Staff to proceed with a competitive procurement process for daytime shelter services and report back through the 2026 budget update. That Council respectfully requests that the…

52:05for persons experiencing homelessness.

52:07Does anyone wish to have that that pulled at all?

52:10OK, Councillor Goller.

52:12And then the other one is the Committee of the Whole Terms of Reference Update.

52:17And is there anyone on that one?

52:20No. Could I have someone move the consent just for that one?

52:24Report Richardson will do that and Alt will second for us on that one.

52:28So I'll call the vote on that consent item.

52:30Is there anyone against that?

52:34Nobody. OK, so thank you.

52:36So moving further, we have the twenty twenty four year end financing

52:44report with a presentation and.

52:48Also one for the Code of Conduct for Council and local boards.

52:54So why don't we do the two presentation ones first

52:58and then we'll loop back to the one that was just pulled by Councillor Goller.

53:01So we'll kick things off with the twenty twenty four year end financing reporting.

53:08Shannon O'Dwyer, our general manager of finance, city, treasure,

53:11chief financial officer is going to walk us through that presentation

53:17whenever she's ready.

53:23Thank you very much and good afternoon, Mayor Guthrie and members of council.

53:27I'm pleased to be before you today to provide the first of two presentations

53:32on the twenty twenty four year end financial results.

53:35The reports presented today are budget variants focused and in June,

53:39we'll be back in front of you to present the audited financial statements

53:43and you'll hear from our auditor, KPMG, at that time.

53:46This presentation provides an overview of the three twenty twenty four year

53:51end financial reports included in your agenda package, covering capital,

53:56operating, budget monitoring results and reserve and reporting.

54:02Oh, and I am not thinking of slides.

54:05Thank you very much.

54:08OK, so we'll begin with capital.

54:12In twenty twenty four, the city had just over five hundred

54:15open approved capital projects at the end of twenty twenty four.

54:19These projects had a total uncommitted value of two hundred and forty million.

54:23A total of seventy six capital projects were closed out in twenty twenty four,

54:28releasing seven point eight million back to reserve funds,

54:31resulting in a final uncommitted budget of two hundred and thirty two million

54:35still to be executed.

54:37Looking at the capital budget monitoring results,

54:39we can see that our annual spending represented by the dark green line

54:43has reached our annual budget and that's shown in orange for the first time

54:48in five years with total twenty twenty four spending of one hundred and eighty one million.

54:54You can see the spike in the orange line in twenty twenty one,

54:57which represents the approval of three major tier one capital projects,

55:02the South End Community Center, the Baker District and FM Woods.

55:06These projects progressed significantly throughout twenty twenty four,

55:10contributing to an overall increase in spending of forty five percent above twenty twenty three.

55:15The light green line at the top of the chart is the committed yet to be executed budget.

55:21You can see that the issuance of P.O.s for those three large projects

55:25are reflected in that drop of that line from twenty twenty two to twenty twenty three.

55:30And there are a few larger projects budgeted in twenty twenty four

55:33that were tendered late in twenty twenty four with issuance of the purchase order

55:37occurring in early twenty twenty five and that's reflected in that slight uptick

55:41at the green line at the end of twenty twenty four.

55:46In twenty twenty four, we also found real savings through moving work in house

55:50and finding efficiencies by applying a corporate lens,

55:53such as using surplus vehicles in one department to fulfill the new need

55:57in another department instead of purchasing new.

56:00Our budget monitoring process is intended to flag and report on project risks

56:04and one risk we have been communicating through the budget monitoring report

56:08since the fourth quarter of twenty twenty three is the budget risk related to the NG

56:12nine one one project. So the CRTC has mandated the transition to a next generation

56:18nine one one system and the deadline for completing that transition was originally

56:23March fourth twenty twenty five, but it was extended to March thirty first twenty twenty seven

56:29as most providers, including wealth, had not completed the transition by that original deadline.

56:34The work was intended to be fully grant funded, but an extension to align the grant spending

56:39deadlines with the revised project completion deadlines has not yet occurred.

56:44Providers across the province are advocating for the grant extension,

56:48and if it's not extended, the estimated cost to the city is approximately one

56:52million in outstanding work to be completed.

56:58So delving a little more deeply now into the progress on the execution of the approved

57:02capital budget.

57:04So following up on the extensive capital prioritization work that was undertaken

57:08in twenty twenty two to ensure capital budget funds are aligned to the year

57:12in which procurement will be undertaken in early twenty twenty four.

57:16Staff initiated a comprehensive review of all uncommitted capital budgets

57:21and introduced a target of having 80 percent of all capital budgets of open projects

57:26committed or spent by the end of the year through this work and other in your budget

57:31adjustments, a total of twenty four point five million was reduced from the available

57:36budget and that was all included as part of the updated twenty twenty five budget

57:40as adopted by council.

57:43There continues to be an increased focus during budget development on aligning

57:47budget with the planned procurement year, as well as increasing staff capacity

57:51through the continued implementation of the capital program resourcing strategy.

57:56These strategies have contributed to drawing down our uncommitted capital budget

58:00and have allowed the city to once again end twenty twenty four, hitting this target

58:04of 80 percent of approved budget being committed or spent.

58:11So from that high level overview for which there is much more detail included

58:15in the capital budget monitoring report will highlight the recommendations

58:20including included in the report for council today.

58:23Recommendation one is the approval of tables four through six on attachment

58:28two to the report.

58:29Those are budget adjustments that require council approval.

58:33Recommendations two, three and four are requests to advance project budgets

58:38from twenty twenty six to twenty twenty five so they can be actioned ahead

58:42of the previously planned timeline.

58:44This includes advancing the budget for Parkland dedicated Parkland dedication

58:49bylaw update, the affordable housing demonstration project and the replacement

58:54of bunker gear for the fire department.

58:57Recommendation five is a required increase for the OBC file digitization project

59:03from the OBC reserve fund.

59:05This is a separate recommendation as the unique funding source limits the ability

59:09to carry out a reallocation from another approved project.

59:17In twenty twenty four, Guelph pursued a number of grant opportunities

59:20and were successful in being awarded several capital grants.

59:25This slide is not an exhaustive list and there is additional grant

59:29related information provided in the capital budget monitoring report.

59:33However, we wanted to highlight here the three categories of capital grant funding.

59:38First is sustainable grant funding streams.

59:41So the two grants in that category are the Canada Community Building Fund

59:45or the federal gas taxes we frequently call it and the provincial gas tax.

59:51Those grants are key funding sources for infrastructure renewal

59:54with the provincial gas tax being focused on funding for transit.

59:59The second category is multi year grant funding.

1:00:02And there are three significant grants in that category

1:00:06that are the investing in Canada infrastructure program or ISIP grant,

1:00:10which is providing funds for transit, active transportation

1:00:13and electrification projects over several years.

1:00:17Also in this category are the housing accelerator fund,

1:00:20which is a four year federal grant with the fourth installment

1:00:23contingent upon meeting specific outcomes and the building faster fund.

1:00:28A provincial grant link to provincial housing targets,

1:00:31which we received in 2024 based on twenty three housing starts.

1:00:36The third category is one time grant funding for specific projects.

1:00:40And that category includes the Green and Inclusive Community Building

1:00:43or GICB grant for the new library funding from the zero emission

1:00:47vehicle infrastructure program, electric charging initiative

1:00:51and a green municipal fund grant for the food waste initiative,

1:00:54as well as a grant for preventing auto theft

1:00:56from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

1:01:00So late twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four

1:01:02saw numerous grant programs introduced by the federal and provincial governments

1:01:06focused on advancing housing supply and we pursued all possible opportunities.

1:01:12Many of the grant programs are infrastructure focused

1:01:15and this funding is very helpful in advancing growth enabling infrastructure work,

1:01:19particularly given low D.C. collections because of low building activity.

1:01:25However, these grant programs have been very competitive application based grants

1:01:30that take a substantial investment of staff time to apply for, administer and report on

1:01:35with different requirements for each grant opportunity.

1:01:38So our advocacy with upper levels of government around growth,

1:01:41enabling grant funding is shifting to emphasize the importance of and value

1:01:46of grant funding in the first category, long term,

1:01:49stable and predictable funding streams that can be planned for

1:01:53and included proactively in our financial forecasts.

1:02:00So shifting gears now to operating, the city's overall year end

1:02:03operating position compared with budget in twenty twenty four

1:02:07was a deficit of zero point zero one percent or sixty four thousand dollars.

1:02:12And I'll just note that that top bullet point on the slide is missing a zero.

1:02:15So it was zero point zero one.

1:02:18This overall deficit is split between tax and non tax supported departments

1:02:23with the net operating result for tax supported departments being a deficit

1:02:27of three hundred and ninety seven thousand or zero point one percent

1:02:30of the twenty twenty four total tax supported gross expenditures

1:02:34and a non tax supported surplus of three hundred and thirty four thousand.

1:02:39Breaking this down further, the tax supported deficit includes a combined surplus

1:02:44of four point seven million from the city and a surplus of two hundred and fifty seven thousand

1:02:49from local boards and those surpluses substantially offset

1:02:53the shared services deficit of five point two million.

1:02:57The twenty twenty four budget marked the first year of our city's four year multi year budget.

1:03:03This process involved a thorough review of historical trends in both revenue

1:03:07and expenditures to address inflationary pressures

1:03:10and mitigate historical year end surplus results.

1:03:14The surplus in city tax supported services is largely offsetting

1:03:18the deficit for the county social services, meaning that the plan developed

1:03:22during the multi year budget process has largely borne out.

1:03:26That plan leveraged temporarily higher investment income due to higher than normal interest rates

1:03:32and lower tax reassessment expenditures resulting from the deferred property tax assessment cycle update

1:03:39to offset the phase in of significant increases to the county social services budget

1:03:44over the four years of the multi year budget.

1:03:50This slide highlights key corporate operating variance drivers impacting both tax

1:03:55and non tax supported services in twenty twenty four.

1:04:00Overall favorable revenue collections are the product of surplus revenue

1:04:04in some areas offsetting revenue shortfalls in others.

1:04:08The current economic conditions continue to negatively impact the rate of new construction

1:04:13affecting building permit revenue and OBC, which was four point four million lower than budgeted.

1:04:19Site plan application fees and planning and subdivision application fees and engineering.

1:04:24This trend is expected to continue in twenty twenty five.

1:04:29Corporately we ended the year with a compensation surplus of seven hundred and twenty three thousand,

1:04:34which is point three percent of the budget.

1:04:36Several departments including planning, OBC, engineering, finance, legal courts, water,

1:04:43waste, water and operations continued to experience high vacancies

1:04:48and industry wide labor market challenges in recruitment.

1:04:52Parks, culture and recreation faced overages due to increased contract staff

1:04:57and extended part time hours required to cover service delivery needs in twenty twenty four.

1:05:03Despite the overall surplus over time and part time costs exceeded the budget in twenty twenty four.

1:05:09This was partly due to recruitment challenges and vacancies,

1:05:12which required existing staff to work additional hours to maintain service levels,

1:05:16cover mandated leaves and meet minimum staffing regulations in the emergency services area.

1:05:23While the city remains slightly below the overall compensation budget,

1:05:26costs associated with longer term leaves continued to be a budget pressure.

1:05:31WSIB costs increased significantly in twenty twenty four

1:05:35and trends show that cost steadily increasing since twenty twenty.

1:05:40Long term multi year mental stress injuries or MSI's continue to exert significant pressure

1:05:46on incurred costs both in terms of loss of earnings,

1:05:49benefit payments and ongoing health care benefit costs.

1:05:53Over eighty five percent of lost time hours in twenty twenty four were due to new MSI claims.

1:05:59Staff continue to monitor claims and support return to work plans

1:06:03to address these challenges additional resources budgeted for twenty twenty six

1:06:08have been approved for advanced recruitment in twenty twenty five.

1:06:11This will support our growing staffing compliment and the pressures faced in managing claims,

1:06:16including short term disability, long term disability and WSIB.

1:06:21Trends in escalating building and equipment maintenance costs

1:06:24and the associated budget pressures continued in twenty four.

1:06:28We extended the year with a building maintenance deficit of nine hundred and twenty five thousand

1:06:33due to higher than anticipated costs related to aging facility assets.

1:06:37As we extend asset life cycles, there is an increased risk of unforeseen critical

1:06:42failures and emergency maintenance.

1:06:45Additionally, vehicle repairs and maintenance ended the year in a deficit of one point four million.

1:06:50This deficit is primarily due to inflationary impacts on the costs of parts,

1:06:55third party labor and an increased need for maintenance as ongoing supply chain issues

1:07:00have delayed the replacement of vehicles at the end of their useful lives.

1:07:04This trend is expected to continue as facility projects are deferred into future years.

1:07:10Staff are developing mitigation strategies to prioritize essential work and manage budgets effectively.

1:07:17Corporately, fuel budgets ended with a favorable variance of four hundred and eighty thousand,

1:07:22although gas prices averaged sixteen percent higher than budgeted,

1:07:26the stabilization of diesel prices fully offset that deficit in twenty twenty four.

1:07:32The city's budget for social services ended the year with a deficit of five point two million,

1:07:37which was the driving factor behind the overall year and deficit position for the local boards and shared services.

1:07:45The twenty twenty four social services budget was developed to better align with the county of Wellington's budget and forecast,

1:07:51moving away from the historical practice of under budgeting to accommodate a previous trend of annual surpluses.

1:07:58As noted on the previous slide, the significant twenty twenty four budget increase from the county was phased in over four years.

1:08:06The Guelph public library

1:08:08concluded the year with a surplus of twelve thousand dollars and the Guelph police services ended the year with a surplus of two hundred and forty five thousand and

1:08:15further commentary on those results can be found in the reports to their respective boards.

1:08:24So the year end operating budget monitoring report includes several recommendations.

1:08:29This slide provides an overview of the tax supported budget recommendations, which are the transfer to the libraries of the libraries,

1:08:39twelve thousand two hundred and seventy one dollar surplus to the library operating contingency reserve as requested by the Guelph public library board.

1:08:47The transfer of the police's two hundred and forty five thousand seventy two dollar surplus to the police operating contingency reserve in accordance with an expected request from the Guelph police services board.

1:08:59That board meets May 15th and the formal request is expected following that meeting.

1:09:04And to transfer six hundred and fifty four thousand nine hundred and forty eight dollars from the tax rate operating contingency reserve to fund the overall remaining tax supported deficit for city services and local boards and shared services in accordance with the reserve and reserve fund policy.

1:09:24On the non tax supported side, there are six recommendations of which

1:09:29three are recommended in accordance with the reserve and reserve fund policy,

1:09:34including transfers to fund the deficits in parking of sixty two thousand two hundred and seventy three dollars and water services of two hundred and seventy six thousand seven hundred and fifty six dollars from their respective operating contingency reserves.

1:09:49The transfer of the wastewater surplus of one set one million seven hundred and five thousand four hundred and fifty two dollars

1:09:56to the wastewater operating contingency reserve and a transfer of one million seven hundred and fifty two thousand nine hundred and ninety five dollars from the OBC stabilization reserve fund to fund the Ontario Building Code administration deficit.

1:10:11The three remaining non tax supported recommendations deviate from the reserve and reserve fund policy by recommending a transfer of the surplus to the services capital reserve fund instead of the contingency reserve.

1:10:23Given the sufficiency of the balances in those specific contingency reserves for those services.

1:10:29So those recommendations are the transfer of the stormwater surplus of five hundred and sixty six thousand seven hundred and forty seven to the stormwater capital reserve fund and the transfer of one hundred and fifty three thousand six hundred and thirty nine dollars to the court capital reserve fund.

1:10:48So moving into our last report reserve and debt this chart shows the overall reserve and reserve fund balances before commitments at the end of twenty twenty four.

1:10:58It is notable that twenty twenty four was the first time the balance is overall decreased since twenty fifteen.

1:11:05Well the balance of five hundred and eight point six million at the end of well the balance is five hundred and eight point six million at the end of twenty twenty four.

1:11:14When capital funding commitments from the reserve funds made through twenty twenty four and prior capital budgets are factored in the uncommitted or available balance is one hundred and forty two point five million.

1:11:27And then that is indicated by the green line on the twenty twenty four column in the chart.

1:11:32It's a little dotted line there.

1:11:35The decrease in the balance was expected as major capital projects were in the execution phase during twenty twenty four including Baker district and the South End Community Center facilities.

1:11:49Contingency reserves provide flexibility to adapt to the changing environment and minimize vulnerability by providing resources to deal with the unexpected.

1:11:59Looking back at the past five years and considering what is ahead of us in the current environment economic environment.

1:12:05If there's one constant that we can count on it's that things will change and that we will respond to our communities changing needs.

1:12:13The tax supported contingency reserves as a group had a year and balance after commitments of twenty two point nine million or sixty percent of target down slightly from the twenty twenty three funded status.

1:12:25This figure includes the year and deficit transfer funded from the tax operating contingency reserve that I mentioned earlier in the presentation.

1:12:34The tax contingency reserve balance is expected to continue to be drawn down in twenty twenty five through twenty twenty seven as impacts continue to be phased in over time and staff will continue to recommend prioritizing replenishment of these reserves toward target balances with any future year and surplus funds available in the coming years.

1:12:55The non tax supported contingency reserves as a group ended the year at one hundred and fifty five percent of the target balance or six point eight million a substantial increase from the twenty twenty three year end percentage of target.

1:13:08As the courts contingency balance is significantly above target staff are recommending transferring one million to the courts capital reserve fund which will bring that contingency reserve balance down to target and provide a needed boost for the capital reserve fund.

1:13:24The utility contingency reserve balances will also be drawn down over twenty twenty five and twenty six to support the work of bringing utility billing in house which is well underway.

1:13:39The tax supported capital reserve funds have a negative available balance at your end and there's two primary drivers for that.

1:13:46First is a temporary reduction from holding off on debt issuance while interest rates were higher throughout twenty twenty three and twenty four.

1:13:54Expenditures for capital projects in the execution phase with planned debt financing have been temporarily funded from the capital reserve funds which is approximately twenty point six million at the end of twenty twenty four.

1:14:06The other major driver is DC exemptions and discounts which are funded from the tax supported growth reserve fund and for which we took a long term approach to phasing in increases tax increases for that.

1:14:19DC exemptions and discounts totaled fifteen point three million in twenty twenty four and approximately sixty three percent of that was funded from the tax supported capital reserve funds with the remainder funded by the rate supported the utility rate supported reserve funds.

1:14:33DC exemptions and discounts represent a major draw on the city's fiscal capacity for infrastructure renewal work and updated tax supported capital reserve fund positions will be reviewed through the twenty six budget update to determine if capital project deferrals are required.

1:14:51The available balance in the non tax supported capital reserve funds increased in twenty twenty four.

1:14:56Partially as a result of reduction in commitments from the water and wastewater capital reserve funds from the capital work in progress review undertaken in early twenty twenty four as well as eight point five million and interest income being added to the balances.

1:15:11There is substantial capital budget investment plan for these services which will draw down the balances in the non tax reserve funds in the coming years.

1:15:23This slide focuses on the city's development charge reserve funds with a high level overview of twenty twenty four activity in the table on the right hand side and some key balances and other spending highlights on the left.

1:15:36The main takeaways to be aware of with respect to DC reserve in twenty twenty four are the following.

1:15:42Collections were down by a lot less than half of twenty twenty three collections and just under twenty two percent of the projected collections for twenty twenty four.

1:15:52A significant portion of the money that went into the DC reserve funds came through transfers from the tax and rate supported reserve funds to fund DC exemptions and discounts.

1:16:03A total of fifteen point three million or three point three million more than DC collections in twenty four came from that source.

1:16:11Interest earned on DC reserve funds was also quite significant at nine point two million in twenty twenty four due to higher than normal investment returns.

1:16:21There was major capital spending from the DC reserve funds in twenty twenty four of sixty six point seven million with the South End Community Center project leading the way with forty three million in spending.

1:16:32This is a large increase from the DC supported spending in twenty twenty three which was eighteen point five million.

1:16:38After DC funding commitments from twenty four and previous capital budget approvals and outstanding DC supported debt are factored in the year and balance in the city's DC reserve funds.

1:16:49Was four point four million dollars.

1:16:52This will be boosted after debt issuances in twenty twenty five and twenty twenty six as approved by council in April of which thirty three point seven million is for the South End Community Center project.

1:17:04However, given the substantially lower than projected DC collections which are continuing into twenty twenty five so far.

1:17:11We will be reviewing the twenty twenty six capital budget as part of the twenty twenty six budget update to determine if deferrals are required.

1:17:19There is a lot of speculation out there about municipalities collecting but not spending DC's and we just wanted to highlight that this is not the case in Guelph.

1:17:28We are actively spending our development charge funds to get infrastructure built.

1:17:36This slide shows the status of the parkland dedication and community benefit charge reserve funds.

1:17:42Overall, the balances have increased slightly over twenty twenty three.

1:17:46We've recommended that the parkland dedication bylaw update be advanced to twenty twenty five.

1:17:51It's currently budgeted in twenty twenty six and we'd like to advance real aligning the bylaw with the legislative and policy changes that have been made over the past few years and to get an updated understanding of the sufficiency of this revenue source to fund the park plan.

1:18:07It's also worth noting that the city did not collect any CBC's in twenty twenty four.

1:18:12The acquisition of parkland is the major expenditure planned over the next ten years from CBC's and the ability to move those acquisitions forward will be dependent on future CBC collections.

1:18:26This slide provides information about the city's outstanding debt, which totaled one hundred and two point three million at the end of twenty twenty four.

1:18:34In the chart on the right hand side, the twenty twenty to twenty twenty four columns depict actual debt outstanding as of the end of the year with the dark blue representing existing tax supported debt.

1:18:46Dark green showing existing rate supported debt and dark orange showing existing DC supported debt.

1:18:53The twenty five and twenty six columns add in light blue, light green and light orange sections that represent the debt to be issued through the debt issue and authority approved in April.

1:19:03The table on the left hand side shows the key debt metrics with the legislative maximum debt servicing costs as a percentage of own source revenue on top and our debt policy metric of direct debt outstanding to operating revenue on the bottom.

1:19:17As you can see, Guelph's current debt load is well under the maximum and we have capacity to issue more debt in the coming years to support our capital plan as outlined in the approved debt strategy.

1:19:28To wrap up this overview of the twenty four year end results, I want to leave you with a few key takeaways.

1:19:39Through the multi year budget process, we analyze trends, we forecasted positive but temporary budget impacts, and we leverage them to phase in new expenditures over time.

1:19:50We've closely monitored and mitigated fluctuations throughout the year.

1:19:54This proactive and responsive financial management has resulted in an overall year and position that is within 0.01% of budget.

1:20:04That phase in strategy that we took on represented a higher level of risk, but ultimately phasing in increasing social services costs with temporary temporarily higher interest income was successful in twenty twenty four.

1:20:18We're closely monitoring this strategy in twenty twenty five given the interest rates have come down quickly over the past six months.

1:20:25Capital strategies related to managing inflation and project execution are working.

1:20:31We continue to have 80% of approved capital budget spent or committed at the twenty twenty four year end and we will continue this momentum to ensure every available dollar is activated.

1:20:42Reserve and reserve fund balances are decreasing with multiple large caps capital projects in the execution phase, low DC collections and high DC exemptions.

1:20:53Staff are monitoring these impacts and will recommend any required updates through the twenty twenty six budget confirmation process.

1:21:02And with that, I will thank you for your time today and we're happy to take any questions from council on these reports.

1:21:10Well, thank you for walking us through all of that and just so council knows like it that addressed all of the reports here.

1:21:19Okay. Just just everyone knows.

1:21:21Councillor Allt, I know you have a question, but before I go to you, would you mind putting on a spot, but would you mind moving the motions for for all of that?

1:21:32Would that be okay? Okay.

1:21:33And Councillor Goller, you're okay with moving all of them.

1:21:35So just for the clerks perspective, we've got eight point one, one eight point one, two and eight point one, three all moved and seconded. Okay.

1:21:47Okay. Councillor all over to you. Please.

1:21:50Thank you, Mayor Guthrie. Can you hear me all right?

1:21:53Yeah, you're coming through great.

1:21:55Perfect. Thank you, Mizzow through you to Mizzow Dwyer.

1:22:00Thank you very much for an incredibly thorough and very dense report.

1:22:05I have three or four questions.

1:22:08And I hope that they're relatively simple. I hope I didn't miss anything.

1:22:12The first one you'd made reference to aligning the budget with plan procurement over the year.

1:22:18Is this a significant shift in how we develop a budget and how we align it?

1:22:23Or is this just something that is a new standard or a new procedure?

1:22:31Thank you through the mayor to Councillor Alts. It's not a new standard. It's the way we've always done it, but it's the work in 2022 of capital prioritization was a really deep dive into making sure that that timing was aligned.

1:22:48And then we've carried that through into our 24 multi year budget and our 25 update. And we'll continue to make sure that we take a look and closely examine that as we do future updates.

1:22:58Thank you. That answers my next question. So I'll go on to the next one after that.

1:23:04Are there with our reserve and our reserve funding decreasing? How significant is this? And are there any significant cautions that you would like to express at this moment?

1:23:18So that's a complicated question through the mayor. So our reserve, the funding flowing into a reserve comes from several different sources.

1:23:30So there's tax supported capital funding that's approved through the budget process and non tax supported capital funding as well approved through the budget process.

1:23:39And those both increased through 2024 and 2025, though lower than initially planned.

1:23:46And then where there's really been a decrease is the funds flowing into the development charge reserve funds with those collections being down quite a bit in 2024.

1:23:57And so I think with the development charge exemptions represent a draw on our tax and non tax supported capital fiscal capacity.

1:24:07So that's taking money from taxes and rates and moving that into those development charge reserve funds.

1:24:14But those tax supported reserve funds then end up being the constraint for projects that have multiple funding sources because many of our projects are funded from both taxes, rates and development charges.

1:24:27Thank you.

1:24:29Then again, I'm going to skip again.

1:24:30You'd made reference that in in 2024 that there the reserve was beginning to decrease and I looked at that as a trend line.

1:24:40Is it too soon to predict whether this trend will continue or are we at a point where we should be recognizing that we will be seeing decreases in our reserves over the next couple of years.

1:24:54Thank you through the mayor. Yes, we will expect to see decreases in our reserves as we execute the plant capital projects from them.

1:25:04So there was three really large capital projects approved back in 2021.

1:25:09And those are well into the execution phase now.

1:25:13So we'll continue to see our reserve funds drawn down for those and the other capital projects that we are that have been approved by the reserve.

1:25:24Okay. Thank you. The last one's a very broad question.

1:25:28Quoting you. He said things will change. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Or is there some good and some bad that we can expect over the next few years?

1:25:40Through the mayor. I don't have my crystal ball here with me, but I think probably a little bit of both.

1:25:48Okay. Well, thank you very much for having a crystal ball. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:25:52Thank you, councillor old. Is there any further questions or would I be able to call the vote? Okay. Clawson and then to Gibson and then Billings.

1:26:04Yes, three. Mr. Mayor to staff. I just had a question with regard to the grants and the DC collection. I'm just wondering if the infrastructure grants that were currently we received in 2024 are making up for the reduced collections in DCs.

1:26:22Because I'm seeing it went down quite significantly. So I'm just wondering if, you know, I know that it's probably not apples to apples, but is there, you know, a few million dollars short or over or I'm just curious about that.

1:26:37Sure. Through the mayor. So I don't have a position to tell you today of where we in on a net basis ended between grants and DC collections. Definitely the grant funds are helping move those projects forward in the absence of DC collections.

1:26:54But in the next couple months, we will be preparing for the 2026 budget update and we will be preparing those updated for reserve forecasts and looking at the impact of that grant funding on on those reserve fund overall projected balances.

1:27:13Okay. Thank you.

1:27:15Thank you. Gibson and Billings.

1:27:17Yeah. Thank you through Mr. Mayor. So thanks very much for the presentation. I really did take in the report and the presentation as sort of a solidifying of what we predicted in 2021.

1:27:35We were on council and we voted for large infrastructure projects. We knew that these reserves would be impacted. We knew that that would be incurred to undertake the project.

1:27:47So respectfully, I understand the questions around like the reserve trends, but this was all well understood and and and for those of us who have been on council for more than one term.

1:27:59Um, was we were well informed that this is the trend that was going to occur.

1:28:03Uh, while we undertook these large infrastructure projects. So no, no question for me. Mr. Mayor, just just another voice of understanding here. Thanks.

1:28:12Okay, and Councillor Billings, please.

1:28:15I'm going to ask a question under the compensation. Um, it was WSIB.

1:28:24And the MSI and you've got the pressure on the incurred costs, 85% of lost time hours.

1:28:32Uh, in 2024 was the MSI and then WSIB went up 120%.

1:28:38My question is, is this just our fire and paramedics or does that those numbers include the police and communicators as well?

1:28:52Through the mayor. Um, I'm going to probably have to get back to you on the detailed part of that.

1:28:58Answer, but it is primarily our fire and paramedics.

1:29:02Um, police also, I'm not prepared to comment on police's right now.

1:29:08Okay. And the other thing I wanted to ask through your worship.

1:29:13Um, our staff going to be bringing forward a report, whether open or closed on this issue.

1:29:19Because it is an issue and it is a huge financial impact to our budget.

1:29:26Um, through the mayor, I'll, I'll step in here. Um, we are planning on bringing some information related to our employee engagement overall and have our HR team discuss a number of related compensation and employee policy direction.

1:29:51And so, uh, that report is planned to come in June at this point. I don't know if we were fully planning on WSIB. So we'll just take that away. And, uh, and maybe that'll be a separate report post June.

1:30:04Okay. And then also through you, Mr. Mayor. Um, do we know how much is in the police operating contingency reserve currently?

1:30:15Through the mayor, we can get that answer, but I do not have it at hand right now. Okay. So then.

1:30:24So then my follow up question is that.

1:30:27City staff has cautioned council many, many times about the use of our tax rate operating contingency reserve.

1:30:35So, I was just wondering, it's just a question. I was just wondering, because the reason why you're recommending the transfer to the local boards.

1:30:43You've put that in the report, but I was wondering, did staff have any thought with respect to tweaking the reserve fund policy that when we are in a deficit position.

1:30:57With our tax supported budget that maybe a recommendation wouldn't be to transfer from the consent contingency reserve to the local boards.

1:31:10Through the mayor, I know those individual police and library contingency reserves were set up to give the library and the police services the same sort of flexibility and autonomy to manage within their budgets that the city has.

1:31:26And so I did get the answer to your question earlier about the police contingency. It's 2.7 million. We do monitor those,

1:31:36those library and police contingency reserves in comparison with target as well. And if we saw those were going up well in excess of the target for those organizations, we would consider having a conversation about whether a surplus be deposited into the city's tax operating contingency reserve.

1:31:57Okay, but through you, Worship, the question was just the thought. Was there a thought with respect to when we are in a deficit position?

1:32:07Not to recommend the transfer.

1:32:12Through the mayor, not at this time. There was not. No.

1:32:15Okay. Thank you.

1:32:19Thank you, Councillor.

1:32:22With that, I think I'll call the vote then on these several motions.

1:32:28And I'll do that now. Is there anybody against 8.18.2 8.3?

1:32:41Nobody at this time.

1:32:44I think Councillor Caron is okay.

1:32:48Not quite sure what's happening there.

1:32:50Good. Yeah, my camera's acting up. Sorry. That's okay.

1:32:53Good to go. No objection.

1:32:56Looks like death, death, a sickle, you know, whatever. Yeah. Yeah. All right.

1:33:04Thank you. That's unanimous then.

1:33:07I think we'll go to you next for the code of conduct for council and local boards presentation.

1:33:18And then we'll swing back around to the shelter addressing gaps and daytime sheltering options.

1:33:34Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, members of city council.

1:33:38You will recall that in March there was a revised version of the code of conduct presented by the integrity commissioner.

1:33:44At that meeting, the committee referred the code back to staff for changes based on council's feedback.

1:33:49I'm just going to walk through the changes before you today so you get a sense of what is different in this version of the code versus what was presented in March.

1:33:57There are two provisions of the code which had been removed entirely.

1:34:00There is no longer a prohibition included on any sort of political endorsements at any level of government.

1:34:05And there is no prohibition, no prohibition, sorry, on the promotion of any third party interests included in the code before you today.

1:34:13Rules regarding the use of social media during election campaigns and the need to clearly distinguish between communication from a sitting member of council and communication as a candidate in an election do remain in code.

1:34:25However, there are some slight changes to how titles may be used on social media during campaigns.

1:34:31As originally presented titles may not be used during election campaigns in social media account handles, user names or profile descriptions if that account is being used as an election related account.

1:34:43However, titles can be used on those accounts to say things like reelect councillor Smith in Ward 2 or as the councillor for Ward 6.

1:34:51I've supported following types of policies.

1:34:54So there is a little bit more clarity in the code in that regard.

1:34:57We do think these rules are important.

1:34:58We want to ensure that members of the public can discern when they're viewing communications from a sitting member of council communicating in that role versus when they're looking at election or campaign related materials.

1:35:11Generally speaking, all other provisions in the code remain the same as presented in March.

1:35:16That includes clarification that the code applies regardless of whether a member considers a social media account to be public, professional or private.

1:35:25The code applies to councillor behavior regardless of the medium you are communicating in.

1:35:30There is no distinction between different types of accounts or different communication channels.

1:35:33The code applies to online electronic communication.

1:35:36It applies to internal communication.

1:35:38There's no distinction in that regard in what's before you today.

1:35:42The proposed code also indicates that councillors should exercise restraint when blocking members of the public or users on social media to ensure that the user's right to freedom of expression is not infringed.

1:35:53But that blocking is absolutely permitted when required to protect a member or other users from harassment or abuse to preserve the utility of the social media account from things like spam or bots and to prevent the dissemination of abusive, hateful or insightful communication.

1:36:10If members of council have concerns about a specific social media user, they may choose to contact the integrity commissioner to seek advice before blocking them, but that is not a requirement.

1:36:21Obvious cases of abuse, bots, inappropriate content, spam, that can always be blocked at a member's discretion.

1:36:30At committee of the whole, there was also questions about the applicability of the code to members of advisory committees.

1:36:36The code before you today does apply to all advisory committee members, chairs and vice chairs.

1:36:42We don't believe that the proposed code creates an undue level of restriction or hardship for those members.

1:36:48And we believe it's important to recognize that they do occupy positions of significant privilege within Guelph's system of governance.

1:36:55These privileges come with the expectation that all advisory committee members will conduct themselves to the same ethical standards as members of city council.

1:37:02Other transparency programs like the lobbyist registry also apply equally to members of council and advisory committees.

1:37:10Finally, since publishing this report, the provinces reintroduced the municipal accountability act.

1:37:18That act gives the provincial government the ability to impose a code of conduct, a single code of conduct for all municipalities in Ontario following the 2026 election.

1:37:27So it's a reasonable expectation that any changes we make here today will be in place from now until the end of this term of council.

1:37:33For the new term of council, we're very likely to have a code that's been mandated by the provincial government.

1:37:38Thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions.

1:37:42Thank you. Is there anyone that I would at least be willing to move the code? Okay, caller and Richardson. Okay. Thank you.

1:37:50And then is there any questions at all at this time?

1:37:54All right, we'll start with, uh, Kate and then alt.

1:38:00Through you, Mr. Mayor.

1:38:02I'm a bit confused why the blocking provision would be included for ACOC members.

1:38:10Why, why would the public have a reasonable expectation to view any post made by an ACOC member?

1:38:21Through you, Mr. Mayor. So I can, I can think about a situation where a chair of an advisory committee is using X for example,

1:38:27and regularly communicating about things that happened at the recent committee meetings.

1:38:31So, you know, the committee today, the committee gave the following advice to council or we approve the following motion, whatever it may be.

1:38:37Maybe next month we're considering bringing this type of item forward.

1:38:41We believe that by posting that as the chair, you are creating a public forum for discussion and then to say,

1:38:48oh, you disagree with my content. I'm going to block you would be an inappropriate use

1:38:53and an inappropriate block to a member of the public as far as their access to that public forum.

1:39:00Through the mayor, but this information is all available elsewhere, right?

1:39:05So that's not actually stopping them from having access to the information. We have the meeting minutes online. We have the whole meeting

1:39:12videotaped each time. So

1:39:15if it was the only source of information about that meeting, I could imagine that. But

1:39:23my concern is that a lot of these groups, and what we're trying to do with our

1:39:30services is to increase the amount of diversity that we have in membership. That's one of our active components of the policy that we just

1:39:39redid. And I feel that this may

1:39:43prevent people from who are marginalized from wanting to do this because it creates an undue burden

1:39:49when you block someone to have to prove it should someone go to the integrity commissioner.

1:39:55How

1:39:57would we make that

1:39:59not an onerous process for those volunteers?

1:40:07Through you, Mr. Mayor to Councillor Caden,

1:40:10I think members of advisory committees and chairs especially

1:40:15need to

1:40:16think carefully before blocking a member of the public because that is reducing their access to content that

1:40:23is being put out publicly by a local board member appointed by city council.

1:40:28I think there is privilege in that in that position and that means that they've got to be wary of

1:40:33preventing members of the public from accessing that. You're certainly right that we post agendas,

1:40:39minutes, reports, video content,

1:40:42but that is different than hearing directly from a chair or directly from a member on social media in the same way I

1:40:47believe it is for a member of council where likewise we post agendas and minutes and reports and that kind of thing. So if there is a question about

1:40:56whether a block is is reasonable if it is in a bit of a gray area,

1:41:01it's not maybe clearly abusive or it's not clearly spam,

1:41:04then certainly the integrity commissioner is in a position to support and the clerk's office is always happy to work with all of our advisory committee members

1:41:10to connect them with the integrity commissioner to help them make those types of decisions.

1:41:15Through the mayor, so this is just basically provided that someone is is posting that content,

1:41:20but otherwise someone who's posting pictures of their kid and their dog and their garden

1:41:25is also subject to blocking and someone can go to the integrity commissioner

1:41:30and make a complaint that they've been blocked even though they're not posting anything that is of use. And this is the same thing with

1:41:36personal accounts even though we're not

1:41:38breaking out personal versus private for counselors.

1:41:42Through you, Mr. Mayor, I'm not sure that's that's exactly right. So there is a distinction in the code when it comes to the creation of a public forum.

1:41:50So I'm a big Blue Jays fan. If I was a member of city council and I had a Facebook group devoted to, you know, Guelph Blue Jays supporters

1:41:57and we just talked sports and Blue Jays,

1:42:00it's reasonable that I could restrict public access to that to that group. So

1:42:05there is a distinction to be made about is that a public forum in my official role as a as a counselor?

1:42:11That that's an easy cut and dry case. No, it isn't. So if you're just talking about

1:42:15your your family and kids and sharing photos of pets or whatever, that's that's never going to apply.

1:42:20But I think that line can be blurred very quickly if you have an account where you are doing some sharing of, you know,

1:42:27gifts or pets or whatever. But then you also add in a little bit of political commentary

1:42:31maybe related to your role on council. If you're a counselor or related to something going on at an advisory committee, if you're an advisory committee member

1:42:38and you've got comments

1:42:40enabled and that's an open account. Then what you're doing is telling the public,

1:42:43this is a way I'm going to communicate about some of the official duties I have in this role. And then they have a right to access.

1:42:49And we believe that

1:42:51unwarranted attempts to limit that access

1:42:54may in some cases represent an infringement upon that other individual's right to express themselves freely.

1:43:02Through the mirror. So I'm a bit confused now because before it seemed like every account if it was public

1:43:07would be subject to this. But now you're saying that the content within the count is

1:43:12matters. So I'm a bit confused because anything can be public and have comments open on it.

1:43:18Right? Like I've got pictures of my wedding and such.

1:43:23So

1:43:25that doesn't seem to be broken out in the code currently.

1:43:29That there are those distinctions between posts and accounts that are posting things

1:43:33that could be considered public forum versus other. It just says any of your accounts are subject to all of this.

1:43:40And I am,

1:43:41uh,

1:43:42I think that some of the political endorsement

1:43:45things and the third party interests that we had in there prior were very valid if we're talking about

1:43:51uh council specific accounts versus accounts that

1:43:55because people own businesses and because they have their own personal

1:44:00kind of endorsements and things like that. So it seems like we are making a difference

1:44:05between them, but it's not very clear to me right now.

1:44:12Through you, Mr. Mayor. So the code of conduct applies

1:44:16regardless of how or where you're communicating. So for example,

1:44:20abusive communication, whether it's in person, whether it's online, whether it's done in a public venue or perhaps in a private venue,

1:44:28that type of abusive content or behavior could always be investigated.

1:44:33So when we say the code applies everywhere, we mean regardless of the environment, regardless of how you're communicating. It applies

1:44:39when we're talking about specifically blocking members of the public, for example on social media,

1:44:45we have to think about whether we have created a public forum. That's the language that the code uses.

1:44:50So if we are posting publicly on matters related to your role as a member of city council or an advisory committee member,

1:44:57then we are creating a public forum and that's where those

1:45:00limitations or considerations related to blocking would apply.

1:45:05So there is context here that matters, but I think broadly speaking the code applies everywhere and that's an important principle that

1:45:14behavior is not just limited in this room or on official social media accounts. It is limited everywhere through all channels and all means.

1:45:22Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have no problem with most of it, right?

1:45:25It's just with the blocking that I find it creates more of an issue with marginalization.

1:45:29And I understand what you're saying, but I don't think that that's reflected necessarily in the language in

1:45:35the code right now. So

1:45:38I'll be working on some amendments to

1:45:41create that clarity so that it's kind of more known,

1:45:47that it's specific to

1:45:49creating the forum for posts related to the council rather than necessarily for the blocking specifically,

1:45:57rather than the whole account.

1:46:00Thank you very much.

1:46:02Thank you, Councillor.

1:46:04I think Alt was my last one.

1:46:07Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:46:09Through you to Mr. McMahon and Clerks. First of all, thank you very much for taking into consideration some of the concerns.

1:46:18I think it is

1:46:20significantly better than what we had presented in front of us before.

1:46:24I do agree with you about the higher standard of ethical behavior. There are many

1:46:28careers where that is an absolute expectation. And so consequently,

1:46:33I think for all intents and purposes at this point, I will be supporting this,

1:46:38but I have one very naive question for you.

1:46:42And that is if there's a provincial municipal accountability act that is forthcoming in

1:46:492026, and this is only for one year, arguably,

1:46:57why we're not even necessarily going to be getting out of the the dock

1:47:04on this before it becomes

1:47:06essentially a moot point.

1:47:13Through you, Mr. Mayor, to Councillor Eld,

1:47:16I think there's two reasons. The first is that staff, the integrity commissioner and hopefully council believes these are the best rules to have in place

1:47:25to govern

1:47:26the behavior of elected officials, especially going into an election campaign where we know social media is going to be a feature.

1:47:33So we believe in it. That is part of it.

1:47:35The second part, quite frankly, is that we largely had this work done when we found out that the provincial government was going to be

1:47:41implementing these changes and we think they're worthwhile. So we brought them forward.

1:47:45Yeah, okay. That makes complete sense.

1:47:47Both parts of it, actually. I do appreciate the work on that. And I think it is incumbent that for us to recognize that we might not have got this

1:47:57perfect. But I think the concept of a code that does establish that there are

1:48:04expectations of a higher standard of ethical behavior does matter to the public. And we should be very mindful of that.

1:48:11I do look forward to Councillor Kate and bring possibly back some

1:48:15amendments that might improve what you've done. But thank you very much. I think it's been a good effort.

1:48:21And who knows, it might be better than what the province brings in anyway.

1:48:27Thank you. I was going to call the vote, but Gibson, did you have your hand up?

1:48:32I'll just comment on this file too. Thank you to Council and thank you to staff for working through this

1:48:39file. I guess I'm getting half a sum of longevity on Council. Four years ago, three years ago, I guess just before the last term of

1:48:48Council ended, I did try to move a motion to bring some more accountability through our Code of Conduct to local boards and

1:48:56outside boards. And Council wasn't ready for that decision or wasn't ready for that conversation at the time.

1:49:03I'm very appreciative that we are able to get this finished and get this achieved

1:49:09because I do believe that there's privilege and I do believe that there is a responsibility

1:49:14when members of the public are put in charge of governance, governance decisions,

1:49:20taxpayer money, where they are allowed to bring forward recommendations to Council and in some cases make decisions on

1:49:27behalf of Council. I do believe that there is a level of ethical conduct that we should expect

1:49:33and we should be willing to enforce. Sometimes we can all go on social media and see a lot of ugly things,

1:49:41but it's a really disappointing and really sinking feeling when you see an appointed member that you have

1:49:49supported joining an outside board or joining a local board or joining a committee,

1:49:54running down our police, running down our civil servants, running down our municipal employees.

1:50:00Those are people that we are in charge of protecting when it comes to public discourse to a certain extent

1:50:08and I believe that when we put people into these positions, they should be held to a same ethical

1:50:14conduct that we are and we welcome that scrutiny, we welcome those challenges.

1:50:19I've always said that I appreciate the integrity commissioner because I think in many ways it

1:50:23protects us when complaints come forward. The integrity commissioner is that arbiter that comes

1:50:27in and says no, they did behave fine or they didn't, but I do appreciate Council, maybe it just didn't

1:50:35need my name associated with it for it to pass, but I won't take that personally. I appreciate

1:50:41Council engaging in this conversation. I appreciate staff working through it because

1:50:47quite frankly, everything I wanted achieved has been achieved. I'll take that as a moral victory,

1:50:53even if Council didn't want to have this conversation four years ago. Thank you.

1:50:59All right, thank you. With that, I will call the vote on the update of the code for Council and

1:51:06outside board. Sorry, am I saying that right? Yeah, code of for Council and local boards.

1:51:18I'll call the vote. Is anyone against? Okay, just Kate is against at this time. So that passes.

1:51:27Thank you. Okay, we're circling back to the last thing under governance, which was the addressing

1:51:33gaps and daytime shelter options for persons experiencing homelessness. Councillor Gower,

1:51:40you asked for this to be extracted. So I'll turn over to you. Thank you, your worship.

1:51:48I wanted to first of all thank staff for putting together this report. I think it's

1:51:54very much needed. I think providing the services is extremely important. I'm given that the county

1:52:02has deemed that a discretionary service. It is up to us to fund it. So fully on board with this.

1:52:08I have heard some concerns from my constituents who live in the downtown area and folks that live

1:52:15in the surrounding neighborhoods of the downtown area, as well as from the downtown wealth business

1:52:21association about locating these services in the heart of the downtown. So I just wanted to

1:52:30give a heads up that between now and the end of the month, I'll be reaching out to staff to have

1:52:34a conversation about possibly putting some guidelines about maybe we ask for the service,

1:52:42but maybe we ask for it not to be in the main strip in the downtown and seeing how we can do

1:52:48it in a way that is flexible, that still gives an opportunity for organizations to provide the

1:52:53services in the vicinity of the downtown because we all acknowledge that the services that folks

1:52:59access are in our downtown core. But I would like to see back a few years ago when the

1:53:07Guelph Dropping Center was providing data and shelter space, it was just a couple of blocks

1:53:11outside of the downtown. And I think that provided for a healthier environment than what we've seen

1:53:18over the last couple of years. So just wanted to bring that as a point to let the public know

1:53:23and that I'll be working with staff on those issues. Okay, thank you. A busatil please and then

1:53:33alt and then clock. Thank you and thank you for the heads up there Councillor Goller. I would

1:53:40hope that when you bring something forward if you can define what main strips are because for me,

1:53:47you know, main strips are where Ontario Works is, where housing services are on Windham Street,

1:53:53main strips are Baker Street and so on, which is, you know, I volunteered at Royal City Mission

1:54:00doing taxes for two months for individuals there. So main strips to me is quite a broad brush and

1:54:08I have a lot of concerns with that. Thank you. Thank you. Alt and then Colasa and then King.

1:54:17Thank you very much Mayor Guthrie. I won't get into the possible amendments as they are just

1:54:24possible. They don't exist right now, but one thing that does exist, I was wondering if staff

1:54:29could please comment on the 10% County discretionary support for this. What if they say no?

1:54:43Through the mayor to Councillor, Alt, thanks for the question. Sorry, it took us a minute to get

1:54:46down here. We did discuss the 10% with the county. It is in keeping with the historic way that we

1:54:52have split this discretionary service in years previous and it is discretionary. So if they

1:54:59say no, 100% of the service would fall to the city, but our early indications from staff are that

1:55:04it's a reasonable request of the county at this time. Thank you for the clarity. Thank you. Colasa

1:55:12and then Kate. Yes, thank you. Through you, Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to thank my Councillor Goller

1:55:21for bringing this forward. I sit on the Downtown Golf Business Association and this is something

1:55:26that came up at the meeting earlier this week. I just want to comment that I think it's great

1:55:32that we are exploring options for daytime shelter. So thank you for bringing this forward. It is

1:55:39paramount that we look at all options for supporting people in need and I think that I want to underline

1:55:44that as I go forward. The second part with regard to Councillor Goller's points about identifying

1:55:53places where a potential shelter may or may not be, I would just like to acknowledge that the

1:56:01Downtown Board also added that they want to consider where we're putting places, but also

1:56:10just that we are also being good neighbours to whomever we're suggesting that a daytime shelter go.

1:56:18And this is something that came up at the O B I A, the Ontario Downtown Boards. We have over the

1:56:28last, I think, 20 years been putting more and more social services in our in our cores, which is

1:56:33which is great because they're centralized and they provide a really important place for people to

1:56:38come and and and get those services that they need. But our downtown cores are also places where

1:56:45people in our communities live and work and I think that we need to make sure that people are

1:56:52working together and that people feel safe and welcome no matter no matter who they are. So as we

1:56:59go forward it would be great if staff could look into potentially if we if we do consider putting

1:57:04this into the downtown. Are we also looking at line items for security and other safety measures?

1:57:11I hope that this can be something that's considered as part of the RFP process. Thank you.

1:57:19Thank you. Kate and then I'll just go to Gibson and circle back to Bousatil. I see you as well.

1:57:27Thank you. Through you Mr. Mayor to staff. Do we have numbers on how many bars we have downtown?

1:57:40Through the mayor. I don't believe staff have that number at this time.

1:57:43Okay. So if I reach out to staff and ask about the number of bars versus the amount of police

1:57:54time and money spent on folks after the bars for safety for downtown is that something I would

1:58:00be able to get through staff or should I have to go through the police ward? So through the

1:58:07mayor to Councillor Caden we can get the numbers for you about the number of bars because we track

1:58:11that through our business licensing and so Mr. Godfrey's team can get you that information

1:58:15in advance of the council. We don't have it today in terms of policing response that would

1:58:20need to come directly from Guelph police services. Okay. Thank you. Similarly with the number of

1:58:28social supports and services that currently are provided downtown so folks who are already going

1:58:33there is that I can ask all that and get that for the next meeting. Okay. And the final question

1:58:43is through the mayor. Is this consistent? I remember we had a contract group come in and talk

1:58:49to us about our response to homelessness and my memory is not the best but I'm just trying to

1:58:56remember I thought that they had said that keeping all of the service together was the best way to

1:59:02help that population. Am I remembering that correctly? Through the mayor to Councillor Caden

1:59:09the report that you're remembering is from collective results I believe and I'm certainly

1:59:14happy to share a link to that report. That report talked about generally speaking where people that

1:59:19were requiring social services were geographically and the distance of travel that a person could

1:59:25make on foot for example or using transit if they didn't have access to personal other modes of

1:59:30transportation so we can make that available for you if that's helpful. Great. Thank you very much.

1:59:39Thank you. Gibson and then Boussatil and then Ault. Yeah thank you through you Mr. Mayor.

1:59:47Just a comment. Again I think we're perhaps debating something that may happen in the

1:59:52future. We haven't seen the letters of the motion yet however I will say this. It's a long time

1:59:57sitting board member of the GDBA as well. I think it's it's it's literally just voicing the

2:00:02representation that we're hearing on council from Councillor Goller and Ploson that these are we need

2:00:11to be sensitive to both sides of the spectrum here. It is a it is an area of our city that we do support

2:00:17vulnerable populations but we also want to promote commerce and we want to promote

2:00:21placemaking and we want to promote that downtown spirit so I don't on the outside I'd like to

2:00:29explore what that looks like to locations but I do think that in an honest moment we're just

2:00:35speaking to the concerns that are being expressed by our downtown as well when we're asking about

2:00:39where the location goes so that's that's why we're here so I welcome that conversation when it comes.

2:00:48Thank you. Boussatillian Ault. Thank you. Did you want me to go after Ault? I have already spoken.

2:00:56Okay it's okay thank you. I'm sorry I apologize the DGBA letter I must have missed that. I don't

2:01:02know if it was included in the package could it be included the next round in the package?

2:01:09Oh okay sorry I didn't see that yeah so if we could have that in in the public package next time

2:01:17oh sorry got it so maybe you can communicate with the DGBA that it become a public document thank you

2:01:25and then just to Councillor Klosson's about the security measures

2:01:28not only the future costs it would be helpful to know how much investment has already been done

2:01:33in the downtown area so that we know all the initiatives and so on so that there's a balance

2:01:38there thank you for clarifying collective results because in my mind I was thinking about

2:01:45the lived experience report that comes from the health and housing table that had staff

2:01:50implement the February 14th porta potties in neighborhoods and so on that as Councillor I

2:01:56know I'm receiving a lot of pushback on so thank you for if you if you can include that link that

2:02:03would get me to the right report that's it thank you. Thank you and then Ault please.

2:02:09Thank you Mayor Guthrie a couple of questions for staff or requests

2:02:15the first one would it be appropriate right now to explain to Council what the character of a

2:02:22competitive procurement process contains does it contain geographic inclusions or exclusions

2:02:32because I think in in some senses this is problematic if we're doing something that's

2:02:39competitive about a drop-in center it could be anywhere in the city and if we're not careful

2:02:47we're going to be in a position where we are going to be creating many exclusions based on

2:02:53proximity to a particular neighborhood rather than dealing with the issue of a competitive

2:02:59process so I'd like to ask that first if I could please. Sure thank you through the mayor

2:03:07Councillor Allt is correct that and we've not drafted the RFP yet so I think feedback for

2:03:14example if council were looking for us to evaluate the RFP based on criteria with more points or

2:03:20fewer points we could take that we could take that advice and and implement it obviously if

2:03:28if we're imposing additional constraints location as an example that's come up this afternoon

2:03:33that will potentially make the pool of people who are eligible to compete in our RFP smaller

2:03:38the process does look like an open expression of interest through the RFP for a number of weeks

2:03:44where proponents can take the plan ask questions and submit something that then staff will review

2:03:50there's an opportunity often for us to have an interview with the submissions that are at the

2:03:56top of the pile and then make a decision and and it is likely in this case as you've seen

2:04:01in previous cases that we would be looking to include someone from Wellington County

2:04:05on our on our evaluation panel as well. Just a follow-up to that one before I go to the next

2:04:13concerns would that potentially delay this process if we started getting into the the

2:04:20various restrictions and constraints on what we consider to be appropriate to a drop-in center

2:04:26competitive procurement. Through the mayor working through the timelines staff hope to have the open

2:04:34RFP in the public by July 1st in order to meet a deadline that brings us back here for council

2:04:39decision in accordance with the budget and so so really we're in front of you in May with time for

2:04:45us to work on an RFP in June for it to go out in July so I would say addressing it this cycle of

2:04:51council is helpful to keep us on time for the budget. Okay thank you with regards to all of that

2:04:58if it could be considered whether we need to factor in such costs as welcoming street impact

2:05:04and policing it would certainly be appreciated because those could be significant costs in terms of

2:05:10this. Thank you. Is there anything further at all? And I'm really sorry to the clerks I just

2:05:23I forget has it already been moved in seconded I think it was but I can't remember it has been

2:05:31yeah it has been. Through you Mr. Mayor I don't have a mover in second. Oh okay would someone be

2:05:37willing to move okay Guller and Gibson the two G's all right so I'm just going to give my comments

2:05:44then just before I call the vote thank you for everyone else with their comments. I know this

2:05:50is this can be and I recognize a difficult kind of conversation perhaps and I think where I think

2:05:58where everyone might be aligned what I'm hearing is that a daytime shelter system is something that

2:06:04I think we're all kind of behind. The question is where and there are things that are you know our

2:06:13downtown cores are I say the word cores is because I speak to mayors and I speak to others across

2:06:20the province and I'm sure it's outside of the province where they're wrestling with these issues

2:06:24of the social service agencies social service drop-in centers always in the downtown cores and

2:06:31it it begs the question really at the fundamental part of it for me is what what are our downtowns

2:06:39supposed to be for and for me it is supposed to be an economic driver for our community is supposed

2:06:47to be a thriving business entrepreneurial center of public space and tourism and and and events and

2:07:00what's happening not just in Guelph but across many other communities is social services tend to

2:07:08to be attracted to downtown cores and they start really taking up a lot of space because there

2:07:17is a need so I'm not suggesting there isn't a need but a lot of space and if you think about our own

2:07:22downtown core there there's a lot of them and they're they're doing good work by the way I'm not

2:07:29suggesting that they're not but you know I I can off the top of my head like Hope House

2:07:36Royal City Mission, Tomers United, The Bench, you know all of the county social service buildings

2:07:46administration and I could go on there's more and and so when it comes to using and a lot of those

2:07:54are funded by charitable giveings and and other maybe other government grants what I like about

2:08:03where staff are bringing us to today is to say like this piecemeal sort of one off $450,000 here

2:08:10and $100,000 there and we're taking from this reserve at this time and trying to trying to

2:08:15figure it out as we go is to say like let's just be focused on actually providing the service

2:08:22putting the money behind it and let's figure it out I like that the where and the location is an

2:08:29honorable discussion I think to be had and I just want to just say that I personally would not want

2:08:38to have something like this in our downtown core I'm just going to say it out loud and when I say

2:08:44our downtown core for me that means Wyndham and Cork and Douglas and Quebec and McDonnell and Cardin

2:08:53sort of those main streets and we're not the only council or only BIA that's talking about this

2:09:01the City of London Council in November had an exact conversation as we are having right now

2:09:10and their council voted nine to six to not allow resting shelter spaces on any of their

2:09:18main streets in their BIAs so we're not the only ones having this discussion and there is now some

2:09:27friction between staff and council in London around the implementation of that but these types of

2:09:34conversations aren't new and my my bent my personal bent is to try to make our downtown core those core

2:09:43streets for economic thriving businesses entrepreneurial type of events and public spaces and so that

2:09:55that's where I'm at on it right now so I'm appreciative Councillor Gull or Councillor

2:09:59Clawson some of your comments about maybe bringing something forward around limiting the RFP

2:10:06to a type of option where we can get some feedback and some responses to the RFP that might

2:10:13not be in those areas these other institutions and social services can be provided through

2:10:21charitable giving but if we're going to be using the taxpayers money and I think we

2:10:28should at least have the conversation about where the location can be that is the best for all

2:10:33and that's just my perspective at this point willing to hear from people for the rest of

2:10:37this month and find out what happens at the end of the month but I think it is an important

2:10:44conversation and we shouldn't shouldn't dodge it and I know there'll be more opinions on this

2:10:50but there's my opinion I just thought I would throw it out on the on the floor right now

2:10:53so with that I'll call the vote and we'll see what happens between now and the end of the month

2:10:59so is anyone against moving forward at least at this point with an RFP at the committee level no

2:11:06okay so that's unanimous thank you very much we are going to take a break right now as we have

2:11:14our vice chair Klosson come up to take us into our last item and our last item is the