Minutes: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

1. That the 2025 City of Guelph property tax ratios and corresponding tax rates, as set out in Attachment-1 to the report 2025-89 titled 2025 Property Tax Policy dated March 4, 2025, be approved.

1. That the Procedure By-law, included as Attachment-1 to report 2025-44, be approved.
2. That the Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy, included as Attachment-4 to report 2025-44, be approved.
3. That the Public Notice Provisions Policy be updated as outlined in report 2025-44, to amend the definition of newspaper to include electronic publications.
4. That the Delegation of Authority By-law amendments, included in Attachment-5 to report 2025-44, be approved.

1. That the additional phase 2 recommendation for the Single-Use Items Reduction Strategy, as included in report 2025-84, dated March 4, 2025, be approved.
2. That the Single-Use Items By-law (2025) - 21033, as amended, be approved.

1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-1 to report 2025-50, be approved.
2. That the Heritage Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-2 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
3. That the Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-3 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
4. That the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-4 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
5. That the Transportation Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-5 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
6. That the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-6 to report 2025-50, be approved, as amended. 
7. That the Committee of Adjustment and Property Standards Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-7 to report 2025-50, be approved, as amended. 
8. That the Advisory Committee of Council - Administration Policy be repealed, as described in report 2025-50.
9. That the Advisory Committees of Council – Meeting Procedures, included as Attachment-8 to report 2025-50, be approved.
10. That the Advisory Committees of Council – Public Appointment Policy, included as Attachment-9 to report 2025-50, be approved.
11. That the following Advisory Committees of Council be dissolved, following the appointment of members to, and the first meeting of, the newly created Advisory Committees of Council:
    1. Committee of Adjustment
    2. Guelph Economic Development Advisory Committee
    3. Guelph Museums Advisory Committee
    4. Natural Heritage Advisory Committee
    5. Planning Advisory Committee
    6. Property Standards Committee
    7. Public Art Advisory Committee
    8. Tourism Advisory Committee
    9. Transit Advisory Committee
    10. Water Conservation and Efficiency Public Advisory Committee
12. That the Waste Resource Innovation Centre Public Liaison Committee be dissolved, following the appointment of members to, and the first meeting of, the newly created Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee and the approval of the updated Public Liaison Committee Terms of Reference by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
13. That the Municipal Property and Commemorative Naming Committee be dissolved, following its transition to an alternative form of community engagement.

1. That the Membership and Composition Section of the Heritage Advisory Committee terms of reference, included as Attachment-2 to report 2025-50, be amended to:

Committee members will bring a mix of lived and professional expertise, knowledge and interest related to: 

And that the following areas of expertise/skill be added to the membership and composition:

1. 1. libraries, archives, heritage/history education
   2. Indigenous ecological/ancestral knowledge
   3. landscape architecture and/or natural heritage

1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-1 to report 2025-50, be approved.
2. That the Heritage Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-2 to report 2025-50, be approved, as amended.
3. That the Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-3 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
4. That the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-4 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
5. That the Transportation Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-5 to report 2025-50, be approved. 
6. That the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-6 to report 2025-50, be approved, as amended. 
7. That the Committee of Adjustment and Property Standards Committee Terms of Reference, included as Attachment-7 to report 2025-50, be approved, as amended. 
8. That the Advisory Committee of Council - Administration Policy be repealed, as described in report 2025-50.
9. That the Advisory Committees of Council – Meeting Procedures, included as Attachment-8 to report 2025-50, be approved.
10. That the Advisory Committees of Council – Public Appointment Policy, included as Attachment-9 to report 2025-50, be approved.
11. That the following Advisory Committees of Council be dissolved, following the appointment of members to, and the first meeting of, the newly created Advisory Committees of Council:
    1. Committee of Adjustment
    2. Guelph Economic Development Advisory Committee
    3. Guelph Museums Advisory Committee
    4. Natural Heritage Advisory Committee
    5. Planning Advisory Committee
    6. Property Standards Committee
    7. Public Art Advisory Committee
    8. Tourism Advisory Committee
    9. Transit Advisory Committee
    10. Water Conservation and Efficiency Public Advisory Committee
12. That the Waste Resource Innovation Centre Public Liaison Committee be dissolved, following the appointment of members to, and the first meeting of, the newly created Planning, Environment and Water Advisory Committee and the approval of the updated Public Liaison Committee Terms of Reference by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
13. That the Municipal Property and Commemorative Naming Committee be dissolved, following its transition to an alternative form of community engagement.

1. That Vision Zero Guelph – Action Plan for Safe Streets, included as Attachment- 1, to the Infrastructure, Development & Environment Report 2025-12, dated March 4, 2025, be approved.
2. That the Community Safety Zone Policy, included as Attachment-3, to the Infrastructure, Development and Environment Services Report 2025-12, dated March 4, 2025, be approved and in effect as of July 1, 2025.
3. That staff be directed to bring forward a revised Traffic By-law, including Community Safety Zones and speed limits in preparation for future automated enforcement programs, as outlined in report Infrastructure, Development and Environment 2025-12 dated March 4, 2025.

1. That Action 4 of the Vision Zero Guelph - Action Plan for Safe Streets (Implement the Quality Transit Network, including the conversion of general traffic lanes to dedicated transit lanes), be amended to require City Council approval prior to implementation.

1. That Action 57 of the Vision Zero Guelph - Action Plan for Safe Streets, be amended to add the words “and testing” as follows: “Review and support enhanced driver education, training initiatives and testing with the Ministry of Transportation”.

1. That Vision Zero Guelph – Action Plan for Safe Streets, included as Attachment- 1, to the Infrastructure, Development & Environment Report 2025-12, dated March 4, 2025, be approved, as amended.
2. That the Community Safety Zone Policy, included as Attachment-3, to the Infrastructure, Development and Environment Services Report 2025-12, dated March 4, 2025, be approved and in effect as of July 1, 2025.
3. That staff be directed to bring forward a revised Traffic By-law, including Community Safety Zones and speed limits in preparation for future automated enforcement programs, as outlined in report Infrastructure, Development and Environment 2025-12 dated March 4, 2025.

Council recessed (10:30 a.m.). Council reconvened (11:00 a.m.)

1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 239(2)(f) of the Municipal Act, regarding advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. 

The following item was considered: 

Public Space Use Bylaw - Proposed Amendment

Closed Meeting Summary:

Chair Busuttil called the meeting to order (11:37 a.m.).

Chair Busuttil noted the following:

Public Space Use Bylaw - Proposed Amendment

Council received information from staff.

1. That the definition of “Sensitive Public Space” in section 3.5(1) of By-law (2024)-20990 be amended to add after the words "includes but is not limited to," the words "any Public Space that shares a property line with a school or childcare centre".

1. That the Public Space Use Bylaw – Proposed Amendment be referred to the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Councillor Allt called a Point of Order suggesting that a line of questioning from Mayor Guthrie regarding the amendment was out of order. Chair Busuttil ruled the line of questioning out of order.

Councillor Gibson called a Point of Order suggesting that commentary being presented by Councillor Caton on the referral motion was out of order because it was in reference to the original motion. Chair Busuttil ruled the commentary on the referral in order and allowed the discussion to continue.

1. That the definition of “Sensitive Public Space” in section 3.5(1) of By-law (2024)-20990 be amended to add after the words "includes but is not limited to," the words "any Public Space that shares a property line with a school or childcare centre".

1. That Guelph City Council supports the appointment of Mayor Cam Guthrie to the position of Director, Large Urban Caucus on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term.