Minutes: Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Present: Mayor Guthrie, Allt, Billings, Busuttil, Caron, Caton, Chew, Downer, Gibson, Goller, Klassen, O'Rourke, Richardson.

A copy of the city's published minutes, reformatted for this site. The official minutes are the record.

2Call to Order

Chair Busuttil called the meeting to order (6:00 p.m.).

3Authority to move into closed meeting

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Richardson

That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, Section 239(2)(b) and (d) of the Municipal Act, related to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, and labour relations or employee negotiations.

For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

The following items were considered: 

3.1Call to Order (closed meeting)

3.2Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

3.3Confirmation of Minutes for closed Council meetings.

3.4Non-Union Municipal Employee Multi-Year Compensation Increase 2024 - 2027, 2023-367

4Open Meeting – 6:30 p.m.

Chair Busuttil called the meeting to order (6:33 p.m.)

4.1Closed Meeting Summary

Council received information and discussed the Non-Union Municipal Employee Multi-Year Compensation Increase.

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Mayor Guthrie · Seconded by Allt
  1. That the annual non-union total compensation adjustment be set within a range of not less than 2.0 per cent and not more than 3.0 per cent for 2024 and each year thereafter in the 2024 to 2027 multi-year budget.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

4.2Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

None. 

5Refreshed Territorial Acknowledgment, 2023-59

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by O'Rourke
  1. That the refreshed Territorial Acknowledgement for the City of Guelph, included in the report titled Refreshed Territorial Acknowledgement, dated September 6 2023, be approved.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

7Confirmation of Open Minutes

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by O'Rourke · Seconded by Klassen
  1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held June 27th, July 5th, July 19th, July 25th, 2023 and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole Meeting held July 5th be confirmed as recorded and without being read.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

8Committee of the Whole Consent Report

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Billings

That the September 26, 2023 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.

For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

8.1Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers, 2023-340

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That the City Clerk be directed to report back regarding the opportunities, benefits and costs of a municipal lobbyist registry for City Council’s consideration in Q1, 2024.
  2. That the City Clerk be directed to amend the previously approved Special City Council Budget Meeting dates based on the outline of the new multi-year budget approval process included in the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023.
  3. That the amended Procedure By-law, included as Attachment-1 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  4. That the amended Code of Conduct for Members of City Council and Local Boards, included as Attachment-2 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  5. That the amended CAO Performance Evaluation Process – Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-3 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  6. That the amended CAO Recruitment, Selection and Performance Sub-committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-4 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  7. That the amended Recruitment, Appointment and Contract Administration Policy for Municipal Officers, included as Attachment-5 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
  8. That the amended Recruitment, Hiring and Involuntary Departure Procedures for Municipal Officers, included as Attachment-6 to the Updates Resulting from the Extension of Strong Mayor Powers report dated September 6, 2023, be approved.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

8.22024 - 2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, 2023-49

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That the 2024-2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule, included as Attachment-1 to report 2024-2027 City Council and Committee Meeting Schedule dated September 6, 2023, be approved.

     

For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

9Items for Discussion

9.1Heritage Guelph Resolution Regarding Ontario Reformatory Stone Wall - 2023-368

Councillor Downer introduced the topic.

The following delegates spoke:
Susan Ratcliffe
Lynn Bestari
John Fisher

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Caron
  1. That City Council requests that Infrastructure Ontario repair the damaged stone wall at the Ontario Reformatory.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

9.2Downtown Parking Master Plan, 2023-323

Jamie Zettle, Program Manager, Parking gave a high-level overview of the Downtown Parking Master plan.

The following delegates spoke:
Jonathan Westeinde
Mike Darmon
Victor Labreche
Mauricio Fernandez
Adrian Salvatore

A Point of Personal Privilege was raised by Councillor Allt, regarding statements a delegate made about information provided by staff being false.  Councillor Allt requested that Staff have an opportunity to clarify how the information was obtained.  Chair Busuttil provided an opportunity for staff to clarify after the delegate was finished. 

Krista Walkey, General Manager, Planning and Building Services, provided information on the requirements of the Planning Act, should Council change the parking minimum requirements.  

A Point of Order was called by Mayor Guthrie, in relation to his feeling that his honesty was being questioned by Councillor Allt. Chair Busuttil provided Councillor Allt a chance to comment.  Councillor Allt clarified that he was speaking about the whole of Council, and not just one particular member.

Main motion as amended
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Richardson
  1. That Council approve the Downtown Parking Master Plan, as included as Attachment 2, outlined in the report entitled “Downtown Parking Master Plan” dated September 6, 2023, inclusive of the tax supported financial model Scenario #2 as outlined in this report;
  2. That staff be directed to develop a Payment-in-lieu of Parking program policy, and related bylaw for Council’s approval with Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy being amended to reflect the creation of a Parking Payment-in-lieu Reserve Fund (303) with the terms and authority as identified in the 2023-323 Downtown Parking Master Plan report, dated September 6, 2023;
  3. That staff evaluate and report back during the Downtown Parking Master Plan update in 2028 on the implementation of paid parking on street following the completion of each street reconstruction in the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program;
  4. That the Zoning By-law Amendments to amend residential parking regulations in the Downtown Zones in both Zoning By-law (1995)-14864 and Zoning By-law (2023)-20790 as shown in Attachment-4 of Report 2023-323 be approved
First amendment to main motionDefeated (3 to 10)
Moved by Mayor Guthrie · Seconded by Goller
  1. That staff be directed to amend the Downtown Zoning By-law regulations within Zoning By-law No. (2023)-20790 to remove the requirement of 1 space per dwelling unit for Apartment building, Live-work unit, mixed-use building as required in Table 5.4 Rows 1 and 2
  2. That staff be directed to amend the Downtown Zoning By-law regulations within Zoning By-law No. (1995)-14864 to remove the requirement of 1 space per dwelling unit for Apartment building, Live-work unit, mixed-use building as required in Table 6.3.2.5.1 Rows 1 and 2.
For (3): Mayor Guthrie, Goller, Klassen
Against (10): Gibson, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew
Main motion restatedCarried (11 to 2)
  1. That Council approve the Downtown Parking Master Plan, as included as Attachment 2, outlined in the report entitled “Downtown Parking Master Plan” dated September 6, 2023, inclusive of the tax supported financial model Scenario #2 as outlined in this report;
  2. That staff be directed to develop a Payment-in-lieu of Parking program policy, and related bylaw for Council’s approval with Appendix A of the General Reserve and Reserve Fund Policy being amended to reflect the creation of a Parking Payment-in-lieu Reserve Fund (303) with the terms and authority as identified in the 2023-323 Downtown Parking Master Plan report, dated September 6, 2023;
  3. That staff evaluate and report back during the Downtown Parking Master Plan update in 2028 on the implementation of paid parking on street following the completion of each street reconstruction in the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program;
  4. That the Zoning By-law Amendments to amend residential parking regulations in the Downtown Zones in both Zoning By-law (1995)-14864 and Zoning By-law (2023)-20790 as shown in Attachment-4 of Report 2023-323 be approved
For (11): Gibson, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew
Against (2): Mayor Guthrie, Goller
Additional MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Mayor Guthrie · Seconded by Klassen
  1. That staff be directed to evaluate the implementation of zero parking minimums for residential uses in Downtown zones, including community engagement, and report back to council as part of the next Downtown Parking Masterplan in 2028, or sooner.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew
Additional MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Goller · Seconded by Richardson
  1. That staff be directed to review exempting Affordable Housing from minimum parking requirements as part of the Payment-in-Lieu of parking policy coming back to City Council in Q1, 2024.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew
Additional MotionWithdrawn
Moved by Chew · Seconded by Gibson
  1. That staff be directed to reach out to senior staff at the City of Edmonton on best practices from their Open Option Parking bylaw and report back through an information report with best practices for the City of Guelph to consider as part of future downtown parking review.

The motion was withdrawn by the mover and seconder.

10By-laws, 2023-389

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by O'Rourke · Seconded by Goller

That By-laws numbered (2023) - 20833 through (2023) - 20836, are hereby passed.

For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

11Mayor’s Announcements

No announcements from the Mayor. 
Chair Busuttil reminded Council and the community to wear an orange shirt on September 30th in acknowledgement of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 
Additionally, in light of the protests that took place on Wednesday, September 20, Chair Busuttil expressed that the City continues to hold a strong commitment to equity in alignment with the City's Strategic Plan. 

12Adjournment

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Richardson · Seconded by Mayor Guthrie

That the meeting be adjourned (10:04 p.m.).

For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew