when are we looking for that implementation?

02:14:43 Speaker 19: Through the chair, Councillor Cook, Raja, we're currently testing the system internally, and we're finishing off the last. few dozen properties that still have to have their meters replaced.

02:14:59 Speaker 19: Our own staff are doing those ones now.

02:15:01 Speaker 19: But irrespective of that status, we should be able to proceed with launching the monthly billing.

02:15:11 Speaker 19: Like it's it's finances purview, but the software is getting to a point that we'll be able to launch that to the public.

02:15:19 Speaker 19: And even if we don't. go to monthly billing just yet.

02:15:26 Speaker 19: Once people have access to view their usage in in essentially real time, they can also figure out if they want to make interim payments, or they can monitor their consumption,

02:15:36 Speaker 19: look if they have any leaks, and target any potential repairs that they might need to do to keep their water bill down. Councillor Kepké. Thank you.

02:15:45 Speaker 19: Through you, I just want to make a comment that it wasn't very long ago we discussed about the new water meters and people's bills coming in maybe on average a hundred dollars a month more, which was difficult.

02:16:02 Speaker 17: I think this is very unfair to tack on another five percent to people that are already paying more, and it's just not affordable.

02:16:18 Speaker 17: Not sure if there's any.

02:16:27 Speaker 23: If you want to give that a attempt, to we there was some discussion about that at committee. Go ahead, Kate.

02:16:34 Speaker 07: Through the analysis that we did as part of the rate study, we did look at usage, and overall, despite the fact that we did have new meters go in for a portion of last year,

02:16:43 Speaker 07: overall our usage has actually dropped since last year.

02:16:46 Speaker 07: So we did not re.

02:16:51 Speaker 07: So we did not realize an increase in build consumption so far, and so what I noted in the meeting is that we're still working with not a full year's worth of data.

02:17:00 Speaker 07: A lot of those meters were just installed in the fall of last year, and so if higher consumption is realized, we're not seeing it yet.

02:17:02 Speaker 07: But we are going to, and we noted in the meeting, we continue to track usage,

02:17:07 Speaker 07: and we'll be able to update at a future rate study once we have more data if. in fact we are seeing that we're recording more consumption, that'll be factored into future rate updates.

02:17:16 Speaker 07: But as of right now, the recorded consumption does not show an increase in usage.

02:17:29 Speaker 17: So, in fact, people are being penalized for trying to conserve water.

02:17:34 Speaker 17: Well, I'll take a stab at this.

02:17:35 Speaker 17: We have a water rate system.

02:17:41 Speaker 23: A rate system that is fifty percent, fifty-fifty, approximately fifty percent fixed cost, fifty percent variable or operating cost recovery.

02:17:53 Speaker 23: I don't know if Kate wants to speak to that, but perhaps you do.

02:17:57 Speaker 23: You're a lot more informed than I am.

02:17:59 Speaker 23: But that attempt there is is to offset some of that penalization on people.

02:18:09 Speaker 07: So our rate structure is consistent with many other municipalities. A mix.

02:18:13 Speaker 07: Other municipalities a mixture of a fixed and a variable rate, and that allows for users to have some control over their water bill by having control over that variable portion.

02:18:23 Speaker 07: However, the fixed rate of the water bill reflects the fact that our system as a whole is very much a fixed cost system.

02:18:31 Speaker 07: We don't spend more to treat more water.

02:18:34 Speaker 07: If everybody were to cut their usage, we would have to raise rates because the cost of providing water to our residents is not a variable.

02:18:42 Speaker 07: Our residence is not a variable cost service; it is relatively fixed with respect to how much it's going to cost us year over year.

02:18:50 Speaker 07: In the report, there is comparison to other municipalities in Grey and Bruce County, as well as reference to the overall provincial water rates and Owen Sound.

02:19:01 Speaker 07: I'm not going to suggest that they are low, but Owen Sound's water rates are consistent with the average or the median in this area.

02:19:10 Speaker 23: Okay. thanks for the question. Any further questions? Not seeing any. All those in favor?

02:19:17 Speaker 23: And that motion is carried. Thank you.

02:19:19 Speaker 23: And back to Vice Chair Farmer.

02:19:23 Speaker 05: So pulled here item ten A, which was a notice for motion that I had provided at the previous meeting.

02:19:30 Speaker 05: I wonder if it would be helpful to go over that so folks know what we're talking about specifically. The notice.

02:19:39 Speaker 05: The notices, whereas the City of Owen Sound receives annual collision statistics identifying the intersections with the highest numbers of collisions,

02:19:45 Speaker 05: and whereas it's widely accepted by organizations ranging from the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers to Strong Towns and the Owen Sound Police Service that street design is a contributing factor to rates of collision injury,

02:19:57 Speaker 05: and whereas the City of Owen Sound currently has no mechanism by which to examine the common design or operational factors that contribute to higher numbers of collisions at certain intersections or. to identify possible safety interventions,

02:20:10 Speaker 05: and whereas Strong Towns has developed a tool called the Crash Analysis Studio to assist municipalities and individuals in identifying and addressing patterns and contributing factors to crashes,

02:20:20 Speaker 05: and whereas the City of Oceanside has updated the board and committee structure for the next term of council to simplify the striking of working groups to assess and bring recommendations to address specific problems on set timelines,

02:20:31 Speaker 05: now therefore be it resolved that the Operations Committee requests that, following the 2026 municipal election, Owenson strike a crash analysis working group for 2027.

02:20:41 Speaker 05: That the working group consists of three to five members.

02:20:43 Speaker 05: That the working group analyzed contributing factors and identified potential safety interventions for the three intersections with the highest numbers of reported collisions in 2025, which were 10th Street and 9th Avenue East with 15,

02:20:55 Speaker 05: 16th Street and 9th Avenue East with 14, 10th Street and 4th Avenue East with 14, and finally that the working group deliver their final. report to the September two thousand and twenty-seven committee meeting.

02:21:08 Speaker 05: Happy to answer any questions and talk about that. Councilor Minnifield. Thank you.

02:21:15 Speaker 05: I ask to pull this motion.

02:21:18 Speaker 20: I, for a number of reasons, can't support it.

02:21:21 Speaker 20: The number one reason I would say is that I don't understand why we, as a council,

02:21:30 Speaker 20: would be making decisions in an election. year that will tie the hands of council going forward and set a priority for them.

02:21:39 Speaker 20: I don't know if anyone else is on social media, but the armchair quarterbacks don't like us very much, and they plan to turf us all out.

02:21:45 Speaker 20: So if none of us are sitting here next year, then why are we determining that the next council has to have a working group and set this priority for them?

02:21:53 Speaker 20: So that is my number one issue with it.

02:21:55 Speaker 20: My number two issue is I feel like this work is already being done. It's being done.

02:22:01 Speaker 20: There is a federal Transport Canada ministry.

02:22:05 Speaker 20: There is a Ministry of Transport Ontario at the provincial level.

02:22:10 Speaker 20: They do a lot of research on collisions and transportation issues.

02:22:15 Speaker 20: And I don't feel like we need to add another level of bureaucracy here to to do this study. Accidents happen.

02:22:24 Speaker 20: You're talking about Tenth Street, Sixteenth Street, and Ninth Avenue East, where these intersections are.

02:22:29 Speaker 20: Those are the Those are three of the busiest streets in town.

02:22:32 Speaker 20: Multiple cars are traversing these streets every single day, and if you do any research into the most common causes of car accidents in Ontario, there's eight that are listed as the most common causes:

02:22:47 Speaker 20: distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, reckless driving, weather and road conditions, running red lights and stop signs, fatigued drivers, and.

02:22:57 Speaker 20: Fatigue drivers and vehicle defects, and what do virtually all of those have in common? Human error.

02:23:05 Speaker 20: You can never account for human error, and I'm speaking from experience as someone who's been in a car accident in a signalized intersection in the city that was life changing.

02:23:18 Speaker 20: I, my life changed because an 18 year old decided to ignore the rules of the road and turn in front of me, and we had a collision. Human error.

02:23:26 Speaker 20: Human error—you can't erase that, and it wouldn't matter if you had three people, five people, or 35 people sitting in a working group looking at the intersection,

02:23:35 Speaker 20: because the choice that he made to ignore the rules of the road is what caused the accident.

02:23:40 Speaker 20: And I think if you looked at at these 45-ish collisions, you're going to find that probably 44 of them were human error related.

02:23:50 Speaker 20: And I don't know what you think that you're going to come up with as far as changing intersection.

02:23:56 Speaker 20: As far as changing intersections or like that would make any sort of difference, so I think that that I don't want to tie the hands of council for next year,

02:24:04 Speaker 20: and I don't feel like this is going to develop any actionable items that will actually work.

02:24:10 Speaker 20: So those are my thoughts. Thanks, Councilor. Any further, Councilor Hamlin?

02:24:18 Speaker 22: I'm I'm going to turn to the deferral machine here, Mr. Chair.

02:24:22 Speaker 22: I don't necessarily. disagree with anything that Councilor Middelbro said, and I don't really disagree with anything that is in the motion.

02:24:30 Speaker 22: But I would like the benefit of having the city manager to actually talk about how this would be operationalized, if at all.

02:24:37 Speaker 22: So I think I would move that this be deferred to the June fifteenth meeting. Yeah.

02:24:53 Speaker 23: Okay, so the motion is to postpone to June fifteenth.

02:25:03 Speaker 23: Any discussions on the postponement motion, Councillor Kepk?

02:25:09 Speaker 17: If this is a notice of motion by committee to the next committee meeting, it's a notice of motion to go to council directly. Is it? Yep. Sorry, I cut you.

02:25:25 Speaker 23: The notice of most the notice was provided in April for discussion at the May meeting.

02:25:30 Speaker 23: So this is coming from the May committee meeting.

02:25:34 Speaker 23: Yeah, proper procedure took place.

02:25:38 Speaker 23: Any other comments to the postponement motion? Not seeing any.

02:25:44 Speaker 23: All those in favor of postponing to June fifteenth.

02:25:49 Speaker 23: And those opposed, and that motion is carried.

02:25:55 Speaker 23: Anything further in those minutes, Mr. Chair Farmer?

02:25:57 Speaker 23: I think that was that captured all of it. Back to you.

02:26:01 Speaker 23: Through the chair, there was just so we don't miss a notice of motion.

02:26:03 Speaker 05: There was a notice of motion at the last meeting.

02:26:07 Speaker 05: It's included in the minutes, and it's related to discussion,

02:26:10 Speaker 05: or it followed discussion that came around a recent collision involving a child at an intersection on the or at a bus stop on the west side. so committee will vote on that notice of motion in June. Okay, thank you.

02:26:27 Speaker 23: So we are down to item thirteen, matters postponed this evening. There are none.

02:26:33 Speaker 23: Item fourteen is motions for which notice was previously given, which there are none, and we are down to items of additional business.

02:26:41 Speaker 23: Let's see, looking right, Councillor Kepi. Thank you.

02:26:47 Speaker 17: I have one additional item that I forgot to mention earlier, and this is a media release from the library, respecting the butterfly bereavement project.

02:26:58 Speaker 17: And this is an art therapy, Gray Bruce Art Therapy and Associations and Oaken Acorn Physiotherapy, in partnership with the Ounce Sound and North Gray Union Public Library,

02:27:08 Speaker 17: will be presenting the butterfly bereavement art therapy workshop, facilitated by registered art. psychotherapist Aldona Morrison on June the second from one to two p.m.

02:27:23 Speaker 17: This community-based art therapy initiative invites individuals to decorate a butterfly in memory of a loved one who has died.

02:27:31 Speaker 17: And tonight I'm wearing a butterfly pin that my mother was my mother's.

02:27:36 Speaker 17: My mother has passed, so this is in memory of her.

02:27:39 Speaker 17: Each butterfly will become part of a collective memorial installation at the library. for National Grief and Bereavement Day in November, an expression of grief, love, and remembrance.

02:27:49 Speaker 17: Together, these butterflies carry and share a message: You are not alone. Thank you. Touching note. Thanks, Councillor Kepkii.

02:27:58 Speaker 23: Councillor Mittlebrock had done the item with Canada Day. Thank you.

02:28:04 Speaker 20: Staff had provided me an update for the public on Canada Day.

02:28:09 Speaker 20: The City of Owen Sound is excited to invite residents. and visitors to a free two-day Canada Day celebration at Kelso Beach at Naywash Park on June 30th and July 1, 2026.

02:28:21 Speaker 20: This year's event features live entertainment, family activities, 60 plus marketplace vendors, 15 plus food trucks, a family fun zone, flying dog shows, pony rides, emergency vehicle displays, and more.

02:28:35 Speaker 20: On June 30th, festivities begin at 1 p.m. with live music, entertainment. and family fun throughout the park, capped off by Owen Sound's first-ever drone show at 10 p.m.

02:28:47 Speaker 20: Canada Day celebrations continue July 1st, starting at 10 a.m. with live music, activities, and entertainment for all ages.

02:28:54 Speaker 20: Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m., followed by performances of the Rob Elder Trio and the A Team.

02:29:01 Speaker 20: Before the evening concludes with fireworks over the harbor at 10 p.m.

02:29:05 Speaker 20: This is the last call for sponsorship and vendor spaces, which close on.

02:29:09 Speaker 20: May thirtieth, the city is also seeking volunteers to help make the event a success.

02:29:13 Speaker 20: Full event sponsorship, vendor, and volunteer information is available at www.owensound.ca/canada day.

02:29:19 Speaker 20: And I thank Jen Wright for all her work on this. Thank you, Councillor.

02:29:28 Speaker 23: So we are through item fifteen, item sixteen.

02:29:30 Speaker 23: Motion that committee of the whole rise and report. Councillor Kukrzejewski.

02:29:35 Speaker 23: Moved by myself that the committee of the whole rise and report. All those in favour. That's carried unanimously.

02:29:44 Speaker 23: Item seventeen: Motion to adopt proceedings in committee of the whole.

02:29:49 Speaker 02: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Merton, that the action taken in committee of the whole in considering public meetings, deputations and presentations, public forum matters arising from correspondence, reports of city staff, consent agenda,

02:30:05 Speaker 02: committee. minutes, matters postponed, motions for which notice was previously given, and additional business be confirmed by this council.

02:30:15 Speaker 30: And all those in favour, carried unanimously. Thank you.

02:30:18 Speaker 30: And we are at item eighteen.

02:30:25 Speaker 30: Any notices of motion this evening? Not seeing any.

02:30:28 Speaker 30: So item nineteen will be to entertain a motion to move into closed session. We do have. A new closed session.

02:30:44 Speaker 23: We do have a small closed session this evening, and I would like to just note for viewers before the motion that before we move into closed session,

02:30:54 Speaker 23: I would like to note that if you are watching this meeting on Rogers Cable TV or the Rogers TV website,

02:30:55 Speaker 23: 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.

02:30:57 Speaker 23: If you would like to view the remainder of the open session, you can watch the live. stream on the city's council and committees web page at www.owsound.ca/meetings.

02:31:03 Speaker 23: The video recording of the meeting will also be posted on this web page following the meeting. Councillor Kukrasya.

02:31:11 Speaker 23: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Merton, that City Council now moves into closed session to consider minutes of the closed session of the regular council meeting held on April twenty seven,

02:31:25 Speaker 02: two thousand and twenty six, and one matter regarding. personal matters about an identifiable individual, a proposed or pending disposition of land by the municipality, and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege,

02:31:41 Speaker 02: including communications necessary for that purpose, respecting property on Third Avenue West. Any discussion? Not seeing any. All those in favour? That is carried. So we are enclosed.

02:31:51 Speaker 23: Okay, it is 8:07 p.m.

02:37:22 Speaker 23: And this time, City Council is returning to the open session.

02:37:25 Speaker 23: During the closed session, City Council A reviewed minutes of the closed session of the regular council meeting held on April 27, 2026,

02:37:32 Speaker 23: and B discussed one matter regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual of proposed or pending disposition of land by the municipality and advises subject to solicitation.

02:37:51 Speaker 23: Advises subject to solicitor-client privilege and client communications necessary for that purpose, respecting property on Third Avenue West, and no direction was provided.

02:38:01 Speaker 23: So we are to item twenty-one, which is the bylaws.

02:38:03 Speaker 09: Do you, Deputy Mayor Greig, the bylaws listed for approval on tonight's agenda include the confirmatory bylaw, a bylaw to amend the appointed officers bylaw to appoint a bylaw enforcement officer,

02:38:13 Speaker 09: a bylaw to execute a capital cost recovery agreement with Bruce Gray Catholic District School Board. respecting development at twenty seven fifty three Fifteenth Street East,

02:38:23 Speaker 09: a biolat execute a conditional building permit agreement with Bruce Gray Catholic District School Board respecting development at twenty seven fifty three Fifteenth Street East, a biolat execute an agreement with E C King Contracting,

02:38:25 Speaker 09: a division of Miller Paving Limited, respecting the rehabilitation of the Sixteenth Street East Pedestrian Tunnel, a biolat execute an memorandum of understanding with the County of Gray respecting economic development initiatives,

02:38:31 Speaker 09: and a biolat amend the traffic biolat add two short term parking spaces on.

02:38:36 Speaker 09: Short-term parking spaces on First Ave West, adjacent to the North Grade Union Public Library and Tom Thompson Art Gallery buildings. Councilor Kucera.

02:38:49 Speaker 02: Moved by myself, seconded by Councilor Merton, that Bylaw Numbers Twenty Twenty Six Dash Zero Fifty Eight through to and including Twenty Twenty Six Dash Zero Six Four be passed and enacted.

02:38:59 Speaker 02: That is on the floor. Any questions, Councilor Cep?

02:39:02 Speaker 02: Just a brief question to start.

02:39:06 Speaker 17: Just a brief question to staff through you, Worship, on Bylaw Twenty Twenty Six Zero Six Three, which is the execution of a memorandum of understanding with the County of Gray.

02:39:20 Speaker 17: Can you just explain to me what's why the Team Gray needed a document?

02:39:41 Speaker 08: Through the chair, this was included a little bit ago, maybe. in April, in the Community Services Committee agenda, and it's a MOU with the County of Gray on some initiatives.

02:39:51 Speaker 08: I'm happy to send a link out to Council with with that report that had gone to committee previously.

02:39:54 Speaker 17: So I recall that from here, Community Services Committee meeting, and that's the program similar to what Barry was conducting, is that. correct?

02:40:05 Speaker 17: I think I'm sure that's the one. Okay, that's fine.

02:40:29 Speaker 23: Okay, and just before I call the final vote here, I'll just note that thanks to staff, there's a lot going on on the east side of Owen Sound that's within this agenda contained tonight.

02:40:38 Speaker 23: It's going to be a busy second half of the year when you take a look at the tendering of the Sixteen Street Tunnel for rehabilitation and that issuance of the building permit for. the for

02:40:40 Speaker 23: the high school and all the waterworks and servicing that goes alongside it.

02:40:42 Speaker 23: So it'd be a lot of work and action the second half of the year.

02:40:44 Speaker 23: So thanks to staff for your work. All those in favor?

02:40:49 Speaker 23: And that is carried unanimously. Thank you.

02:40:51 Speaker 23: And it is eight eleven, and we are adjourned.