Thomas Hunter be appointed to The Elliott Community Board of Trustees for a 3-year term ending October 29, 2027…

2:52:2815 minutes or so to start our open session. I will quickly go through the closed summary as I do.

2:52:40So bear with me because there was a lot that we discussed in camera tonight. So in regards to

2:52:47the first one, which was October 2024 public appointments for the Elliott Community Board of

2:52:52Trustees, we do have a motion that's coming out of closed session on that. So let me just ask

2:52:58for that to be thrown up on the screen. And we can look to consider that. So that Thomas Hunter be

2:53:09appointed to the Elliott Community Board of Trustees for a three-year term ending October 29th,

2:53:132027 or until such time as a successor is appointed. Councillor Downer and O'Rourke will move in second

2:53:23that and anything further on that? Don't hear anything. I'll call a vote. Is anyone against that

2:53:29appointment? Nobody? That's unanimous. So welcome to you. Thank you for your interest in the Elliott.

2:53:37We appreciate that. The second one was bill 185 interpretation and there was no direction on that

2:53:45at all. Council just received some information about that item. For the third one, which is 1242,

2:53:521270 Gordon Street and 9 Valley Road, Ontario Land Tribunal update, Council did receive some

2:53:59information and we did give direction to staff on that item. And on the next one was 785

2:54:09Gordon Street, again Ontario Land Tribunal update. And again, Council did receive information from

2:54:17our legal staff in regards to that and direction was given to staff on that matter.

2:54:24The next one was an expression of interest with the address of 170 Stephanie Drive.

2:54:32We received information from staff on that item and direction was actually given to staff as well.

2:54:40On the second last one, which is the amalgamated transit union or ATU bargaining update,

2:54:46Council received information on that item and no direction was given to staff on that.

2:54:56And the last one was on the public space use bylaw update. Council received legal advice

2:55:04on that issue for that update and no direction was given from Council on that matter.

2:55:13But I am going to take this opportunity at this moment to just read a statement in regards

2:55:21to that issue. So just give me a moment here. So here we go. I want to just take this opportunity

2:55:28to acknowledge the many emails Councils received regarding the public space use bylaw

2:55:36and to respond to a common theme. The vast majority of emails we've received are from residents

2:55:44who actually support the bylaw but are actually worried it doesn't go far enough to protect

2:55:52certain areas that are important to them personally. For example, people are concerned

2:55:58about potential encampments near schools or in parks where kids are walking to school

2:56:06or parks that are even used for school activities. I want people to understand that Council hears you

2:56:15and we understand those concerns and that's why Council supported the bylaw. The bylaw gives us

2:56:23the tools to respond to encampments in areas where they're not safe or appropriate for them to be.

2:56:32However, there seems to be some confusion about the scope and the application of the bylaw.

2:56:41As a reminder, the map was only intended to be a high level visual tool to show examples

2:56:52of where the bylaw applies. Let me be clear. The map is not part of the bylaw

2:57:03and the map is not going to be used for enforcement purposes. When residents reach out to me and to

2:57:12other members of Council asking about specific locations, I don't think it's widely understood

2:57:21that we don't need to add specific areas to one of the schedules contained in the bylaw

2:57:28in order for it to constitute what's considered a sensitive public space or a designated area.

2:57:39For example, if you read the definition of sensitive public space, it goes from general

2:57:49down to specific. So at the broadest level, sensitive public space means

2:57:56areas intended for a sensitive public recreational or personal use. The definition then goes on to

2:58:06provide examples including areas intended for use by children or pets or for the mobility of the public

2:58:16or with heightened safety requirements or attracting a heightened expectation of quiet use

2:58:24and enjoyment. Then the bylaw drills down even further to give specific examples including

2:58:33but not limited to playgrounds, water parks, splash pads, fenced off leash dog parks, trails,

2:58:42accessibility routes, entrances, exits, municipal cemeteries, community gardens and fountains.

2:58:50And the definitions are based on the public nature of those spaces that we are protecting.

2:58:58So where the public use of that space is more sensitive, more restrictive regulations apply

2:59:07to repeat for some emphasis here. A sensitive public space is any area intended for a sensitive

2:59:18public recreational or personal use including areas intended for use by children, pets or for

2:59:30the mobility of the public. So I think the bylaw as written gives us the tools to address the

2:59:40concerns we're all hearing. We don't need to designate every space and it would be impossible

2:59:49to anticipate every hypothetical scenario. So if you encounter a structure in any area, you don't

3:00:00consider safe or appropriate. Please reach out to bylaw compliance and provide them with that

3:00:08information right away. Designating too many areas or expanding protective buffers out of fear

3:00:18or personal preference is a slippery slope and we don't need to go down that slope in order to

3:00:26achieve the purpose of the bylaw which is the safe use and enjoyment of all of our public spaces.

3:00:37So thank you very much for allowing me to read that in regards to that matter and with that

3:00:44we will now move on into the open session of our agenda. So to kick things off right away,