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Minutes: Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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

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

2Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (9:03 a.m.).

2.1Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest or General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

3Authority to move into closed meeting

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Richardson
  1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Municipal Act, to consider:

Chief Administrative Officer 2025 Year-End Performance Review
As per section 239(2)(b) and d) of the Municipal Act, regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and labour relations or employee negotiations.

Closed December 2025 Public Appointments to Advisory Committees of Council - 2025-577
As per section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, regarding personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

Expression of Interest - 170 Stephanie Drive - 2025-600
As per section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, regarding a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

Affordable Housing Property Acquisition - 2025-580
As per section 239(2)(c) of the Municipal Act, regarding a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

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

The following items were considered:

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

3.3Confirmation of Closed Minutes

3.4Chief Administrative Officer 2025 Year-End Performance Review

3.5Closed December 2025 Public Appointments to Advisory Committees of Council - 2025-577

3.6Expression of Interest - 170 Stephanie Drive - 2025-600

3.7Affordable Housing Property Acquisition - 2025-580

4Open Meeting – 10:00 a.m.

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order (10:19 a.m.).

4.4Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Guthrie noted the following:

Chief Administrative Officer 2025 Year-End Performance Review

Council gave direction to staff.

Expression of Interest - 170 Stephanie Drive - 2025-600

Council gave direction to staff.

Affordable Housing Property Acquisition - 2025-580

Council gave direction to staff.

December 2025 Public Appointments to Advisory Committees of Council - 2025-576

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Hauser
  1. That Colleen Harper, Melissa Mitchell, and Lili Ann Prenger be appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending November 2026 or until such time as successors are appointed.
  2. That Seemeen Patel be appointed to the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee for a term ending November 2026 or until such time a successor is appointed.
  3. That Gregory Campbell be appointed to the Transportation Advisory Committee for a term ending November 2026 or until such time a successor is appointed.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

6Confirmation of Open Minutes

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Busuttil
  1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held November 12, 18, and 26, 2025, and the open minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held November 4, 2025, be confirmed as recorded and without being read.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

7Committee of the Whole Consent Report

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (13 to 0)
Moved by Caron · Seconded by Busuttil

That the December 16, 2025 Committee of the Whole Consent Report, identified below, be adopted.

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

7.12025 External Audit Plan - 2025-578

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (13 to 0)
  1. That KPMG LLP’s 2025 External Audit Plan be received for information.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

8Items for Discussion

8.1St. George's Square - Final Design - 2025-548

Kyle Gibson, Acting General Manager, Engineering and Transportation Services and Stacey Laughlin, Downtown Revitalization Advisor, presented on St. George's Square - Final Design.

The following delegates spoke:
Sya VanGeest
Alec Purves
Morgan Dandie

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Klassen · Seconded by Goller
  1. That the Final Design for St. George’s Square, as outlined in report 2025-548, dated December 16, 2025, be approved.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

8.32025 Third Quarter Budget Monitoring Report - 2025-581

The following delegates spoke:
Kristopher Plummer

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Busuttil · Seconded by Richardson
  1. That the capital project budget adjustments in Attachment 2, Funding Adjustments (Table 4) be approved.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

Council recessed (11:38 a.m.). Council reconvened (12:25 p.m.). 

8.4Grand River Conservation Authority, Bill 68, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 (No. 2)

The following delegates spoke:
Susan Watson
Hugh Whiteley

Samantha Lawson, Chief Administrative Officer, Grand River Conservation Authority, spoke to this item.

Main Motion
Moved by Billings · Seconded by Chew
  1. That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Chief Conservation Executive meet Grand River Conservation Authority representatives to review the Grand River Conservation Authority alternative proposal to Conservation Authorities consolidation.
  2. That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Chief Conservation Executive seriously consider the Grand River Conservation Authority proposal for conservation authorities as it enunciates a path forward that will address the Government's concerns most democratically and productively.
  3. That Guelph City Council expresses continued concern that municipalities are negatively impacted by legislative changes that result in the downloading of services to municipalities without the provision of additional funding and calls on the Province of Ontario to fund the proposed Provincial Conservation Agency without the use of municipal revenue sources.
  4. That this resolution be circulated to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Chief Conservation Executive and MPP Mike Schreiner.
Amendment to Main Motion
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Billings
  1. That the Association of Municipalities of Ontario be added to the circulation list.
Amendment to the AmendmentCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Caron · Seconded by Chew
  1. That the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and other GRCA member municipalities be added to the circulation list.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser
Amendment to Main Motion, as AmendedCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Billings
  1. That the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and other GRCA member municipalities be added to the circulation list.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser
Main Motion, as AmendedCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Billings · Seconded by Chew
  1. That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Chief Conservation Executive meet Grand River Conservation Authority representatives to review the Grand River Conservation Authority alternative proposal to Conservation Authorities consolidation.
  2. That Guelph City Council respectfully requests that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Chief Conservation Executive seriously consider the Grand River Conservation Authority proposal for conservation authorities as it enunciates a path forward that will address the Government's concerns most democratically and productively.
  3. That Guelph City Council expresses continued concern that municipalities are negatively impacted by legislative changes that result in the downloading of services to municipalities without the provision of additional funding and calls on the Province of Ontario to fund the proposed Provincial Conservation Agency without the use of municipal revenue sources.
  4. That this resolution be circulated to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Chief Conservation Executive, MPP Mike Schreiner, Association of Municipalities of Ontario and other GRCA municipalities.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser

9By-laws

MotionCarried (13 to 0)
Moved by Downer · Seconded by Allt
  1. That by-laws (2025) – 21164 through by-law (2025) - 21166, (2025) - 21179, (2025) - 21180, (2025) - 21182, by-laws (2025) - 21184 through by-law (2025) - 21186, (2025) – 21188, (2025) – 21190, and (2025) – 21191, be approved subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.
For (13): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser
MotionCarried (12 to 1)
Moved by Busuttil · Seconded by Hauser
  1. That the 21-day in-year budget amendment period prescribed in Ontario Regulation 530/22 Section 9 (3), in reference to the in-year budget amendment proposed by Mayoral Decision A82 dated December 16, 2025, be shortened and the final day for amendments be December 16th, 2025.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Allt, Downer, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew, Hauser
Against (1): Goller

10Adjournment

MotionCarried
Moved by Gibson · Seconded by Billings
  1. That the meeting be adjourned (1:28 p.m.).