City Council · April 23, 2025 · Item 6.1
Private Tree Protection By-law be amended such that the definition of a Regulated Tree includes any tree greater than 10 centimetres in diameter at breast height…
Amendment under the agenda item Private Tree Protection By-law Update, 2025-25
Defeated (3 to 8)
3 in favour, 8 against
This was one of 6 motions on the same item
In the order council took them. A vote makes sense next to the ones around it.
- 1/6Vote on the amended motionEndorse the proposed updates to the Private Tree Protection By-law (“Private Tree By-law” or “By-law”), as attached to report 2025-25 as amended…Differs here: …Private Tree By-law takes effect.no recorded vote
- 2/6AmendmentPrivate Tree Protection By-law be amended such that the definition of a Regulated Tree includes any tree greater than 10 centimetres in diameter at breast height…Differs here: …on all other private lots. That City staff be directed to review the effectiveness and operational impacts of the amended bylaw over a two-year period and provide an information report to Council no later than Q3 2027. This report shall include a summary of permit volumes, service delivery impacts, and compliance issues; a review of canopy outcomes and private property concerns; and recommendations on whether to revise the DBH thresholds based on operational evidence and community feedback.no recorded vote
- 3/6AmendmentPrivate Tree Protection By-law be amended such that the definition of a Regulated Tree includes any tree greater than 10 centimetres in diameter at breast height…you are hereDiffers here: …on all other private lots.Defeated (3 to 8)
- 4/6Main motionCity staff be directed to review the effectiveness and operational impacts of the amended bylaw over a two-year period and provide an information report to Council no later than Q3 2027. This report shall include a summary of permit volumes, service delivery impacts, and compliance issues; a review…Carried (11 to 0)
- 5/6Vote on the amended motionEndorse the proposed updates to the Private Tree Protection By-law (“Private Tree By-law” or “By-law”), as attached to report 2025-25 as amended…Differs here: …Private Tree By-law takes effect. That City staff be directed to review the effectiveness and operational impacts of the amended bylaw over a two-year period and provide an information report to Council no later than Q3 2027. This report shall include a summary of permit volumes, service delivery impacts, and compliance issues; a review of canopy outcomes and private property concerns; and recommendations on whether to revise the DBH thresholds based on operational evidence and community feedback.Carried (7 to 4)
- 6/6Main motionStaff report back on a canopy conservation plan in the short term in the updated Urban Forest Management Plan. That a memo be included in the…Carried (11 to 0)
What was voted on
The motion in its exact words, as recorded in the minutes.
That the Private Tree Protection By-law be amended such that the definition of a Regulated Tree includes any tree greater than 10 centimetres in diameter at breast height (DBH) on private lots greater than 0.2 hectares, and any tree greater than 40 centimetres DBH on all other private lots.
Moved by Councillor Chew, seconded by Councillor Gibson.
How the room voted
In favour (3)
- Chew
- Gibson
- Guthrie
Against (8)
- Allt
- Billings
- Busuttil
- Caron
- Caton
- Downer
- Goller
- Richardson
Who spoke to it
The following delegate spoke: Jonathan Harris
What council was given
The staff reports and correspondence attached to this item. The summaries are written automatically, so you can tell what a document is without opening a ninety-page PDF.
- Private Tree Protection By-law Update - 2025-25.pdf
Council is asked to endorse an updated private tree protection by-law, repeal the 2010 version, place the new by-law for final adoption on April 23, 2025, and add related permit fees to the user fees by-law. More than two-thirds of Guelph's tree canopy grows on private land, and the update could bring roughly another 10 per cent of canopy under regulation. Staff note the by-law would need extra resources and public education to work fully.
- Attachment-1 Proposed Updated Private Tree Protection By-law (2025)-21059.pdf
- Attachment-2 Key Directions Report.pdf
- Attachment-3 Presentation - Private Tree Protection By-law Review and Update.pdf
- Attachment-4 Phase 2 Engagement Summary.pdf
- Attachment-5 Current Private Tree Protection By-law 2010-19058.pdf
- Correspondence - John Lawson, OUNRA.pdf
- Correspondence - Gina Lammel, Seniors for Climate Action NOW.pdf
A summary is this site’s description of a document, not the City’s. Open the document before relying on one.
What was said
10,453 words from the meeting recording, transcribed automatically. Times are from the start of the recording.
Read the debate(click to open)
19:03Okay
19:05We are now moving into the items for discussion and the first one is the private tree
19:10protection bylaw update
19:12And only one delegation jonathan harris is here
19:16in uh in person jonathan come on down
19:28And thank you very much for joining us
19:31And uh
19:33So you have five up to five minutes if you need it you'll hear a chime in the room at the four minutes thirty second mark
19:40Uh, and that's like a warning that you only have 30 seconds left
19:45And then the microphone is turned off at five minutes
19:47So so don't don't let it get there and then after you're done if there's any questions
19:51Just hang around in case myself or my colleagues have any questions for you. Okay other than that the timer starts right now and go right ahead
19:57Well, good evening everyone. Thank you very much for including me inviting me in today's discussion
20:02My name is jonathan harris. I am isa certified arborist with a variety of credentials
20:07That work with the ministry of natural resources and forestry's and multiple municipalities from winsor to laxamol jacob jordan kebek
20:16First of all, I would like to take the time to thank the city for having me here as well as to me a filer lea lefler and the committee that
20:23Is proposing updating this outdated tree bylaw
20:27It's something that's passed over due in my opinion and I wholeheartedly agree that our trees need
20:32Further protection to reach a certain canopy size and goal
20:36The original recommendation for the protection of trees up to 50 centimeters by
20:41To me as said at the previous meeting to me made
20:44Justification and made sense
20:47Where I think the bylaw change falters is in two areas and I'll describe them here
20:53I think that regulating the trees
20:5630 centimeters and up as I saw in last meeting
20:59um in the bylaw
21:01What we saw in guelph's private tree protection key issues options report on january 24th
21:07Page six it states that most of guelph's trees are relatively small and under 30 centimeters
21:13What that means is that according to the graph on page six 93 percent of the trees aren't even covered
21:19That's only seven percent that you're looking at covering
21:22Of course, it doesn't include newly planted trees as well as it also does not include
21:28um
21:31Trees that homeowners are planting and that are you're unaware of
21:34um
21:37However, there's a way I believe to make this uh money stretch further is if if you stuck to the original 50 centimeter
21:45bylaw the recommendation by
21:48To me up. I think that there's a critical oversight that we haven't even looked at here
21:52Where is the tree canopy conservation program?
21:55There is nowhere in the bylaw or the recommendations did I that I saw correct me if I'm wrong
22:01Do I see anywhere in a conservation program that is going to?
22:05Help the community and help the people see the vision of getting trees planted on private property and increasing the canopy size
22:14uh
22:15It is important with this goal
22:17Like the city of london has to defer the removal of large trees
22:22To the latest aid possible while allowing for secession planning to catch up
22:26A program like this is an incentive base that offers
22:30rebates to property owners to help them care for trees on their properties. We are seeing this in many modern
22:36municipalities oakville berlington
22:41Uh ramped in london water lou is looking at doing this as well and this is something that's not even touched uh from what I see
22:48This would help people
22:50understand about the programs
22:52That include types of indicated
22:54Integrated pest management
22:55Cabling bracing and fertilizing programs that help benefit and get these small trees to a larger size that then can be covered by the tree bylaw
23:07I believe the amount of money spent changing the regulated trees from 50 down to 30 cent every tree's could be used for these rebates or better allocated
23:14That's simply put that this expenditure is missing
23:19active engagement with the community
23:22We all know the trees are facing many struggles including the diseases and insects that are listed on the city of guelph's website
23:28This is evident from widespread destruction of the ash trees due to the emerald ash borer which the guelph was greatly impacted
23:34Guelph's canopy, I believe was in and around the 32 percent or 33 percent
23:40before uh, the emerald ash borer struck in 2003 in michigan
23:44And now from what I believe in the reports, uh given to us your canopy is only at 26 percent
23:49It is not the private homeowner that's removing these trees
23:52It was a large devastation and without the private homeowner coming in and helping the city reach the initiatives
23:59I don't believe
24:01That the compensation in lew
24:03Will be help plant trees on private property
24:08If guelph had such a program in place before the devastation took place with the emerald ash borer might have saved thousands more trees
24:16There are several diseases and insects that are making the way here that will greatly impact our trees
24:20And if the people can't afford to maintain and keep their trees healthy
24:24They will simply fall under the exemption
24:27Of the bylaw
24:28And have to be removed anyway
24:31The rebate program, uh is a great program and I hope you would consider it
24:35From viewing the public comments and concerns online. There's a bit of distrust for what the city is reaching into
24:41The private bylaw and taking conservation over these regulated trees. I believe that if you include
24:47a preservation plan and a canopy conservation program that you would further
24:53Rout the reach get the outreach and the community would see this more as a tree bylaw
24:58Not just the opportunity
25:07Thank you. I could tell you on your last sentence. So good timing. Thank you
25:11Thank you very much for your delegation. Is there any questions at all for the delegate at this time?
25:16Okay, councillor gore
25:18Thank you and through your worship. Thank you so much for your presentation. Miss Harris
25:22Could you tell me what would this preservation plan or or the the conservation program look like?
25:29You mentioned that there was one in the city of london, but you know this bylaw is before us
25:33So we have to make a vote. I don't have time to go on and look up
25:36Will you be able to tell us a little bit of like specifically what you would ask the city to do?
25:40Yes, so this uh, so generally money taken in the budget by cash and lou from
25:45Uh, healthy trees that are being removed could then be used towards the canopy conservation program
25:53or money that was supposed to be used from the
25:55Uh increase in going from 50 to 30 centimeters
25:59could be used towards
26:02Generous rebates so rebates could be some cities have 250 dollars. Some cities have a thousand dollars
26:08that would be up to to me and the
26:11people who did the report to do
26:14A cost analysis basis, but this level of education in our long term residents is going to build
26:21Uh preservation on top of that they would be able to get data
26:24From the individual homeowner and what trees are there?
26:27What's uh, what's coming and how to protect us from things like oak wilt?
26:32Uh for the beach bark disease and from other pathogens like
26:35Nectaria canker and fungus that are coming and destroying our canopies
26:39As well as the poor soil content of gualf. I mean I really could go on but
26:42I'll probably stop there. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you worship
26:47Thank you and councillor Chew as well, please
26:50Thank you. Thank you, mr. Mayor. Thank you for your delegation
26:53So I just want to get it straight. You're an arborist
26:56And you're telling us that if we go to 30 right away before we have this program and it's by-law
27:03Put into place. It may it's just too fast. I think it's too fast. It creates public
27:09Uh distrust as well as it's going to stop the the public from planting trees on private by-law because they're going to say
27:16Well, I why am I going to do this if my trees don't mind you have to ease into it a bit
27:20You have to create awareness
27:21You also have to show them that you're not just doing this as a punishment to them for cash and lube because that's what a lot of
27:29the public do see
27:31okay, and another question so
27:34The whole reason why we're having this conversation to begin with is because
27:38Uh, there's a rat. There's an argument out there that if we
27:42Uh increase the threshold across the city, it'll cover more of the canopy
27:52So we have less
27:54individual homeowners and landowners that are that would be covered under this by-law
28:00How would we go? How would someone like yourself like with a private consultant go about the education?
28:06to
28:07Kind of make sure people know. Hey, we have a by-law
28:10and
28:11We may move forward towards something
28:14More prescriptive in the future
28:16Excellent question and thank you. So the incentivization for uh
28:21Education and for maintaining healthy trees. What is coming with pathogens disease and our environment and climate change is clearly
28:29Needs to be managed and I believe that
28:32Without managing the trees you have you're going to lose them anyways to these diseases and you're also going to lose track of the canopy
28:38That's here. So a healthy tree only has is defense is its vitality and once his vitality goes a variety of factors from
28:46pests pathogens disease fungus
28:49Many things lead to tree more decline in mortality
28:52So education is key and if you can teach and incentivize and ease your way into the program
28:57You can have more of the public on board
28:59and starting with the youth and with uh
29:02some of the
29:04Long-term residents of guelph help educate them
29:08That also gets somebody on their property to let them know about the trees to make them aware because
29:12People just aren't aware and one of the biggest confusions misinformation. You go to google something
29:16How do you know one thing is true versus one other thing? Everything is opinion-based
29:20But if you have a consultant or somebody come out or if it's from the city website from the truth
29:25Then you can help educate these people and you can help reach your canopy goal
29:29otherwise
29:30I believe that uh through studies and through what we've seen and through conversations with the international society of
29:36Boraculture Ontario chapter. We're seeing a lot of decline because of mismanagement
29:41Okay, and I have another question. Sure. So
29:45Theoretically if this by-law were to be in place without any um changes tonight
29:53People would be more dependent on calling you and your services to be able to cut down a tree
29:59That so that would be more in your
30:01Benefit and you'd be the one to go about the knowledge translation to educate people
30:08However, you're telling us that if we go 30 it's going to actually be
30:14It might not be in your favor as a consultant because
30:19it's just
30:20harder to do the work of
30:23showing people that
30:26So, yeah, basically it's just for you it's
30:30You think it's harder to talk to educate people about what we're doing if we go 30 right away
30:36You're creating a stigma that's making people not want to plant trees number one, right?
30:41And it's not about what's good for me or in business or not
30:44I've not brought any of my business into this aspect. This is about what's good for wealth
30:49For the people of wealth for the community and the trees that live in it
30:52Ethics is higher than than business or standards
30:55Okay, and you're trying to protect the reputation of your services
30:59as well
31:00If you can keep a customer if you can keep a tree you can keep a client. Okay. Yeah, sure. I appreciate that. Thank you
31:08Thank you downer and then karan
31:11Thank you through you mr. Mayor. So just a quick look at london's so that let me understand
31:17So there's his 40 centimeters
31:21But their program so the conservation program
31:24and sort of quick me if I understand is
31:27is to
31:31Take better care of the trees through the management that we have so you you have to hire qualified arborists like yourself
31:38In in london to do what it says pest management
31:43pruning
31:45Cable embracing I have a cable dope in my yard. I understand
31:49Um
31:51And so you so that's the type of program you're talking about and it differs the cutting down of
31:57Not just myself. There's many good professionals and companies in the area. Yeah
32:01Yeah, no, no, I'm not just saying you but arborists. Yes, qualify. Yeah, yeah, qualify
32:10So that's the kind of program that you're thinking that we should be looking at and so that the funds that we collect for
32:16replacements should go to
32:18Um
32:20grants or subsidizing
32:23Residents and I think it's a critical oversight to not even look at uh canopy management management
32:27So it's kind of like well, it's got a tree trust program now, right? Yes. My wife's on the board
32:32Yeah, right. So that's kind of I know they pick a tree every or a couple of trees every year that that
32:38Um, I know they did one in the wood lawn cemetery once and I think at the crey school
32:43They've looked after some and help cable. Okay. So that's the kind of thing that you're talking about
32:48Is the city got on board with that the the public would show greater interest
32:51Absolutely and preserving the tree rather than cutting it down. Yes taking care of better taking care and having healthy trees
32:58before these pathogens and disease
33:00Decline the vitality which leads to
33:03Any number of the exemptions on the current and proposed bylaw
33:08Okay
33:10Coran, please
33:12Thank you through you mr. Jamer
33:14Thank you for your delegation and I don't disagree that more education and more understanding of why we're doing this the importance of canopy for
33:21Not just climate action, but stormwater resilience and all the great things that you spoke about
33:27but you did make a
33:29Correlation between this bylaw and at 30 centimeters and people planting less trees
33:35And yet I wonder if
33:38We're the evidence of that is because in mississauga and oakville
33:43Tree planting is is quite their successful program on private lots and their bylaws 15 centimeters
33:50dbh
33:51in toronto
33:52At 30 centimeters. We don't see a reduction. I don't see a correlating reduction
33:57Based on what your diameter
34:00In the bylaw is and the number of trees being planted by private homeowner
34:04So I wonder if you had any data behind that statement successful successful plantings
34:09So yes, it's the data that comes out is they're planting trees, but is there any follow-up visits? Is there any watering?
34:15uh, it would be
34:17Prudent to take a look at the data if uh any of the urban planners had of the amount of trees that are being replanted
34:23So costs that are being wasted on that
34:26So yes, they may be planting trees. They could plant two trees in one location. Sure. Okay. Um, yeah
34:32I see where you're talking about maintenance and and information and education is important
34:37I'm trying to understand how that correlates to the 30 centimeters
34:41In the bylaw. Oh public interest public trust
34:46easing into a bylaw you can always tighten it absolutely
34:49But if people are afraid of it, they're not going to partake in it and if they don't have the right information
34:55they're likely to
34:57Not investigate
34:58Yeah, through talks that we've had at the international society of war culture in Windsor
35:03um, I met with delegates and people speaking on the board for toronto as well as mississauga and uh,
35:09John hennessey at the city of berlington and we had conversations
35:12So that's where some of my information is coming from because we know this has been coming for two years
35:16And it's a great program what they've started. I think we need something that's robust
35:20That's gonna last if you want to have it for another 15 years or if you want to make it so it's tear upgradeable
35:26not just
35:27We need to do it now
35:28We need to do it right because the right tree should have a 50 year plan for the city
35:33Not a not a two-year plan and replant
35:35In my opinion
35:39Okay, well, thank you very much. We appreciate your uh your delegation and your information. Thank you
35:46Oh, I'm so sorry. Just wait a second jonathan. I didn't see counselor billings hand. Thank you council boost until
35:51I have another question from counselor billings
35:54So real quick through your worship. So I think there's also another amendment to change it to 40 centimeters. So with all your
36:02knowledge and experience
36:04You are saying you do support the 50 centimeters, but I do but no lower
36:11I don't think it's a good idea. I based on the data and I really trust to me and where uh
36:17Her her input. She's been somebody that I've I've known through
36:21Work relations for many years. They put a lot of work into this. They made a recommendation. They did not do it lightly
36:27Okay, thank you. Yeah
36:30Okay, thank you very much. Uh, sorry one more look around
36:34For real this time. I don't see anybody. Thank you. Okay. Thanks a lot jonathan. Thank you very much
36:42Okay, um
36:45Let's see here. We have recommendations
36:48That are ahead of us. Yep. Um, and so like hey, why don't we just why don't we at least put the recommendations?
36:54Flowing from committee on the floor if we if we want to amend refer change whatever we can go after that
37:01But let's put them on the floor uh downer and goer. Okay, so it's on the floor and then I'll start with uh with downer questions
37:09So a question uh through mr. Mayor to staff just I want to hear your comments on the tree canopy conservation program
37:16I'm sure you've looked at the ones um
37:19from london
37:21And I like it I I see it sort of like the tree trust program that sort of but it's only dealing with some trees
37:27And it doesn't help private owners who have big trees mature trees that need to be taken care of
37:33So what are your
37:36Any thoughts on that
37:38Through you may I got three um
37:40It is on our long-term
37:43plan
37:43so it's part of the vision of the ufmp to
37:47carry out proactive maintenance on the canopy in general and
37:51The private property is definitely part of that. We look at the urban forest as a holistic
37:56Uh unit and it would be considered part of that
37:59It's not in the short-term plan, but it's in the longer-term plan potentially in the fourth phase of the ufmp
38:05so the urban forest management plan um that
38:09So you're saying it's in the fourth stage. So that's
38:12We had trouble getting the first stage down within the timeline
38:16Do not due to staff, but I mean budgeting and whatnot
38:20um, so like I like that sounds to me like it's 20 years out like so
38:29So
38:31So it's something that we're in alignment with something we'd like to see and and do you see any benefit now that we're
38:40They're regardless of whether we do 30 40 or 50 tonight. Is there any benefit in?
38:46Looking at that now in at some time in the near future in conjunction with the fees that we would be getting so some would be planting
38:54But some would be also conservation of the
38:58urban forest
39:00Yeah through you mayor gut three that's something we can definitely take away for consideration
39:05Okay, and when you think short-term
39:08Does that mean like two years like or like I just
39:11Have within five probably within the next five years again, there's we have our work plan and we're just updating the ufmp right now
39:20Um, just internally we're working on that and so we are working on our own
39:25proactive
39:27maintenance protocols like our own operations for city-owned trees as well and so it could be
39:33Combined with those conversations
39:35So when is this updated the urban forest management plan coming back to council as far as I know if
39:44Timing goes right. We were looking at
39:48Fall early winter
39:50So could we would it be if we wished it could council move a motion to have the tree panic canopy
39:59conservation program
40:01Identified in this current update to be in the short term
40:06So through the mayor to council, I don't like five years, but anyway
40:11Right and again, we're all starting from a good place here. We want a healthy canopy. So as to me and mentioned
40:16Was something like our urban forest an urban forest management plan the work plan continually evolves right depending on a variety of factors
40:23Including elements invasive species as we heard that may not be immediately on our on our work plan our focus
40:31Recently has been getting caught up on historical work orders as council is aware
40:36That's another factor that makes us look at our work plan
40:38Let us take back this for consideration and get back to council to see what we can do to prioritize other works
40:45To to move this up
40:47We'd want to consider things like our one canopy tree planting strategy which just came to council
40:52And we're looking at again using funds to identify planting priorities across the city. So
40:59In the moment, we just don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves and to commit to something because it could have impacts on other
41:04Bodies of work in the plan that we need to and want to engage. So in short order
41:10We can report back to council with a clearer
41:12Timeline as to when we may may be able to engage hearing that
41:17You know five years and beyond is not something that may be acceptable to council with this specific program
41:23So so with the motion tonight, so I just privately correspond with you now about a motion to bring forward tonight
41:29That would bring this back in the short term
41:32Um
41:35It and tied it tie it tied to the budget and the updated urban forest management plan
41:42Pardon a memo in the budget. I need some help with it
41:49Then that's what would be included and I know I know we're doing
41:52Like a lot of stuff around planting like I know there's programs now and planting on private property
41:57I think those are all great, but I do
42:00I do understand the point that there's no
42:0450 year plan for these trees that we're planting right so
42:08I think that that's sort of we we're we're getting we're doing a lot that way, but how do we look after how do we ensure that
42:16People have the resources or to look after the trees once they've been planted or once they start getting mature
42:22And how they're not interfered with by other activity on the property
42:26Um
42:29I think sort of and to me that gets to the issue that I raised at I've been raising like how
42:35When we do when there's construction happen, even when um developers want to retain trees
42:40We don't have any bylaws that that help us help them
42:45That guide like like around how not having heavy equipment sitting on the roots and things like that
42:51How do we you know work towards conservation with the development industry as well?
42:57So, um, I'd like to see a motion so I might have some quick
43:03Of course blinded with you while others ask questions
43:07Thanks, uh golller and then chew
43:10I see you as well alt thank you
43:12Thank you through your worship
43:15To staff just filling up on the on the some of the points raised by uh by mr. Harris
43:22In terms of the information that is available to to the public about this
43:27Could you help me understand?
43:30At what point are we doing a mapping of of the trees so that we know for sure the trees that exist in
43:37Private properties is that something that we have now an accurate mapping of the trees that are outside the city on private lots
43:44or
43:46So through me erga three, um, we don't have individual trees mapped and that's not something that's feasible at all
43:52What we have is the canopy mapped in terms of the spread across the the city itself
43:59um, there may be um
44:01An instance where we may inventory a single tree if somebody comes in for an exemption or
44:07a violation for uh
44:09Under the tree bylaw, but otherwise
44:12inventorying individual trees on private property
44:16Is infeasible. Um, another exception might be through
44:20Different types of applications where they provide tree plans and such but again, they wouldn't be mapped publicly those are
44:28internal
44:30Documents that we we review as part of applications and such okay, okay, so so whether it is 30 40 or 50
44:37centimeters that we're protecting we still rely on that
44:41Property owner to self report that those three success and that they're asking a permit for them, right?
44:47correct, um, we do have some data from the previous study where we could draw some correlation
44:54um based on the actual plot data for example and maybe in the future study in 2028 we could sort of build off of that and
45:04potentially
45:05Collect data that's a bit more meaningful in terms of the tree sizes
45:09So it's something again. We can look look at down the road when we do our next study. Okay. Thank you for that. Thank you worship
45:18Thank you
45:20to then alt
45:22Thank you through you mr. Mayor um
45:25Just sent you some I was just wondering if
45:28that
45:29tree conservation program rebate program
45:33We can just start to explore
45:36Newspalities and just have that be put in an info report at some point
45:41Like I think we just want to continue to have that conversation so we can massage this bylaw
45:47Towards more of an incentive program than just pure permitting. Is that something that?
45:52Would it be too burdensome for you guys to do?
45:57Through the mayor to councillor chou. We can take that away. Um to me and team do a very good job
46:03In being engaged with our partner municipalities
46:06On this topic. So that's not a stretch to stay informed in terms of reporting back to council
46:11It could may not be an information report could be an email
46:15To council to keep them
46:17Up to speed alt then boost it
46:28Thank you very much. Mayor deathly
46:30Three years staff staff. It's a very simple question, but it does affect
46:35Um, my understanding of the bylaw a little bit. Um
46:41We've been talking about the girth of the trees
46:44That 30 centimeters up to 50 centimeters in the last little while
46:48What is the approximate age of the 30 centimeter tree versus a 50 centimeter tree?
46:55And i'm talking about hardwoods like maple or oak or whatever and I know that there's a variance on those but those are
47:01Those the girth of those trees is is pretty significant and that's why I want to know the age
47:09Through you mayor Guthrie. That's a very difficult question to answer
47:13um
47:15We don't have direct correlations
47:17Between diameter and tree age for gualph yet. It is on our to-do list
47:24Again as part of our next study
47:26That's something we're hoping to do because it would definitely give us some more insight into some of the things that we're talking about
47:33Generally again a 30 centimeter tree depending on species could be 30 years old
47:39But it could be 70 years old as well
47:41Depending on species even the site you could have two of the same species but growing in very different conditions
47:47So I would hesitate to um give you a direct correlation between the two
47:52Thank you. I appreciate your hand or on that
47:55But you actually did help me because I was thinking
47:5830 to 50 years of age are the trees that we're talking about
48:02And I think that is important
48:04In determining
48:06How we support this bylaw
48:10All right, busatil, please
48:12Thank you and through the mayor and thank you to mr. Harris
48:15For the delegation. Um, I have a question for staff. Mr. Harris talked about
48:21Private tree planting and you know the kind of follow-up to know whether or not the two trees that I planted on my private property
48:28And you know, I'm going to ask about take root and the great program and uptake right now of of the great tree planting
48:36And what kind of follow-up? I know with take root. There was the photo. Yes, I planted it
48:41Um, is there some kind of conversation with people who participated in that around the ongoing maintenance care and so on
48:49Or any kind of data from these programs as counsel putting aside
48:55You know money to do the private tree planting is this part of that longer term kind of investment
49:04So through you mayor Guthrie. Um, I can't see for certain other than the initial
49:10Planting of the the backyard tree. Um the backyard trees that there's any other monitoring
49:15That's something staff can follow up on and get back to you though. Um,
49:19Ideally there is longer term monitoring. So with the tree bylaw
49:24We do intend to have a warranty period for trees that are
49:28Replacement trees that are required. Um, it would be for a limited time
49:34For sure because the long term would not be ideal for a typical homeowner
49:38But there is a there is a warranty period built into that
49:43Thank you. Just a supplemental if I may through the mayor when the landscape
49:47Program that the city does do they include trees to say, you know, you can you can support this tree canopy by
49:55Watering more
49:56In this area or things like that. Does it include trees?
50:01Through mega three. I'm sorry. Can you clarify what you mean by the landscape program?
50:05Thank you the healthy landscape
50:08program
50:09Um, I'm sorry. I can't speak. I can't speak to that
50:16Through the mayor. I'm looking to miss holmes, but the healthy landscapes program is not something that the forestry department looks after
50:22So I don't think we have the people here tonight who could likely speak to that
50:26Thank you. My question was just whether or not the residential visits
50:31You know looking at my rain garden and everything else. Are they also looking at the ash trees that I have that are all
50:37Inoculated and and you know help up and going to have to come down eventually
50:41Do they look at trees as well? And are there some synergies there for public education and conversations?
50:48Through you may I got three the answer to that is yes
50:50we
50:51definitely
50:52Partner with the healthy landscapes program when it comes to
50:55Education and outreach and yes very specifically the emerald ash borer program
51:00And other types of programs whether it's the backyard tree planting the the tree giveaways and whatnot
51:05So the answer is an absolute yes
51:09Instead of synergies or should be center trees
51:13Do you like that?
51:15Okay
51:16All right, um counselor to
51:19I think you have advised us that you would like to move an amendment the original
51:25Motion is on the floor
51:27So I can turn it over to you
51:29um, just be aware of your speaking time. Okay, and uh, and
51:33I I would like to know in advance. I
51:36Do you have a seconder for this you do? Yeah
51:40counselor
51:41Gibson
51:42Okay, perfect. Go right ahead
51:45Okay, uh clerics would you be able to put it on the screen so we could all read it together because there's a lot of text here
51:51Um, I'm just gonna keep it short. I sent an email to everybody kind of outlining my intentions, but basically
51:58Through the consultant report through my conversations with staff. I just feel like
52:04Like personally I would love to support a private tree by-law. I think first we need to put it in place like our
52:10Our arborist friend had said and give us some time to mature and I think as well
52:15The initial intent of the original
52:18staff recommendation is so that we can ease
52:21this by-law and educate
52:24Some of our developer proponents and proponents to have larger land parcels first
52:29once we
52:31do that data analysis and process
52:34maturation with with with those people affected
52:39Then we can maybe look at tightening the by-law and I think there's opportunity as well to align this
52:45With a public with a public conversation on how we can incentivize people with rebates
52:50So it's not just a pure permitting process, but it's also a financially incentivizing
52:57piece of
52:58of work that the city is actively working with
53:03With people like our arborist friend and I think as well
53:07We have to understand that we have a culture here in Guelph
53:10Where people are very culturally responsible and
53:14And they like to steward their own properties
53:16And I just feel like we starting at with by starting at 30 and not building up that awareness
53:22It will alienate people
53:24Who want to do the right thing?
53:26but feel forced through compliance to have to
53:31to hire
53:32x y and z and pay
53:34x y and z fees
53:36and I just feel like
53:38We can get to that point where we are where
53:41We need to have more tightening. I think at some point in time. We're going to have to do that
53:45But I think right now, especially with our staff capacity and the historical work orders that they have
53:52Mentioned is on the table. We we should be respectful of that as a council and
53:58That's basically the long story short here
54:01If anyone has any questions
54:04To me or staff, I would be happy to take those questions
54:08Okay, thank you councillor Chew. Does anyone have any questions? Okay, uh councillor billings
54:14On the amendment, please
54:17Sure, because the amendment is 40 centimeters. So through you your worship to staff
54:22so
54:23When staff recommended the 50 centimeters, we knew we were going to run a deficit
54:28However, with the 40 actually
54:31When it at cow it went to 30 we received
54:34We received an email from staff and it talked about
54:38Even at the 30 work plans would have to change
54:41certain planning
54:42Applications wouldn't be processed in time. Of course, we would run out of larger deficit
54:47But what about with the 40? I was wondering could staff comment with respect to the
54:5240 centimeters
54:56Through you may or got three. Yes. Um previously we provided information to council
55:01um with the impact of the 40 centimeter trees
55:06With an estimated funding gap of about
55:08potentially again high level estimate of 16 000 more than the 50 centimeter. So approximately
55:16238 000 of a funding gap. Um
55:20It's it's about going from 4 percent of the tree population of 50 centimeters
55:25We estimated it would be about 8 percent or double the tree population
55:32And with the 40 centimeters with respect to work plans planning applications those issues that staff pointed out with the 30
55:40What about with the 40?
55:47Through you may I got three there will still be impacts. Um, we would have to again
55:52Go back and uh, look at what those would be but there will be impacts very similar to what we're talking about
56:01Okay, thank you. Thank you
56:05Uh Gibson and then alt
56:08Yeah, thank you three mr. Mayor. So when when I spoke to counselor two about this, um
56:14It just it there was a bunch of wins here like on on from somebody perspective like staff have clearly identified the impacts
56:21This would cause for them and to our budget to go as drastic as 30 right off the bat
56:26we've heard from members of the public today and um,
56:30And we all want to get we all want to get there. We all want to protect some some trees
56:35Protectries on private property where it's reasonable. So I saw the 40 as uh,
56:40As a great compromise. I appreciate counselor two bringing it forward. I think it's well thought out. I think it meets
56:47many of our objectives
56:50And uh, and I think it still is a sound is a sound document one that I hope we can be unanimous or
56:59Thank you. Uh, alt and galler
57:02Sorry, excuse me. Mayor Guthrie
57:05I have a bit of a cough. That's why I'm not there tonight
57:07Um, I was waiting for amendment number two could please be put back up on the screen. I have a question for staff
57:20Thank you. Um, uh through you mr. Mayor to the staff
57:24Amendment number two strikes me as being very very technical and as a consequence of that
57:31I was wondering if you could please comment on the deliverability of this by q3
57:382027
57:41Through the mayor to council. Um, much of this is work that staff already do
57:45We had a conversation with councillor Chew
57:49And pointed in this direction because again a lot of this is in our scope of work right now
57:53We may recommend though instead of this report
57:58Just this report may include just to make the intent of the motion accurately but again
58:09Much of this work is already being completed by staff
58:12Thank you very much. I appreciate that it wasn't clear to me. So in in some senses
58:18Uh, the motion is just a reiteration of what is being done. Is that correct?
58:24Through the mayor to uh councillor Allt correct. Thank you very much. Thank you galler than carot
58:34Uh, thank you worship just the comments on this
58:37um, I heard our our delegate present and
58:42Call for us to put in place
58:44Canopy conservation program
58:46What I see in this motion is not that it it would change the the trees that would be protected
58:52So we'd be protecting 8% of our trees as opposed to the 14%
58:57If we kept it at uh at the so with the motion as it is i'm not able to support it
59:04Okay, you can just just jump in
59:07Councillor downer has a motion
59:09Literally kind of speaking to that issue that's coming separately than this whether this amendment or the original passes or fails regardless
59:18That that that kind of a motion is coming separately. It wouldn't be included
59:22And everyone has it already. Okay, so I just want to make sure that people aren't
59:27Tying the two together when it would be a separate thing anyways, okay
59:31Uh, caron, please
59:33Thank you, mr. Mayor. Um, I'd like to request a separation of the two clauses first of all
59:39Because I can obviously accept and and um
59:42Support clause two because it's work already being done and it also gives council data to go back and and do by-law reviews
59:49As which is always good practice for us to do
59:52um, I can't support clause one um because this
59:55Tree by law private tree by law has been well over a decade in the making which my my uh
1:00:02Ward mate knows full well
1:00:05We did a lot of public engagement and in fact on page 12 of the
1:00:10public engagement summary
1:00:12We see that 21 of respondents said less
1:00:16Or at least 10 centimeters in diameter and 39 percent said 20 centimeters for a total of 60 percent
1:00:24Looking for protecting tree diameters below 30 centimeters
1:00:28I think 30 centimeters for me was actually the the compromise
1:00:32um, we have a 40 percent canopy goal and we're just not getting there and this
1:00:38by-law is a step in helping us to get there because it is about preserving what we have
1:00:44Absolutely, we need to maintain our tree canopy and increase through plantings. Those are other mate matters
1:00:51and councillor downer's
1:00:54Future motion that's all about the next phases, but tonight we're just talking about what we're going to protect
1:01:01So I will be supporting the original and uh voting against the amendment
1:01:07Thank you. Happy to uh split that
1:01:10Okay, I'm trying to I'm trying to wrap this amendment up, but I'm now I'm circling and I'm going back to councillor Allt
1:01:17Thank you. Mr. Mary won't be circling. These are just my comments
1:01:20I cannot support clause number one
1:01:24um, the reason I asked staff my question was I wanted to really get an assessment of what maturity some of the trees would be that would potentially
1:01:33Not be protected by this by-law and like councillor Caron the 30 centimeters
1:01:39Would have to be my cutoff and I and I recognize that trees of various types grow at different speeds
1:01:46The cherry trees that I planted 12 years ago are probably only 10 centimeters. The oak trees grow very slowly
1:01:54But when we're getting to talk about trees that are 20 years to 50 years old
1:01:58I'm a bit concerned because we want to get them to to 100 years old and 100 years old in in reasonable time
1:02:06So consequently, I think that the 30 centimeters is a good cutoff
1:02:13Thank you
1:02:15Okay, uh
1:02:17So I I will be supporting the amendment
1:02:21Um, as I as everyone knows at the committee, I didn't support the 30 at all
1:02:26Um, I kind of wanted to go with what the staff recommendation was
1:02:30But I like to try to meet in the middle. So um, that's why I would support this amendment
1:02:35Um, I think it's important just to put on the public record. I'd like I'd like to have um, just some of the staff points that we all know now know about
1:02:42about what the impacts are
1:02:44to um
1:02:46To if we if we do pass the 30 if this if this one doesn't uh go
1:02:52So, um, actually technically procedurally, no, I will if this fails
1:02:57I will speak to this if the 30 centimeters remains. So I will stop myself
1:03:03Uh, so with that, I will just I will be supporting both, uh, both portions of this amendment
1:03:08Uh, and uh, I'll call the vote on number one, which is sort of the middle of the road the 40 centimeters
1:03:15So I'll call the vote on that right now as anyone against that one
1:03:19So goller and busatil
1:03:22and uh, Richardson downer coran
1:03:25and uh, gypsum
1:03:27I'm sorry, not gypsum. Sorry billings and alt and coran
1:03:32Okay
1:03:35K10, I'm sorry. I really need to wear my glasses. I'm very sorry k as well
1:03:40Clerks, are you okay with that? Did you capture it? Okay
1:03:43Through you miss mayor. We have that failing on a three to eight vote. Yep. Okay. Thank you
1:03:48And now I'll call the vote on number two as a standalone
1:03:52And is anyone against that?
1:03:56Okay, that's unanimous
1:03:58Okay, thank you very much
1:04:00So now we're back to the main motion gen as it stood. I'll go to yours after okay. Yeah
1:04:06Um, so we're going back to to that. Do I need to does anyone need to have a round on that one at all?
1:04:11Or are we good to go?
1:04:13Okay, coran and then billings
1:04:18I was anticipating that you were going to speak on the main motion related to
1:04:23Budget and then I was going to respond. Did you you indicated that you were going to speak to it after the motion passed?
1:04:30Yeah, but I'm just uh, that would be councillor downers motion
1:04:33And I'm not to that one yet. I because the amendment to the main motion failed
1:04:37I'm just now calling the vote on the main motion
1:04:39Which is what flowed from committee to hear the 30 centimeters and all that kind of stuff
1:04:43Sorry, did I see another hand come up on this one?
1:04:46Okay, billings
1:04:49Yes, sorry through you through you mr. Mer
1:04:52um, okay, so with the bylaw. I mean it was supposed to be um
1:04:58A bylaw that's not onerous. It's affordable
1:05:01So even at the info sessions
1:05:03I I still have a problem and that's the two things
1:05:08Which actually won't be
1:05:11um
1:05:12modified amended until
1:05:14after the bylaws passed
1:05:16and and into the tree manual and that is
1:05:20the width
1:05:22for in centimeters for the replacement trees
1:05:25And also the timing for the return of the period positive
1:05:29So with respect to the replacement trees
1:05:32It was mentioned in the info session and I think how it was going to be six centimeters
1:05:38However, when a city the city replaces a tree on someone's front yard because it was death whether it was a city-owned tree
1:05:45Or a shared tree it comes in around four centimeters and a pot
1:05:50And and it gets planted the six centimeters does not come in a pot and it's
1:05:57More expensive, but also it needs equipment. So again, there's now another cost to the homeowner
1:06:05So I was just wondering if staff
1:06:09Through you your worship
1:06:10Could respond to the six centimeters and why we couldn't have it at the four and a half just like the city uses
1:06:18um to replace their trees
1:06:23Through you mayor gut three. Um, thank you for your question. Um
1:06:26At this time, I know we've discussed this
1:06:29Previously, but at this time we're going to maintain the standard replacement tree as a six centimeter tree
1:06:37But when we come to updating reviewing and updating the tree technical manual, we will take into consideration
1:06:46The flexibility in sizing or alternate
1:06:50tree replacement sizes
1:06:52And just for information the tree technical manual currently does say that smaller trees are
1:07:00acceptable as an option as long as the
1:07:04as long as the
1:07:06Intent is there again, you can replace two smaller trees for one larger tree and whatnot. So there is some flexibility
1:07:13built in
1:07:15Okay, thank you. Also one last question through your worship. So, um
1:07:21Some counselors have have mentioned and quoted. Oh, but vancouver's doing this in toronto and and they have
1:07:2720 centimeters or 30 centimeters. So I wanted to ask to me, um, the other municipalities that have
1:07:35uh, those centimeters, do they not have I'll call it like a tree department
1:07:41where you've got tree bylaw enforcement officers and and um supervisors like an actual department
1:07:52Through you mayor gut three. Yes, that is true. So again, I can only just off the top of my head think of two specific examples
1:07:59toronto and hamilton
1:08:04have separate tree bylaw departments with
1:08:07uh, supervisory staff
1:08:09overseeing a department of multiple
1:08:12uh, tree inspectors and some of them even have their own
1:08:16uh, tree bylaw inspectors whereas we have a bylaw department and a
1:08:21Forestry department. So we're not set up
1:08:24similar to some of those municipalities
1:08:27So if council decides through your worship to approve the 30 centimeters
1:08:32So then for the 2026 budget confirmation process
1:08:37Then staff would be bringing back yet again another increase to the budget
1:08:46Through the mayor to council, correct. We've been clear through the process that should we move away
1:08:50From staff recommendation
1:08:52There would be increased budget demands and even as we discussed with the current
1:08:56staff recommendation from staff there would be a budget ask, right?
1:09:01But with 30 centimeters just much more
1:09:05Through mayor to council, correct. Thank you
1:09:10All right, thanks. I'd like to try to just wrap this up and and and go ahead and vote on the the main motion
1:09:15as it stood
1:09:16So I won't be supporting this and i'm going to give the reasons why as uh outlined by staff just want to just want it out loud
1:09:25um
1:09:26Moving from 50 to 30 centimeters will result in the bylaw applying
1:09:31But have impacts on city finances staff resourcing and property owners and development costs
1:09:37The amendment poses resourcing challenges for several departments, particularly parks planning bylaw and legal services
1:09:44And this may affect staff's ability to manage existing workloads
1:09:48The proposed amendment to the bylaw will require an increase to the annual operating budgets for parks
1:09:53This represents a 0.4 percent tax levy increase that will now need to be reflected in the 2026 budget
1:10:01Additionally planning will incur a shortfall of an estimated 3.5 weeks of work annually for an existing position
1:10:07And it is anticipated that the increased volume at the committee of the
1:10:11committee of adjustments applications would now uh apply
1:10:15This is anticipated to impact overall review timelines for our planning act applications
1:10:20Bylaw will be impacted
1:10:22Additional support from legal services may now be required
1:10:25In addition to the direct and indirect costs the city's proposed amended bylaw will have economic and timeline impacts on residents
1:10:33and developers
1:10:34The proposed amendment put forward at the committee the whole has the potential to impose
1:10:39additional requirements and costs for smaller residential projects that are not currently subject to the bylaw
1:10:47These costs include arborist services for producing now tree plans
1:10:51Financial securities for cash and lew more properties undertaking smaller scale projects such as
1:10:57construction for ad use or other building additions to their properties
1:11:01The amendment is also anticipated to extend project timelines
1:11:07Potentially beyond the legislated 10 business day turnaround time for building permits
1:11:14So this may impact overall timelines for all construction activities
1:11:18For those reasons I cannot support this
1:11:21I can stay at the 50 which was already a good thing which was already a positive thing that came from staff
1:11:28It already came with some outlined costs, but I cannot move to what what what council is now considering
1:11:36Uh, respectfully, I think these impacts are way too great for our community
1:11:40And so um, I respect of course council is a different opinion and position
1:11:44But for that reason, I will not be supporting. Uh, what's on the screen today
1:11:52Downer and correct excuse me downer than karan
1:11:56Thanks, sir. Mr. Mayor. So I just I just want to confirm with staff you on
1:12:00March 27th, you sent me what and we shared with all of council
1:12:05The difference between the 50 and the 30 from a funding gap
1:12:09So the estimated funding gap with a 50 centimeter tree was 222,000
1:12:14The current uh with the 30 centimeter it was 261,000
1:12:17So a 40 000 difference between the 50 and the 30 centimeter a year
1:12:23Correct
1:12:24Great
1:12:25also the um, estimated fte gap one for uh, 50 centimeters. It was 1.6
1:12:33And for 30 centimeters, it was 1.9
1:12:36So not even half right and have t correct
1:12:40Also the estimated proportion of regulated tree population on private property that would be protected is on the 50 percent
1:12:4850 centimeters was 4
1:12:50And the and under 30 uh, 30 centimeters was 14 percent correct
1:12:56Correct, okay
1:12:58um
1:12:59So and you also indicated that it would rank slightly higher than the others due to the number of trees captured
1:13:06But it would rank lower just to the cost to the city. So that 40 000
1:13:11Correct, correct. Okay. So that's the information we received that I shared with all of council
1:13:17And when you think of in the report it talks to
1:13:20multi multi millions of dollars
1:13:22In infrastructure that trees provide
1:13:26In the terms of runoff flooding and all those things for um, all of us. I think that 40 000 and that
1:13:33one third of an fte
1:13:35Is uh, I understand there are other implications
1:13:38But I think that is certainly worth it and I still will be moving motion around a tree conservation plan
1:13:45And thank you and karan, please. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Mayor. And I appreciate, you know, fiscal
1:13:50Responsibility is part of our jobs and I I know that you take that very seriously
1:13:54But the one thing we do a lot is we talk about the cost and we don't talk about the return on investment
1:13:59And there is lots of data on the return of investment everything from extreme heat water scarcity
1:14:05biological hazards degraded ecosystems
1:14:10Health and well-being clean air and we have city of toronto data along with a td bank who run tree planting programs
1:14:18um, that found that even with with a 30 centimeter
1:14:22bylaw
1:14:23The return on investment works out to about 125 dollars of savings per annum per household
1:14:32Or about eight dollars per tree for those additional benefits to the municipality
1:14:37And I think that when you when you put it into those terms we actually come out ahead
1:14:42So I will be supporting this wholeheartedly and and I hope that that return on investment could be factored in
1:14:49to any budget deliberations or any
1:14:52consideration and and data that you're using
1:14:55Mr. Mayor when you're contemplating
1:14:58The the cost impacts in in the mayor's budget process. Thanks. Yes, of course. Thank you
1:15:03Uh and councillor Chew, please
1:15:10Okay, um through you mr. Mayor
1:15:12Um to staff could you share with the the funding for
1:15:17From four to eight percent just so I remember
1:15:24Through you may I got three sorry. Can you see that like one more time? Sorry. So if we went from 50 to 40
1:15:31diameter
1:15:3316 000
1:15:36That would be the difference, right? Yes. Okay, and can you kind of share with me too? How are you would
1:15:43You're gonna have to rearrange your
1:15:46historical work orders in light of us moving to 30
1:15:52To kind of prioritize this work. Can you share a little bit of that?
1:15:56Through the mayor to councillor Chew
1:15:58As we noted on april 1st that is work that we're going to have to do so staff provided a recommendation
1:16:04on the 50 centimeters
1:16:06With a note to budget
1:16:09Based around being able to continue
1:16:11The workload that we have right now
1:16:14As we move away from that staff recommendation staff are going to need some time to to to find out where we're going to land
1:16:20If it's going to be 30 centimeters or 40 centimeters, there's a difference there for staff as we're hearing
1:16:26That will impact our workload
1:16:28What that will look like, um, you know to mia as an example
1:16:32Her role is responsible for the administration of this bylaw to me is role also handles third party contracts
1:16:39That is the kind of thing the third party contracts that may come off the list
1:16:43That will look like, um slower operational works in the field. Um, and again, we've made significant gains as you know
1:16:51In catching up to those historical workloads
1:16:53That's an example of how we're going to see this and respectfully
1:16:57Staff needs some time to evaluate that once we've landed
1:17:01On the dbh
1:17:04So just to be clear
1:17:06Inevitably work is going to have to be dropped to reprioritize because of this
1:17:11shift in prioritization
1:17:13Through the um mayor to council unless we have resources at budget
1:17:17Okay
1:17:19Okay, I guess I just have a comment
1:17:22Like I like to me personally like i'm a like i'm trained as a landscape architect on the landscape designer at the moment
1:17:29I would love to support this wholeheartedly. I just feel like
1:17:34I don't want to repeat what's been said already, but I just feel like this is happening way too fast
1:17:39And we need to have a framework in place
1:17:41Surrounding the bylaw and I I felt like the 40 would have been a great compromise for everyone so that we're not painted against
1:17:49Not liking trees and and and liking trees because I feel like there's there's more complexity to this than that in order to
1:17:56Steward our tree canopy better
1:17:59So I just feel like I I can't support this
1:18:03But I do want to put on the record that I I absolutely
1:18:07At the support of a tree private tree bylaw as a framework in place, but I can't support it in this current form
1:18:14So I just need to make that clear for everyone. Okay. Thank you
1:18:18Wrap it up councillor ult. I want to call the vote. Thank you very much. Well, we'll have to wait till I'm done
1:18:25I'm
1:18:26Speaking as a grandfather and speaking during earth week. I think it is absolutely essential that we support this
1:18:33My colleagues made mention of the return on investment. I think that's very important
1:18:37When we consider riverways and erosions and the roles that trees play in that when we consider that we have a Guelph greener homes
1:18:45program where we are trying to encourage people to do the environmentally and environment and
1:18:51Ecologically correct things to do and where we pride our city on being a leader in the environment
1:18:57The simple thing that I can say is if London the forest city can do it
1:19:02Then Guelph can do it better and that's why I believe we owe it to generations to come
1:19:08To do this and recognize the return on investment not just for this budget, but for budgets to come is well worth it
1:19:16All right. Thank you
1:19:19All right, then just before I call the vote. Thank you for the opinions everybody
1:19:22This is why we got all elected to have different opinions. That's fine
1:19:26um, and uh
1:19:28I I am feeling no just a tad
1:19:31Just a little bit like it is what councillor chou said like either your four trees or you're against I don't like that feeling
1:19:38I don't like it
1:19:39I just feel a little vibe just a little vibe of that
1:19:42So I just want to say it out loud that
1:19:44The original recommendation from staff that I was going to support was wholesome changes and better protections
1:19:52And so I just want to make it very clear that any of the environmental type of discussions here
1:19:57I am behind them. I think where I feel very comfortable in my position today is because councillor chou's second amendment passed
1:20:06Which is the data the impacts that can come back within two years
1:20:10So
1:20:11All of the the laundry list of all the bullet points that I said about what I'm what I'm concerned about
1:20:16Especially the planning timeline legislative timelines
1:20:19um
1:20:20Maybe in two years that data comes back to us and it's like hey, it wasn't that bad, right?
1:20:24And I can be like, okay. I'm behind this. Let's let's let's go
1:20:27So I think I'm happy that I I didn't know you were bringing that forward councillor chou
1:20:30But I think that's really great that you did that so we can get that data
1:20:33Later on to see how the impacts of something like this is going to be it looks like it looks like passed
1:20:39Um, and so, you know, we could we could play the game a little bit here of like well
1:20:43If you really like trees then make an amendment for 20 centimeters or 15 centimeters
1:20:48Like you know, you could just keep going down and down and down. No councillor crown. Don't do it
1:20:51just kidding
1:20:52But like I just want to make sure that they're you know, uh, it kind of reminded me a little bit of uh
1:20:58Of the online voting thing before the end of the vote. It was like there's nobody here that's against democracy
1:21:03There's nobody here. Like everyone just has a different opinion on it
1:21:06Same thing with the tree thing right here, right? We're going to vote differently on it
1:21:08but we're all behind the environmental initiatives and uh, it's it's to me
1:21:13I just want to make sure that's very clear that we're not pointing fingers at each other and saying well
1:21:17I you know, I'm I'm better than you than on this. I just let's let's let's not go there
1:21:22Okay, uh with that I'll call the vote who is against the main motion as it stands
1:21:30Okay, chou and myself guthrie and gipson and billings
1:21:33Okay, so that passes. Thank you
1:21:36And thank you to staff by the way, I know there was a so much engagement and then uh, these changes in the last month
1:21:43You've done a really great job in informing us. So thank you very much
1:21:46Uh, to you councillor downer, you have this uh standalone one about kind of preservation plan and budget. So go right ahead
1:21:56So it's that staff uh report back on a canopy conservation plan in the short term in the updated
1:22:03urban forest management plan and that
1:22:06Man will be included in the draft
1:22:082026 budget update for further consideration
1:22:11by miragrath re and city council
1:22:14Thanks and gollar seconded that so that's perfect. Yeah, okay. Thank you
1:22:18Um
1:22:19Seems pretty straightforward to me. Can I call the can I call the vote nope councillor Goller?
1:22:24Uh briefly, I just wanted to thank the delegate for bringing this to our attention and letting us know that this is important
1:22:29That we need the conservation plan. So just thank you for being here. Thank you worship. Yeah, thank you
1:22:36Okay, and oh, sorry Gibson go ahead
1:22:38Yeah, um, it I don't think it's gonna affect my vote. I just wanted to know is something that staff are gonna be doing in house
1:22:43or is this going to be um
1:22:46Are we putting
1:22:48Are we adding costs to staff's work plan right now without understanding the cost of it?
1:22:54If it's an if it's an in-house in kind uh report, that's great, but
1:22:57Just like to know through the mayor to council in house
1:23:03Great. Thank you, sir
1:23:06All right, I'll call the vote is anyone against those two motions from councillor downer
1:23:12Unanimous, thank you very much
1:23:15All right, go plant a tree everybody protect trees. We're done. We're done that topic. All right. Thank you very much
1:23:22Okay, we're moving on to the last item
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The motion, the vote and the debate come from the City of Guelph’s published record, reproduced rather than interpreted. The document summaries above are the exception: those words were written for this site.