Minutes: Tuesday, December 13, 2022

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

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. (6:32 p.m.)

2.4Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

Councillor Gibson declared a conflict of interest regarding item 5.1 Alectra Convergent Development LP Battery Energy Storage Project Proposal, as his employer is involved other in battery storage projects.

3Team Ontario Lacrosse Champions

Mayor Guthrie recognized the following Team Ontario Lacrosse champions:
Brayden McGarr
Nolan Battler
Gracin Jones

4Confirmation of Open Minutes

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Goller · Seconded by Caron

That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held November 1 and 22, 2022, be confirmed as recorded and without being read.

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

5Council Consent Agenda

Councillor Gibson left the meeting.

5.1Alectra Convergent Development LP Battery Energy Storage Project Proposal - 2022-338

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Goller · Seconded by O'Rourke
  1. That Council review Alectra Convergent Development LP’s Battery Energy Storage (BESS) project proposal as explained in Attachment-1 and adopt the resolution of support for the project contained in Attachment-2.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Allt, Billings, Caron, Gibson, Goller, O'Rourke, Chew, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil

Councillor Gibson rejoined the meeting.

6Items for Discussion

6.2County of Wellington Request - Drop-In Hours in Downtown Guelph - 2022-375

Colleen Clack-Bush, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Services, introduced the item and spoke on the timing of the implementation of the proposed program.

The following delegate spoke on this item:
Shakiba Shayani, Co-chair of the Strategic Advisory Group, Downtown Guelph

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Goller

That Pastor Kevin Coghill be added to the list of delegates.

For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew
MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Klassen
  1. That the City of Guelph will provide a one-time operating contribution of $250,850 to facilitate the 2023 extension of drop-in service hours at Royal City Mission beginning January 1, 2023.
  2. That the $250,850 is taken from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency Reserve.
  3. That Royal City Mission be requested to submit progress reports to the City of Guelph, no later than May 1, 2023 and September 1, 2023, summarizing both the results and impact of the extension of drop-in service hours.
  4. That any future funding requests related to shelter services be referred to the 2024-2027 multi-year budget process.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Richardson, Busuttil, Chew

6.1Service Simplified Progress Report: implementing Guelph’s customer service strategy - 2022-374

Trevor Lee, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services, provided opening remarks.

Stephen O'Brien, General Manager, City Clerk's Office/City Clerk, spoke to the vision, standards, and commitments included in the customer service strategy. He also provided closing remarks.

Stacey Hare, Program Manager, Customer Service and Customer Experience, explained how customer satisfaction is measured, outlined future milestones of the Service Simplified strategy, and presented an online tool for reporting issues across the city.

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Richardson

That the report titled Implementing Service Simplified: Guelph’s Customer Service Strategy - 2022-374, dated December 13, 2022, be received.

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

6.3Service Rationalization Implementation Update 2022 - 2022-341

Councillor O'Rourke provided opening remarks.

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by O'Rourke · Seconded by Goller

That staff propose a tracking and measurement plan for priorities identified in the KPMG Service Rationalization Report and approved by Council on July 19, 2021 to the audit committee by Q2 2023 and that staff report back to Council on an annual basis on the status or progress of each priority and its outcomes.

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

7By-laws

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Caron · Seconded by O'Rourke

That By-laws numbered (2022)-20749, (2022)-20750, (2022)-20757, and (2022)-20762, are hereby passed.

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

8Mayor’s Announcements

Mayor Guthrie recognized different holiday celebrations happening during the month of December.

9Adjournment

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Chew · Seconded by Caton

That the meeting be adjourned. (9:04 p.m.)