Requests that the DGBA works with City staff to determine operationally feasible transit and/or parking mitigation opportunities to support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities…

1:32:55Yes, thank you chair downer. Um, I am asking my council colleagues this evening

1:33:02to to support expanded free parking for downtown

1:33:07during the windom

1:33:09component of construction so that is in 2026 and 2027

1:33:17This is our challenging time for our businesses downtown

1:33:20It's not just the businesses but the people who access them and the people who also attend

1:33:25um appointments downtown who need to get from uh, you know, for example, taxi to

1:33:30You know another part of of of town

1:33:33It is more challenging to move around and we know that it is having an economic

1:33:38impact on

1:33:40Uh many people right now. There are there are a lot of challenges

1:33:43And so I have been working with staff and so firstly I would like to say thank you to staff because I this has been an ongoing

1:33:50collaboration since I started on council

1:33:53Um, there have been many discussions and there are many mitigation strategies in place

1:33:57So I don't want to take away from any of the work the hard work that's being done

1:34:02There are many conversations happening and I know that

1:34:06I know that it's it's an ongoing discussion and I think that it's something that requires us

1:34:12Uh to have some flexibility and nimbleness. I'm I'm asking this of

1:34:17Of our council this evening and I have worked with staff on these motions

1:34:21I will also share that concurrently I have been working with the dgba on a number of other things

1:34:26And I know that they have also put this

1:34:30This you know if this motion passes tonight, they've also got a motion in the agenda

1:34:35They're a meeting tomorrow evening to match the 25 000. So they're ready

1:34:39They're willing to to match and support and I think that it would be a really good

1:34:45public

1:34:47representation of our partnership

1:34:49And and our support of the businesses and all of our community who access our downtown during this time

1:34:56And I'll leave it at that because I know we have delegations and I know that there might be some questions and further discussion

1:35:03Okay, thank you. So let's go to delegations first one is morgan dandy is uh she online

1:35:12morgan, are you there?

1:35:24There we go. Hello. You can hear me. I can hear you

1:35:29Excellent. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to this. I spend a lot of time in the downtown

1:35:35I gave up my car in 2020. I don't need parking

1:35:39and I would really love to see a mitigation

1:35:45for

1:35:46more individuals by

1:35:48promoting transit one of the things that

1:35:52I see the dgba not doing

1:35:56Is having any mention of the fact that

1:36:00There's transit that brings you into the downtown

1:36:04Half of our buses come into the downtown

1:36:07There are no stops where the construction is currently

1:36:13And they are all the way around where the construction is

1:36:20I would absolutely support

1:36:23having further mitigation for

1:36:26some

1:36:27additional parking

1:36:28But I think that that should be on the dgba

1:36:31There are businesses that have already gone ahead and they validate two hours worth of parking

1:36:38They've been eating it

1:36:40themselves

1:36:41in order to have their patrons

1:36:45Come into their businesses

1:36:49I believe that if we could do something with transit

1:36:54It would also help as we go through

1:36:58The next almost decade of construction that is happening on various streets through the downtown

1:37:04This isn't only a two-year project the reconstruction

1:37:08revitalization of downtown is ongoing

1:37:12past

1:37:132030 past the end of the next term of council so

1:37:19To be putting that much of the mitigation budget into

1:37:24Parking at this time when there's so much more time going on

1:37:29I believe that if we were to do something with transit

1:37:33That would

1:37:34Help to increase the ridership with transit

1:37:37It would help to increase people being in the downtown and once all of the construction is finished

1:37:44People will already be accustomed to using transit which will only enhance the way our downtown functions

1:37:53Maybe a little bit of parking if the dgba wants to do that on their own

1:37:57I think the city should be supporting transit. Thank you

1:38:02Thank you. Are there any questions of morgan dandy?

1:38:06Seeing none. Thank you and we're going to go to

1:38:11Alec pervs again, and thank you again for letting me be able to speak

1:38:29Downtown wealth business association not only do they pay higher commercial taxes right now

1:38:35But on top of that they have a special levy that they

1:38:39Enforced all the businesses downtown and on top of that you have a couple of businesses that have an extra

1:38:46Tax that they have to pay as far as the math tax

1:38:49So, you know a lot of the downtown businesses they already are paying an awful lot of money

1:38:55And I just have a little bit of a hard time saying

1:38:59Understanding the optics of it is that we want to be able to help downtown businesses

1:39:06And we're going to pitch in 25 000 dollars

1:39:09But we want them to be able to match in to pitch in 25 000 dollars as well

1:39:13When they are already paying and it goes over the amount of money through

1:39:20Commercial property taxes

1:39:22Then they have their levy as far as their own tax that they have on top of that the levy that they have

1:39:27And then you have the math tax on top of that which is 4

1:39:33That's just the first thing the second thing is just the precedent that you're setting right now

1:39:38Is that we're talking windham street

1:39:40And in a couple of years then we're going to start working on mac danel

1:39:43Are we going to do the same thing with mac danel?

1:39:45Then what happens with businesses that if you're going to start construction on gordon street?

1:39:51Or on wood lawn and they don't have a bia

1:39:55Are you going to also say hey, we're going to pitch in with you guys as well?

1:39:59But they don't have a bia that they're organized

1:40:03So you're basically setting some businesses that you're going to help

1:40:07And you're setting yourself up that other businesses

1:40:11They're you're not going to be able to help it's

1:40:14There's a precedent that's being set here

1:40:18That you might be favoring certain things through downtown stores absolutely needed. Yes

1:40:24Are some of the businesses not going to make it through this construction? Yes, we know that

1:40:30But there has to be

1:40:32Possibly some other things. I'm just concerned about the precedent that's being set

1:40:37And then to say that we're here to help downtown businesses. So we're going to give them

1:40:42$25,000 to help with mitigation. Okay

1:40:46Annual parking for downtown revenue is three hundred thousand dollars

1:40:49So we're not talking a lot of money here, but more importantly the biggest thing is is that through the mitigation

1:40:57Is that

1:40:59Then to ask for the downtown golf business association

1:41:03Hey, can you guys pitch in even more money on top of everything that you're already paying?

1:41:09It's a little bit of a struggle that I'm having with

1:41:11Regarding that that's basically all I'm just concerned about the precedence that being set

1:41:17Because when you're having further construction, gordon wood lawn, wherever it's going to be

1:41:22You have a lot of businesses that aren't part of a bia

1:41:26That they're going to say well, why couldn't they do that with us?

1:41:31Why did they just do it for this small segment downtown that they already have their own levy

1:41:37That's looking after things and that levy as well is to use

1:41:42To be for the downtown core to be able to beautify to be able to bring a tourism santa claus fray

1:41:48Spirit of the season that levy is used for that not to be able to mitigate parking

1:41:54And so those are just concerns that I have about that

1:41:57It's the fact that the idea is good in principle, but you're setting a precedent

1:42:03That down the road

1:42:07Some businesses are going to say hey, what about us?

1:42:11Why how come we're you're not pitching in for us?

1:42:14And uh, so that's just my concern that I have thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. Are there any questions of the dealer?

1:42:22Okay, see none. Thank you. Okay, uh

1:42:27Councillor cuss and would you like to put your motion on the floor and do you have a seconder?

1:42:30And I understand you have four now recommendations. Yes

1:42:36I believe councillor Goller agree to second okay, so

1:42:42Okay

1:42:44Are there any questions or uh, councillor busatel?

1:42:48and councillor ult

1:42:50Thank you. I discuss this with councillor Klassen and also with staff a minor amendment

1:42:57to

1:43:00I'm done. Okay

1:43:03adjournment

1:43:04Can I get the motions back up sorry? Do you want them red?

1:43:13Oh, sorry go ahead

1:43:16Councillor Goller is asking for them to be read

1:43:19Okay, that's that's a good idea right. I don't mean that step. Okay. Can we just hold for a minute and let councillor Klassen say that?

1:43:29Um, okay, so I'm reading these out loud

1:43:31Um, so there are four unless there's I didn't quite understand if you just want me to speak to it

1:43:36So one the council rep requests that the dgba works with staff to determine operationally feasible parking mitigation opportunities

1:43:44To support customers of downtown businesses during construction activities on windham street

1:43:48Above and beyond the existing parking mitigation already in place and at the cost of up to 25 000 dollars be paid from the deter

1:43:56Instruction mitigation budget which we already have in place while council respectfully request matching funds of up to 25 000 dollars

1:44:03For a total of 50 000 dollars towards mitigation from the dgba

1:44:08To that council acknowledged that increasing parking mitigation funding means that other construction mitigation actions will not be delivered unless the construction mitigation is topped up through the 2027

1:44:18confirmation budget process

1:44:20and that three

1:44:23Sorry, I don't have it in front of me. So I'm just waiting for the screen. Thank you

1:44:27And that council request that the dgba provide an update to council on their own mitigation efforts related to downtown construction

1:44:33And outline a plan for how they're contributing funds to support these efforts, which I believe if is not done. It's in process

1:44:40Um to be provided and for that council respectfully requests that the incoming mayor consider continued investment in similar measures for inclusion in

1:44:492027 confirmation budget

1:44:51um

1:44:52And I I would like if it's okay through you madam chair

1:44:56um

1:44:57I would just like to clarify something that came up in the previous delegation

1:45:01Which is with regard to the taxes. There's no new taxation here

1:45:04This is this is coming from our existing mitigation budget that is in place for the downtown

1:45:09Um, and I would just like to add to that that our downtown is is our most tax dense land

1:45:15And so when we're looking at mitigation efforts, I think that it is appropriate to look at mitigation efforts for all of our projects

1:45:21But in particular the downtown where a lot of people are very a varying sorts businesses

1:45:27People who visit businesses and also the people who live there are are impacted

1:45:31um

1:45:32And then I did add the last one in because I would like an opportunity for a future council

1:45:38um to have have a discussion about this in the next term of council because I think it should be an ongoing discussion

1:45:48Thank you. Okay. Councillor rusa tail and then councillor gollum

1:45:51Thank you

1:45:53um

1:45:54Through the chair, I did a conversation with councillor our clausen and with staff about this and thank you to our councillor Klassen for sharing the

1:46:03mitigation

1:46:04downtown support plan

1:46:06I I would like to propose a small amendment

1:46:09Uh to item number one

1:46:12So that council request that the dgba works with city staff to determine

1:46:17operationally

1:46:19feasible

1:46:20transit

1:46:21And or parking mitigation and the rest is the same. So it's just the addition of transit and or

1:46:27Parking mitigation when I look at the mitigation plan for downtown for wealth transit

1:46:34It just it says to keep buses running well during downtown construction. So there's no added incentive

1:46:40No redirection from cars to transit

1:46:44And and I agree with the delegate that I think if we can

1:46:50Influence some behavior now. There are some longer term down the road benefits, especially we know that

1:46:57downtown corridors parking

1:47:00You know the the development that's happening is with reduced parking and so on. So let's let's

1:47:06Allow the dgba and and city staff to have a conversation on what is in the basket of options. So that is um

1:47:14the

1:47:15Amendment that I've put forward and I do have a seconder in councillor uh, kate

1:47:20Okay, councillor kate. Great. Okay. So uh, first we have so on the amendment first

1:47:27Is there any

1:47:28Comment or questions about the amendment adding transit?

1:47:32Okay seeing none. I'll just go right to that question then is anyone opposed

1:47:37Nope that carries then okay. So for the the rest of the motions and I have councillor garland or councillor Allt

1:47:45Uh, thank you. I think I've got three in and three you chair downer

1:47:50um

1:47:51Regarding the the the wording that we acknowledge that there may be other mitigations that do not happen unless we put additional budgets

1:47:58Could I ask for staff? What are those mitigations or?

1:48:02Is it something specific that we know that we don't want to have the money to do or is it just in general a year from now?

1:48:08We may not have money available

1:48:11With regards to the if we put that 25 000 towards the parking what do we not get to do?

1:48:17down the road

1:48:20Through the through the chair to councillor Goller. So certainly right now what I could say is the construction

1:48:24mitigation budget for the downtown

1:48:26Renewal work is fully allocated

1:48:29And so there's a number of tactics within that councillor Goller and they have a range in terms of the order of magnitude of cost

1:48:35and so if if council were to

1:48:38Allocate some of these funds towards the motion that councillor

1:48:42Classin has put forth a staffer going to have to go back and take a look at that list and make that determination

1:48:47It could be things like way finding it could be things like signage. It's going to have to fit within the funding envelope

1:48:53Whereas some of the you know special events and things like that

1:48:56We might have larger funds set aside to support some of those items

1:48:59And so it'll probably be some of those more

1:49:01Day-to-day more operational items. Okay. Okay. I appreciate that and I appreciate that there's flexibility with those

1:49:07And to the mover if I could just have a confirmation because you are on the dgba

1:49:14Could you confirm that there will be no new dgba levy for the downtown that they already have enough money in a fund set aside for that 25,000?

1:49:26Yes, they do there is a reserve and so

1:49:30My intention is to suggest that we use that

1:49:33As as the funding source so no new no new levy no additional

1:49:39percentages

1:49:40Thank you for that. I just for for the members of the public. They did not make it in time but

1:49:46The chair of the dgba did send council an email earlier. I think it was yesterday

1:49:51Confirming that they are in support of this

1:49:54Motion and that they welcome it

1:49:56Thank you chair

1:49:58Thank you. Okay, councillor Allt

1:50:01Thank you very much chair downer. Uh, first of all through you to the mover and then I have some questions of staff as well

1:50:07um

1:50:08with regards to

1:50:11The the phrase and I'll ask staff the same question

1:50:15operationally feasible. What do we mean by that?

1:50:18It's it's it's a bit of a tongue twister for me

1:50:21Thank thank you through you chair

1:50:24To councillor Allt. I think that it's likely in response to a previous motion that I put forward because

1:50:31It did ask, uh, it was I did some a different type of calculation which was based on hours

1:50:38Um, which would have been and and using the honk

1:50:41App and it would have just been a little bit more complicated

1:50:44So what staff asked me and they provided this wording so you could have confirmed it with them as well

1:50:49But um, I my understanding is that by having the flexibility

1:50:54They're able to uh put put the the funds where it is going to best serve

1:51:01the downtown

1:51:03Okay, thank you. Um, the next one is is that

1:51:07It's probably because it's been a long meeting so far

1:51:10uh clause number two

1:51:12um

1:51:14Is causing me concern because i'm not exactly certain

1:51:18Precisely what it means and I was wondering if you could clarify that for me, please

1:51:25Number two is with is the um that we we acknowledge that one

1:51:30Yes, I would I would ask staff to speak to that one because that was that was provided. Um, I think it just

1:51:38Okay, from my understanding

1:51:40It it is it is what it is. I mean, I think that my understanding and that I was I was as as

1:51:48councillor Goller was asking

1:51:50Mr. Gaiman about

1:51:53The allocation of the mitigation funds

1:51:56It's allocated but not spent so there is flexibility there

1:52:00So I think by acknowledging we acknowledge that it's a finite budget

1:52:05That so if something comes up later on down the road

1:52:08That we're not going to be blindsided or the future council won't be blindsided by the fact that we took this 25 000 and we allocated it elsewhere

1:52:15At this time we we prioritized it for an earlier part of the construction

1:52:20Okay, thank you that actually helps a lot

1:52:23But what it does is it it lays out for me the law of unintended consequences might be at work here as well

1:52:29Which is which is a concern? Um, uh before I go to staff

1:52:34a councillor downer at this point unless

1:52:37Unless I'm satisfied with the answers I would ask that these be separated out, please

1:52:42I might be supporting some and not others

1:52:44Um, uh through you to staff

1:52:47uh staff, uh with

1:52:50With regards to the current mitigation the statement was made that this is fully allocated at the present time

1:52:57What uh, what will be the consequence if we

1:53:01Remove funds from that can we get some specific examples?

1:53:07So through the chair to councillor also similar to to my response to councillor Goller

1:53:11We've we've got the the mitigation funds

1:53:15Allocated to a number of different tactics and so

1:53:18Depending on the order of magnitude and cost here so for 25 000 there's a number of tactics that could be

1:53:24Impacted so I suggest things like wayfinding things like signage

1:53:28We do have funds set aside for other larger tactics things like how do we reopen construction areas for temporary

1:53:35Periods of time to support special events. You think by centennial you think memorial cup things like that

1:53:40Um, we have funds set aside for things like marketing strategies

1:53:43So those types of funds wouldn't be impacted it would be more of those day to day operational things

1:53:47I think the things that people would look and feel the only other comment I may make

1:53:52With respect to the construction mitigation funds is to remind council though that there is about 200 000 right now towards

1:53:59Parking as part of that construction mitigation fund and that's with respect to the macdenal law in the two-hour free parking there

1:54:05So we're looking from from the city's perspective at about a 7 percent

1:54:10Potential increase in this if these resolutions were to pass

1:54:14Would that be accurate

1:54:16Through the chair to the council outside

1:54:18I don't have the numbers in that in that way

1:54:19But what I could say is if the funds weren't replaced in the future and I think that's part of

1:54:24Sort of what councillor Klassen is after there if those if those funds weren't replaced in a future

1:54:29Budget then we would have no choice

1:54:30But to simply just reduce the tactics that are implemented in terms of you know, how we're supporting

1:54:35Downtown and businesses through the mitigation

1:54:38Is there there any cautions that you can give us on that at this point or

1:54:43Is it will it just come to rise as they come about?

1:54:48So through the chair to to council out, I think from from a construction perspective

1:54:52You know, we understand that downtown is is impacted by this construction

1:54:56You've heard folks speak in terms of the the time duration. This is going to be a long time

1:55:01We're at the beginning of construction now and so

1:55:04You know, there's economic uncertainty out there

1:55:06We do support ideas to help you know drive people towards downtown help

1:55:10Those downtown businesses and help them thrive and certainly we would you know

1:55:15Continue to want to get the message out to the general public

1:55:17You know shop local and come downtown and support those businesses

1:55:21But there is only so much we can do with the funds that we do have and again, I'll I'll just note that

1:55:26Council has already put some funding towards parking

1:55:28Um

1:55:29DCl clock push may want to comment on just you know, how much of an impact the 25 000 plus 25 000 from dgba actually

1:55:38provides in terms of parking

1:55:40And perhaps for busing as well

1:55:43Sure, so through the chair to council all perhaps I can cover a few of the things that you've asked so

1:55:48I mean as as uh, mr.

1:55:49Gaiman has said of course we recognize that the impact this is having on the businesses and we want to encourage people to come

1:55:54Downtown and support our businesses

1:55:57Any time, you know, I will say philosophically free parking or transit is not something that typically staff are recommending as as

1:56:06As good practice because those things do have value and we want to make sure that we're reflecting that value back to the community

1:56:13um, and so I think

1:56:15That you know 25 000 plus 25 000 that's another 50

1:56:20It's it it it may make a dent

1:56:22But we're also very conscious of not putting a tactic in place that has unintended consequences

1:56:28We want to make sure that whatever we do drives people downtown to spend money

1:56:32That's where we so when we use the phrase operationally feasible

1:56:36We want to make sure that we work with the dgba to figure out how this can be allocated in a way to make sure

1:56:42It's getting in the hands of the people who are coming downtown to

1:56:45To frequent our downtown businesses

1:56:48And so we asked councillor Klassen for that flexibility the words operationally feasible. We're quite intentional

1:56:55And i'll use transit as an example we can't

1:56:59We can't mandate who gets on a bus and where they go

1:57:02And so we're going to need to figure out how do we incent people to come downtown on transit in a way that makes sure

1:57:08They're coming downtown because we we we can't police when people get on a bus to say well

1:57:13Where are you getting off if you're not getting off downtown you can't use this free voucher

1:57:17So we're going to need to work with the dgba

1:57:19Likewise on the parking we want to make sure I mean one of the reasons that we we have

1:57:25Measures in places we want to encourage turnover of parking spots downtown

1:57:29We want people to come downtown shop eat and then leave the parking spot for someone else

1:57:34So we're going to need to work with the dgba

1:57:37Part of it comes down to the technology that's available to us through our

1:57:41Parking app through the honk app as well as our pay stations as well as our transit apps

1:57:46We're going to need to figure out how to do this operationally feasible in conjunction with the dgba that enables them to have their businesses

1:57:53Giving out the vouchers or the coupons in a way that makes sure

1:57:57That they're getting in the hands of the people who are going to come downtown and actually benefit the downtown businesses

1:58:02So we asked for that freedom and that flexibility so that we can go away

1:58:06Also are grateful that it's an and or for transit and parking because we need to go away and have conversations with the dgba to figure out how best

1:58:14to navigate this

1:58:18With regards to that you made mention of support for customers and I guess that's where the operationally feasible comes in

1:58:26Is is there a subtext that you're concerned about others?

1:58:29Actually taking advantage of this is is that what i'm hearing

1:58:33Through the chair, I don't I don't want to sort of make that assumption without talking to the dgba

1:58:37But if I understand the intention behind this it's to support people coming downtown

1:58:42And and supporting the downtown businesses. So I think whatever our tactic is that we use

1:58:47We want to work with the dgba to make sure that it's done in a way that is most beneficial to

1:58:52Getting customers into their businesses

1:58:56I think finally the last question and I don't know to whom to ask it. So i'm just going to ask it to any one of you for

1:59:01um

1:59:03Because I'm downtown pretty well every day

1:59:05Either biking or driving my car. I don't see a whole lot of capacity

1:59:11For extra parking. I was wondering if anybody could comment on that

1:59:15It strikes me that parking is going to be quite a distance from downtown in many cases

1:59:21Uh through the chet of councillor Allt I would say uh, and I'll look back to mr. Godfrey

1:59:26But I think the market square park aid generally has vacancy almost every day

1:59:30And it really is not that far

1:59:32And so I would actually say there's lots of parking available downtown

1:59:35There'll be even more coming online when the the library opens

1:59:40in a few

1:59:41Early next year. I was going to say a few months

1:59:45But certainly the market square park aid has available parking pretty much every day. So there is

1:59:51Part of it is also just encouraging people

1:59:55To maybe change their patterns. It might be another block that they need to walk

1:59:59But we we do have despite the construction there is availability of parking in the downtown core

2:00:04So last point and so what I'm hearing you say there

2:00:08The subtext is directing people into market square and ultimately into library parking as alternatives

2:00:15That either weren't there before or were not palatable to some

2:00:20Through the chair. Absolutely. We recognize that on street parking is difficult through the construction period the market square park aid

2:00:26The east and the west park aid. Those are all great options for people

2:00:31And and are really

2:00:32It's really not that far and the in kudos to the team who's done incredible work on the way finding signage and helping

2:00:38Pedestrians navigate their way through downtown. So we just need to make sure we keep encouraging people to come down and use those options

2:00:45Thank you very very much and chair down. I don't think I need them separated

2:00:50Great. Thank you. Okay. Mayor Guthrie

2:00:53And then thank you. Thank you madam chair through you

2:00:56Um, I just want to really clarify this with uh through you to potentially Terry maybe

2:01:03The mitigation budget was a two-year

2:01:07budget of approximately a million dollars

2:01:11And if we decide

2:01:14to use 25 000 today out of that already

2:01:18existing budget

2:01:21and

2:01:22councillor claustin's fourth motion

2:01:26Of having that replenished

2:01:29For the new mayor and council to determine

2:01:32It really would actually mean

2:01:35That it's a wash

2:01:37in other words any

2:01:41Any funds that are being

2:01:45questioned about not going to this or not going to that

2:01:50Um

2:01:51Would be replenished within about six months

2:01:56If it was already a two-year budget

2:02:00and the and the the

2:02:03mitigation budget was to go out over a two-year span

2:02:07If using 25 000 now and then replenished in february next year

2:02:13It the budget kind of remains whole if that scenario works out as I described it, correct

2:02:21Through the chair to the to the mayor. So I think sort of fundamentally you may be on on the right track there

2:02:26My only caution would just be with respect to

2:02:29If the funds are moved now and so there is a bit of a lag in terms of time

2:02:33There just may be some tactics where you know, we may have gone to implement them sooner

2:02:38We may have to delay them or if those budget if that budget isn't

2:02:42impacted

2:02:43Sorry, isn't replenished in the future. Then maybe some of those tactics don't get delivered. I'll give you an example

2:02:49So, you know business delivery access plans. So as we move further through the staging, you know, we have funds set aside to help support business

2:02:57You know deliveries. So maybe maybe that's the topic that we have to remove some funds from on a temporary basis

2:03:03while we await that replenishment and then if the replenishment doesn't come perhaps

2:03:07An opportunity lost there. So there's just those kinds of things that we would have to work through

2:03:11If council moves this direction. So

2:03:14That's that's sort of the spirit of just the acknowledgement that there there are some risks to the tactics being executed

2:03:20If funds are temporarily or or permanently diverted to something else

2:03:24so

2:03:26Terry if you don't mind me just

2:03:28Restating my question

2:03:29If you have a million dollar budget over a two-year span

2:03:34So what you've just described is making it sound like you're using the entire one million dollars this year

2:03:41You're saying that it wouldn't be

2:03:44Reestablished next year

2:03:46In other words, you'd be out like how how how can you say there might be things that are not implemented?

2:03:52If you're not if it's a two-year one million dollar budget

2:03:56Yeah, so through the church to the mayor. So again, so the the million dollar budget is fully allocated to tactics right now

2:04:04So all I'm suggesting that is that if if funds are diverted towards this additional

2:04:09parking then we have to

2:04:12Reduce twenty five thousand dollars of tactics

2:04:14elsewhere so simply that if

2:04:17If the funds are diverted now if they don't get replaced then there is that risk

2:04:21And again because there's a period of time in there there may be some shuffling in terms of tactics and the timing in which we were going to do

2:04:28Certain things but staff have to go back and do that analysis if this were something that council

2:04:34moves forward with

2:04:37Okay, okay

2:04:39And then finally can you please make sure that it stated out loud?

2:04:43That the mat tax is not paid for by businesses and or properties in the downtown

2:04:51The mat tax is paid for by 99.9% visitors

2:04:57To the city that then pay their three four percent

2:05:02On their hotel and or Airbnb stays

2:05:06If businesses in the downtown or property owners in the downtown are not paying

2:05:12An extra levy. I think that needs to be stated because I believe that the delegate was

2:05:17In my view saying something wrong. I don't want hanging out there in the public because I think that needs to be

2:05:24Restated can I please have staff just make sure that that's stated properly?

2:05:30Yes, so can staff just confirm what the yeah through the through the chair to the mayor

2:05:34No, you're correct in that the mat tax is ultimately paid by the guests or the visitors staying in the accommodations

2:05:41Great. Thank you. Do you mind if I just do a little comment right now and then I'm just done

2:05:46Madam chair, okay

2:05:48Thank you. I'm going to support this

2:05:50Um, I do not believe the entire one million dollars of the mitigation budget is going to be used by

2:05:56February whatever of next year. I am hopeful as a citizen watching from afar

2:06:03That council would maybe see the uh

2:06:06The benefit of of this move now to then consider replenishing

2:06:12Next year

2:06:13Maybe even the dgba could help with that next year. So there's an option option there that doesn't have any tax implications at all

2:06:21Um, so I would like to have this uh voted on I have spoken to many businesses downtown

2:06:29And it is the number one

2:06:32Issue and I'm just going to say it out loud because I'm blunt. It's not transit

2:06:36It's parking people might want to say it's transit and I get it. Hey, I supported the and or so that that's a great idea

2:06:44I don't mind that at all to be flushed out, but I'm telling you right now

2:06:48Every single business I go to isn't saying gee. I wish I had more transit opportunities in the downtown

2:06:53They their customers either aren't coming or the narrative of the downtown right now is because of

2:07:01Harking issues. So I am fully supportive of this. Thank you councillor quassan for bringing it forward

2:07:08And I'm hoping that this can be supported

2:07:11During this rough time within

2:07:14With it with the partnership of the dgba. So thank you very much

2:07:18Hey, thank you. Uh councillor capen

2:07:21Thank you. Surrey madam chair, uh, my question first is to staff

2:07:27Um, have we spent any money on mitigation for other construction?

2:07:31projects like for york road or for the businesses just on the east side of the speed veal bridge

2:07:40through the chair to to councillor Caton it's

2:07:43maybe slightly different with respect to other

2:07:46Um construction projects outside the downtown area in the sense that cap the that council approved a specific construction mitigation budget

2:07:53Through this downtown infrastructure renewal program and so staff are allocating those funds in this ways

2:07:58But on any project, you know, we would certainly see to do certain things like keep access is open to businesses

2:08:03Sometimes we put certain types of signage up. So there has been sort of maybe on the more minor scale

2:08:10Tactics put in place on different projects. So hopefully that answers your question

2:08:15It does. Thank you. Um in terms of percentage wise, how far along are we in terms of completion?

2:08:25through the chair to councillor Caton with respect to

2:08:29Um construction of windom street

2:08:31So that's approximately a two-year project and we're in month

2:08:35Roughly three right now of that project. So still in the early stages

2:08:38Um first sort of quarter of the project in terms of downtown renewal overall, you know, I think you we have the better part of a decade or so

2:08:46still to go

2:08:48okay, and

2:08:50Was the mitigation budget only meant to last for the two years or is it supposed to be for the full duration?

2:09:02So through the uh through the chair to councillor Caton

2:09:10I think I need a moment to just confirm the answer to that question

2:09:14My recollection is that it is just for the windom piece. But if you can just give me a moment, I'll I'll need to get back to

2:09:21Okay, I have a question for the mover

2:09:23So

2:09:24We'll do that in the meantime

2:09:26um

2:09:28Do you know if the the dgba has employee sponsored bus passes like some of the other businesses across the handlin

2:09:36Does I'm just thinking in terms of when we're talking about like having a quick turnover of cars in the parking lot

2:09:41I imagine that it's very hard for employees to kind of park

2:09:45In these circumstances. So I'm just wondering if that's something that the dgba does

2:09:53Through the chair to the councillor

2:09:55I don't believe that is a strategy that is taken by the dgba

2:10:00But may I ask a point of clarification?

2:10:02So do the businesses sponsor the bus passes or is it another is it the vi?

2:10:08Is there like another is like the city that?

2:10:11Sponsors is that I'm just wondering the

2:10:14clarity there

2:10:16My understanding is there like like we have with the universities and with the new conastoga

2:10:21That they're kind of like you get a bulk discount sort of thing

2:10:23And so I'm just wondering if maybe the the dgba

2:10:27Had something for all of the businesses who are down there

2:10:31And their staff to get kind of like a bulk discount on bus passes

2:10:36Um, that is not my understanding

2:10:39At this time, but it might be a good question to bring out to a future meeting

2:10:45Okay, don't know if I gave staff enough time

2:10:49Through the chair to council, okay, and yeah, I can confirm that that's just for windham street. Okay

2:10:56um

2:10:59So I I believe in supporting the mitigation for downtown. I think that's why I voted for it in the first place

2:11:06um

2:11:07I would like to have the the final motion or yeah the final motion kind of separate it out because I'm I'm not opposed to

2:11:14Like if this is what the dgba wants this budget for I you know

2:11:18I believe in supporting what their wishes are because that's what it's meant for it's meant to help the dgba and the businesses that are in the

2:11:24Downtown

2:11:25But I do think that it should be a finite budget so that it's not a continual top up on taxes

2:11:31um

2:11:32And you know, we've got the million dollars and and we've got two years for it

2:11:36So if if you use it all within a certain amount of time

2:11:40Then it's then it's gone

2:11:41But I do think that it's a good motion and if this is what the dgba

2:11:44I know I would db the dgba wants a long meeting

2:11:49And I'm happy to support the first three in the list

2:11:55Okay, are there any other questions or comments?

2:11:58councillor curran

2:12:01Yeah, no questions just a comment

2:12:03I am going to be supporting the motion because I do think behavior

2:12:07Is established in year one and although I recognize that the the fund is is for an extended period of time

2:12:13If we can get people downtown in year one

2:12:16That will establish. Hey, that wasn't so bad. This is doable. I was able to find parking. I'm going to go back again

2:12:22So I think uh, you know, it'll be good to see how this rolls out and um, collecting

2:12:29Data is really important to being able to add it to a future budget

2:12:34Or increase any amounts towards towards uh parking for downtown businesses. We need to collect the data as well

2:12:41Okay, thank you. So I'm going to go to the question now

2:12:45And we're going to do one two three

2:12:47Is anyone opposed

2:12:51seeing none those three carry number four

2:12:54is

2:12:56Can you put four back up on the screen please?

2:13:00It's a one about the future mirrors

2:13:05Okay, number four is back up on the screen

2:13:08Is anyone opposed to number four?

2:13:17Okay, councillor caton is opposed to number four

2:13:20Okay, and so that passes so thank you. Okay

2:13:24We're moving on

2:13:27And now the advancing energy equity in Guelph and we have one delegation a morgan dandy and the recommendation

2:13:35in front of us

2:13:37Just a reminder to council that this was fully discussed at earlier committee the whole meeting

2:13:57Along with the next one as well

2:14:00We're gonna you there

2:14:06Yes, it has just finally cycled through thank you so much

2:14:12I am so pleased that I was able to be part of

2:14:18the community engagement

2:14:20for the energy equity

2:14:23Since the time that this was presented to council I have become aware of some corporate landlords that

2:14:31have sent out

2:14:33essentially contracts

2:14:36to the residents of their buildings

2:14:39And these individuals pay their own electricity

2:14:42So this particular corporate landlord that I will not name

2:14:47has sent out

2:14:51Contracts

2:14:52demanding to know how many air conditioning units residents plan on using

2:15:00And stating that

2:15:02For each unit they've got to pay x number of dollars per month or a flat

2:15:09over the summer

2:15:10Which essentially amounts to

2:15:13an above guideline rent increase

2:15:17The one that I saw was a hundred and seventy dollars for the summer or fifty dollars per unit per month

2:15:26And these are people that already pay their own electricity

2:15:30So why the landlord is doing this? I really don't understand

2:15:37But

2:15:38It's just another example of how energy

2:15:43costs most especially