Minutes: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

1. That the Delegation of Authority By-law be amended, as noted in Attachment-1 to report 2026-130, to delegate authority to the City Clerk to designate events as "community” or “cultural” events for the purpose of enabling “bring-your-own-event” applications with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

1. That Guelph City Council receives the 2025 Water Services’ Annual Report and Summary Report.
2. That Guelph City Council receives the 2025 Water Efficiency Strategy Progress Report.

1. That Council directs staff to amend City of Guelph By-law (2018) 20272 (Taxicab) to reflect a 6.7 per cent increase in taxicab rates, effective April 1, 2026 or at the time of the City’s meter check.

1. That the Traffic Calming Policy Update (2026), included as Attachment 1 to report 2026-129, titled "Traffic Calming Policy Update" dated April 7, 2026, be approved.

1. That the use of speed cushions be removed from the Traffic Calming Policy, included as Attachment-1 to report 2026-129.

1. That the use of speed cushions be used as a last resort only within the Traffic Calming Policy, included as Attachment-1 to report 2026-129.

The motion was ruled out of order by the Chair as it was contrary to the Main Motion.

1. That the use of speed cushions be removed from the Traffic Calming Policy, included as Attachment-1 to report 2026-129.

1. That staff be directed to remove existing speed cushions from bike lanes, subject to $60,000 being added for this purpose through the 2027 budget confirmation process to allow this work to be completed without impacting other planned traffic calming work as outlined in the Traffic Calming Policy; and.
2. That City Council respectfully requests that the Mayor add $60,000 to the 2027 capital budget, funded by the tax levy, to remove speed cushions from bike lanes.
3. That Staff be directed to review alternative methods of protecting against driver behaviour in areas where speed cushions and bike lanes coexist throughout 2026, and provide a report back to Council in advance of the 2027 budget confirmation process with options and estimated costs for consideration.

This motion was withdrawn by the mover and seconder.

1. That staff be directed to maintain an active, internal tracking registry of the approximately 200 streets that were previously scheduled for review under traffic calming, but do not qualify for the 25 prioritized locations under the updated 2026 Traffic Calming Policy. And that staff be directed to formally review these registered streets for alternative Vision Zero safety measures (such as seasonal flex posts, speed radar boards, leading pedestrian intervals, etc.), and report back to Council annually via public facing communication, detailing which alternative measures have been deployed to address speeding and volume concerns.

Council recessed (7:21 p.m.) Council reconvened (7:23 p.m.). Councillor Downer raised a Point of Order regarding the use of temporary speed cushions for construction detour mitigation. Mayor Guthrie encouraged discussion to continue.

1. That the Traffic Calming Policy Update (2026), included as Attachment 1 to report 2026-129, titled "Traffic Calming Policy Update" dated April 7, 2026, be approved, as amended.
2. That staff be directed to maintain an active, internal tracking registry of the approximately 200 streets that were previously scheduled for review under traffic calming, but do not qualify for the 25 prioritized locations under the updated 2026 Traffic Calming Policy. And that staff be directed to formally review these registered streets for alternative Vision Zero safety measures (such as seasonal flex posts, speed radar boards, leading pedestrian intervals, etc.), and report back to Council annually via public facing communication, detailing which alternative measures have been deployed to address speeding and volume concerns.

1. That the use of temporary speed cushions, when used related to construction detour mitigation, be permitted.

1. That staff be directed to remove existing speed cushions from bike lanes, subject to $60,000 being added for this purpose through the 2027 budget confirmation process to allow this work to be completed without impacting other planned traffic calming work as outlined in the Traffic Calming Policy; and.
2. That City Council respectfully requests that the Mayor add $60,000 to the 2027 capital budget, funded by the tax levy, to remove speed cushions from bike lanes.
3. That Staff be directed to review alternative methods of protecting against driver behaviour in areas where speed cushions and bike lanes coexist throughout 2026, and provide a report back to Council in advance of the 2027 budget confirmation process with options and estimated costs for consideration.

1. That the Private Parking Agent Licence (application #25-308946), as submitted by Applicant, Pramila Nepali, be refused. 

1. That Guelph City Council supports United Against Hate Canada and the Guelph Chinese Canadian Cultural Group in their call to the Federal Government to champion a motion to create and recognize an annual Canadian Chinese Heritage Month; and
2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture; Dominique O’Rourke, MP for Guelph; and Michael Chong, MP for Wellington—Halton Hills.