Downtown St. George's Square redesign and construction plan

All right. Good afternoon, everybody. I'd like to call the meeting to order. And right off the top of the agenda, we are looking to move into. A closed session of council. And it will pop up on the screen and I'll just read it out loud that the council of the city Aguel now hold a meeting that is closed to the public pursuant to section 2392, B and C of the municipal act regarding personal matters about identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and proposed or pending acqu. Acquisition or disposition of land, buy them municipality or local board. The. Titles here are July 2025. Public appointments to advisory committees of council. And the downtown land acquisition consideration. With that? Is there any disclosure of pecuniary interest, any general nature thereof, for the closed items before I look to call the vote. No, don't hear or see any. Can I have someone move to go into closed. Alton. Busatill will help me out with that and I'll call the vote. Is anyone against moving into closed. That's unanimous. That's great. So we will have a closed

meeting of council just for probably half an hour and we will be back out and we'll start the open. Session at that time. Thank you.

Okay, everyone, just going to call the meeting to order out here. Thank you so much. For joining us. It is Tuesday, July 22, 2025. O'clock, not 430. It is 05:00 and we are starting our open meeting, so. Thank you very much for being here. Right off the top. We're just going to ask if you can stand if you are. Evil and we will have our national anthem.

Great. Thanks, everybody. Just a moment of silent reflection as we continue through the agenda.

Thank you. And our territorial acknowledgment. As we gather, let us take time. To reflect on our privilege to live and work here in Guelph, a city built over rich indigenous histories where guests here and we should reflect upon the responsibility to care for the land. The people who live here today and the generations to come. If our actions today can move us towards reconciliation, we should take pause and make those decisions with intention and gratitude. This place we call Guelph has served as traditional lands and a place of refuge for. Many peoples over time, but more specifically the Anamaterok and the honenoshone. This land is held as the treaty lands and territory with the Mississaugas of the credit. First Nation and golf lies directly adjacent to the Holoman track, and as part of the long established traditional hunting grounds for the six nations. Of the Grand river. Many First Nations Inuit Mat people who have come from across Turtle island call Guelph home today. Thank you. Is there any disclosure of pecuniary interest, any general nature thereof, for any of the items in front of us. Hearing and seeing none. So I'm just going to give a quick summary of the closed session. We went into a closed session under two items. The first one

was. July 2025. Public appointments to advisory committees of council, and the second one was downtown land acquisitions. Consideration. So just on the second one. I'll talk about that one first. We did give direction to staff on that particular matter. And the first one, which is the public appointments I'm going to ask counci. Councilor Richardson to please bring that forward out open for us. Thank you, Mayor. And through you. Are we going to put it up? On the. Thanks, clerks. Thanks. I am pleased to move, and seconded by Councilor Gibson, that Susan J. Ferguson Pryor Jennifer Popkey, Kathleen Bytes, Cheryl Stacy, and Dean Martin be appointed to the accessibility advisory committee for a term ending November 2026 or until such time as successors are appointed. Great. Thank you to you both. And is there anything further on that before I call the vote? No. Okay, I'll call the vote then. Is anyone against? Nobody that's unanimous. So thank you very much. And thank you again for people that are continuing to look to fill some of our vacancies on some of our accessory. On this particular one, which is the accessibility, but. There's also other council

committee appointments available, too, so continue to look around, see if there's something that you might be interested in as we move forward. There's minutes now. For us to consider from the open council meetings held June 10, 17th and 24th of 2025. And also the committee of the whole meeting minutes on. June 3, 2025, to be confirmed as recorded and without being read. With my colleagues. Thank you, councilor. Alt will move and busatill will second. Is there. Anything further on the minutes? Nobody. Okay, great. I'll call the vote. Is anyone against those? Nobody. So that's unanimous as well. Okay. Jumping right in. The first one is a public meeting to hear. Applications under the Planning Act. And it is in accordance with one that I'm bringing forward under the Merrill decision. And. The location. Is. Address is 343 Waterloo Avenue. It's an official plan and a zoning bylaw amendment. That's in front of us, and this is a public and decision meeting at the same time. We do have one delegation that has signed up, which

happens to be the applicants, the property owners. I will just give a very high level sort of introduction here. So this came to light for me just a few months ago. And. I didn't know. And I met these people that their place. Had actually. Had arson. So in the middle of the day, somebody came in. And, well. Let their office on fire with staff there. And luckily everyone was able to get out, but their place was completely destroyed in having to rebuild. They're looking to rebuild their office space so the commercial would still stay, but they're looking to add residential units above. And to do that. Based on the project that they're proposing. There's variances that are requested. There's parking issues as well. There. From a less parking that would be required. So I'm just tabling those so it's very transparent, so everyone knows that. However. On sort of the scale of what I believe is a huge benefit to the city, is not. Only

can these people get their business back up and running after what they've gone through? But they're actually looking to provide. Nine units of residential, which we all know we need, but two of them will be dedicated to meeting our affordable housing strategy, which is what's beyond us, is kind of rare. We don't have people that are coming forward with that right now, and that's a huge need in our community. They're also willing to actually build this project. Completely environmentally friendly. No gas, all heat pumps. A dedicated project that is going to specialize in environmental use, and they really want to market it that way. So bicycle parking is available. And. They're going to, as I said, have those two units that are going to be dedicated to our affordable housing strategy. I want to just mention that. All of the planning act provisions. Were done appropriately, so you have to give 20 days notice. That was done. The mailing to the entire neighborhood was done in accordance with what's required and in fact, we actually even did a mailing. In the media as well. So

all of that was all done appropriately. We did receive. I think four or five pieces of correspondence. One has some concerns about it. I have talked to that individual. And actually, I feel like I've been able to answer some of the questions for that. Individual one is the direct neighbor. To the proposed site, who is actually supporting what's in front of us here today to get these homes built. And. The rest have been supportive. From an advocacy group with GCAD about the bicycle parking and whatnot as well. There's been no other correspondence to me at all, no other questions at all, no delegations. Have signed up other than just the applicants that are here, although, because it's a public meeting. We can always see if anybody wants to jump in with their opinions, too. I'm going to stop there. I am looking for my colleagues to see if there's some support on this. And just to make sure everyone. Knows there are two ways. That any mayor can bring forward. A report like this, they can bring it forward in a manner that only requires one third of council to vote on this, and I have not done that. I've brought it forward because. I

feel based on the benefits that are in front of us here, I think it's worthy of all of us supporting it. And all of this is. A regular vote of counsel, so it requires. A regular majority of counsel to vote on it. And I hope I'm doing it justice, but perhaps the applicants can do it better than. Me. So I'll ask the applicants to come forward and introduce themselves. At this time, they have a presentation for us as well. And just so you know, there's no more than ten minutes. There'll be a time at the nine minute and 32nd mark to give you a warning. So welcome to Morgan and Martha Adams. And when you need things changed on the presentation, I think you could just ask clerks to go. To the next slide and. The timer will start whenever you start. So thank you for coming and presenting to us today. Over to you. Thank you, Mayor Guthrie. First of all, we just want to introduce ourselves. My name is. Morgan Adams. I'm Martha Adams. And before we get going, I just want to ask your grace. We've never done this before. None of our wildest dreams that we thought we'd be in this position. And so as we go through, fumble along, we just sort of ask for your grace in that. So

thank you so much in advance for your understanding, and so I want to share with you a little bit about. What? Three four three. Waterloo Avenue was. We affectionately call it three four three. And so I ask for your patience when I default to calling it three. Four. Three. Our building wasn't just. A commercial building. If I sum it up in a word. It was a community. Our tenants weren't just local small businesses that operated out of our space. We really did nurture a sense of community in our building, whether it was regular potlucks that we all had or celebrating milestones. That community was very much there. Then came the day that an arsonist entered our building. Looking to attack one of our tenants. And thankfully, we are still incredibly grateful today that everyone was safe. However, Morgan and I. Are still dealing with the hardship of the loss. Of our building. And more than that, the community that we built. And nurtured. If I

could ask for the help. This one. Give the screen one. Okay, great. Again, thank you for your understanding in that. And so today, council members. Were coming to present to you a redevelopment of three four three. Because from adversity comes opportunity. The tragic loss of three four three to arson was a moment of true hardship for Morgan. And I. But today we stand with a renewed vision. One that aligns with Gulf's leadership in. Sustainability, affordability and growth. Here you see a site plan as part of the documentation that we provided. In it, you can see the existing building, and what we're proposing is a slight shifting. Of the property, which we have the letter from our neighbor as well, just to provide us with. Some more parking on the site as well. As we all know, Canada, Ontario, even Guelph. We have a housing crisis.

And with it, we have very low vacancy rates and the cost of living is rising. One of the things that we thought to ourselves. When we had to pick ourselves up from this was, how can we help the community? In this need. And so that's where we came up with the idea of saying, okay. How do we provide some residential units for the community? And so, three, four three is the location where we propose a new environmentally responsible development. This project would include three residential floors, with nine units directly contributing to Guelph's housing supply. The first floor. I'd like to note will be rebuilt to get Morgan and I back to business. I also want to know that. The commercial space would just be Morgan and I. No other commercial tenants. Morgan and I have pride in the fact that we live in Guelph and we work. In Guelph. And one of the aspects that we're incredibly proud of. Is that the city of Guelph

is a leader in environmental solutions. We also believe that. A community is built by partnering. Really hands joining. And so today, council members, we want to share with you how we're joining hands with the city of Guelph and the initiatives that the city champions. Three, four, three. The redevelopment of it really is built on three key pillars of community. Environment and well being. Council members, I'd love to share with you a little bit about the community aspects that we propose the first are accessible units. Barrier free grounds and interior and having an elevator that is accessible to all floors. So all floors. Are accessible to all individuals. We're also very excited about accessible bike parking and focusing on public transportation. We have access to busing directly in front of the building, and it provides easy access to both downtown Guelph and the greater Gulf area. We also are excited about our commitment in zoning to

two truly affordable units that meet the council's. Approved standards, and we are committed to environmental initiatives as well and investment in the community. By bringing in a local regional contractor. For the environment. We're very proud to be in Guelph. And the fact that this is a focus in the community. We want to contribute to that need as well. And so I have commitment to renewable energy and efficiency within the building. Some of the proposals that we have in terms of our building is having a naturally heated driveway. And walkway eliminates the use of salt. It protects our groundwater quality. It also makes sustainable winter maintenance. Great electric charging stations, solar panels in the building, heat pumps with no gas. And increased insulation, including the walls, but also the windows. And much more things in the building. Council members when it comes to well being. We're excited about having green space that I affectionately call the Zen garden. For the tenants. In addition to that, a

shared balcony space. To. Yes, focus on well being and that sense of community as well. We're also focused on financial well being, stat after stat, year after year. Finances are cited as one of the greatest stressors that Canadians face. And here in Gulf, that's no exception. We face finances as. Being one of our greatest sources of stress. And again, over half of Canadians report negative effects from financial stress specifically linked to shelter costs. So what are we doing? We are helping with two significant life expenses, which is rent, affordability, and because. We are environmentally focused, reducing those utility costs for tenants as well, and then looking at sustainable transportation. Taking steps towards Guelph's positive goal. Whether that's in. Bike, public transit or car share potential. In any project, you need partners, and we're proud to

partner with. Wealth with the CIP grant application to be submitted. Upon a positive change in zoning here. If this is what happens. It shows our commitment not only to the affordable units, but an actual length in time for that. Affordability within the community. Furthermore, we've partnered with CMHC. They have a focus on affordability, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. With my liaison at CMHC. They have expressed a real interest and an excitement for this project. Because. It's one that can be done. Now, most of the projects that they see have a five to ten year time frame, and that's not their goal. Their goal is to get people in houses now, and so they are really excited about this project happening. Council members. The heart and intention.

Of this project. Is to utilize our resources to join hands with the initiatives of the city of Guelph. In order to be of service to our community. Morgan and I could have just built back our commercial space. But what we want to do is to give back to our community. In a positive manner. Three, four. Three is a development project that balances. Growth, sustainability and affordability. And I do want to mention that. We will also respect and delegate to the authority of the city planner and the chief city engineer. And so, with grateful hearts, we want to thank you. All. So much for the opportunity to talk with you today. Great. Thank you, Morgan. And Martha, we appreciate that. And just before I turn over to my colleagues, if there's any questions, just as a follow up. You'll notice, council, that. The motions in front of you is. Yes, the first one is more technical

in nature. Around the zoning allowances to allow this project to take place. But just as Martha just said, The second one is that a complete site plan application be submitted to the satisfaction of the city. Chief planner and the city engineer prior to issuance of the building permits. So in a way, I think it's kind of a fail safe that if there's. Anything that's required, it will still have to go through. Krista, Terry and such with on our own staff. Also, the zoning will only be contingent upon. And the permits will only be allowed if the affordable housing agreement is penned. In a contract with the city of Guelph and that there's no skirting. Any fees here at all so everything would still be done appropriately there. In regards to. The there's some stuff that was attached to the application, like records of site condition and all this other stuff, which we would normally never see, that would normally take place, take place at site plan and things like that. But that's all attached for you as well. So with that, I will turn it over to my colleagues to see if there's any. Questions

at all. Before I do that, though, I'll just see if there's anybody. Sorry. Just wait. A second, okay? We just have to. No, Steven. I'm going to go to questions of the applicant and. Then I'll turn it over to that. So, questions of the applicant. So, councilor Billings. And then Busatil and Koran. So through you. Mr. Mayor, my understanding is there is a shortfall in parking. The number of spaces that are required. So I was just wondering if you could speak to that and how you're addressing that issue. Yeah. Thank you for your question. We do recognize. There is shortfall in the parking requirement. One of the things that we wanted to do was to provide other alternatives for people in the building, including the accessible biking, parking, access to the transportation. One of the things that we also want to focus on is the Gulf transportation master plan. And the goal there, of course, is to get people. Into walking biking bus routes by 2051. And to do that through policy, to, through development along transit corridors. And we feel this is a great

project to be able. To. Do that with the city. As well. In terms of. Other things that we're looking to do in terms of reducing the need for a car. A car share. Is proposed. Delivery lockers for things like. People order food and have it deliver. They don't have to go out to go get it. They can have things delivered to these lockers that are there. In the buildings available for people. In addition to that, the commercial space that we're using. We're not there in the evenings and we're not there in the weekend, so. There's additional parking that can be there. And furthermore, we're looking to do tandem parking. So the ability to have sort of two cars parked in one spot. For those that don't need to leave, right? If I'm there all day working. I don't need to leave. Someone can park behind me. And so that can create some additional parking in that site. So, through your worship, are you not also proposing that maybe, I don't know, one, two, three units. In the lease agreement, it'll be stated that there is no parking. For those units, or is that not the

case? And I misunderstood? Thank you for that, clarification. Council member. That is correct. Your understanding is correct that they're in the lease agreements that we're. Going to have. There will be notifications. There is no parking. Associated with each unit. So there will be parking there. It'll be based on either a needs basis or a first come. But they will know that there's no parking necessarily, with the unit itself. And if I may counsel. The thought process and action plan of this building is that it is an environmentally friendly building and so. It is marketed as that. Is not only our focus, but. Our steps in our execution as well. Okay. Thank you. Busatil and then Koran. Thank you. And thank you, Morgan, for the call today. Taking my call. So councilor Billings asked my question about tandem parking and parking. And I was thinking about

tending. It's like family parking, right? You put all the keys and who gets out first kind of thing, so thank you for that. Morgan, in your presentation, you mentioned CMHC, and I wasn't clear. I didn't quite hear where you are in the application process, you mentioned that you're. Connected. Can you just help me with that? And also tie in whether or not this decision impacts that process. So the application process for CMHC, it's clearly delineated. In their website on the steps we have to do one of the steps to do the application. Process. Is having the site plan application submitted along with zoning and other pieces. So this is one piece of that puzzle, the other pieces that we've done, the environmental stage one, phase one or rather. Phase two, the RSC geotechnical all have comeback with flying colors. And so we've had many calls. They have a liaison individual that works with CMHC. That sort of helps guide us in the application process and gives us feedback on our project itself. And so that's where we are in that process. So Liz is the lady that we're working with. And she's been helping. Us compile the data we need for the application, and then.

Is waiting with bated breath to submit it to the next stage, which is underwriting. Oh, so you had a second question. I'm sorry. No, that was tandem park, and you just say family parking kind of thing. Thanks. Koran, please. Thank you. And I want to thank the proponents because everything you've described, everything from the transportation. Transit oriented development to the affordable housing, to the environment, the heat pumps, the carbon neutral building, everything. That you've described is exactly what we as a council, with them encouraging and trying to incentivize throughout this entire term of council as part of our strategic plan. I commend you on that. The other thing is that. The planning process requires a number of studies, and I understand that's going to happen, and I understand site plan is going to happen, and I understand that all of the other planning processes are going to happen. So I know that one of the concerns I have is not about the project, but about the process. I'll just be blunt. Why aren't you following

the normal process? So when I met with Cam, I went to the city. Sorry, Mayor Guthrie, my apologies. I went to the state of the city, right? The event that happens in the city every year. And there were some comments. On the process of doing proposals and how a building gets done. And obviously, we were only four months into the fire. At that point, maybe six months into the fire. And I asked a couple of questions, and he had asked me if I would come and talk. To him afterwards. Right. And so when that's sort of the first time that I had met with Mayor Guthrie, and he asked me to come to his office. We met. And it was clear. That. We both felt that this was a good project and. Please, Mayor Guthrie, I don't want to speak for you. The thought process was this could save us some valuable time we weren't trying to avoid. Any kind of fees to the city. We weren't trying to avoid any kind of study. That needs to happen to make sure everything is safe and compliant. But it was a matter of saying? Look, we've been out of our building. Our business has been. Affected. We need to get back as soon as possible. And

the suggestion for this route was from. Mayor Guthrie. Sorry. I apologize. Please. No, I was just going to say thank you. Thank you. For that. That's really the root of my question was whether or not. This. Is not about circumventing process. A good project is a good project. And yeah, I don't have any more questions, so I don't want to get into commentary. I'll ask some questions to staff, but I do want to commend you on. The project itself is exactly the type of development that I think council would have supported. So I'm glad you're here. I just don't like how you got here. Okay. Thank you. If I could just jump in as well. Counsel to yourself and others. They cannot do the application with CMHC unless the zoning is done. So that is a huge hold up. And I think speed under these circumstances is exactly why. I've brought it here. This way. Still following all the regular public process issues, so. That hasn't been amended at all. I have nothing further, so I'd like to. Open it up, then. To anybody else that wants to speak to the matter. Thank you very

much. You can have a seat and we'll see what happens. So thank you, and I'll just yell out a number on the screen here for anyone that wants to call in and. It will come up on the screen as well. It's 519-837-5603. We'll wait three, four minutes or so, like we normally do, to see if anyone wants. To call in.

Okay. We're good. There's been no calls in on this matter either. Are you okay? Yeah. You're allowed. Come on down. Okay? And just state your name, please. Thank you. Hi, I'm Daniel Kaufman. Great. Thanks for coming. Go right ahead. Well, really, I'm just speaking because of what I've just. Heard here. I think it's something that's really great.

Especially in a time where, depending on the way that things are built, you can encourage or discourage community. I think with something like them, where they're already trying to focus on gang tents. Together and building community there. I think that's great. I'm not going to get deep into it, but I do have my own landlord where it's a bit difficult for us to make community. It's hard to communicate with them, the spaces necessarily. Built for that, and we'd like to move forward with that. But for this kind of situation where they'd like to put that first and forward, I think that's really great, and I just wanted to say that. And just support that. As a citizen. I think that's great. Thank you very much. Appreciate. No questions from any of my colleagues? No. Okay. Thank you very much. For coming. Thank you. Okay, so it's back to us council. And councilor Guller, you said that you would move. Thank you. And Richardson, I think I've. Had others, but Richardson said second. Thank you. So it's on the floor, are there any questions for me at all, councilor alt? Thank you, Mayor Guthrie, I have questions for you, but also for staff, and I recognize planning staff. Are not here, but Ms. Jane Holmes is, and I was wondering if I could understand why planning

staff are not in attendance and why the report was not written by planning staff at this point. Through the merits of council Alt. Our planning staff, as with most professional staff, are guided by a code of conduct. That do require them to go through certain processes and in order to be able to provide an opinion to council on how to move forward with an application. In this case. There was some studies and technical analysis that still needs to be done. We don't have that yet. We would also need an opinion on the conformity with the provincial planning statement that we don't have. So the reason why you don't see planning staff here today, we don't have. That information. So they would not be able to provide. An opinion at this time. What you do see, though, we're happy to see that with some of the recommendations, though, that that information will be coming as part of site plan. To the satisfaction of the chief planner. Just another concern. I'm wondering through you, Mr. Merritt's staff. As I'm listening. I'm wondering because you're saying that these

things still. Must come up whether this expedites the process much, if at all. Through the merit council alt I would say for the overall process from beginning to end. It probably doesn't add that much. Efficiency to it. I would say, though, that. I'm just in hearing what. The mayor was saying just in regards to the requirements for the CMHC, That it does provide. The applicant with some certainty that council is in support of. This application. Thank you. And through you, Mr. Mayor, to you. One of the concerns that I have about this is very similar to Council Quran and. It is very much a question of due process. I have no problems with what I've heard the pitch being made. To the owners of the property. And to your tenants. I'm truly sorry. Unfortunately, Arson was committed in that there were victims of a dangerous crime against property and also potentially against. Lives as well, which puts many, many people in danger. But the real

concern from Emerick Guthrie actually is the process. And so. I need to understand. Why? As you said, there is a community benefit from this. And it strikes me that anything that comes before our council, through the normal process, has community benefit. How does this differ? Thanks, councilor. So two affordable housing units that. Will be enforced through the zoning that would not happen. Without. This in front of us. I would say the pace is important here, and I will respectfully just say that I was told that it would probably save them anywhere between four to six months by being here today. Speed is important, especially for I felt a business that had their place burned to the ground. And the fact that they're willing to do those extra units meeting our affordability policy. Which we unanimously passed, and we haven't had any of those types of units come forward. At all. And so here we are. We have an opportunity for that. And then finally I

would just say, The environmental aspect of it as well. I think this is a huge benefit that I've heard this council for ten years say that they're looking for exactly this type of project. And I just felt like it was worthy to try to bring it forward, and finally I would just say on the speed aspect of the benefit of that is they can finally get that application. Into CMHC. If we do not give them the zoning for what they require, it might actually affect their application process. And that's a parallel process to sort of speed. So there's our internal processes. That they still have to comply with. But there's also the speed at CMHC as well, so the sooner we can get going onto this, the sooner they can get going on what? They need to get done. It also aligns with CMHC in their application process too. So I feel it's warranted because it meets what I feel is not only my own internal sort of checkboxes of the things that we're looking for in this community, but I felt like I was harnessing, in a way. Everyone else what I continue to hear from councilors year over, year over, year over, year of what they're looking for. And that's exactly why I brought it for all of council to vote on in this. Manner. So all the public processes were met. And

so I would say that we actually are fulfilling the right processes. It's just the speed part that I think is warranted. And thank you very much for that. It's, again, one of those things where I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. I think, regrettably, the CMHC probably has some processes that are inappropriate when it comes to speeding up housing. And certainly the federal and the provincial governments are aware of some of these now, because we recognize across Canada we're not going to get our compliment of affordable housing. However, I do have to say in my remarks that I cannot support this because. I think. At the city level and at the council level. There are procedural concerns that really are part of due process that exist for a reason. And as I said, I think it's tragic, and I think it's shameful, and it's certainly criminal that arson has occurred, but I think that we do need to be mindful of our processes because every development that comes to us has a community benefit, and many of them. Have a CMHC application that is pending, and my concern is that the argument will be made that many proposals can come before us. That can forgive me for the term jump the queue

as a consequence of asking for a mayoral order. And that creates a problem for us, in my opinion. So I will not be supporting this and just to respond as a point of personal privilege. They did not jump the queue by asking for a mayoral order. No, let me finish. I have the floor. They did not come to me with that at all. It was my suggestion to do that to help people in these circumstances. That's why it's in front of us. Okay? Just. Want to make sure that that's very clear and just a point of personal privilege. I acknowledge that it is nothing against you. It is my concern in the future that people will perceive. It as a precedent and will make similar argume. Arguments that are either appropriate or inappropriate, and then we have a conundrum for council, okay? But we're not here to debate the strong merit process here. No. Who else want to speak to this if necessary? No. Okay. I'll call the vote then. Oh, sorry, councilor Cayton. Sorry, go right ahead. Thank you. Through, I think, to you. I was just wondering about the public feedback. Like counselors

Alt and Kron. I also think it's a great project, and I'm just kind of a little bit concerned about the process. Is there? Any way? Just because this happened so quickly, is there any other way to have more public feedback? Kind of put into the process. Thanks, councilor. There isn't. All the public feedback process was followed. So there's nothing about this. Process that has been changed at all. The 20 day notice was done appropriately. The notice. In the paper or the media was done appropriately. I would say further to that. There was lots of sort of media coverage on this as well. So everyone has known that this has come. More because everything has been met under the Planning act for the public notification. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I will call the vote then. Is anyone against? Just counselor alt all right. Thank you very much. Your project approved of the zoning is

approved, and we wish you all the best. Invite us all to do the ribbon cutting at some point. Okay? We want your business to succeed. So thank you very much and thank you to council. Okay, we're going to continue to move along. And the next one in front of us here. Hold on a second. Okay, we're at the consent portion of the agenda, and so that is, I'm. Going to just yell them out here. So, paramedic services, first quarter, 2025 budget variance. Report again. If anyone wants any of this, just put your hand up and yell at me here. Paramedic service response performance 2024 and performance plan. Recommendation for 2026. We also have the administrative penalty system for the automated speed enforcement and red light camera violations. I have one question on that. So just one. Nothing to further it, but just one question. Would some of you be willing to just actually do mine counsel if I just ask my one? Question on that, and then we can maybe look to. Thank you so much. This is a takeaway because I feel very bad for forgetting to tell you in advance. I was

going to ask this question. I just wondered if, as a takeaway, you could get back to us. Is there? A way of having the speed enforcement cameras when they are moved to new areas or new ones. Are added. That. For a time being. It is only a warning that is sent out and not a ticket. I have seen some communities start to talk about that. And so. They still get the sort of scare in the mail. The mail comes to the house and they open it up and they see the picture and they know they've done something wrong. But instead of an automatic. Financial penalty. It is like a warning. And I just wondered if you could explore that for another. Time, but maybe get back to council just with an answer on that. That's all I'm asking. To you, Mr. Mayor, so I will take that back. I will just note, though, whenever we do put up. Any sort of automated speed cameras. With the red light cameras, we do. Put a lot of notice periods in terms of signage and advertising. It shouldn't be a surprise that they're there, but I'll certainly take

back the ability to send out a warning as opposed to a ticket at the beginning. And I'll let council know. Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you, council, for letting me ask that question. That was it on that. So would someone be willing to move consent for me? Alt and Richardson. Great. And if there's nothing more, I'll call the vote then. Is there anyone? Against. No. Okay, so that passes on consent. Thank you. We also have the council consent. We have the integrity commissioner report code of conduct complaint. And that is it. Does anyone need that pulled? Can I call that one as a vote? I would like to do that. So thank you, Linda. Sorry. Councilor Busatill and Downer. Will move. And second that, is there anything further on that? No. I'll call the vote. Is there anyone against? No, that passes unanimously. Thank you very much. And now we are at items for discussion. We're going to kick things off with the Guelph Storm 2027 Memorial cup bid. Then after that, we'll move to the temporary, accessible ramps. And then we will go to

the Wyndham street, north st. George's Square. And then a quick one from councilor Koran. Then we're good. So let's start with the Guelph storm. Colleen, our deputy CIO for this area, Colleen clock Bush is going to kick us off. Go. Right ahead. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to make some introductory remarks tonight. First, I want to start by acknowledging the strong partnership relationship that we have with the Guelph storm as our principal tenant at the Sleeman center and as an existing strong economic driver for our community and specifically for the downtown. With us this evening is Matt Newbie, vice president business operations for the Guelph storm. And he's going to make a few introductory remarks in a moment. I also want to acknowledge Scott Walker, who is here from the Guelph Storm ownership group and also Scott's. Waving. And also just draw your attention to the fact that our new sleeveman center manager is with us this evening. Ryan Giles, you can also wave. And so, Ryan. And Scott are both in the gallery and support tonight as well. After our introductory remarks, then Mr. Newbie will be available for your questions. And then we also. Of course, have Ms. Evans from culture and recreation and Ms. Jorski and Mr. Goodwill

from economic development and tourism, and they're happy to also answer any questions you may have at this stage, you are simply being asked to consider endorsing the support for the Gulfstorm's. Bid for the. 2027 Memorial cup. There is no cost to the city to participate in the bid, and our financial commitment only occurs if the bid is successful. In response to the questions we received about the impact on the municipal accommodation tax, we wanted to provide clarification that if Guelph was selected for the Memorial cup, then there are budget conversations we can have about deferring capital items that were originally earmarked for the mat, and so this would avoid us going into. A deficit in the mat reserve, so we wanted to provide you that reassurance. Reassurance? For clarity, there is an annual operating budget associated with the MAT as well as a reserve fund for larger financial asks in capital projects. And so while the Memorial cup ask would draw on the reserve, there would still be funding available through the. Annual operating budget for our current funding streams, and that would still be applied to other events, so again. We just wanted to provide that reassurance that the potential for the memorial cup does not impact the availability of funding for other events

or initiatives. For example, the bicentennial. And then lastly, we just wanted to really emphasize that we see great benefit in hosting the memorial. Cup in 2027 as part of our efforts to ensure a healthy and vibrant downtown throughout the construction projects. And obviously you're considering that later this evening on the agenda, we would be putting in place traffic management, parking and transit plans to ensure that all event. Events at Sliman center and River Run center, as well as elsewhere in the downtown, can continue throughout this time period, and we're going to be actually actively seeking any and all special events that we can to help bring people to our downtown to support restaurants and businesses. And so I just want to close by saying that we see that the memorial cuff would be a great opportunity to bring vis. Visitors to our downtown. And with that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Newbie.

Good evening, Mayor Gothary and members of council. As mentioned, I'm Matt Newbie and. I'm the vice president of business operations for the Gulf Storm. I've been with the team for over 26 years, and I started right here. Virtually right here with a former Memorial garden student. 1999 over the years, we've grown from a team that sometimes struggled to fill the arena into one of the CHL's model franchises, and we're proud of what we've become that way. Now we have a chance to give back to our fans in our city by bidding to host the 2027 memorial. Cup. We believe this. Is likely our last and our best chance to bring the Memorial cup to Guelph with a capacity of under 5000. The Seleman center faces increasing competition from newer, larger venues across the province. Several have already opened in the past decade and more on the way. The window to host this prestigious event is closing. But Guelph is something truly special. We have a passionate fan base. We have a great downtown right outside the doors of the arena. We have a once in a generation opportunity to align the memorial coupler. City's bicentennial it's a chance to showcase Guelph on the national stage, not just as a hockey town, but as a vibrant, welcoming community ready to celebrate 200 years of history. The

Memorial cup is more than just a hockey tournament. It's a national celebration of junior hockey. It's community pride and its canadian heritage. In 2027. It could be the centerpiece of Guelph's 200th anniversary. A chance to celebrate our past, our present and future on a national stage. Yes, our arena is smaller than some, but it's full almost every game. It's loud, it's electric, and it's home to some of the most dedicated fans in the league. Our downtown is because it was brought up. I know on the 10th our downtown is a huge part of our bid. The Seleman center is surrounded by everything visitors could and could want. With unique restaurants, local businesses, direct Go train access, direct ViaC rail access for millions of people. Just steps away from the sleeve and center, the river on center and the nearby green. Space. Beside the river and center, a perfect space for memorial cup events. And we envision the transformation of the old Quebec street shops into what would become the memorial cup entertainment district and really a vibrant hub for fans and families. We want this event to tell a story that's uniquely Guelph in 2027. And that story is simply 200. And nearly everything in our downtown is within 200 steps of the Sweeman center

or take 200 steps south to the spot where John Gault cut the first tree down to found Guelph. In 1827. With 20,000 visitors joining us from outside our region, we can celebrate. 200 years of Guelph together. This is our chance to shine, not just as a hockey. Town, but as a welcoming. Dynamic city ready to host a national celebration. We're bidding to create something that brings people together boosts our economy and leaves a lasting legacy. Again, thank you for your time. Thank you. For letting me. Allow me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the team. And I hope that together we can bring the 2027 memorial cut to golf. Thanks a lot, Matt. Maybe I could just have you just stay at that microphone if you don't. Mind. Just in case there's any questions of my colleagues or myself as well. I'll start with councilor alt, please. And then Koran. Thank you very much, mayor. Guthrie. And thank you, Mr. Newbury. For standing in front of us and presenting. As a person who tends probably 50% of the home games. I look forward to winning hockey. In Guelph. But I note within the report that there is a statement about financial implications. If there

is any further profit, this would go into the Sliman center. With all due respect, that somewhat sounds self serving, and I was wondering if you could comment on that, because I'm going to ask staff about the mat tax as well. And how it's supposed to operate. There's some philosophical questions, so that's. Why I'm asking this. If you could comment on that, that'd be great, yeah. Of course. And I think Dana could speak to this as well, but the intention being that. If there were profits, they would go back and Seeman center just to build just infrastructure, allow the city. Our hope is that. The subsidy that's currently in place, the annual subsidy would be reduced by becoming. Maybe that you increase capacity. Maybe that you increase one of the big problems. I know that they have in the semen center having to work with them for as long as I have. They just don't have the food prep area. So I think the idea in terms of profits is that you redirect that into projects that allow it to become a little bit less reliant on that subsidy. Thank you. It also notes that the Gulf Storm is a for profit organization. And with all due respect, again, I hope you can comment on that, because I have to ask. Staff about the principles and philosophy of the MAT tax directly related to for profit

organization. We are a for profit organization. The intent with this bid is it's a not profit bid, so. I do understand what you're saying. If that answers your question. So that goes back to. The profits being redirected. To the sale and center again. It's a ton of work for us and probably thousands. Of hours, volunteers in our time and for $0 event, so. With that. Like I said, I think that's the best way to explain why we're. Doing it. And I can respect that because I worked on the grand slam a bit, and I can tell. You that you're quite correct. It's a lot of work. Now, if you could just expand a bit on the last best chance. For the Memorial cup. What's happening? What's the vibe in Ontario? That's leading to this challenge. I understand it's the size of arenas, but give me more details. Yeah, it's the size of the arena. It's also, again, For me personally. I parked at the Neve street lot for years and years and years. I kept walking by that sun, walking by that sign, and everything didn't align because until Covid the memorial. Cops didn't line up to where it came. We knew that it was going to be coming to the OHL for this cycle for 2027. So without that, I think if we went in and tried to bid in a competitive bid situation,

with our building and the size of our building, it would be a no win situation for us. And that's why I talk about that. As far as around the province, Kingston is a building that's bigger. That's what a great community that's never hosted memorial. Cup Niagara. St. Catherine's is another. New building. It's never hosting larger building, Ashwa. Larger building ever hosts the memorial cup. So there's a number of teams that have already got buildings that if we went dollar for dollar in a competitive bid. We just wouldn't measure up. That doesn't also speak to the fact that Sudbury is a new arena coming. Ottawa has a new arena coming. Brantford has a new arena coming. All of which are bigger than ours. So you start to stack up those different you look at once every three years with the cycle, which is tough on its own. And then you think even if all 20 teams bid, which just a lot of teams aren't in position, do so. Because of the size. Of their buildings. I think when you start to look at the teams that have the buildings that haven't had a memorial, cop. The ones that are getting buildings that have an edible memorial. Cup. I think it puts us at the end of a long line. Okay. And thank you for. That. Now, you mentioned a number of cities where they haven't had the memorial cup, but. These cities have bid upon it. And being unsuccessful, Ashwa has. A new building. They bid upon it. They received it. And it was canceled during Covid Kingston has bid and just didn't have the team.

In the eyes. In a lot of cases, the business model as well. And again, if you spoke to me, 1516 years ago, it might have been a tough case for us to do that from a business standpoint, I think we're looked at and held up from the league standpoint, not just as us as a team, but our relationship with the city and how we've managed. To. It's not just there's a lot of cities that we go and a lot of teams when we go to our meetings and it's. A fight over this pie. Who gets what slice of the pie? I think the relationship we've. Had. It's worked really well. Is it? We've working together with the city. And rich pryor. And moving forward with Dana and Colleen. Let's grow the pie. Let's make it so. You're making more on concessions. You're making more off license fees. You're making more on there, and we couldn't have done that unless. We're able. To kind of reinvest and succeed. I think that's part of why it's worked and where, like I said, Kingston they've struggled that way to fill the building. Oshwa probably wouldn't bid. They're getting a $40 million, I believe, infrastructure. Or redevelopment grant for the building to do some renovations. So I think they would. I suspect they would hold off until then. I'm trying to think of it. Niagara has just been. If. You go to half the game. She probably know about the OHL. Niagara has their own issues. And I would

let the people of Niagara kind of speak to that, but from a business standpoint. Again, and I think that's a big issue. So I think some of it is. Because where we are now in terms of a business, and as with the fan following that, we've built and we've worked our butts off to do so, and very proud. Of what we have built within this community, a mid size market that I think we stack up. Against. And proud to do it. Stock measure stack up against most of the communities that I league that are a lot bigger than ours. But I think that's the big reason why some of the ones that have the new buildings. They haven't been lucky enough, I guess, to be able to bid successfully to bring it. There. And thank you very much for standing up in front of us today and presenting. I appreciate that. Let's hope that the storm has as good a season as the Blue Jays are. Having right now. That would be fantastic. Thanks. And I can confirm that, councilor. Also big. Well, storm fan, just so you know. Okay. Take my work for it. So. Councilor Koran, please, over to you. Thanks. And I, Echo, probably haven't been to as many games as Phil alt. Admittedly but come from a hockey family. And hall of famers in the family. So go storm. One of the things that you probably, if you watch the last

meeting at council that I raised, was that? When we bring a big event, it's a national event. It's a national spotlight to Guel. We want to look our best. We want to wear our finest clothes. Our downtown will not be wearing its finest clothes during the Memorial cup. It'll all be ripped up, and I just wondered how you're going to manage that in any bit. How? You're going to manage it if it's successful. I am worried that actually it won't show us in our best light, and so I'm hesitant to support for that reason, not because I'm not. A huge supporter of the Gulf Storm. If I recall in the last one, you asked if we would disclose that as well. I think. If that would be part of it. The CHL president grew up with. Born in Guelph. He was raised in Gulf. He currently lives in Guelph, so he'll know full well what Guelph will be going through at that moment. So even if we wanted to. Hide it. I can assure you we couldn't. That being said, as we're going through our playoff drive at any point. We'll average 4700 fans, so we'll learn to work through it. I do fully understand in terms of anytime you watch the national broadcast, you see those great shots where they pull out. And it

would be the speed river or whatever they're showing, or the river on center. It's tough when you know that they're not going to show that street because of what it's going through. But I think that's just something we have to work through. And again, we'll learn as a team. We'll learn, I think, with our partners at the city and specifically the semen center. And our fans even kind of going through that year, it'll be 27, 26, 27. Our fans will be coming. We expect to have 4500 fans a game or whatever, learning to work. Through that again. It's part of just being a community and making the best of a bad situation, I think. But again, having said that, I do fully respect it. It'll be a real kick in the pants when you're seeing those. Great shots on TSN. And they can't show the downtown. They can't show. The front of old kuak street mall because of what's going through there, but I don't think it's unique to go out, that there's infrastructure that needs to be done. It's just. No doubt it's bad timing, but I think without this tie into the. What I said to council to match into council. I don't know. That there's a better time to do it or. Maybe another time. Yeah, and I certainly want our 200ft. Grant spectacle and draw that national attention. You? Probably, if you listen to the last meeting. You also know that I raised concern about hotel. Rooms and whether we have

the capacity, whether there will be spillover to other municipalities and whether those other municipalities. Are putting anything. In the bucket to bring it to Guelph. If they are economically benefiting from. Wealth's successful bid. From our end. We haven't made any calls to any other centers, so we're working with a couple of different hoteliers and working with tourism. We'll fill every room. In Guelph. And then if that's not enough, then we'll look to. Others, but at this point, we're not making those calls. With the same priority is what you're saying. Let's make sure gulf is completely. Full. If there's a spillover, then we'll make those calls. But at this. Point with the numbers we have and with the calls we're making. And the due diligence we're working through it would be to make sure we're filling with Gulf the fallback. I think in that case, looking 25 minutes away, you'd get to the ones in Cambridge. It might be a cross separation when you get to it, but our hope is that yes and knowing that it's high numbers and knowing that it probably doesn't add up. The way we'd want it. You start to get into other different types of accommodation, potentially to fill some of that gap, but yeah, our priority would be to fill the ones in Gulf. Those are the calls we're making now. Those are the numbers we're crunching now. After

that, the spillover will look to go elsewhere if need be, but we hope that it doesn't. Thank you, Councilor Kran. Anything more for this delicate at all? Yes, Councilor Klassen. Yes. Thank you. Through you, Mr. Mayor till delegate. My question. Is. So if we're successful with the bid, will any of the investment provide longer term? Benefit to the community. I know you mentioned the food prep area. I'm just curious about. Hosting an event of this scale I think is new to Guelph, and with that will come some infrastructure upgrades to what we have. So will that also prime us potentially for doing other I mean, not the Memorial cup again. Maybe for a long time. But for a similar type events. Yeah, that would certainly be the hope. If there were profits. Part of the CHL, the bid process. They do require legacy, some legacy left behind. In our case, I think the first thing that comes to mind. Is really like a first escape thing. That's not an infrastructure thing. That's not. A thing that's going to bring people into the building and other events in the building. But I think it's an opportunity for, especially in diverse communities, to get people on skates. Once, and it might be working with coaching, but I

think our hope is that if there's legacy that comes from it. It's funding to set up a program like that. With the profits. PCs. And that would be where you'd start, whether it's improving. Kitchen stuff, and that's discussions with Dana and managing that CRa if and when it's set up to how it's best spent to improve. Just improve the semen center, for lack of a better term, and its ability to host these events because they're certainly out there. Thank you. Great. Thank you. There's no further questions. So thank you very much. We appreciate you coming down. I appreciate the opportunity. So back to us then, everybody. Would someone be willing to move the motion for the recommendations? Gibson and alt, please. Thank you. And is there anything further on this? Sure, Councilor alt. Thank you very much, Merrick. I'm happy to move the motion because I think that we're at the early stages on this, but there are questions that I do have about the Mat fund and economic, social and other forms of development.

So my big concern is the impact of one big withdrawal. Now, you had mentioned that there would be the deferral of capital items, and I was wondering if we could please expand on. That, because I have to admit that I think in some senses the intent of the mat was. To allow us to fund. Many different things over time, and I think that in some senses, we're departing from that. With this. Through the merit to councilor alt. So as we're taking a look and as deputy CIO Clack Bush indicated. We will have more discussions about this if the bid is successful too. So staff have taken this way. As we indicated in the report, we are working on a citywide wayfinding strategy, right? Now in current year and with plans in 2026 to maybe do a first phase implementation of a tourism oriented destination, directional gateways, those kinds of things. If we are successful in the bid then we push that out a few years. But it doesn't mean the way finding strategy is an

action, that sort of thing, because it is citywide. There are other. Several of the capital, like future capital requests might come through. Might be deferred. But for the most part, that's the big one that we would be looking to defer and then maybe altering some operational plans to contribute more to the reserve. So that we don't go into a deficit, and then after 2027, that's. When we would see those capital projects, hopefully come back online. Thank you. Just with regards to that. The big event is exciting, there's no doubt in my mind. But also the big event. Carries with it in some sense is a bit of a hangover afterward. And that would be a concern for me with the various hotels that are essentially responsible for funding the mat. Are we aware of any opposition? From any of. The. Well, the businesses right now. That would say, well, this is a one shot deal. But it's not going to long term provide us with any benefit. Are we aware of any of that right

now. Should the merit of Councilor alt. Not formally, no. Will we be investigating it just so that we've got a feel from those that are contributing to the mat. Through the marriage to counsel. Not at this time. Thanks. Now I think that the storm are completely within their rights in the mat to ask for. This, but I was wondering if you could outline the MaT principles and objectives, especially as they might relate to for profit organizations. Through the mayor to councilor alt. First, I'll address. The mat policy and what the map reserve is for. So I will say this event aligns. Which is why the staff recommendation is what it is. So. The Matt operating budget, like through our funding stream programs. That's really for those smaller asks the under 25,000. The intention of the reserve was to be able to come to council with anything over that ask. For things like sport, event, conference attraction, that sort of thing. And other projects, of course, as well. In that infrastructure space. It is a much

larger ask. But it is still in alignment with the mat. When it comes to the for profit. That was in there for transparency, but I think just echoing. What our friends from the storm indicated is the event itself is operating as a not for profit. And maybe we can speak a little bit more to the Sliman reserve and that sort of. Thing, but. It's community impact, it's economic impact. And so. There is a lot of benefit, and we only have one OHL team, right? So that's also a piece of this. There wouldn't be other bidders on the Memorial cup for Guelph, which I think helps. And I'm going to ask a really out there question, but it's a very serious one as well. The FIFA World cup is coming to Toronto. Are we expecting any economic benefit from that? And is there a provision in the mat? And it's a serious question because when the Olympics were bid for Guelph. We looked at Gulf Lake as hosting the rowing, so it's not that far fetched.

Through the merit of councilor alt. I am chatting with colleagues. In Toronto and around the corridor. We don't have economic impact numbers for surrounding communities. Do I think there will be spillover? Yes. We have a go line into Toronto. We have hotels here. I think you got cut off. I think she was done speaking.

You're good. James, did you want to jump in? Go ahead. Just really quickly in terms of the hotel years. We are still going to have, as Mr. Warski said, we're still going to have the smaller funding stream programs that we have every year, including. One program where we can invest up to $25,000 in an event and keep in mind too, that the chamber of commerce splits this funding with us as well. So there are funds. In the chambers arena where. We could potentially partner on projects going forward. Anything else from anyone? Yeah, sorry, councilor Kate. Sorry about that. Councilor Kate. Please. Thanks, sir. Through you. Mr. Mayor. Are you committing comments now, or is it just questions? No, you can do both go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Through you. I really feel strongly that the Wayfinding project is an accessibility piece. And for the reasons that we had mentioned before. In not putting all of our eggs in one basket, and if it has to be, kind of. Refunded out of a capital project like that. Then. I do think it's an important project. I wish them all the best, but I just can't support

it at this time. No problem. Thank you, councilor. Okay, so it looks like I can call the vote on this. One. It's been moved and seconded and I'll just 5 seconds of comments for me. I think this is great. I really would love to see this be successful. If council agrees, I will do everything I possibly can to make this the best for our city. And for the Guelph storm and. I really want to put our best foot forward, so hopefully, if council agrees here, we'll. Get that bid. And I didn't know that the guy lived in the city. So tell me where he lives. Uncle. Knock on his door. All right. So with that, I will call the vote. Is anyone against? Okay. Koran and Keaton. Okay, so that passes. So thank you very much. Thank you and all the best. Moving right along to temporary accessible ramps in the city of Gulf. And just as a heads up everyone. We'll do this one, and then I'm going to take a break after. That, okay? So. I just want to acknowledge that. We have

a couple of delegations here. But as is normal process. We had the motions that were referred from committee fly to today to the council agenda, but councilor Kwawson, who was not here. Unfortunately for the committee has amended and brought forward something. A little bit different. So you're kind of seeing everything on the agenda here, but councilor. Clawson will be speaking to this as well. So before I call up the delegates, I just think it's appropriate for councilor Clausen. As sort of the originator of this motion and this idea, maybe just to speak to it for a moment to get the foundation out there, what we're actually speaking about, then. I can go to the delegations and then come back to us. Okay. Sorry, I didn't. Give you a heads up on that, but I hope that's okay. Sure. Yeah, that's fine. I've prepared a couple of things and I just would. Also like to thank you and my colleagues for referring. I wasn't able to attend last minute. And so thank you for sending it forward to this one so that I could speak a little bit to it. And also, I just wanted to say thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your help in getting this idea. Forward. And to the delegates as well, and everyone who wrote to me to express their support. This

work has brought me closer and to the broader accessibility landscape in our city, and I've had so many conversations and made connections that have deepened my understanding of the barriers that so many people face when trying to access spaces every day. So I just thank you to everyone who has reached out to me or had a conversation with me or sent me an email. And thank you, Cindy. We have spoke several times and same with James, so thank you for that. I really appreciate you taking the time for this. I want to acknowledge that staff. Didn't support my original motions, which asked them to explore a pilot program with the stopgap. Foundation, which is an initiative that provides affordable, portable ramps for spaces in the city that are inaccessible if they have one single step. I brought forward these motions because I believe that there is a role for the city to play. In supporting these types of accessibility improvements, and in fact, many cities do support these types of projects. Often small businesses lack the resources and time to meaningfully. Address accessibility and many don't know where to start. I've heard from residents that more ramps could make a big difference in where they

can go and what they can participate in. In Engelf, especially in our downtown and older areas, there are many storefronts that are still physically inaccessible due to that one step. And of course, there's a few that have more than just one step and higher single steps. That one step is a barrier for people using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and strollers. Because staff and several counselors weren't supportive of the original proposal. I don't. Want to spend too much more time defending it here. Instead, I'd like to offer a revised approach with two emotions, and they're in our agenda package. I hope that you've. Had a chance to look at them. So there's two, and I'll just. Read them. One that council endorse a community led. Approach to increasing the accessibility of businesses in Guelph with initiatives such as the stop Gap foundation and two, that the Downtown Guelph Business association and the chamber of commerce be encouraged to raise awareness about these initiatives and grant opportunities with wealth businesses to enhance accessibility for all. For your knowledge as well. My next step is going to be to bring this to the DGBA. And to propose a community led project. And to take it, and hopefully there's

some community members who will support me and I think there already are. There's a number of folks who have said that they would be up for this, as well as some of my council colleagues. So I just wanted to say thank you for your consideration and reconsideration of these new motions. Great. Thanks, Councilor Klaus. Appreciate that. And that context for what we're actually going to be discussing here today. And so with that context. Thank you so much for the delegations, for waiting. If you would like to come. Up the first one. Is going to be James Noak. Noak, please. And then Cindy McClain. I see Cindy. Here as well. So you're in the wings there. And come on down. James, whenever you're ready, go right ahead.

And. It's five minutes. Total, and you'll hear the wonderful chime at four minutes and 30 seconds as the warning. Okay? So thank you very much and over to you whenever you're ready, okay? Dear counselors, Mayor Guthrie, city staff and fellow citizens, thank you for having me. I was encouraged. To see some of the changes in the alternate motion. However, I still think it should be revised. And retableed in the fall. In its current form, the motion still does not address the main concerns. I raised on July 8, namely, it does not situate these temporary stopgap measures in relation to a broader push for permanent accessibility. And it does not name landlords as responsible parties. I think it is important to establish this context in the motion. Doing so now will help the groups mentioned therein avoid the pitfalls inherent to temporary fixes and support them in realizing the ultimate goal of the stopgap.

Program. Permanent accessibility. Consider this photograph taken on July 16. It shows the raised entrance to a retail building in Guelph with a stopgap ramp in front of the door. The condition of the paint. And the plywood suggests the ramp was part of the 2015 pilot project. What have ten years of apparent regular use led to? What awareness has been raised? Observe the near farcical litany of obstacles which make the ramp itself. Inaccessible. You need a ramp to get to the ramp. Let's be generous, though, for a minute and imagine that another ramp is, in fact, Waiting inside to be brought out when needed. How is a wheelchair user going to let someone know? They want in. You can't knock. The door is out of reach. There is no doorbell. No number to call, no sticker, no intercom, no automatic door opener, no sign. Evidently, the awareness raising impacts of this particular ramp have been, to put it mildly, limited. This is disappointing because so much care and organizing by people who are here today went

into these stopgap ramps, which were always meant to raise awareness about the need for permanent accessibility for this to happen. However, something needs to change this time. These temporary measures, which I support. Need to be accompanied by a push for permanent solutions aimed at the people with the means and the obligation to pay for them landlords. This issue would ideally, I know, be remedied. By provincial policies. That said, the city occasionally steps in when these policies fall short. For example, council is present. Presently considering bylaws to discourage and even to punish illegal rune evictions by residential landlords. In theory, the Landlord Tenant act should protect tenants, but in practice, it isn't. Working. So the city is preparing to intervene. This is good. The present issue is similar. Provincial laws to the AodA and the OHCR are supposed to prevent discrimination, but they are not working well enough. I therefore think that the city should step in and examine what existing municipal powers might be creatively leveraged to pressure commercial landlords to make their buildings permanently accessible. Now. I am not alone in thinking that temporary

ramps work best in conjunction with creative uses of municipal powers, indeed, the founder of Stopgap Loop, Anderson just this month proposed an amendment that is going before Toronto city council tomorrow. Thanks to Luke, that motion now includes a request that the city. Advocate for changes to the building code, particularly to the distinction between extensive and minor renovations. And there are other examples. In 2016, a city of San Francisco ordinance empowered the city to, quote, push property owners to remodel the front entrances of businesses that are inaccessible, end quote. These examples show that other advocates for accessibility and their municipal counterparts. Near and far are thinking along similar lines that temporary ramps need to be accompanied by creative uses. Of municipal powers in order to push landlords to provide permanent accessibility. Now. With these examples in mind, I humbly request that the mover add to the motion a commitment to explore the feasibility of similar proactive. Approaches here in Guelph. I realize that the specifics of this will take time to formulate. I therefore ask that you please refer the present motion back to staff and

retable. A revised version in September. Without proper context, these temporary ramps will be less effective. The motion should not endorse a temporary fix without also. Endorsing the need to develop innovative ways to push landlords to provide permanent accessibility solutions now, lest you get more of this. Thank you. I welcome your questions and comments. I've come prepared to respond. And thank you very much for coming again and for your presentation as well. And is there any follow up question. Alt and. KATE thanks, Mayor Guthrie. And to the delegate James, thanks once again for presenting to us as I was listening to you. One of the things that struck me was that. You're focusing upon what is perceived to be a temporary. Adaptation until something permanent comes along. If we were in Guelph. However it's done, whether it's by the community or by the city. To. Reconstitute. The ramp program. Would you be suggesting that we put

a time limitation on this so that it not become a permanent solution. And that. We move with certain speed, whatever that might be, to the permanence. That's one idea I think you all are more familiar with. What municipal powers exist. And my request is that a commitment? May be made to explore the feasibility of using some municipal powers. Maybe like the one you're. Suggesting to put some pressure on this because right now it functions as a pressure release valve. And there's no commensurate pressure coming down to make permanent change. Thank you very much. I actually don't know what authority we have to do this or. Whether it is provincial. Sure. Thanks for the question. Thank you. Thank you, councilor all. Dr. Katen. Please. Thank you. Through you, Mr. Mayor. I'm just texting back and forth with councilor Clawson. I agree. With what? You're saying, Mr. Noak, and I was just wondering. Would something tagged on to the end of the first motion. And permanent solutions. Be amenable to what you're discussing, because. I think that the spirit of this is not to only look at

the stop gaps. It was suggestions like stop gaps, but also if we added in n permanent solutions. Would that give you the clarification that you're needing that it wouldn't? Just be looking at the temporary options. It would be better. I would like to see a commensurate endorsement to use the language of the motion. To explore the feasibility. Of similar of the city exploring the feasibility of similar proactive motions here in Guelph. Other cities have set have identified. Creative uses of municipal powers as a potential way. To bring about permanent change faster. That's what I would like to see. Just to endorse a commitment to explore the feasibility. Okay. For right now. The suggestion I'm offering up because I understand what you're saying. In terms of the municipality, but. I would just be doing this for purely with the chamber and the DGBA as a side rather than it being municipal. To be clear, it's better. It's not what I'm asking for it's. Better, though, than

nothing. I understand. Thank you very much. Thank you, Councilor Keaton. Seeing. Nothing further. Thank you very much. And thank you for just raising awareness around the Toronto motion that might be coming forward tomorrow. Oftentimes when Toronto especially does motions, and if it passes, it usually gets actually forwarded to associations and other municipalities and stuff like that. So I think maybe not just myself, but many of us will maybe be looking to see what happens with that, so. Thank you for bringing that up. Thank you all. And finally. We have. These coming forward, I think.

Welcome again, Cindy. Good to see you. Thank you for coming. And whenever you're ready, the time will start. Whenever you're ready. Okay. Thank you. That's great. Thank you. Hi, everybody. Hi, Mr. Mayor, councilors, city staff and fellow citizens. My name is Cindy McClain. I'm going to start because I have a terrible feeling I'm going to run. Out of time. I'm thanking councilor Clauson for revisiting this. Temporary ramp initiative and her interest and desire to make the community more accessible and more inclusive. I have to admit, I am the culprit who is responsible for the 2015 ramp project. So whether you think it's a good thing or a bad thing, I take responsibility for it. I want to give you a little bit of context. I have listened to some of the discussion. I thought that I could bring some accurate historical information and also give you some ideas on lessons. Learned.

Back in 2015, myself and a group of friends, all who face mobility challenges. Formed a very gross roots organization called Gualth Accessibility Project, acronym GAP. And our intention was to address gaps that we saw in accessibility within the city. And the biggest one we saw was access to buildings and businesses, particularly that headsteps and we noticed that nobody seemed to take responsibility for it. So we had this aoda, and at that point. We were ten years into it. We had landlords as James. Has very appropriately identified we'd had business. Owners, and we had the city. And what was happening was nothing. And it was frustrating, and so we decided to take it upon ourselves. So I knew Luke from stopgap reached out to him. Found a construction company that wanted to do a very good deed, and they committed all the materials. And all the construction for 40 ramps, which is approximately $10,000. They do

not, to this day want to be named. The other thing that we did. I traveled to Stratford, which was the city that had most recently implemented the stopgap program. And learned about what they were doing. So they had a program that was approved by council and it facilitated through their accessibility advisory committee. I approached our city accessibility services hoping to replicate the same process. I was told they were not interested. I approached the Downtown Guelph Business association, and I found a very willing and enthusiastic partner. And so over a month. We literally went door to door, driving all over the city, not limited to downtown, to try to find businesses that would be interested. We were dealing predominantly with business owners. And I would say the bulk of people were quite interested. So very quickly, we created an inventory. We had to do very extensive measurements, so it's not an easy process. There's a lot of time consuming effort. I give full credit to my

father. He was my partner in crime. And businesses were able to choose from four different color ramps, so there was some standard as well. And we knew that we had to come up with signage because just even in the process of trying to recruit businesses. I literally was banging on doors and windows because, of course, I couldn't get in, so. We created signage, we created the ramps, and we created an instruction package on how to best use it. The great part about it, we felt at the time, was it was an opening to start to. Have conversations around accessibility. And it was an opportunity to also talk to businesses about how they could create. Interior spaces that were more inviting. And to be truthful. Had not. Personal things happen to me and a change of leadership. At the downtown Guelph Business Association. Megan. Marty, who is who I'm talking about? We probably would have continued to do some amazing accessibility. Initiatives. But things happen. But unfortunately, here we are, yet another ten years later and

we're in. The exact same boat. So lessons learned. The stop gap is not going to work for everybody. We know that we need to have different alternatives. Funding is a major issue because. Most for profit organizations are not eligible for a lot of granting. And we need leadership. And so I am running out of time. So I respectfully ask you to consider. A community led, city supported project. Wow, right? Thank you very much. Thank you. To Clawson and then boot to bust Itil, please. I'm going to move a bit because I can't see this side of the room, if that's okay. Thank you. Thank you. And through Mr. Merritt to the delegate, Cindy. Thank you. First of all, thank you so much for spending so much time on the phone with me in the past a while, and I know that. We're continuing our conversation later this week, so I'm excited to keep working with you. My question is. You were talking about lessons learned, and I'm not sure if you were able to finish. Those. So I would like to ask, could you finish

your thoughts with regard to the lessons learned? Yeah. I think the biggest thing is there needs to be real leadership, and it needs to have continuity. And I think that, unfortunately, if there was a lesson learned, things happen with people, whether they be at a personal level or within organizations that have them move on. And so I think it needs to be embedded in the. Values of the city have the consistency of knowing that. This accessibility is a priority of the city and that it should be seen as a leader throughout. The community. I think the other thing I will just say is that this problem is not going to get easier. It's going to get harder. We have an aging population. By the city's own data by 2031. 30% of our population will be 55 years or older, and we know that 25% of the population greater than 65 live with mobility disabilities. So we're trying to build a downtown that is vibrant and inclusive. And yet it doesn't align with the needs of

people with any type of mobility issue. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Thank you to the delegate. Just a quick question. You ended your presentation with community led city. Supported. And can you kind of reflect back for me? What does City supported look like for you? Well, I think that comes back to. I mean, I read the report.

From the accessibility services, and I read the report from economic development and tourism and recognize that. There are limitations in people's work volume, but I think fundamentally it needs to be. Seen as being important to the city and that. It has continuity so that it won't be a one off project. That, then we never hear again. And then the ramps disintegrate and. In fairness to the picture that James showed, that wasn't an original site that was given that ramp. So these ramps have floated around. Downtown. As businesses have come in and gone out. So I just think we need continuity, we need this. To be a priority. The Aoda had on. Target Ontario to be fully accessible by this year, right? We're not close to that. And as I said, I just think the problem is going to get harder and. It's going to become more important and without the leadership of the city behind

it. I just worry that this will. Be another incident where. It's a great moment. And then. We need to have. Repeat. Obviously, all along the stop gap was a stop gap, right. It was never intended to be a permanent solution. It was the means to get to another stage. And I do worry that we aren't thinking enough about the next stage. The important stage. Thank you. And I would agree about the permanence just to be very clear. So I'm going to extract this from what you shared. Is that you believe that? This should be city resourced, city staffed. Is that kind of. Is that fair? Yes, actually, that is fair. Now, it doesn't mean that there can't be some creativity built in there again. There's people like myself. I'm sure. I don't want to talk for James, but I'm sure. James. Is excited as well about being a supporter. So I think you're going to find a lot of community. Interests. But in the end,

we do need it to be anchored, and I think the city is the anchor. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Seeing nothing further. Cindy, thank you very much. Thank you again. You too. So it's back to us, counsel. Now, what I would like us to do. If it's okay with my colleagues, is to move. And second. The referral that came from committee, and then we can defeat that. Okay. Just so that only that gets tabled is what the new motions are from councilor Clawson. Okay? I see hands up in the air. So I've conferred with clerk. The clerk would rather that we follow this process. So that. It's referred here. And then we defeat it and move on. Clerk. That was the advice given. Through Mr. Meredith council and to yourself, quite frankly. Either or. You can go either way. I mean. What we wanted to do is make sure that the motions were constituted on

the agenda so that there was a referral from committee. So it was clear from a history standpoint that they landed on the agenda tonight for council. But if you wanted to move those and defeat. Them. It's presuming that council will do that. Alternatively, you can simply move the revised motions that came from council. I would rather that. So sorry, everybody, if I said that the wrong way. My apologies. Can move a motion and defeat me if you want. Whatever you want to. So. Let's just say that we're good with that. Okay. The regular ones that got referred. We're just not going to touch them. We're good with that. Okay, councilor. Clausen. I would imagine you would like to move your motions, at least to get them. On the floor. And why don't I go to the screen, to somebody on the screen? Want to look to second at Koran. Thank you. Okay. And the first thing I think I'm going to look at is maybe Councilor Katen. For an amendment, please go ahead, Councilor Kate. Thank you. I have a hopefully friendly amendment to add end permanent solutions to the end of the sentence on

number one. Caller's got that for a seconder. Thank you. So. We'll let that throw itself up onto the screen.

Okay. There you go. Those are the words added there at the end. And permanent solutions I believe I could call a vote on that. I'm seeing lots of heads nod. Anyone against that amendment? Nobody. Perfect. So that's unanimous. Thank you. Back to the main motions now, as amended. I saw Koran's hand go up, but was that maybe just a second earlier? Leanne? Yeah. Thank you. And so, Councilor Galler. Thank you. Through your worship. I think what I heard from the delegates is that they're. Looking for some substantial support from the city. So I was wondering, I think. The original intent from castor class and included a line to allocate some funding to this. So I was wondering if we revisit that conversation and how my council colleagues would feel about it. So I'll work to pull that up. To add another amendment to look for some funding to be included in this. Yeah.

Do you mind, counsel, if I just jump in? Just some thoughts just on that. Thank you. So in my view, and you guys know, I'm not, like, trying to say no, okay? But if we're going to allow the community even a moment to grab onto this and do something with it. I would much rather our direction for the community to lead this. To them to at least have the chance. To wrap their arms around it, and then we can. Between now and the end of the year. We can hear back from the DGBA or hear back from the chamber or hear back. From another contractor in the city who wants to remain nameless, who wants to donate money or something different, completely different, to try to fill this issue. Before us, sort of preemptively going ahead. With an unknown amount of money. So. I'm not saying no by any means, but I think that I hope you're following my train of thought on that, that I think we should sort of kick start in my view. We should kickstart this, allow it to kind of breathe a little bit, get some legs and kind of move on and see what happens after that. Councilor goer,

I'll move it back to you. Okay with. Yeah, that works. I just wanted to make sure that. We're not. Closing the door to that support. Thank you. And thank you. Is there anything further? Then I'll call the vote then. As amended. Okay, everybody. So, is anyone against the motions, as amended? No, that's unanimous. So thanks, councilor Clausen, for bringing it forward into the delegates. As well. It's not an ended conversation, I can guarantee you. So thank you for your input. We really appreciate it, okay? I promised. A break, and so we're going to do that right now. It is 645. I'm going to make an executive decision that we come back as seven. Is that okay? 15 minutes. I think maybe perhaps the next conversation might be a little longer. So just 07:00. Okay? And then we'll jump right in on that, okay? Thank you very much, everyone.

All right, everyone, this is. Your. Three minute warning.

This is your 1 minute warning, everybody.

Okay, everyone, I'd like to call the meeting back to order, please. And we are. Going to now discuss the Wyndham street north and St. George's Square, preparing for and mitigating construction. And. We did have. Our delegation. The one delegation. Withdraw, so there are no delegations. There was some correspondence. Which means it's directly to us. And so right off the top, wondering if someone would be willing to move the motions to at least just get them on the floor. All right, I'll go downer. And Busatil is moving in second day and. I already am aware of some amendments that want to come forward, so council, if you don't. Mind. I wouldn't mind just sort of walking through them. Just the best way to. Sequence through them, okay? With the first one. I'd like to go to Councilor Clawson, who again, was. Not. Here at the committee meeting. And some of her motions that were passed. At

committee have flown now to the council, but she would like to just address that with an amendment. So I'll turn it over to councilor Clawson, and then after that, I'll. Go back. To us as counsel, maybe over to council downer. Yes. Thank you. Through you, Mr. Mayor. My consideration to council is just to rethink. My understanding is that. We changed the direction. From direct to encourage. And I would just like to turn that back to direct, and I'm just seeing it. In two places. Under three. I and three. Sorry. One and three. Two. I was reading it literally. And. I would just suggest that. I think that the word direct is appropriate in these circumstances. Perhaps it's not going to be everywhere, but it will be in some places. And so I don't think encourage is necessary. And I'm just looking potentially for a secondary. Thank you, caller. Okay, councilor caller has seconded. So as simple as it is in front of us, I will

obviously open it up. To any questions or comments, but it's very simple. We are changing two words from encourage back to direct. And I will ask if anyone has questions. If not. Councilor alt. Thank you, Mr. Meredith. To you. Councilor Clawson used the word reconsideration. And I'm wondering if this is a motion of reconsideration, because it changes. The vote count. No, I think her commentary about reconsiders is to reconsider our position, not. To reconsider a vote of counsel since it came from committee. It's not actually the will of counsel yet until it's ratified here. So it's just a motion. I think I made sense there. That was pretty good. Yeah. Okay, so I'm going to call the vote then, on this amendment, please, and is anyone against that. All right, Katen and Gibson and Billings. Thank you. So that does pass. I'll change it over to Councilor Downer. Now, who has a sequence of amendments?

That show both table and present to us. Go ahead. Yes. So I have four motions. Like amendments and then a new motion at the end. And if the clerk's office would like to put them up. So one, two, and three will be in addition to number three. This is how it's going to go is what I've been told. And the number four will be a final one at the end. But I'll speak. To them all now, except number two, which. Was a suggestion of the mayor, and I'll let him speak to that after I've. Spoken to it. So I watched the committee the whole meeting. I wasn't here. I was away. And then I met with staff and thank you, Stacey Loughlin, for all the patience with me. Meeting with them. And I've talked to colleagues. I've talked to counselor Classon. And councilor Galler and the mayor on this matter. The first one was around the playground of concern. Around the playground. In sort of agreeing that. The size of it. Maybe the misplacement of it is a concern for flexibility. The place. Structures that we saw in there were probably for very young children.

So you're not looking at youth or teens. It's sort of only a very young age group. And what I would prefer to see and sort of what I think is more appropriate is to reduce it to a one interactive placemaking structure. Something like, just. If it's just the chickadee, if it's a tickety. That's fine, but that'll be. At the design stage, so that would be decided. But it would be interactive, that children could climb. Through it. So it's partly a play structure. It's partly a place making structure. Where people could have their pictures taken with it. It could be Instagram moments, those types of things. I have no problems with kids in the downtown. I think it's great. The DGBA. Does a lot of children's programming, like the Egg hunt, the Santa Claus parade. They do Halloween, so there's lots of that going on, and I'd like to see a lot more of that go on in the downtown. Once we've done this work as well, so I think. The square has lots of opportunity for that. Maybe just for sequencing, we could just go one at a time. Okay. It just makes it simpler. Just even if there's questions, right? If that's okay. First of all, Is it? Councilor Clausen, are you willing to

second? Yes. So why don't we just look at the First Amendment, which is number one, which council? Downer just described. Is there any questions on this item? Okay, just. Kate, go ahead. Thank you. Through you. I just have a question to staff. So the feedback that we got when we were doing the extensive feedback that we've done, on this is that people wanted to play space. And this feels like it's removing the place. Space. And I assume that this would be like making sure that it's interactive and also already could be done in the design phase. Does this reduce it so that there's no more play space, and there's only just one art piece. Through the merit councilor Cayton. Actually the type of thing that councilor Downer is talking about, like an interactive placemaking. Structure is the type of thing that we were considering for the play area. For play and in fact, we are designing the whole square so that kids can play throughout it like the planters. And all those types of things, they're designed for play. But this specific area, while the motion would. Reduce the overall area, it still provides that

opportunity for play. Thanks. And through the mayor. So this isn't really prescriptive. And do we have a specific dimension on the play space already. What does this do? Through the merit of Councilor Katen. We don't have a specific dimension on the concept. But you can see on the concept, sort of that one interactive placemaking structure, plus a few other little structures. So the motion is clear that it would be reduced to sort of including one which provides. That sort of that Instagram opportunity, a place to take pictures, also provides the opportunity for play. But you will be able to see that the area. Will be reduced so that we're increasing the flexibility around it for other types of events. And things to occur in the square. Thank you. So it would just be one structure instead of a couple of structures, so. You get like a conglomerate of children rather than more spaces for them. To be free. My understanding is. Sorry. The merit of

Councilor Katen so we would. Have one structure specifically designed as an interactive placemaking structure, which children are encouraged to climb on. And all of that. But as I said, we are designing the whole square so that it's. Open for sort of playfulness, like the design of the planters. Children can sort of go up the sides, walk along if they're able, all those sorts of things. So I think we are designing the whole square. To be fun and interactive, but this would be one area dedicated to that. Okay, so we're. Not reducing the playability of the area. We're just defining that there's going to be an interactive structure that's correct. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Great. Thank you. I'm going to call the vote then on this one, okay? Is there anyone against this particular motion? So that's unanimous. Thank you. So let's go on to the second one. Can you pull it back up on the screen. Oh, this one's mine. Okay, so it's been moved and seconded. I'll. Be very quick. So in talking with staff, I brought up the sort of discussion.

In my mind anyways, we were kind of not on purpose, but sort of forgetting about. What the space could look like beautifully at night as well. And so I was thinking about interactive lights, place making lighting that can be throughout the whole square. And so some of that might be incorporated into the pavers and into the roadway and the sidewalks. And then also I was thinking about, is there an opportunity for interactive. Projectors that. Are. We've probably all seen them. They're up high and they can project down onto. The ground into a large area. Different things for different seasons and different opportunities. And some of it now, from a technology point of view can also be interactive too. You step on something that is projected and it goes away. I just think there's a lot of opportunity in lighting. I'll just keep it. Very high level. There you go. And so staff were. I hope I'm not speaking of the term, but they thought it. Was a good idea. In talking to some colleagues as well, just quickly about it. They agreed as well, and

they thought that it would be good to bring that forward now. So thank you, Councilor Downer. I'm bringing it forward. I'll stop there and see if there's any questions. No. Okay, I'll call the vote then on the lighting piece. Is there anyone against that? No one. Okay, great. And if we could go to the third one. Third one is about the fountain, so I'll just stop right now and I'll. Go back to Councilor Das. So this is asking staff to explore modifying the size and materiality of the lower basin of the family fountain so that it is consistent with a design in St. George's Square and accommodate off season intervention that contributes aesthetically to the St. George Square includes. Place, making lighting and honors the integrity of the artwork. So this is just to further explore that. It would be good to see that lower base is the part around it. That would be consistent. With other planter maybe things in the square that are going to be happening as well and something like that too. I suspect will come back in a more detailed design stage as well. If that is possible. Great. Thank you. So, speaking to this one, is there any questions

specifically on the fountain? No. Okay, I'll call the vote on that. Is anyone against that? Nobody. That's unanimous as well. Or to number four, which is actually not an amendment. You said it was good. This is an additional one that would go at the end. When I discussed this. With staff. Since the committee of the whole meeting. They had had some internal discussions, and I don't want to put words in their mouth. But they had decided that they wouldn't need to bring back. The design could come back to council as they wouldn't need it to go to fruitender. In November. In fact, the type of detail. Am I correct in saying that, Ms. Lawk? Through the merit of councilor Downer, we would still plan to go to tender at the end of October. We can tender it in different ways. We would ideally like to tender it with the overall concept. Being included, because that will give us sort of the most degree of certainty with respect to what's being tendered in the price that

comes back, but. We can structure the tender in a way so that some of the final details can be decided. After. So that there's opportunity for council to have input after we tender it. So the concept that we're doing tonight is what's really important. I just wanted to say, too, that I had some concerns around the renderings that were provided. To council. The sort of the blank white wall behind them and the knot clarity around the pavers. And I've asked that. I asked staff about that. When it comes for engagement with the public on the design that the actual buildings be shown within the renderings and the pavers. Because I think that context. Makes more, much more effective input from the public on that. And I think councilor Clausin and I are going to suggest to the DGBA that they actually hold the town hall. For the home membership on the design and not just for the board. I think that would be good. So I'll be talking to staff about that in the DGBA at our meeting next week. That's number four. I remember in the discussion that was an issue for council. Yes,

thank you. Is there any questions on that being brought back then that particular motion? As a standalone. Okay, I'll call the vote then on that. Anyone against that detailed design coming back for council. No. Okay, so. That is passed as well. Is there any other questions on the matter? Just questions. Okay. Is there any comments at all before we move forward? Councilor Billings. So, Mr. Mayor? Cause three still has the concept plan. Be approved. However, number three is different from cow because it goes on to say, including the following so I'd still like to separate three out, not one. Two, three, four. And everything else. Just number three. The recommended concept plan for St George's Square is outlined in the report. Dated July 8 be approved if that could be separated out and voted separately.

I would really appreciate that. Okay. Yeah, just like it was at count. And the reason I voted against it at Cowen will still I know it's the concept plan. I'm very happy with respect to what councilor Downer has put forward. But I still disagree with respect to the fountain in the washroom in front of the mall. And the drugstore. I supported the reducing the play structure only because it's better, but I still think the play structure should be more like. By the new library and not in the square. And there's other issues. But those are the two big ones. And I really do think that in front of the mall, instead of the fountain and a washroom, we're missing an opportunity. With respect. To because of the natural slope. I think it could be an amphitheater and we could work with the owner of the mall and have events there, we heard. From the downtown board. That where the fountain currently is? There won't be a lot of space there anyways. For events. So, anyway, I just think. This concept plan is just a missed opportunity, so I'm just going to vote against it. Again.

Okay. Thank you so much. I'll make sure that's separated, then. So what I'm going to look to call the vote on then is one, which is the renewal program. Oh, I'm sorry. Councilor Clausin. My apologies. Go right ahead. Yes, thank you. Through you, Mr. Marin. I appreciate. The opportunity to speak. I don't have anything prepared, but. I wasn't at the committee of the whole. And I did want to share some of the thoughts that I had around these motions. I'll just be blunt. For me, the concept. It wasn't there for me. There's a great cost to this project. For the city and for business owners and. I really had hoped that within the designs I could see. Something that I was really excited about that I would want to pitch. To everyone I spoke to. But there's something within the renderings as councilor downer. Has picked up that. Just doesn't quite hit the mark for

me. And so I do think that many of these motions start to address. Some of the holistic issues that I have with the design overall. There's just lack of cohesiveness for me, like a theme. There's like, some of the storytelling elements, some of the strategies that we've invested in as a city. I think could be better reflected, however. I think that with these motions. We'll get a little bit closer to what I hope. And I also just want to thank councilor downer for bringing back the design. I do hope that when we have a design back that perhaps I will change my mind and. I'll hold out for that because there is another opportunity. But I would love to see some designs, and I've spoken to staff about some of the images that we have for the library and some of the squares that. Are included within those designs, as well as some of the detailed floor plans. There's just imagery in my mind that tells the story. Whether or not you like the architecture, whether or not you like the design? I think there's an elevated design story. Within those images, and I hope to see something similar as we come back in the

fall. And I think I'll end it there. But I do thank you. For the work because I know there's so many different pieces that have gone into this. So much community engagement, so many layers to this project, and I overall am deeply excited about the opportunity. To create something special within our downtown with St. George's Square. And I think that that's the intent, and I'm hopeful that when we come back with some designs that. I can also cheer with excitement. Great. Thank you. Maybe just before I call the vote on everything, can I just ask a quick. Question on going out to the public and doing the engagement for the detailed design. Can you just explain. How will that be promoted and. How can you rely on us to amplify that, to get a lot of people involved? I'm just wondering what the next steps are on that piece. To you, Mr. Merritt. We will be promoting it in many of the ways that we've promoted our other public open houses. So through our downtown update newsletter through social media, we can make sure that we email counsel about it and provide social media messaging

that you can share and amplify using your own accounts should you wish to do so. But again, we. Have a communication strategy and plan. For all of our public engagement events, so we would be making sure that we follow all of those different types of things. Okay, great. And maybe. You could, in some cases, you guys do a proactive thing to counsel. It has a little nudge. And maybe you could do that on this as well, just so we can get. As much interaction around this before the detailed design. That'd be great. Thank you very much. I think that these amendments also speak. To a better place where we landed, in my opinion, and. I think that. There's still, I think I said at the committee, It didn't feel like sort of a wow moment or said something like that at committee. But I think the wow moment is to come with the detailed design. So I think that will be an exciting moment. So it's sort of a stay tuned. Moment for us and hopefully that we can hear from everyone some feedback before that comes back, so. What I'll do is I'll call

the vote on one, two and the new. Number. Well. And four and five and six and seven. I think number eight would then be the new one of having the detailed design come back. You want to put on the screen, okay? And then after that, I'll call the vote separately on number three, okay? So basically, I'm calling the vote on everything except for number three, which I will vote. On separately for councilor bones, okay? Is everyone good? I'm good at. I'm going to call the vote. Okay, so. Is anyone against everything except for number three? Okay, so that's unanimous. And then I'm going to call the vote now separately on number three, which was as amended because there was a few changes there. So call the vote on that. Is anyone against? Okay. We have Guller and Richardson and Clawson and. Billings. And. Two.

Three, four, five. I got five, so that passes. Okay. Thank you. And thank you to staff as well. And just a side note. I think the closeness of the vote of council, I think, speaks to the importance of the detailed design. So I say that as encouragement. I did not expect that to be that close. So I think that's kind of a wake up call, maybe for everybody that there's. Work to do on that detail is designed to have it come back so that we maybe have a bit more unity around what we can rally around. Thank you. We are on the last one, I think. Yes, councilor koran. Over to you. You're going to speak to this quick item for us on public appointment. Policy update. It's going to be very quick. This is a housekeeping. Clauses. In fact, there shouldn't be any mystery to it. Even our local press. Richard called and asked

me all the details, and I gave him some background, and he called me back and said, there's no story here, so nothing got in the local for us, but basically, Our advisory committees of council. We've created some terms of reference so brand new we reappointed committees. I had some questions of staff about definitions, specifically a definition of resident, because there's a lot of acts in the provincial and municipal field that define a resident as a property owner or. A tenant of property and there's lots of staff have a broader interpretation that could include. Occupants of a tenancy, a spouse or a child of a tenant over 18 people who physically reside in Guelph, but may be unhoused. And so if we are going to define some of our terms within our policy broadly, I think that council should have that broad interpretation. In its policy, so. That we can be very clear about the definition of resident. So there's no identifiable individuals that I'm bringing forward. But the motions on the agenda are that we

suspend the terms of reference in their current form. Specifically related to eligibility and qualifications and that staff. Return back to council with. Some further definition for that particular. Eligibility criteria. Great. Thank you. As easy as that is. Who wants to second this one? Okay, Altwill. Thank you. Any questions? No. I'll call the vote. Is anyone against that? Unanimous, and we're done. Thank you, Councilor Koran. The bylaws.

Councilor Busatill. You get to read them out for us. They're on the screen for you. That bylaw is 2002 521086 to 2025 210 80.

202-521-0942 thousand and 22, 2002 521096 2025 21 one nine. 2002 521117 bylaws 2025 to 21. One, two, three to 2025. 211129 on bylaw. You did this on purpose. And bylaw 2002 521-1131 be approved subject. To subsection to section two eight. Four one one subsection for the municipal act. Thank you. I think you missed a dash, but I'll let it go. Your council. Ward, meet billings. I'm sure will second that. Right? Perfect. Anything more on the bylaws? Is anyone against the bylaws? Nobody. Thank you very much. And. We are. At. Mayor's announcements. I have none. Isn't that a nice thing? So that

means we have adjournment. Sued up tomorrow is what my colleagues are saying. Clawson and Guller are going to move a German for me, right? Thank you. Anyone against the German? Nobody. See you tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel. Take care.