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Minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2024

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

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

1Call to Order

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (4:01 p.m.)

1.1Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

2Authority to move into closed meeting

MotionCarried (11 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Klassen
  1. That the Council of the City of Guelph now hold a meeting that is closed to the public, pursuant to the Section 239(2)(b), (c) and (f) of the Municipal Act, related to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board and advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.
For (11): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil

The following items were considered:

2.1Call to Order (closed meeting)

2.2Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof (closed items)

2.3Confirmation of Minutes for Closed Council Meetings

2.4Appointments to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors

2.5Downtown Land Disposition Update - 2024-185

3Closed Meeting Summary

Mayor Guthrie spoke regarding the matters discussed in closed session and identified the following:

Downtown Land Disposition Update
Council received information and provided direction to staff.

Appointments to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors

MotionCarried (10 to 0)
Moved by Klassen · Seconded by Allt
  1. That Jordyn Foster and Kristel Manes be appointed to the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board of Directors for a term ending November 2026 or until such time as successors are appointed.
For (10): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil

Council recessed (5:35 p.m.)

4Open Meeting – 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Guthrie called the meeting to order. (6:00 p.m.)

4.4Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

There were no disclosures.

5Committee of the Whole Consent Report

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
Moved by Gibson · Seconded by Busuttil
  1. That the April 16, 2024 Committee of the Whole Consent Report identified below be adopted.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

5.12023 Water Services’ Annual Report, Summary Report and Water Efficiency Strategy Progress Report - 2024-133

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That Guelph City Council approves the 2023 Water Services’ Annual Report and Summary Report.
  2. That Guelph City Council receive the 2023 Water Efficiency Strategy Progress Report.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

5.2Guelph Greener Homes Loan Program By-law (2023) - 20764 Update - 2024-141

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That Council authorize the updates to Guelph Greener Homes Loan Program By-law (2023) - 20764
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

5.3A By-law Authorizing a Special Charge under the Guelph Greener Homes Program in Accordance with O. Reg. 586-06 - 2024-148

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That the Special Charge By-law under the Guelph Greener Homes Program, included as Attachment-1 be approved.
  2. That Council permit the subsequent amendments of the Special Charge By-law under the Guelph Greener Homes Program directly onto future Council agendas without a corresponding staff report.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

5.4Sewer Use By-law Update - 2024-149

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That City Council approve the updated Sewer Use By-law Number (2024) – 20911 as well as repeal and replace the past Sewer Use By-law (1996) -15202
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

5.5Water By-law Update - 2024-150

MotionPassed with the consent report: Carried (12 to 0)
  1. That City Council approve the updated Water By-law (By-law (2024) – 20910) as well as repeal and replace the past Water By-law (By-law (1991) - 13791)
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

6Council Consent Report

The following item was extracted from the Council Consent Report:

Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-1

7Items for Discussion

7.1Municipal Accommodation Tax Update and Administration Policy - 2024-132

The following delegate spoke:
John Fisher

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Gibson · Seconded by Klassen
  1. That the Municipal Accommodation Tax Administration Policy, included as Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, be approved.
  2. That the annual Destination Animation Program, as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, to commence second quarter (Q2) 2024, be approved.
  3. That the annual Gather Here Sponsorship Program as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132 dated April 3, 2024, to commence in Q2 2024, be approved.
  4. That the Destination Gaps and Needs funding Program as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024, to commence in Q2 2024, be approved.
  5. That the authority to award funding programs through the Municipal Accommodation Tax Administration Policy be delegated to the Deputy Chief Administration Officer of Public Services, as outlined in Attachment-1 to Report 2024-132, dated April 3, 2024.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

7.2Confirmation of Open Minutes

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Busuttil · Seconded by Allt
  1. That the minutes of the open Council Meetings held February 27, March 20, and 26, 2024, and the minutes of the open Committee of the Whole Meeting held March 5, 2024 be confirmed as recorded and without being read.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

7.3Lobbyist Registry Review - 2024-108

The following delegate spoke:
Susan Watson

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Allt · Seconded by Busuttil
  1. That the City Clerk be directed to draft a Lobbyist Registry By-law and Lobbyist Registry Code of Conduct, consistent with the details of report 2024-108 dated April 3, 2024, and report back to Council in Q3 2024.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

7.4Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-1

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Allt
  1. That the Code of Conduct Investigation Report - Complaints 2023-02, 2023-03, 2024-01, dated April 3, 2024, be received.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew
Motion
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Allt
  1. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards and the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy as they relate to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 
  2. That the General Manager of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement be directed to offer social media training, including accessibility standards and guidelines, to members of City Council.

It was requested that the motion be separated. 

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Allt
  1. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards as it relates to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew
MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Allt

2. That the City Clerk be directed, in collaboration with the Integrity Commissioner, to review the Use of Corporate Resources During an Election Policy as it relates to the use of personal versus corporate social media accounts and administered groups and report back as a part of the 2025 Governance Review. 

For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew
MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Caton · Seconded by Allt

3. That the General Manager of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement be directed to offer social media training, including accessibility standards and guidelines, to members of City Council.

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

8By-laws

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Klassen · Seconded by Allt
  1. That by-laws (2024) - 20910, (2024) - 20911, (2024) - 20926, (2024) - 20927, (2024) - 20936 and (2024) - 20937 be approved as amended and subject to Section 284.11 (4) of the Municipal Act.
For (12): Mayor Guthrie, Gibson, Goller, Allt, Downer, O'Rourke, Billings, Caron, Caton, Klassen, Busuttil, Chew

10Adjournment

MotionCarried (12 to 0)
Moved by Billings · Seconded by Caton
  1. That the meeting be adjourned. (7:02 p.m.)