Owen Sound Council Meeting - Special Meeting Transcript — June 30, 2025

00:03:09 Speaker 01: So I'll call the meeting to order.

00:03:12 Speaker 01: Declarations of interest, seeing none.

00:03:17 Speaker 01: Motion to move committee of the whole.

00:03:19 Speaker 01: I thank Brock.

00:03:19 Speaker 01: Of the whole, I think Brock, you've got them.

00:03:24 Speaker 02: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Koepke, that City Council now move into Committee of the Whole to consider reports of City Staff.

00:03:31 Speaker 02: All in favour?

00:03:33 Speaker 02: That is carried.

00:03:35 Speaker 03: For a, we have the report from Mr. Simonds with regard to community organisation meeting.

00:03:43 Speaker 04: Thank you, Mayor, members of Council.

00:03:44 Speaker 04: The report tonight from the begins with the Owen Sound Police Service Board sent a communication on May sixth of this year to Owen Sound City Council.

00:03:56 Speaker 04: That is an attachment to this report, requesting City Council to convene a meeting with the River District Board, the Chamber of Commerce,

00:04:02 Speaker 04: and all downtown business owners to discuss current business conditions in downtown Owen Sound.

00:04:08 Speaker 04: The communication was discussed at Council, as you're aware, on May twenty-sixth.

00:04:13 Speaker 04: After reviewing the context within that letter, the that again is an attachment to this report.

00:04:16 Speaker 04: Again, as an attachment to this report, and being engaged in discussions regarding the River District, I believe I can say with confidence that all the groups involved—the city, Owen Sound Police Service,

00:04:26 Speaker 04: our social service providers, and business owners—genuinely want the same thing: a vibrant and economically thriving downtown that is safe and welcoming for everyone.

00:04:36 Speaker 04: A place where businesses flourish, people feel a strong sense of belonging, and no one is left to face serious challenges like mental illness, addiction, or homelessness alone.

00:04:46 Speaker 04: And really framing that issue, the challenges we face in the River District are complex and deeply interconnected.

00:04:52 Speaker 04: They touch on public safety, mental health, addiction, housing, and economic development.

00:04:58 Speaker 04: These are not issues that any one organisation can solve alone.

00:05:01 Speaker 04: They intersect at the community, societal, and individual levels, and they require a coordinated, multifaceted response.

00:05:10 Speaker 04: And therefore, the role of expertise is really important.

00:05:13 Speaker 04: So, moving forward, we must rely on the unique expertise that each partner brings to the table.

00:05:17 Speaker 04: The Owen Sound Police Service plays a central leadership role in community safety, with more than one hundred uniformed and civilian staff and a significant portion of the city's budget.

00:05:27 Speaker 04: Owen Sound Police Service is equipped to lead on enforcement, crisis response, and visible presence in the River District.

00:05:36 Speaker 04: Their two thousand and twenty-three to two thousand and twenty-six operational plan outlines four key priorities: community safety, community well-being, supporting their members, and sustainability,

00:05:47 Speaker 04: and really all of those matter because this meeting should not just be about identifying problems.

00:05:51 Speaker 04: It's about building relationships and working collabouratively towards solutions.

00:05:57 Speaker 04: All of the partners all bring different strengths, as I mentioned.

00:06:01 Speaker 04: And as the report notes, the city has already taken steps from expanding bylaw enforcement, installing video cameras, to investing in infrastructure and beautification throughout the River District.

00:06:11 Speaker 04: More recently, the city, as well as other social service partners, have sent its support for the police service proposed City Guardian pilot project grant.

00:06:21 Speaker 04: And if funded, would place specifically trained special constables in the Ritter District to provide visible patrols and connect vulnerable individuals to services.

00:06:31 Speaker 04: Just an example of how policing can evolve to meet today's challenges.

00:06:35 Speaker 04: To support the request from the police service board, staff will organise a facilitated meeting during the week of July twenty-eighth.

00:06:42 Speaker 04: The preferred date is Monday, July twenty-eighth, and July twenty-ninth, Tuesday, serving as an alternative.

00:06:49 Speaker 04: The proposed time is seven to nine p.m. or seven thirty to nine thirty p.m.

00:06:53 Speaker 04: An evening session is recommended, based on the feedback from a previous meeting hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, where a morning meeting proved challenging for retail business owners due to store opening hours.

00:07:04 Speaker 04: Staff are currently exploring venue options within or near the River District.

00:07:09 Speaker 04: Given the complexity of the issues and the importance of fostering productive dialogueueueueueueue, the meeting will be professionally facilitated by local resident Joel Pennington, who brings extensive experience in community engagement and meeting facilitation.

00:07:22 Speaker 04: The role of the facilitator and why we want it facilitated is essential in setting clear expectations and ensuring that the conversation remains respectful and constructive, guided by the principles of respect, connect, reflect,

00:07:35 Speaker 04: and then direct.

00:07:37 Speaker 04: So with that, the recommendation to this report is that, in consideration of staff report CM twenty-five-zero-two-three, respecting community organisation meeting regarding River District,

00:07:47 Speaker 04: City Council directs the City Manager to organise and plan a meeting regarding the River District, as outlined in the report.

00:07:55 Speaker 05: And there we have it.

00:07:56 Speaker 05: So, there's a recommendation there.

00:08:00 Speaker 05: Need a motion, John?

00:08:02 Speaker 06: Through the mayor, I would have questions prior to moving a motion, if this is an appropriate time, or do you want the motion on the floor?

00:08:11 Speaker 05: as usual.

00:08:11 Speaker 05: But are your questions likely to change your motion?

00:08:17 Speaker 05: Questions first, then through the mayor.

00:08:19 Speaker 06: The report notes invitations will be extended to the Owen Sound Police Service, River District businesses, River District Board, etc. There are members of the River District that offer services or non-profit organisations.

00:08:32 Speaker 06: Is the intention of River District businesses to include all members of the River District, or is how are we defining businesses in that?

00:08:43 Speaker 07: Through the mayor to Councillor Farmer, the intent would be to reach out to all membership of the River District Board, because everybody working in the River District, I think, has a voice to this.

00:08:56 Speaker 06: Through the mayor again, I'm just also curious to the financial piece.

00:08:59 Speaker 06: The meeting was requested by the Police Services Board, which has a budget.

00:09:03 Speaker 06: It's specifically focusing on the River District, which has a board that has a budget.

00:09:09 Speaker 06: But we're putting a city department into the red to facilitate this request.

00:09:14 Speaker 06: Was any effort made to explore funding options through the board that requested the move, or the board that whose jurisdiction this most closely impacts?

00:09:28 Speaker 04: Through the mayor to council framework.

00:09:30 Speaker 04: As far as the budget goes, it may have better wording.

00:09:32 Speaker 04: May have said up to a thousand dollars in the financial implications section.

00:09:37 Speaker 04: The cost I see us as for as multiple partners coming to the table.

00:09:41 Speaker 04: The request was made of the city council at its May 26 meeting.

00:09:45 Speaker 04: Said to move forward with hosting a meeting.

00:09:47 Speaker 04: So therefore, I believe once we agreed to host it, then the cost would be encumbered by the city.

00:09:54 Speaker 04: Good.

00:09:55 Speaker 04: Okay.

00:09:55 Speaker 04: And motion.

00:09:58 Speaker 04: Oh, questions first.

00:09:58 Speaker 04: Go ahead.

00:09:59 Speaker 04: Yes.

00:09:59 Speaker 04: Through your worship, I have a few questions and a request.

00:10:06 Speaker 04: I'm, I know we passed a motion.

00:10:09 Speaker 08: There were other invitees potentially, and I'm wondering how this aligns with the motion that council had approved, where we would help to design the agenda, and then there were other invitees as well.

00:10:23 Speaker 08: So, I just need to be clear around what came forward from the police, and then police board, and then the motion that was passed at council.

00:10:34 Speaker 08: If you could clarify, please.

00:10:38 Speaker 04: I'd have to look back on the exact motion, but everybody that had been requested to be invited to the meeting, plus the social service aspect providers, will be invited to this meeting.

00:10:49 Speaker 04: Go ahead, three.

00:10:49 Speaker 08: Your worship, the motion included Grey County Social Services, Public Health, prosecutors, the MP, and the MPP—that was included within the body of that motion.

00:11:04 Speaker 08: There were different reasons for inviting those groups, and I do believe it is important to have our community support agencies included within those meetings to offer their expertise.

00:11:19 Speaker 08: But there just seems to be a little bit of a gap in the invitee list, and I just need clarification, please.

00:11:26 Speaker 08: Through the mayor to Councillor Martin.

00:11:28 Speaker 04: Sorry if it wasn't explicit in who was going to be invited, but yes, those groups will all be invited to this meeting.

00:11:36 Speaker 04: Through your worship, if I may continue.

00:11:40 Speaker 04: May I?

00:11:40 Speaker 04: Can it be okay for me to continue?

00:11:43 Speaker 08: So, it is really important as we move forward, recognizing that there have been town hall meetings a few years ago and there has been a conference about healthy solutions, community solutions.

00:12:05 Speaker 08: As Council goes forward, we must do no harm to those attendees as a result of the comments, and I am pleased to see that there will be a framework for respectful dialogueueueueueueue.

00:12:21 Speaker 08: A few years ago, after the town hall meeting about downtown, one of the senior leaders of the support agencies indicated to me that they are still scarred from the experience.

00:12:36 Speaker 08: So I am not sure who will be working on the design framework for this facilitated initiative.

00:12:45 Speaker 08: I do have a request as part of that design framework.

00:12:50 Speaker 08: I am requesting that there is a debrief after with those participants, so that we know what went well.

00:12:59 Speaker 08: To debrief, so that the experience can be deemed to be productive, positive, and have that feedback.

00:13:08 Speaker 08: So, within that framework, one of the gaps in the past was to follow up with those agencies.

00:13:15 Speaker 08: This isn't about blame or shame or accusation, or accusations of enabling or not enabling.

00:13:22 Speaker 08: This is about moving forward towards a common shared goal, which you mentioned.

00:13:28 Speaker 08: But the framework is critical, and the debrief is equally critical.

00:13:32 Speaker 08: I would request that, please.

00:13:35 Speaker 08: Okay.

00:13:35 Speaker 08: Thank you.

00:13:37 Speaker 08: Go ahead.

00:13:38 Speaker 04: Thank you, Mayor, to Councillor Martin.

00:13:39 Speaker 04: I just wanted to highlight in the communication strategy: we do note that following the meeting, staff working with the facilitator will prepare a summary document capturing key themes, feedback, and any identified next steps.

00:13:52 Speaker 04: The post-meeting report will be shared with Council to ensure transparency, support ongoing dialogueueueueueueue, and inform future actions related to the River District and broader community safety efforts.

00:14:01 Speaker 04: So, I think we are aligned in that.

00:14:05 Speaker 04: Councillor Capkey, Marine.

00:14:07 Speaker 09: Thank you, Your Worship.

00:14:08 Speaker 09: I am happy to move the motion contained in the report recommendation.

00:14:13 Speaker 09: Okay.

00:14:14 Speaker 09: Further discussion?

00:14:16 Speaker 09: All in favour?

00:14:17 Speaker 09: That is carried.

00:14:27 Speaker 03: So next motion would be a motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

00:14:33 Speaker 10: Moved by myself, that the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

00:14:36 Speaker 10: All in favour?

00:14:38 Speaker 10: That is carried.

00:14:40 Speaker 10: Motion to adopt proceedings in Committee of the Whole.

00:14:43 Speaker 10: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Kepke, that the action taken in Committee of the Whole in considering reports of City staff be confirmed by this Council.

00:14:51 Speaker 03: All in favour.

00:14:53 Speaker 03: That is carried.

00:14:54 Speaker 03: And then number seven is a motion to move into closed session.

00:14:59 Speaker 10: Moved by myself, seconded by Councillor Kepke, that City Council now move into closed session to consider one matter regarding the security of the property of the municipality, education of members,

00:15:09 Speaker 10: and a closed matter under the Community Safety and Policing Act regarding labour relations or employee negotiations respecting police services.

00:15:18 Speaker 05: And all in favour, and that is carried.

00:15:21 Speaker 05: So we are going into a closed session.

00:15:25 Speaker 05: If you are not a member of Council staff or Police Board or staff, then we will take a minute to clear the room.

01:56:04 Speaker 05: Get my microphone and say hello.

01:56:10 Speaker 05: Okay, it is now 7:23 p.m. and City Council is returning to the open session.

01:56:16 Speaker 05: During the closed session, City Council discussed one matter regarding the security of the property of the municipality, education of members,

01:56:23 Speaker 05: and a closed matter under the Community Safety and Policing Act regarding labour relations or employee negotiations respecting police services.

01:56:32 Speaker 05: No direction was provided.

01:56:34 Speaker 05: We have one bylaw, and it's Bylaw 2025-068, a bylaw to confirm proceedings.

01:56:45 Speaker 05: The special meeting of Council of the Corporation of City of Owen Sound held on the thirtieth day of June two thousand and twenty-five.

01:56:51 Speaker 05: Brock.

01:56:51 Speaker 05: 2025.

01:56:53 Speaker 10: Move by myself, seconded by Councillor Kepke, that Bylaw Number 2025-068 be passed and enacted.

01:57:00 Speaker 10: And all in favour.

01:57:02 Speaker 10: And that is carried.

01:57:03 Speaker 10: So that completes our business for tonight.

01:57:05 Speaker 10: It is now 7:24.

01:57:07 Speaker 10: We are adjourned.